Cooking With Ideas

Do You Dione Lucas?

While in New Hampshire, I wandered into a consignment shop in Amherst, NH and purchased Dione Lucas's The Cordon Bleu Cook Book (the front page says 1951, but it is copyright 1947, reprinted 1954. Who knows?). Complete with Phoebe Nicol's drawings, the book opens with the following words: "To most of us, the Blue Ribbon connotes outstanding achievement in many fields. We associate it, perhaps, with a beautiful painting in an exhibition, a prize-winning novel, or as reward to an individual for unusual merit in his sphere of work. The Blue Ribbon, or Cordon Bleu, is of special significance to those who know and enjoy good food. This diploma, highest award in Europe for cooking, is desired and cherished by all who work to earn it" (p. vii). The focus of the book, of course, is on classic French food; what was once a term focused on French noblemen is, now, of course, a term of approbation for food, chefs, cooking. (For a definition of cordon bleu, click here.) Dione Lucas is, in part, responsible for my knowing this --as an early-ish proponent of French food in the U.S. -- and of a cooking school which spread that word. Indeed, she came before Julia Child, who I always thought invented cooking shows on television --not to mention the idea of Americans creating French food in their own kitchens as classic French food. I have not cooked from this new addition to my old cookbooks shelf yet -- and may never, but I admit  to being attracted by a "Squash and Chestnut Soup" which reminds me of a delightful chestnut soup I had in Paris. And somehow, the idea of a recipe which translates as "Chicken with Cat's Teeth" just cheers me up -- and no, there are absolutely no parts of a cat's anatomy in the recipe. No cat gut (isn't that for stringed instruments?). No teeth at all. My suspicion: the almonds are the teeth! 

Convention(al) Food -- OR Food at the Democratic Convention -- OR Food and Politics 2008. . .

So, the Democratic Convention is in Denver from August 25 through August 28. Turns out the Dems are VIrgos. (The Republicans are too, meeting in St. Paul from September 1 through 4.) Yep, it is late August and high political drama is out there just waiting for us. I have eaten in Denver (and I confess, St. Paul; for the former, click here) and can tell you, there is most definitely swell food available. So, what about all those people descending on Denver, eating, drinking, protesting, hoping? Will they eat, too? I suspect so. I had no idea until I started trawling the internet, though, that the topic of political conventions and food went together in such silly (and perhaps, just perhaps, serious) ways. 

Will they eat fried food in Denver? Rumor has it, the answer is: NO. This according to an article entitled: "Southern shocker: No fried food at the Democratic Convention" available here. The subtitle is less regionally loaded: "Party's guidelines for Denver specify nutritious,colorful meals." The issue of the colors is particularly entertaining (no, not red, white and blue); for more on this, eat with your eyes and check this out.  And then, there's the effort to be green - environmentally friendly, of course -- which led to peaches versus pineapples as a topic. (Click here.) Worries about "food police" led Denver politicos, of course, to say such guidelines are "voluntary." But, hey, so is tipping, right? 

And, yes, the Republicans have used all this to claim that the Dems are elitist and/or out of touch. (Not so much, I say, or at least most definitely not more than the party of even-more-privilege, the Republicans -- but the media certainly makes it sound that way. Wonder why? A rightward tilt?) 

Of course, you can spend your time wondering what Obama eats -- and/or what his chef would do when installed in the White House. If that's your gig, click here. Or, ask if Obama and McCain were food what would they be as this blogger has. Or compare their favorite foods by clicking here or consider this article on what there favorite restaurants have to say about them.

Yes, there is, though, much much more to the notion of food and politics than all this, entertaining though it is. There are, for example, Obama's and McCain's policies around food and agriculture (click here for part of Wiki the Vote's views on this or here for an Obama bill on food safety and here for a critique of it). Or try here for their connection to the matter of food prices. Or here for McCain's farm policies (and his opposition to subsidies) and the Midwest perspective on his candidacy. Or here for which of the two (oh, what a mess) is more or less for the corn monoculture. 

Read away. And then get out there and eat the vote. 

Do You Want to Be A Better Foodie?

The word foodie -- where did it come from? How do we know if we are one? Is being a foodie a good thing or a bad thing? Self-indulgent a la 1980s yuppies? Or politically savvy -- resisting the monoculture and ecologically unsustainable? Is it defined by a yearning for The French Laundry and expense -- by snottiness -- or by something more acceptable? Is it a label to claim for oneself -- or do we just apply it to others? 

