Film critic Roger Ebert’s cancer a few years ago took his lower jaw, his ability to eat and his ability to talk. Yet he still goes out to meals with his friends (because he enjoys the social aspect) and he still cooks.

After reading the New York Times article about Ebert, I’m not so sure I could follow in his footsteps. Regarding going out to eat, it would just be so hard to sit there and watch your companions enjoy their meal while you just sit there and salivate. It would be like quitting smoking and then being surrounded by smokers–the temptation could be overwhelming.

While I love cooking, especially for others, I think I would lose an edge in not being able to try things as I cook–how would I know if the sauce needed another pince of salt, for example? For that matter, how the hell did a deaf Beethoven compose Symphony No. 9?

Worse, I get enough cravings as it is, but at least I can always satisfy them (pizza at 2 a.m.? No problem). I’m sure Ebert must get sick of his Isosource that he “drinks” for his meals, which can’t do much to quench his longing for something else, like Steak ‘n Shake, as mentioned in the article.

I won’t even try to list all the foods I would miss, because there are just too many. But I’d love to hear from you: what foods would you miss? would you still cook and go out to eat?