Blank page + Chapter title/poem/quote + 4 Content pages: 2-3 pages of writing (350 words each) + 1-2 images
Chapter 1 – Setting the Scene – 6 pages, 700-1050 words
Blank page + Chapter title/poem/quote + 4 Content pages: 2-3 pages of writing (350 words each) + 1-2 images
Song: Sunrise – Norah Jones
- An old school friend is visiting from out-of-town and I have decided to host a potluck with all of our mutual friends from the area.
- Inspired by recent cooking shows, I have decided to try to serve a “local” meal to show off the best ingredients from the area and give my friend a real taste of home.
- I have called 5 or 6 friends and asked them all to bring a “local” dish.
Chapter 2 – My dish: Secondary Resources – 12 pages, 1400-1750 words
Blank page + Chapter title/poem/quote, Full-page picture + Recipe + 8 Content pages: 4-5 pages of writing (350 words each) + 3-4 images
Inspired by the Market - Recipe: ___________
10:00am - Song: I Can Do Better – Pat Robitaille
- Wants to prepare the perfect local dish possible so goes to the market first thing in the morning to get the freshest produce
- Looks around at the market to see what’s in season and for inspiration on what to make
After deciding on dish, buys best looking ingredients from favourite vendors - Prepares dish at home that features ingredients
Chapter 3 – “Daniel’s” dish: Current Local Practices – 12 pages, 1400-1750 words
Blank page + Chapter title/poem/quote, Full-page picture + Recipe + 8 Content pages: 4-5 pages of writing (350 words each) + 3-4 images
Inspired by a meal had at a Local Restaurant - Recipe: ___________
11:00am - Song: Love This Town – Joel Plaskett
- Remembers great meal had at local restaurant
- Looks up recipe that looks similar to dish at restaurant
- Tries to remember and write down specific ingredients featured at restaurant
- Goes to get ingredients from market/store
- Makes dish as combination of similar recipe and alternative ingredients
Chapter 4 – “Chris’” dish: National Trends – 12 pages, 1400-1750 words
Blank page + Chapter title/poem/quote + Full-page picture + Recipe + 8 Content pages: 4-5 pages of writing (350 words each) + 3-4 images
Inspired by a Canadian Television Show about Eating Local - Recipe: ___________
12:00pm - Song: Love At First Sight – Michael Buble
- Remembers program just seen on the Food Network
- Looks up episode on internet and copies down recipe
- Goes to market/store to get ingredients
- Makes dish, while watching/pausing episode on laptop
Chapter 5 – “Alice’s” dish: Tertiary Res./Artisanal Practices – 12 pg, 1400-1750 wds
Blank page + Chapter title/poem/quote + Full-page picture + Recipe + 8 Content pages: 4-5 pages of writing (350 words each) + 3-4 images
Inspired by the local Cheese Maker - Recipe: ___________
1:00pm - Song: Sweet City Woman - Stampeders
- Remembers recent trip to local cheese maker and wants to feature it in dish
- Goes to buy cheese and to ask for suggestions from maker on how to best use it
- Gets few remaining ingredients from store
- Prepares dish at home, without recipe, but remembering suggestions
Chapter 6 – “Christine’s” dish: Traditional Family Practices – 12 pgs, 1400-1750 wds
Blank page + Chapter title/poem/quote + Full-page picture + Recipe + 8 Content pages: 4-5 pages of writing (350 words each) + 3-4 images
Inspired by their Grandmother’s Recipe - Recipe: ___________
2:00pm - Song: Dance Me To The End Of Love – Leonard Cohen
- Remembers back to when grandmother made recipe
- Knows recipe and required ingredients because she’s made dish so many times
- Goes to get ingredients from grocery store
- Makes dish, trying once again, to imitate grandmother’s technique and flavour
Chapter 7 – “Natalie’s” dish: Primary Resources – 12 pages, 1400-1750 words
Blank page + Chapter title/poem/quote + Full-page picture + Recipe + 8 Content pages: 4-5 pages of writing (350 words each) + 3-4 images
Inspired by their Garden - Recipe: ___________
3:00pm - Song: Wheat Kings – The Tragically Hip
- Takes a walk outside to garden to see what is ripe
- Gathers what ingredients she needs for simple salad
- Prepares (washes, chops, etc.) ingredients inside and tosses them in bowl
- Makes simple dressing to toss with salad later
Chapter 8 – “Rita’s” dish: Availability/Resourcefulness – 12 pages, 1400-1750 words
