Easter has become rather schizophrenic in that on one hand, you have the number one day for parents to buy their children rabbits (even though it is usually a very bad choice), a day of chocolates in general, Easter egg hunts, Easter bonnets (well not that much anymore), going to a parade where they exist these days, and time for family to get together for a dinner where most end up arguing about politics and why is so and so not married yet! To many this is Easter.
On the other hand, it is also a very meaningful day and one that is quite profound for 100′s of millions of people. It is the core of their belief structure, who they are, what they do and how they do it, it is their moral compass, and even leads them to the path they will take after they leave this earth.
Now, what could this be if not just easter eggs and bunny rabbits? Well, to the 100s of millions of people worldwide, it is about a rebirth that gave birth to who they are in life. For the majority of people worldwide, this day is the Resurrection of Jesus who became Christ their Lord.
Now, I was raised in a family where my mother’s side were Catholics and Protestants, while my father’s side was Jewish. This made life sooooo exciting growing up! My father’s mother, my grandmother, practiced Judaism and along with her family were among the first members of Temple Emanu-El in San Francisco and is buried at their Jewish Cemetery in Colma, California. My grandfather was also Jewish, but did not practice Judaism and was not very religious, at all. On my Mother’s side, my grandmother was British, French, and German and was born a Protestant, she converted to catholicism when she married my grandfather. She always had rosary beads, a small bible, and I do not think I ever recall her missing a church service. My Irish and British grandfather really did not like going to church that much, in fact he was known to sleep through entire services! He would rather hang out with his political and boxing friends in San Francisco.
So I can tell you from personal experience I know both meanings of this holiday, secular and religious. Like my parents, and to an extent my husband’s parents, my husband and I are multi-denominational. We have to be realists about certain holidays in that we cannot forget what they truly mean. This is a religious holiday, period and end. There is no question it celebrates the fundamental belief of a faith. My husband is a Christian and, although he was raised with Easter egg hunts and parades, he also recognizes it for what it is, the foundation of who he is. I respect that a great deal.
But now, having said all of that, how do we celebrate this day? Brunch!
I am not a follower of Kosher foods, face it most people think that Jews are all alike and just because a person is Jewish (or 1/2 Jewish like me) they are this way or that way and Kosher too — wrong! I love bacon, ham, pork tenderloin as much as the next person. Because of this, my husband and I usually go for brunch on Easter and I usually have more champagne than he does and always like my eggs benedict classic — with ham!
This is not Porky’s or Babe’s best day. Pork (ham in particular) is still the number one meat consumed for this holiday. Whether it will be at countless brunches, suppers, or dinners you will likely find plenty of the other white meat.
Rose Wine and Champagne
As far as wine, Pinot Noir is fine. I had a Willamette Valley 2007 Oregon Pinot Noir recently and would be nice, it was under $27 dollars. If you like champagne then go a bit sweeter than Brut, like an Extra Dry. There are also plenty of great”pink” champagnes now, some of these are Brut but will do nicely, and I am not talking about Andres. One of my favorite California “pink” champagnes is Domaine Chandon étoile Rosé and is actually made with the Pinot Noir grape, usually under $35.00 and for a French I had one recently that I think would go well with ham, lamb, or prime rib and that is Champagne Delbeck Brut Heritage Rosé, although this can run over $80.00. A Shiraz will go well too with a heavier ham or pork roast, for a change of pace, or if you choose a red meat, especially prime rib and want something different from a Bordeaux, Beaujolais, or Cabernet. An Australian Shiraz I had recently would do the trick, a 2005 Barossa Valley Estate Ebenezer Shiraz and should be under $30.00 if you can find it.
Happy Easter!
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Nice post…Happy Easter!
Thank you. You have a great Easter too!