Over the Labour Day weekend I went and visited my father in Smithers, BC.  My Dad lives alone, so when I arrive I take over the cooking role. I enjoy cooking, and cooking for two is easy so I am not complaining. However, as soon as I return to my childhood home, I start cooking like my mother - meat, potatoes, and vegetables in heavy cream sauces…seriously in the twenty-five years I had children living at home they maybe had vegetables in a cream sauce a total of six times, oh and don’t forget the gravy to go with the potatoes…once again, served at my house only on special occasions like Thanksgiving and Christmas.

 On Monday we had company for dinner, I served a medley of grilled vegetables seasoned with balsamic vinegar, chicken shish-ka-bobs, tomato bocchini salad, and a rosemary/garlic artisan bread with a rosemary dipping sauce…does this sound at all like what I served my Dad all weekend? In my Dad’s opinion this would have been highfalutin city food…putting on the dog as such…however, this is a normal...