Welcome to the Table
I grew up in a home, not a house.
A home is a place of welcome, whereas a house is a material building that lacks meaning.
Before my parents made it their own, 65 Hamilton Avenue was just a house on a piece of land.
Thanks to my parents, this beautiful 1-acre plot of God’s creation that was surrounded by a small New Jersey forest, brought forth heartfelt gatherings with family, friends, fellowship, love, fun, and difficult times.
Pavers made up half of the outside landscape. Grass made up the other half. There was a feeling of warmth and togetherness, even through the toughest times.
I will never forget the light brown, wooden sign that hung in the living room next to the kitchen. The inscribed carving said:
“We don’t have it all together, but together we have it all.”
My parents were (and still are) so giving that they are the type of people to invite everyone over to hangout, to relax, to enjoy themselves with their kids, for dinner, etc…
Almost every weekend, someone was invited to our backyard. It wasn’t a surprise to us if someone random appeared at any moment in the day. Even strangers became friends.
My dad also was the house-master of tournament creation. Name any backyard activity, the D’Apolito residence had it.
Cornhole (bean bags). Of course.
Volleyball. Yes
Ice hockey. Winter fun.
Badminton. C’mon now.
Tetherball. Classic.
Jenga. Absolutely.
Bocce. Intense.
Horseshoes. Also, intense
Croquet……
65 Hamilton Ave was the address to be in our neighborhood. It was filled with love.
With near-perfect consistency, every evening, my three brothers, parents, and I ate as a family at the dinner table. I still remember the small bits of food that would get in between the crevices of the brown, wooden-stained table. My amazing mom always left us all with a full belly after each meal, which was either a unique twist of her own recipe or came directly from the recipe book passed down to her from her mom (my grandma).
“May I be excused from the table?” was a non-negotiable question that my brothers and I needed to ask before departing for evening activities.
Amongst the good and the great, amongst the wine and the weeds of my 20 years of being in such a special home, there were many things that imprinted its mark on my heart.
The biggest: my parents’ garden.
“I seek to use regenerative agriculture, so that my plants and animals can be in a nutrient-rich environment.
My family would be seated around me – both my immediate family and my family in Christ.
My friends would be laughing with each other, playing games, and telling old stories.
Our refectory-esk table would be filled with God’s beautiful creations of food and drink. Tender, flavorful grass-fed meats seasoned with honey and fresh grown herbs from the garden, sides of fine-aged cheese, fresh sourdough bread, fruits and vegetables washed to perfection, and bold, fruity, red wine imported from Italy.”
Growing
The backyard garden at 65 Hamilton planted the seeds for my future in producing and distributing healthy food – beyond the walls of a garden.
Those seeds guided me to my current role as Chief of Staff to the CEO at The Food Company. With the greatest leader in the world, Nick Nanakos, along the greatest team, we are cultivating the way towards a healthy future. What started small 2 years ago is now growing rapidly.
The mission at The Food Company is to re-architect the toxic food system that is killing us.
We partner with the best local farms to serve earth’s purest ingredients to the masses at enormous scale.
Through the form of food pods (think food trailer, but one that is the most innovative in the world), we have developed our first restaurant concept, ZIKI.
Next up, will be a grocery concept, BIG-FARMA, which will also distribute food through the form of brick n’ mortar locations and food pods (just like ZIKI).
The reason that the modular food pod model is so effective is because it allows the best possibility of growth to get the highest quality food to the most amount of people.
It’s a beautiful thing when great food and great people come together – a friendship that God created from the beginning.
Instead of Captain Crunch and Reese’s Puffs, people should be eating food that gives them life like locally produced eggs and grass-fed meat.
Tufts University put out a survey of the best foods. Frosted Mini-Wheats was most encouraged, whereas Ground beef was on the other end of the spectrum.
Talk about horse manure!
All Are Welcome
For 5 years now, I’ve longed to have a huge plot of land to grow healthy foods to feed those I love.
I am enamored by that intimate feeling of togetherness while breaking bread with others (preferably, sourdough bread). The 65 Hamilton Ave dinner table is on repeat in my mind like a vinyl record player.
Food combined with fellowship.
Like mom’s cooking combined with deep conversations.
I seek to use regenerative agriculture, so that my plants and animals can be in a nutrient-rich environment.
My family would be seated around me – both my immediate family and my family in Christ.
My friends would be laughing with each other, playing games, and telling old stories.
Our refectory-esk table would be filled with God’s beautiful creations of food and drink. Tender, flavorful grass-fed meats seasoned with honey and fresh grown herbs from the garden, sides of fine-aged cheese, fresh sourdough bread, fruits and vegetables washed to perfection, and bold, fruity, red wine imported from Italy.
“Then God said, ‘I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food.'” (Genesis 1:29)
Since when was it wise to eat food that slowly corrupts one’s body and mind?
God gave us exactly what we need on this earth. He does every day.
Every plant.
Every tree that has fruit.
On the face of the whole earth.
We shouldn’t poison ourselves with toxic food, but connect back to what God gave us – starting with the soil of the earth and stemming into the soul of people. 1
HUGE thanks to
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