Blank page + Chapter title/poem/quote + Full-page picture + Recipe + 8 Content pages: 4-5 pages of writing (350 words each) + 3-4 images
Inspired by what is already in the Refrigerator/Pantry - Recipe: ___________
4:00pm - Song: Taking Care Of Business – Bachman Turner Overdrive
- Looks in refrigerator and pantry to see what is available
- Gathers ingredients that she has previously made (preserved, frozen, dried)
- Assembles ingredients on platter
Chapter 9 – “Paul’s” dish: Mass-produced Resources – 12 pages, 1400-1750 words
Blank page + Chapter title/poem/quote + Full-page picture + Recipe + 8 Content pages: 4-5 pages of writing (350 words each) + 3-4 images
Inspired by time restraint and proximity to the Take-out Restaurant - Recipe: __________
5:00pm - Song: Hello City – Barenaked Ladies
- Looks around while driving to dinner
- Sees restaurant with excellent reputation around town, that has Take-Out
- Orders the restaurant’s specialties as take-out
Chapter 10 – The Dinner – 8 pages, 1050-1400 words
Blank page + Chapter title/poem/quote + 6 Content pages: 3-4 pages of writing (350 words each) + 2-3 images
What everyone has brought to the Table
6:00pm - Song: Peel Me A Grape – Diana Krall
- Surprise at the variety of dishes
- Reactions equally variable: some dishes are clearly favourites amongst guests, some dislike dishes completely because they dislike certain ingredients, some don’t think dishes are “local,” some have different memories associated with dishes
- Regardless, all enjoy the fellowship of the meal
- All appreciate the effort put into trying to be “local”
- The meal makes visiting friend feel at home – not because every ingredient in every dish is from the region, but because the dishes came from her friends.
Epilogue – 6 pages, 700-1050 words
Blank page + Chapter title/poem/quote + 4 Content pages: 2-3 pages of writing (350 words each) + 1-2 images
Song: Ashes to Ashes – Jill Barber
- I have come to the realization that the term “local” has a more complex, multifaceted meaning than simply the foods that come from producers in one’s geographic proximity.
- Actually, the most “local” foods are the foods that come out of one’s own unique set of tastes, teachings and memories, and thus reflect the personality of the one that crafted them.
- Given that the friends I invited were local, it’s only natural that the region’s culinary resources would somehow influence the dishes they make.
- Perhaps the meal was less of a celebration of the region’s unique bounty, and was more of a celebration of my friends – their cultural identity, their distinctive tastes, and what makes them unique within the context of the region.
In total, 122 pages, 14350-18550 (14000-18000) words, 12 Blank + 12 Chapter title/poem/quote, 8 Recipes, 82 Content (41-53 pages of writing, 350 words each) + 29-41 full-page images
This is fantastic - it's a great way to structure it. I am taking notes!
ReplyDeleteTwo things about an otherwise admirable strategy. First, drop the 'old school friend' narrative. We can always use the word 'imagine' or the phrase 'picture this'. In term of preamble to get a story lubricated, they are as good as 'listen... you listening?' or 'Once upon a time.' Second, for goodness sakes, drop the idea of chapters. Substitute sections or breaks, but 'chapters' will kill you off before you get going every time. First, they always have to be the same length, which can kill you; then, they be-speak 'book' and that's a burden for a thesis.
ReplyDeleteOtherwise, it seems a decent plan. Good work. Make it the center of your agenda at the meeting on Wednesday.
DM
Thanks for the feedback!
ReplyDeleteI agree - the 'old school friend' narrative has been annoying me considerably. I'd actually come up with an alternative narrative, though I'm not sure it'd be any less contrived or annoying in the long run. (it was about a new dining table, built by a local carpenter, in the 'local' style, from 'local' trees, etc. and me wanting to have a dinner to honour this new piece of furniture.)
The chapters were more a way of me organizing thougts, but I could easily see a more free-flowing ramble with only very subtle transitions as I change points of view and as the day progresses in the main 'motif' ...