By Uncle Abdul

One noticeable difference between the Pre-Cyber and the Post-Cyber (a designation offered up by Jay W.) BDSM eras have to do with foods. Now this has nothing to do with a book project I've been kicking about: "101 Slave Swill Recipes." It's more to do with the changes in party fare and the Community's socialization rituals around food.

Take party food for ing'stinks. In my earlier days almost all the parties were a BYOF or BYOFTS event (that's Bring Your Own Food or ~ To Share -- a tradition dating back to country Husking Bees and Depression era Rent Parties). Having hosted many a party when I had my place in San Francisco, all I needed was an empty table, several bowls, a couple of bags of chips, homemade dips, some soft drinks, and the sequestering of my cats in the bedroom where they promptly plotted revenge for not being part of the action. Everyone was expected to bring some snacks or soft drinks to share. True there were times when there'd be an abundance of celery stalks and avocado dip, but more often there was a nice balance. And there'd be that occasional gourmet nosh that everyone enjoyed.

Janus' Steve K. raised the anti, however. He liked to cook and did well at it. He introduced spinach dip in a cut out loaf of sourdough bread, and soon everyone was copying that. I still do today. But Steve went beyond that. Alternating layers of ham slices and cream cheese, pickled mushrooms, gourmet spreads--there was no end to his mouth-watering treats. Of course he'd be spending all day in preparation, but his efforts were appreciated... and gobbled up like locusts in a Mormon wheat field.

But then people succumbed to the convenience of the Safeway party tray. There were also the kinky caterers in the Community. Good though these repasts were, there was just an ever so slight diminution in the bonding of people through the sharing of food.

Not that I'm complaining. I've tasted some pretty good party fare prepared by even a California Culinary Academy type. Then of course there were the to-kill-for deviled eggs at Differences. Plenty of yum-yums to skarf down before and after doing yum-yums with your partner. But still, there is that nostalgic twinge I get every once-in-a-while... S'cuse me while I nibble at some nips (cheese nips that is).

Then there's the whole thing around BDSM eating rituals. Fortunately the food table is the social gathering place. That hasn't changed even if it's not BYO~. Also not changed is that the food table is a good excuse to be in close proximity to that knock-out hunk or devotchka you've been salivating over.

But did you know that Janus at one time had picnics and cookouts? Not only that there was also the going to grab a bite after the program meeting at Church Street Station or other establishments. When I started with Janus, the program meetings were even held in the back of a restaurant ...in competition with its noisy ice machine. What was Church Street Station is still there as a building, but there are no more hungry Janus members there.

What has replaced it? The Munches of course. I'd have to give the numerous Munches credit for being the most innovative socialization tool of the Post-Cyber generation. And it's great that when my job takes me to the various parts of the Bay Area, there's usually a Munch near there on that day.

Chao-4-Now

Unc'