Don Parker’s “Food for Thought” – A Culinary Adventure

Submitted by Emily Carmain
October 18, 2014 1:00 p.m.

Don Parker 1What do you do with 60 years worth of great recipes gathered from all over the country and abroad? If you’re a writer as well as a chef, you put the best of them together into a cookbook with stories to go along with them.

That’s what Don Parker did this summer, and the end result is his new book, Food for Thought: Recipes and Writings to Chew On.

“It’s something I’ve wanted to do for a long time,” says Don, 86, a longtime resident of Fernandina Beach. “My wife, Andrea, shared the same dream, and was deeply involved with the compilation, decisions on recipes and the publishing. I’m so thankful that it was finished in time for her to see the printed books.”

Andrea Parker passed away September 20th, after struggling with ill health for the past few years. The book became available to the public the following week.

Don Parker 2Food for Thought is a unique cookbook, as it reflects the Parkers’ enthusiasm for originality as well as trying new things. They were both from Cape Cod and traveled to other parts of the country and abroad before settling in Fernandina Beach.
“We loved collecting recipes from restaurants we enjoyed as well as from our relatives and friends,” Don says. Naturally, they tried them all at home and added their own personal touches, and created innovative specialties to serve.

He tends to give most of the credit to his wife of 63 years and her culinary talents. “Andrea developed a special knack for using condiments and spices to enhance flavor, plus she had a special talent for creating a masterpiece out of mere leftovers.”
Along the way, Don wrote entertaining stories about where the dishes came from and what makes them special, as well as advice for preparing, serving—and enjoying—all of them.
“Cast off your shackles and overcome your cooking prejudices and routine attitudes,” the author says. “This book is not a ‘how-to’ but a ‘why-not.’ Why not try new ideas and give your own creativity a chance?”

In the book’s dedication, to Andrea, Don wrote, “We have lived an active and exciting life, have three wonderful kids, and still love each other.”

Friends and associates have known the Parkers for their exuberant hospitality, which comes through in the book and the recipes. In the introduction to Food for Thought, Don says, “Come along with us on this new adventure in culinary curiosity. We’ll have a lot of fun along the way.”

The last portion of the book includes a different kind of “food for thought”—a collection of Don’s poems, some humorous, some thoughtful, that he has written over the years.
Don was a co-founder of the Book Island Festival in 2001 and served as president for the first five years. As a director emeritus, he continues to be a supporter of the annual event, now named the Amelia Island Book Festival.

For more than 20 years, he has been active in the community in a variety of ways, including the Rotary Club, the Nassau Poets & Writers Society, St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, and many others.

He was a founding member of the Nassau Writers & Poets Society, whose members jointly authored Murder in Fernandina, under the pen name Amelia Clinch. The novel led to a series of mysteries, all set in Fernandina.

Don’s new cookbook is available currently at Books Plus, located at 1743 S. 8th St., Fernandina Beach.