“A recipe has no soul. You, as a cook, must bring soul to the recipe.”
On February 5, 2021, chef Kim Dolan from Rhode Island met with seven participants of the WFWP Hackensack, New Jersey chapter via zoom to share her story about how she serves her community.
Kim shared how she had wanted to go to a culinary school ever since she was in high school but due to advice from her parents, got her college degree first and then attended culinary school. Having an undergraduate degree in art and a cooking certification, she was able to mix the two mediums to make lovely gifts for people and feed her family, while being a professor at Johnson and Wales cooking institute in Rhode Island.
Kim explained how cooking gave her soul freedom to show her love for others. As Thomas Keller once said, “A recipe has no soul. You, as a cook, must bring soul to the recipe.” Often instead of sending flowers to an ailing friend, Kim would prepare a meal on a fancy tray, with a bouquet, and a card and bring it to her friend’s house.
Another way Kim has been serving her community is through volunteering for “Donate Life New England,” a project that coordinates organ and tissue donation in the New England area. Her advocacy for organ donation stems from personal experience. Kim was a recipient of a heart transplant three years ago. She woke up one morning very out of breath and weak. Her doctors discovered she had a congenital heart problem and needed a new heart.
After receiving the new heart, Kim was so filled with gratitude, she asked if she could contact her donor’s family. Last year she was finally able to meet them. What did she give them? A beautiful meal on a decorative platter. It consisted of a pasta dish, fruit salad, molasses spiced cookies, soup, salad, homemade croutons and flowers. They hope to reunite again this spring if conditions are right.
It was a joy to have Kim on the zoom call. Participants could ask her questions about their cooking or about the organization she volunteers for, “Donate Life New England.”
You can follow Kim on her Instagram account dinneronwednesday.