PROJECT TREATMENT
COME TO MY HOUSE
The program will open with the look and feel of simple houses in average neighborhoods and present a montage of various ethnic kitchens with glimpses of the broad variety of cooks: Italian, Jewish, African American, Asian, offering sample dishes to the host.
The montage suggests the homey quality and simple, hearty and warming foods.
This is the diversity of America. These are the varieties of our kitchens.
These are our neighbors.
We then move to the host who meets us at her car (blue convertible VW, young, today’s generation) and invites us to join her for the specific visit: Italian, African American, Jewish, Thai, etc. where she, with the viewer will learn the secret of home cooking without a recipe.
The car pulls up in front of the house and the host is greeted by the cook with the words “Come To My House.”
The program begins with an introduction to the cook and the house and the kitchen. We learn their ethnic origin. And, we find out what the episode’s dish will be: chicken cutlets, beef brisket, pad Thai, gumbo, etc.
An intimate interaction begins between the older demonstrating cook and the young host.
COOKING GREEN
Where does the food come from? We need to use fresh ingredients!
We cut to the source. In season, we visit the family kitchen garden for fresh greens. At other times - it's the local farmers' market, the local ethnic food store with live fish and fresh vegetables. At other times, noted commercial enterprises ( Food Source, Whole Foods).
The cook makes the purchases and we're back in the kitchen.
OUR HERITAGE
The old teaches the young. As the instruction continues, a dialogue ensues where the cook begins to “open up” about their personal life.
A short section follows where the host puts more specific personal questions to the cook: questions about the family, what they do, how they came to this country and other questions that allow the cook to complete the personal dimension of the food.
We identify with the family in the episode.
We then watch as the food is finished on the stove or oven and as, once again, the host takes a turn stirring a pot or flipping a cutlet. We learn the fine points of completing the recipe.
We return again to personal questions and move to the dining area where we meet other family members.
The host then turns to the family members for questions and we hear their personal comments.
As they taste the completed meal, the host asks if she has done well with her attempt at learning and completing the lesson.
The episode ends with a toast by all and we hear the theme, “Come to My House.”
Tony Devaney Morinelli Ph.D.
producer@cometomyhouse.tv
|
|
|