We don't give enough credit to our truckers. They have been our saviors during this pandemic and shortages. Funny enough these heroes prefer to be on the road at Christmas, celebrating and even cooking from their cabs.
Priya Krishna , a regular contributor and cookbook author interviewed this chefs of the road for today's New York Times Food section. The cab kitchens are actually well equipped despite their small size.Trucker Dina McKinney's kitchen is really like everyone else's. There are spices neatly organized in jars, a butcher block counter and a prettily tiled backsplash. there are even Santa towels. She is cooking for herself but what a meal!. There will be Brie in puff pastry and a thyme and rosemary rubbed turkey leg to be roasted on her rotisserie. It's dripping will go to season a turkey breast. Brussels sprouts with bacon will be sauteed on her butane stove. Not every trucker has her elaborate system. Yet many of the three million something truckers out there are cooking from their cabs. They are either looking for much healthier foods than what's in truck stops or out of necessity. Most places nationwide have closed due to the pandemic. Then there's the life of a trucker.Many are working long overtime hours for the money along with helping to lessen the supply chain issue, especially now around the holidays.
Yet they persist and find ways to celebrate with home cooked meals. Trucker Margie Gillis from Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin is making her Christmas meal with leg of lamb and eggplant casserole which she will share with other truckers. Her Thanksgiving was great with stuffed roasted duck, green bean casserole and cheese mashed potatoes. and cranberry sauce. However it does have its' setbacks, She will only wipe her dishes clean and then thoroughly wash them when she takes her shower at a truck stop. Traditional cookies are out. She just can't handle mixing and baking them, with flour all over the place and trying to clean beaters. New Year's also gets special food in the cabs.Tamra Fakhoorian plans a tasty First Night with a big charcuterie board chock full of cured meat, olives, and cheeses. There will be lights around her bed and she will record her goals for the New Year. Cooking can also alleviate any depression or loneliness that comes with the job. James Willis of Tacoma Washington will make himself a lush meal of steak cooked in a George Forman grill with instant mashed potatoes and gravy. Some truckers like couple Melissa Cheshire and Vincent Louque enjoy eating out . They get to sample local specialties like gumbo and shrimp in Lousiana. Another , Sunny Grewal from Fresno. celebrates Diwali with take out naan and shahi paneer. Rafique Smioth from Philadelphia observes Eid on the road too.
Truckers do have hard lives but they manage to make do. This includes having the best holidays they can. It even involves a home cooked meal with all the trimmings.
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