August 25, 2009, Paris, France:

"At times when money was lean while living in France, I began to see where many French dishes sprang from. One day, looking in my kitchen, a few days before the paycheck landed, I had a few things on hand...but what if I had to feed a family on this? What would I have done? What do and what have people done? I then saw the birth of many things I would have looked past otherwise like onion soup, croque monsieur, cassoulet....these are all poor dishes. The dishes created from want and need, born of tremendous creativity and the human desire for flavor despite circumstances. It takes a genius to take a few onions, a little olive oil, salt, pepper and if you're lucky, a beef bone and make a feast large enough for a family. I can see into the origins of this classic French dish like never before. I savour it when I taste it. I appreciate it. I hail the French! ¨

Poverty Food: recipes and essays on the art of survival, is a collection of food, thoughts, images and above all, inspiration!  The recipes featured are as rich and textured as the cultures from whence they come and they all speak to the human quest for " beauty and flavor despite circumstance".

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