I confess, I think of myself as a foodie -- but I also have my doubts some times about whether I a) qualify or b) should want to quality or c) whether it is a guilty pleasure or . . . . And then, into my house came a little book entitled how to be a better foodie: a bulging little book for the truly epicurious. Written by Sudi Pigott, The book is somewhere between a diagnosis, an etiquette book, a collection of small snotty recommendations, a brown and pink gift book, and, yes, the book is self-consciously self-described as "erudite but firmly tongue-in-cheek." Filled with information, quizzes, and thises and thats, Pigott's book is actually perfect as a browsable bit. (Yes, the perfect pick it up, open it, read for a moment or two, put it down and go on with the rest of life until you need a distraction. The perfect book for avoiding the real world. Hmmm. Maybe that is what foodie-ism is all about -- avoiding the real world? A world filled with hunger, with poverty, with. . . ) From restaurant etiquette for the foodie (try to get others to order what you cannot order but want to taste) to lists of trendy cheeses to places foodies ought to want to travel to lists of films to . . . . foodie Christmas stocking fillers . . .  What might I add if I could? Well, I do like what is included, but being a bit of a moral entrepreneur, maybe we can add a list of charitable and political organizations that foodies should or might support.  Yes, that's what's missing. And a soupcon of readings and related material that simply makes quite clear -- that food is about more than aesthetics and trends, when the food shed is the issue, we are also always talking (directly or indirectly) about those who have less and are oppressed and are poor and hungry. Yes, the book needs at least one more list. 

Ok, I admit there is a lot in this book that I do not know and that leads me to wonder if I am some sorta nouveaux faux foodie. But hey, in the long run, who cares? It's fun -- and I can always get my politics elsewhere. 

For the food quiz, click here, read away and then go try what has been called an insanely hard food quiz. For another view of what a foodie might be, click here for a Slashfood commentary on food. 

A Sad Poem

A friend sent me this link, to a "sad poem" by Kim Addonizio entitled "Eating Together" from her book What Is This Thing Called Love.  It raises issues that we all have faced -- friends with cancer or other threatening illnesses -- and the ways that eating and loss are woven together in memory, in life, and in love. Follow the link; and say thanks -- to friends for poems that arrive via email and the wonders of The Writer's Almanac with Garrison Keillor. And spend a few moments thinking of those you have lost -- to death, to mistakes, to all the vagaries that are life.  

Extreme Makover -- Geneva Edition -- Plus Food?

So, Geneva is filled with the news: Extreme Makeover Home Edition is filming in Geneva! (Never heard of it? Try here for Wikipedia's information on it.) They (aka ABC?) sent the relevant family off to Cancun for the week, I heard, and are hard at work on Williams Street (I think). Wowzers. Reality television meets the need to market Geneva as a tourist destination meets -- well, the first ever real traffic jam I have ever seen in our little town? The size of the headlines in the Finger Lakes Times match VE Day and maybe even the huge headlines when. . . . Among the events associated with this --including endless requests for donations -- is one that actually has to do with food. Here's part of an  email letter I got announcing Geneva's Extreme Fundraiser. Yes, there are endless critiques of all this; but then again, you may want to stop by the fundraiser and try out various Finger Lakes foods. All this is certain to bring the foodies out on August 23, 2008. 

The excitement of the Extreme Makeover Home Edition Event in Geneva is rising to a crescendo level.   We still need help and will keep you posted each day until Friday.  Yesterday we released a press release from the production company that listed the items needed.  In addition they are accepting gift certificates and gift cards for the build which can be purchased at our local stores like HEP & Walmart.  If you are interested in buying items for the home or family ie. gift certificates to restaurants, stores or other misc. items please visit our website www.genevany.com and click Find a business.

Though most of the furniture, appliances and lumber have been donated by national sponsors, additional money has to be raised by us.  The Geneva Area Chamber of Commerce and the City of Geneva will be hosting Geneva’s Extreme Fundraiser, a family fun day in Geneva on Saturday, August 23rd on Geneva's Lakefront.  The event will include carnival games for kids from 11-3pm, Entertainment on the Gazebo stage from12pm-9:30pm and a Silent/Live Auction from 6pm to 9pm.

We are hoping that you can help us collect some exciting auction items.  They can be items, packages or experiences for people to bid on.  People in the auction tent will have paid $20.00 to enter, as they will be offered Finger Lakes Wine and Food.

Geneva Community Projects will gladly accept donations on their behalf as GCP is a not –for-profit tax-exempt corporation, qualified under section 501 c 3 of the Internal Revenue Code to receive charitable contributions which are tax deductible as a business expense.  

