While talking to my mother last Sunday, she mentioned that while watching last week’s episode of Fringeon Fox, she thought of me. I’m not sure if she thinks this is what I do when I go food shopping (though it’s pretty darn close!), but its a great clip nevertheless.
Life’s been super super busy lately, but my plan is that regularly scheduled posts will be back soon. I miss cooking and blogging!
Anyone with a less crazy life eat anything good lately?
Shortly after watching the 5th episode of Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution, my husband asked if I thought the show was actually going to have any effect. It’s a version of a conversation we’ve had many times: what difference does one person, whether they’re eating organic, shopping at a farmer’s market, writing a blog or creating a television show, really have on the overall perspectives and eating habits of Americans?
I replied with the same answer I’ve been using for sometime. Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution is another addition to the “storm” of information that has the potential to change American diets.
Did I like the show? Yes. I’m so glad that someone finally created a show on network television that revealed some of the issues in eating today. I really enjoyed Jamie’s personality and completely respect the work he’s trying to do. As a teacher, children and school food are topics which are really important to me. The only thing I didn’t like about the show was that it seemed almost entirely focused on the schools. I wish Jamie had spent more time with families, or demonstrating healthy cooking, or teaching someone how to grocery shop.
But back to the storm. The show was a mini-series, only 6 episodes long. Will the show make a difference? I doubt that cafeterias across the country are suddenly going to stop serving processed food, but I’m sure that at least a handful of people discovered how poor the offerings of many cafeterias are. Those people may instigate change in their local school system, or start packing healthy lunches for their children. Those parents, or students, will likely share this information with those around them. I’ve said it before and I still believe that one of the most effective ways to change people’s minds is personal contact. I changed my eating habits, shared what I learned with Brian and my family and they’ve made some changes to theirs. The more people are exposed to healthy eating ideas, and the experience that the food actually tastes good, the more likely they are to change and the more likely we are to see real change in America. It seems to me that the more changes I make, the more people I meet who are also interesting in changing the food system; the more conversations we have, the more change is going to happen. Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution is just one more addition to the storm of information, education and change that has the potential to change the way America eats.
In the event that you missed the series, the finale episode is below. Check out Hulu for the rest:
If this wasn’t enough commentary for you, here’s some of the latest on Jamie’s show from around the web:
A couple months ago I started getting really excited about Jamie’s Food Revolution, a new TV show coming to ABC. The excitement started when he won the TED Prize (love TED!) this year. This video is of TED Prize speech:
And here’s the premiere of Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution. It’s really good and I’m really excited about the awareness it may be bringing, because awareness is going to bring about change. We can’t leave all the work to Jamie, after all!
First, a reminder. The 6th season of Bravo’s Top Chef has begun! I realize I’m a little late in mentioning it, but I just got to watch the premiere today. Las Vegas looks like it’s gonna be a good season. I’m not going to do recaps or reviews this season, but I highly recommend these blogs if you want commentary:
I am painfully aware that this blog has been lately lacking the one thing it’s really supposed to be about. Cooking. I know I’ve had a million excuses (end of school, getting married, getting settled, moving…) for why that has been the case. Lame. This is supposed to be a blog primarily about my learning to cook healthy and meat free.
Starting this week (aka tomorrow) I am going to start trying out new recipes. A lot of my cooking lately has been things I know are safe because I’ve already shared them on the blog. This week’s menu includes several recipes I’ve never tried before. I will share the results here. Hopefully that’ll make both reading and writing more interesting. Plus dinner around here’s getting dull.
My promise to you:
At least 2 new vegetarian recipes a week. More if I can manage it.
CBS Sunday Morning ran a segment about Engine Company 2 in Austin, Texas, a group of fire fighters who are vegan, and plenty healthy. The story can be read here. It’s definitely interesting, and definitely more good press for those of us who choose to go without meat.
