WASHINGTON — Born and raised in Worthington, Tom Sietsema's home life set him up for success in his career as food critic for The Washington Post.

“I think one thing that sort of prepared me for my future job, unbeknownst to me at the time, was the fact that the kitchen was always this central place for people coming over and getting together,” Sietsema said in an interview. “My mom was a really good cook and a really good entertainer.

"Ours was one of those Midwestern families that sat down to dinner at 5:30 every single night. And my mom would always make a multi-course meal. We always had a salad, we always had a starch and a protein, and often we had dessert.”

Sietsema found the ritual of gathering around the table and breaking bread as a family was a stabilizing and wonderful thi

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