Albany chefs enhance culinary skills
By Lynsi Musselman
With more time at home, many people in Albany have stepped up their culinary endeavors.
Local resident Megan Ledbetter said she typically cooks meals at home, but with the temporary close of her business, she started taking more time to prepare gourmet type meals and fancy desserts.
“I feel like Betty Crocker,” Ledbetter said. “Normally I nuke things in the microwave.”
Ledbetter said this has been a family experience. Her three-year-old daughter mixes all the eggs and her five-year-old son chops the vegetables.
Ledbetter’s business was able to reopen last week, and she said with the change her cooking will go back to the microwave.
Albany resident and business owner John Tom Heatly said his family loves to grill out together.
“I definitely think cooking this many meals at home is healthier because it makes us more aware of not only what we are eating, but the ingredients we are using as well,” Heatly said.
Heatly added he thinks a lot of things are changing due to the pandemic.
“We may cook more meals at home, but I think people in general are ready to get out and go again,” Heatly said.
Another Albany resident, Kalico Leech, said she has always cooked a lot, at least when her family happened to be home.
“Between stock shows, sports, church activities, and lessons of all kinds, we were only home two to three evenings a week,” Leech said. “Now we’re there every evening, and the kids are home all day. It feels like all I do is cook, clean up, and prep for the next meal.”
Albany Wellness and Provisions, located on South 2nd Street, provides food items not readily available in the surrounding area.
“We did not offer groceries before, but I adjusted my ordering when I saw there was a need,” said owner Michaela Smith.
Smith said the store’s recent addition of fresh bread, artisan cheese, and organic berries have been in high demand.
“I’ve learned to make crepes and a few other things I’ve never tried before, but not everyone has the time,” Smith said.
She noted that starter meal kits have become more popular with essential workers and busy moms.
Even with things opening back up, some local residents hope to maintain a few of the meal habits they’ve implemented.
