Some Kinda Good in the Neighborhood

Some Kinda Good in the Neighborhood

by Rebekah Faulk Lingenfelser

GEORGIA NATIVE REBEKAH FAULK LINGENFELSER IS A FOOD ENTHUSIAST, WRITER, THE COOKING SHOW HOST OF SKG-TV ON YOUTUBE AND THE STATESBORO HERALD’S LONG- TIME FOOD COLUMNIST. THE PERSONALITY BEHIND THE BLOG SOMEKINDAGOOD.COM, SHE IS A GEORGIA SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY ALUMNA AND ATTENDED SAVANNAH TECHNICAL COLLEGE’S CULINARY INSTITUTE OF SAVANNAH. SEARCH FACEBOOK FOR SOME KINDA GOOD OR TWEET HER @SKGFOODBLOG.

How My Love for Local Began

I grew up in a family who loves to cook and entertain, gaining an appreciation for great food when I was very young. Both my parents have large families with lots of cousins, aunts and uncles and whenever we all gather, good food is always in the mix. I was destined to become a good cook and observed from an early age all the women in my family offering their very best dishes at family functions and church suppers. Holidays were filled with golden-brown turkey, three-layer coconut cakes and pecan pies, local pig pickings and casseroles of every kind, showcasing the foodways of the land.

As a kid, I can remember watching my Grandma Dot make homemade cathead biscuits and pear preserves, among many other mouthwatering dishes. My maternal grandparents had several pear trees in their backyard, and every fall when the trees produced their fruit, my grandmother, clad in her colorful housecoat would venture out to the backyard, basket in hand, to carefully inspect and choose the perfect pears for picking. I can see the small sterilized jars lined up on her countertop now and smell the aroma of the sweet pears cooking down with sugar on the stovetop.

Growing up around good food and learning to cook it yourself, however, are two very different things. I got serious about cooking when I graduated from college and began living on my own. I soon realized if I wanted to eat good food, I needed to learn how to cook it. In college, I had survived on Hamburger Helper and Subway, and now, it was time to fend for myself and nurture my inner-good cook. I believe in listening to your life, and it seemed in nearly every bit of free time I had, I was always watching food TV or reading cookbooks and food magazines.

The first time I visited my local farmers market, I was enthralled. Seeing all the produce, meats and cheeses from the farming community where I lived awakened a passion in me that had been sleeping. I would come home with bags full of greens, farm-fresh eggs, pints of plump strawberries and countdown until the next Saturday when I could shop again.

I’ve often said when you cook with quality ingredients, they are hard to mess up. Sourcing ingredients locally and eating food that’s in season is not only beneficial to the economy where you live, work and play, but you’re eating food that’s as fresh as it can get, which will always taste its very best. If you consider the difference between a pint of strawberries from a chain grocery store imported from Mexico or even California, and a pint of strawberries produced by a Screven County farmer here in Southeast Georgia, which do you think will taste the best? The Screven County berries! There is absolutely no comparison. Understanding how far your food has traveled to get to your plate is essential in making this distinction.

Supporting the local food movement isn’t just about shopping at farmers markets. Eating local can mean everything from planting your own garden, hunting or dining out at restaurants that source ingredients from the region. I planted my first herb garden in 2017 and had so much success I brought the garden back this year, adding on new plants--even jalapeno peppers. There’s something about growing and producing your own food that makes you feel like a survivor, and once you start, there’s no going back. Plus, it’s fun, fresh and Some Kinda Good!

In this feature, I look forward to bringing you recipes that showcase ingredients grown right here in Southeast Georgia and highlighting restaurants that support the local food movement. I hope you’ll join me on this journey and be inspired along the way.