Needless to say this will bring national attention to Geneva and the Finger Lakes region.  So, we don't want to let them down and instead show the world that we are great givers. Please call the chamber at 315-789-1776 with any auction items you would like to donate.

Regards,

Chamber Staff

Junk Food Wonders

A while ago (of course, when I write this and when I post this are two different things.), a friend of mine posted a blog entry about a new-ish flavor of Ben and Jerry's ice cream: Cake Batter. The flavor celebrates the company's 30th anniversary. (Wow, that makes me feel old -- and not even old-ish.) So, today when I was in Wegman's I thought to myself: "Try something new. Don't buy the same old same old when you are out buying things you ought not -- Cherry Garcia or Super Fudge whatever."  Maybe, stick with the punny names (where did that marketing ploy come from anyway?) -- but definitely try something new. So, since I am reading books about Hinduism for some reason: The Goddess Lives in Upstate New York by Corinne Dempsey and a novel entitled River of Gods by Ian McDonald that I bought because I saw a recommendation for it that came from Barbara Ehrenreich. [The former focuses on a Hindu temple in Rush, New York; the latter is a science fiction novel on India in 2047. (Like Ehrenreich, I had my doubts about the sci fi -- but it is definitely worth the read, though water not food is the issue. Then again, without water, no food,right? And lots of the important work on foodie politics makes quite evident that the water wars are critically connected to monoculture agro-imperialism.)] Anyway, all that Hinduism may be explain why I chose Karamel Sutra for my latest indulgence. Get it? Karamel -- karma. Sutra -- well, sutra. Karamel Sutra -- Kama Sutra. 

How was it? Pretty darn good! Half and half, vanilla/caramel ice cream and chocolate ice cream, with chunks ofchocolate here and there, and a caramel goop somewhere in the middly bit. It took me more than a day to eat the pint I bought -- but still -- for a mass distributed ice cream, not bad at all. And I tried something new. And perhaps I will be punished in my next life, but today, I am going with one day at a time.  One day at a time. 

What Do You Eat for Comfort Food?

One of the questions asked of all interviewees here at Cooking with Ideas is: What do you eat for comfort food? (Yes, I know that some people actually stop eating under stress, but hey, we all differ in when we want comfort food and when the idea of eating strikes us as unimaginable. And no, I do not mean by "comfort food" the novel of that title recently reviewed here.) What counts as comfort food? Hmmm. Wikipedia says all sorts of useful things on this topic, including a link (this one) on gender preferences in comfort food and another from the Science Creative Quarterly. And, by the way, the NY Times does seem to think possibly junk food works; click here for a bit on that! And Psychology Today has opinions on the matter as well: click here. Who knew? Over the course of the interviews here are some of the answers I have received:

Caroline Ravines, biscotti maker: Thanksgiving Food is my true comfort food; turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, sweet potatoes, wild rice etc...................I also love Peruvian Beans and Rice with Fried Onions and Tomatoes. I find hearty soups very comforting. For that interview, click here. 

Chemist: baked potatoes and ice cream. For that interview, click here. 

Kim Sunnee: A bowl of pasta with some sort of crispy chewy pork product is always comforting. Gumbo with potato salad. Red beans and Rice or sometimes just a bowl of fragrant steamed rice with a pat of salted butter or a drizzle of olive oil. I love cheese and Tarte Tatin with a dollop of chilled crème fraiche.  For that interview, click here. 

Lorraine Bartlett, mystery author: a hard boiled egg, along with a slice of dry white toast and a cup of tea. For that interview, click here. 

Nancy Irelan, of Red Tail Ridge Winery: Roast chicken cooked with root vegetables in a clay pot. For that interview, click here.

Normal Bread baker, Dustin Cutler: Bread. For that interview -- the very first at Cooking with Ideas, click here. 

Rhetoric Professor: white pizza. For that interview, click here. 

Religious Studies Professor: warm apple crisp. For that interview, click here. 

Or, just look for all the other interviews that have graced, Cooking with Ideas. 

So: people vary. What do you eat for comfort food? 

August What?

