Richmond

Christine Bryce Rosen

"I'm a sixth generation Richmonder, and my mother's family was one of the first families of Virginia. So, really, I have no other choice but to live in Richmond!" laughs Christine Bryce Rosen, who sings the praises of her hometown.

"There are many things I love about Richmond - its history, its grandeur, its river and many parks, its culture, its temperate weather, its proximity to mountains and the sea.

"There are a few things I dislike, too. Richmond's history, at times, stifles it. Talk with almost any native Richmonder for an hour and I guarantee they'll bring up 'The War,' meaning the Civil War.

"But 'The War' notwithstanding, Richmond has grown into a modern city where the old and the new collide - sometimes gracefully, sometimes not. Richmond has great museums, wonderful parks, fabulous shopping, lovely streets and a wonderful walkway by the river.

"My favorite thing about Richmond - aside from my family - is 'The Rivah,'" she adds. "The James River flows through the heart of the city, and I love to sit at its banks and watch the water drift by."

Another thing Christine loves is cooking for her family. She and her husband, Jeremy, have two young daughters, Lydia (almost 3) and Evelyn (1). She calls them "the lights of my life."

Christine confides, "I think cooking is one of the most tangible expressions of love. Cooking connects people through the generations - I cherish my mother's, grandmother's and great-grandmother's recipes (although they had far more patience than I in the kitchen!).

"It seems I was always in the kitchen with my mother when I was a little girl - 'helping.' She started off letting me stir, and the rest just came naturally from there. My mother's cooking spoiled me: breakfasts were grand affairs of eggs, bacon, sausage, homemade doughnuts, waffles, pancakes and fresh fruits. My school lunches were delightful sandwiches on homemade breads with fresh veggies from her garden. My mother inspired me to continue her legacy of cooking in my own style.

"I also learned about cooking from my Grand-Bob. He wasn't my grandfather by relation, but he definitely was in spirit - he lived across the street from our summer lake house. He loved cooking and taught me the fun of experimenting. As I grew into cooking, I was always a bit adventurous. Many of my experiments failed, but many were delicious, and they kept me going. I've found that cooking also bridges cultures. I love trying my hand with curries and other new spices and flavors."

Many of Christine's "experiments" have landed on the dinner table to be enjoyed by other family members. Her mother, Virginia, lives nearby, as does one of her grandmothers. She also has two brothers who each have two children.

"My oldest brother, Will, is the sixth William in our family, and his son is the seventh. My other older brother, Sam, is in the Marine Corps. He has served as both an enlisted Marine and as an officer (presently a Major). He has had multiple tours to Iraq and has had five combat deployments.

"We all love cooking," smiles Christine, "and we love getting together for yummy home-cooked meals."

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