Caroline Hatchett recalls the early days of her marriage in Miami, Florida, cooking on a budget to help feed her and her law student husband. Hatchett takes pride in cooking delicious yet frugal meals, comfort she could not find with a husband deeply devoted to his studies. For The Bitter Southener, Hatchett wonders how she missed out on discovering arroz imperial, a dish created by the Cuban diaspora in Florida, a beloved rice casserole that’s a staple at special occasions and considered the ultimate “carby joy.”

I also wish I had appreciated lunch, a luxurious hour each workday in a little office kitchenette. Meg and I brought back steam-table Indian — eight bucks for a pound of stewed okra, saag paneer, chana masala, and rice, plus a samosa. We ate nasi lemak from a tiny Indonesian restaurant, run by former cruise ship workers. We microwaved leftovers (so many leftovers), gossiped about our bosses, and teased each other gently. I thought that dinner with William had been most sacred, the brightest part of my day. That lie might have saved my marriage, but now I know that I was best loved at lunch.

More picks from The Bitter Southerner

Black Earth

Christina Cooke | The Bitter Southerner | November 25, 2024 | 8,027 words

“In North Carolina, a Black farmer purchased the plantation where his ancestors were enslaved— and is reclaiming his family’s story, his community’s health, and the soil beneath his feet.”

Woman in the Woods

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“To me, the woods are an intricate tapestry in which I always try to see the bigger picture.”

My Favorite Restaurant Served Gas

Kiese Laymon | The Bitter Southerner | December 6, 2023 | 1,914 words

“They’d sit in the front cab of a raggedy Ford listening to a Tina Turner tape. I’d sit in the back, next to burnt orange pine needles, a few broken lawnmowers, and all forms of rust.”