Yes, I am not eating out much. Nor am I cooking much. And I am not even reading all that much about food. So, you are being subjected to lots of miscellany. And here is some: August 16 is both Bratwurst Day and National Rum Day. How do I know? My usual: American Food Holidays. For the first, click here (says American Food Holidays) and for the second, here. What's a bratwurst? Here's what Wikipedia says. Did you know that Sheboygan, Wisconsin is the "Bratwurst Capital of the World" and that Madison, WI also has a huge brat festival? Or that some call bratwurst "Wisconsin's Soul Food"? Neither did I until I used those dual wonders of academic research, google and wikipedia. Who knew? Rum, though, well, I go for Anguilla's rum. Mmmmm. 

And, in case you want to order a foodie item that involves bratwurst and (non-Anguillan) rum, click here. Or, take a mojito to a brat festival. Surprise yourself. Surprise us all. 

Bread, Body and Spirit

I first read about this book on Cookin' in the 'Cuse (right here) and was eager to get a copy. I was excited by the topic -- and to see a fellow blogger in print. So, today, when I finally opened the book (I was trying to wait to read it with a pal this fall, but failed), there were other names I knew! Wow -- some I know only by reputation (e.g., Edward Espe Brown who was featured in a film I reviewed here, and folks like Meister Eckhardt, or well known foodie names like Barbara Kingsolver and a favorite poet like Mary Oliver), but my eye went first to the name Omid Safi -- a religious studies scholar that I actually know! With all these familiar names,  I am even more thrilled to have the book. 

So: I have been browsing Bread Body Spirit - slowly and unevenly. The book touches on a whole array of religious/spiritual traditions, both those explicitly understood as such (represented by texts like the Qu'ran, the Upanishads, the New Testament  -- and others which point to Native American traditions, for example) and more implicitly "spiritual"; in this conjoining of many traditions into a spirituality which is both pluralistic and vague, the volume exemplifies the themes of a second book I am currently reading: Robert Wuthnow's America and the Challenges of Religious Diversity (2007).  Bread Body Spirit is filled with links between agriculture and the sacred, between the food we eat and death (and the ways we are all ultimately food ourselves), between cooking and other forms of right action, and between all this and the notion of grace. Though I sometimes cringe (I am not a big fan of the touchy feel-y), grace is just what I need right now: not in the sense of formulas or prayers at the start of meals, but in the sense of "unmerited divine assistance given humans for their regeneration or sanctification" (p. xiv). Okay, divine -- not so much -- unmerited grace, well, I can go for that. 

Alongside the hope of grace, the book emphasizes the ways the sacred -- perhaps the extraordinary? perhaps simply hope? -- connects to and is rooted in the ordinary. Somehow, keeping one's eye on that very ordinariness seems crucial -- preventing oneself from living in dreams (Freudian illusions?) that make life unlivable. Rather than religion as transcendental --or pie in the sky bye and bye -- here religion/spirituality is the every day. Edward Espe Brown's moment by moment connection of stars and flowers. And the transformative power of cooking -- transubstantiation, enlightenment, change. 

Betty Fussell (for a conversation with her, click here) starts her essay "Murder we must." (p. 28) This, of course, sent a frisson through me -- and not just because of the section of Cooking with Ideas entitled "Murder on the Menu." Fussell's words remind me that, indeed, eating is linked to the end of other life. In Fussell's delightfully realistic words: "Our hands are stained with carrot blood. . . " (p. 28). (Perhaps this explains the book section entitled "Compost.")  And yet, the end of that life sustains us -- as it says in Bread Body Spirit, somewhere, we eat ourselves into existence. And that existence we eat ourselves toward, of course, comes not just with the pain all this alludes to but the complex and sometimes difficult wonders of love as well -- lemon trees symbolize this in Cookin' in the 'Cuse writer, Jennifer Baskerville-Burrows' essay, "Lemon Love." 

I keep jumping in --and hoping for a bit of inspiration and hope. Steering between the everyday, the trite and the profound -- the book offers just that --inspiration and hope. The book ends, by the way, with a list of charitable and other organizations to work with to act for a better world -- foodie politics and foodie philanthropy in a world filled with poverty and the many ways we can make our own grace. 

Yes, we can make the world -- and ourselves -- better. Yes, we can. Is there grace? My Lutheran friends seem to think so -- and I keep on hoping for unmerited grace of a more human sort. 

Canandaigua Spice Shop Going Out of Business

An email from folks at I Love the Finger Lakes  alerted me to the fact that Canandaigua Spice Company is closing as of August 30th. Alas. For their going out of business sale and related information,click here. For the interview with Michelle that she did for Cooking with Ideas, click here or here. 

While it is always great to see a sale -- and the store is definitely having a big sale -- it is always sad to see a foodie business go! So stop by and say "thanks" between now and August 30. And spend some money.