Bread & Butter

“There are people in the world so hungry, that God cannot appear to them except in the form of bread.” - Mahatma Gandhi

There are countless, too many to bring to mind all at once. Cheese and wine, sausage and mustard, tea and scones, coffee and chocolate. Oh how they delight the senses, coat the palette in wonder and leave one satisfied.

Lobster and champagne, garlic and mushrooms, beer and a burger, they come in waves and droves, pizza and pasta, gravy and roast chicken, ice cream and cake.

Yes, there are countless, too many to bring to mind all at once. But only one can stand the test of time above all others, only one is where it all began, the root of it all, where simplicity rests its dreary head at night.

There is only one thing I dream of when all else is lost, my appetite a ghost, my desire for satiation gone astray. There is only one thing that holds the key to my heart.

Bread & Butter be my curse. Bread & Butter be my poison. I am not extreme; I do not ask for much. I know the pleasures of the world but still it is not enough.

Throw me spices, toss me herbs, give me unique flavors from across the land and sea, still it will not take the place of bread & butter to me.

It is not even the flavor alone that allows this pairing to take the prize. Although you know it holds strong merit.

It is the smell and the sound and the sight that come together to move this delectable duo to the top of the literal food chain.

Think it through, it won’t take you long. The sound of a perfect crust being torn or cut, the smell of toasted wheat, oven scorched, licked by a flame until its skin is dark, making way underneath for velvety soft swirls.

Decadent fluffy fractals of airy dough, a stratocumulus spectacular. Feel it with your fingers, hold it in your hands, the warmth becoming an acquaintance, an acquaintance becoming a friend.

Now you see, atop this delight, comes a knocking, the tastiest addition in sight. Butter. The best of the best, salted of course, and served at room temp. Yield your weapon, stand your ground, dive right in and be mighty proud.

As you spread this marvelous companion across the velvety ribbons of dough, your eyes light up and your heart opens up for it is about to receive a hug.

Now is the moment you waited for. You lift the duo up to your mouth, inhale once more through your noise and take a bite. The tear of your teeth, the yank of your jaw, crunching through the thick dark crust.

The sound of crackling gives way to softness and your mouth becomes a place for the divine.

And just like that, your time is up, your experience fades away. A shadow of its name however stays in place. This was not the first, it will not be the last, a grin stretches across your face because you are satisfied fast.

Simple desires for a simple man. The beginning is where its at.

The next time you try to make the night special, treat a loved one to a date night or want to show yourself some love.

Get yourself a loaf of bread, better yet learn how to bake, and take some time to sit down, with the simplest of things at hand, and just enjoy the experience.

Savor the flavor, take your time with each bite, be present as you chew. Think of how many people share in this experience worldwide and be humbled in its simplicity.

Enjoy.