Letter from the Editor: Fall 2018

What does "comfort food" mean? That is the question we sought to answer through this issue of Edible Milwaukee. As one might imagine, there is no simple definition--it means many different things to people. Comfort food isn't just about the food on your plate; it is also about the experience. Comfort food can be the style of food (be it meat or vegan), simple or complex, fine dining or hole-in-the-wall. Comfort food can be about the people serving, whether it is Mom or a server who knows exactly what the customer wants. In the end, comfort food is what makes a person feel happy, nourished and alive (albeit sometimes comatose).

What we at Edible witnessed firsthand is that food has the ability to connect individuals and communities regardless of race, sex, ethnicity or political views. It brings together the most distant of people and has the ability to quiet the noise for a temporary moment. Dinner tables should hold no prejudice, rather they should facilitate conversations and bring families together. 

One of my favorite moments in this issue was talking to Judge Derek Mosley about Mr. Perkins Family Restaurant on the North side. He described it is the "black country club," a place where an 81-year old man could be "yucking it up" with a 26 year-old kid, where important deals are made, where one could find the mayor talking with the trash collector. It's diners like this where, once the doors close and the chaos outside quiets, everyone comes together and peace is made over grits and black coffee.

Let's face it, we all need to eat. Food is the ultimate connector. Let's eat. It may just solve all of the world's problems.