I guess I got lucky because my mom was always pretty good in the kitchen and pretty adventurous as far as food, and I guess growing up in New Orleans helped expand my horizons as a kid.
You mentioned your grandparents and it was that way with my dad's side of the family. My grandma buddy and her famous meal was Bourbon and beef and it was one of the most bland things there is, and dad used to make it all the goddamn time. I don't even know what the hell it was supposed to be but it was basically a pot roast without any aromatics other than onion. Pretty sure it was a back of the box recipe. Grandpa Bob had his famous spaghetti recipe that of course dad always makes, but I've graduated from that long ago.
My mom's side of the family though, my grandmother was an excellent cook, as was my grandfather, and I think he probably had more Cajun cookbooks than I do. I still make recipes that Grammy used to make that my mom used to cook when I was growing up, and even recipes from her grandmother.
If I go up to Wisconsin to visit and I'm with my Uncle Rob, he knows to always save venison backstrap because we do blackened venison medallions, garlic mashed potatoes, and my grandpa's Caesar salad. Paul Prudhomes not just my favorite chef but that of all of my uncles and my grandpa on Mom's side.
Despite not ever having lived in Wisconsin, they would always come down at least once a year when we lived in New Orleans, and one of the biggest reasons was to simply feast. I guess I was pretty lucky being able to go to some pretty great restaurants growing up, I wasn't a common occasion, but it was pretty damn special, I'm something to look forward to spending time with your family.
Doesn't hurt that he will also save a porchetta in the freezer for when I'm around, except I think I make a better one than what you can get from frabrononi's, but I still enjoy them and they taste like childhood.
