I just finished reading this book of essays about food and life by Alton Brown. I enjoyed it. But I have to admit, I have no idea why I read it.

I got the book at the library because I put a hold on it. But looking at the cover, I knew I’d never seen this man before. I’ve never seen a TV show, a video, or anything by him. I don’t know that I’ve ever used a recipe by him. So I guess one of my trusted sources–the major ones are the local independent bookstore Quail Ridge Books, the food stories at The Washington Post or The New York Times, Goodreads, or friends–recommended it.

However, I enjoyed the book, so whoever recommended it, thank you. It is a series of essays by a man who takes food seriously and discusses how it had influenced his life. It is also about his life, but in a way that isn’t egoistic.

His last essay is entitled “My Horcrux.” This is a word from the Harry Potter universe (which I love, so of course it only made me love him more). But in this context, it is a dish, not necessarily one for which you are famous for, have won awards for, have had published for thousands of people to copy. But it is a dish that you invest with your soul. And because your soul keeps changing, you may keep changing your recipe, adding this or that, changing this or that.

He describes the Horcrux recipe in this way:
The Horcrux dish says a lot about the identity of the cook, their skill set, their history, and their personal identity.
(p.276, Food for Thought: Essays and Ruminations by Alton Brown, 2025).

This really made me think. What is my Horcrux dish? I cook a lot, and I care about cooking. But what is the recipe that connects with my soul?

I’ve spent some time contemplating this, and I think I’ve got my answer. It really brought up my family history and what/how I cooked and what/how my mother cooked and how I’ve evolved as a cook over the years. I honestly believe that this is a serious philosophical/spriritual question.

So I would love to hear from you all about your answer to this question. I’ll reveal mine in a few days. But if you know what your Horcrux recipe is, please share it below.

Note: My second favorite essay in this book is “Hunt and Gather.” In that essay, Brown argues that while food means a lot of different things to lots of different people, there are three things that are universal among how people approach food: Nourishment, Identity, and Connectivity. So those three perspectives were key to me when considering this question.