So, tonight’s the finale of Top Chef Season 5. I stopped writing on it because I was enjoying live blogging with the folks over at Endless Simmer too much, but I thought sharing a few thoughts about the season would be appropriate before it ends tonight.
Favorite Episode: Episode 6: Twelve Days of Christmas
Honestly, I just thought it was fun. It was different, it was tricky, it required a lot of creativity. Could you come up with a dish inspired by “nine ladies dancing”? Episode 8: Down on the Farm
Yes, they shop at Whole Foods every week, but it was especially nice to see the contestants work it out on the farm, using only the meat and produce found there.
Least Favorite Challenge: Episode 11: Le Bernardin
No offense to Eric Ripert, of course, but I never did warm to this challenge. Yes, it takes tremendous skill to cook Ripert’s food and it’s a huge honor to cook in the kitchen of Le Bernardin, but it still seems to me that the ability to recreate someone else’s food isn’t one of the most important marks of a good chef. The contestants should be exhibiting their creativity, not Ripert’s.
Also, not a fan of the product placement quick fire challenges featuring Dr. Pepper and Quaker Oats.
Favorite Contestant: Initially, I started out really liking Hosea, but the Hosea/Leah “relationship” put me off a bit (or a lot…) as did his attitude and food in general. As the season progressed, I began rooting more and more for Carla. “Hootie hoo!”
Least Favorite Contestant: Leah, for her seeming lack of personality and motivation to stay on the show, plus the aforementioned Hosea thing. Stefan annoyed the daylights out of me, but he proved he’s one of the best cooks of the bunch.
Prediction: I would love to see Carla win. But I’m suspecting it’s going to be Stefan.
Tune in to Bravo at 10 pm tonight to see who wins!
When I first saw this commercial air during the Oscars, I was shocked that Tom Colicchio–chef, Top Chef judge, restaurant owner–would feel the need to do a commercial. In my mind, he’s well above commercials. But then the commercial was for Diet Coke (not beer, as I initially assumed), and despite the fact that I drink much much less of it than I used to, Coke still remains close to my heart. If Tom had to advertise something, I’m glad it was at least something good.
Tonight’s episode of Food Detectives on the Food Network had a really interesting segment on the “miracle berry”. Apparently it alters the taste buds on your tongue and causes foods, especially acidic ones, to taste sweet. Since it doesn’t affect your brain, there’s no dangers associated with it (yet) and its pretty much just used for fun. Even at $2.50 for a single berry, I’d try it, mostly because it sounds really bizarre.
Some people are making money by holding “flavor tripping” parties and charging admission, but I’m pretty sure there’s got to be some bigger mass market ideas out there.
Some days I feel better about my eating and cooking (and this blog) than others. I’ve made some good meals over the past month with no real failures. I’m much more comfortable in the kitchen and plan to continue improving my skills.
At the same time, I’m still torn about the purpose and function of this blog. My most popular posts are ones discussing television shows, which puts me in an awkward place. Do I just post about television, and “give an over generalized recount of events on a given television show,” as one commenter phrased it? It’s clear from my stat reports that is what gets my visitor count up. Only one of my top 8 viewed posts isn’t connected to a show. So, should I spend more time in the kitchen, creating and sharing the results, even though no one’s going to read it? What’s the point of keeping a blog if no one’s going to read it? It’s a difficult situation.
All that said, I’m obviously running out of steam in the kitchen. This morning there was nothing of interest to bring for lunch, so I grabbed a frozen burrito on my way out the door. Sitting down to lunch in the teacher’s room, another teacher commented, “Do you actually like those, or was there just nothing else in your house?” And it made me think–I mean, they’re certainly edible but they’re definitely not good for you and obviously not vegetarian. I can eat better than this and I should be eating better than this. It isn’t that hard to make something decent to bring to school; I just have to be intentional about it.
I’ll be stopping at the supermarket on the way home to remedy this travesty. No more frozen burritos.
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