Hello Jloeats world!! :)
It's been a while, but this is what i've been working on.
A brand new cooking show concept entitled FAMILY SECRETS!
Check out our kickstarter video: http://vimeo.com/23515771
Our Show Blog: http://familysecretsshow.blogspot.com/
I'm super excited to be presenting this idea tomorrow at my MA Graduation Research Apps Thesis Presentations!! :)
Wish me luck ;)
xoxo
-JLo
5.10.2011
11.25.2010
the Lobster
“Is anyone in this room a Vegetarian?”, Chef Ted shouted from the back sink. “If you eat meat, you have to do it.”
The room was silent and tense as Chef Ted cleaned off his twelve inch chef knife. No one had an answer for him as we contemplated our fate. I couldn’t even reason my way out of this one. It was only the second week of culinary school, and I was not prepared to have to kill something today.
Chef Ted looked up to no verbal objections. “Well what are you all waiting for then? Reach into the bucket and grab your own. Be careful please.”
Walking over to the bucket, I felt my heart jump out of my chest. I tried to slow down my breathing as I could hear my heartbeat. In anticipating poultry day (which was the day after on the syllabus), I was too focused on mentally preparing myself to handle birds since I have an innate phobia for them, but not seafood. I stared at the dirty white bucket sitting on top of the stainless steel prep table in anticipation as everyone else rushed to it. Boasting the fact that I grew up frequenting Chinese fish markets with my grandfather as a child, I was used to the sight and smell of seafood being killed by the monger. But today, I was completely caught off guard.
My eight other comrades were all standing around the bucket nervously picking out their own victim. Half excited, half weary and nervous. We were all squirming none the less but I tried to stand tall in my pristine chef whites, waiting for everyone else to pick first.
Closing my eyes and letting out a shrilling “Eee” sound, I reached in to grab the last one. I felt the weight of the creature drop into my hands and poked at the thick purple rubber band around its claw.
Poor thing. All wrapped up and no where fancy to go. I thought.
I placed my little guy onto my white cutting board, next to my sheet pan full of shiny new tools. I decided not to name him as to keep this professional.
“Gather round my cutting board please” as Chef Ted demonstrated that driving a knife through the head, between the eyes in one clean sweep, to cleave the brain, was the most humane way of killing the animal. Though with much screaming from all parties involved, this did not seem very humane. We returned to our own stations as JD asked, “Can we just boiled it alive instead?” from across the room. “How would you feel if I boiled you alive?” answered Chef Ted in his monotone voice. “But...Ok I heard people put them in the freezer to die first too, can we do that?” Again with his dry humor, “How would you feel if I left you in the freezer to die JD?” I giggled nervously for a moment, and then grimaced at the thought of my own kill.
I looked up at Vicki for support. She was set up across the table, and we had become best friends in the first week. She nodded in my direction and gestured towards Tommy. We both looked at him, and then rolled our eyes. With a smug look on his face, Tommy pompously grabbed the handle of his knife with his fist, sharp side pointing down like he was on a survivor reality tv show, and proclaimed, “This is easy! Watch this ladies...” and went for the kill. He missed. Failing to pierce the creature with his knife, it jumped off the table, and he hopped back too while screaming like a girl. Tommy’s ego dissipated with his embarrassment as his face turned red while he tried to pull his knife out of the cutting board. Chef Ted walked by, shook his head at Tommy, and said, “Let’s go Vicki, its your turn.”
Happy that the attention was still off of me, I watched Vicki frown and reached for her knife. She let out a big exhale of a scream and jabbed the knife straight into the head of the crustacean, and then left it there. Surprised by her own inaction, she let go of the handle and just screamed starring at the poor creature wiggling in agony with a knife through its head. Chef Ted reached over her to pull the knife down to finish it off. “You can’t do that! One clean sweep next time okay?” Vicki stood there frozen with her mouth wide open, unsure of what had just happened.
And then, it was my turn. Beads of sweat and tears rolled down my cheek as I picked up my knife, which had barely bruised a tomato the day before. I took a deep breath, looked down at my cutting board, and beady black eyes stared back at me. Crying through my actions and just shy of hyperventilation, I proceeded. Kill. Separate and portion off into pieces. Clean and place into boiling water to blanch until it turns bright red. Remove from heat, drain, and hold. Mise en Place the rest of the recipe, including the ingredients for the Cognac butter sauce. Mmm, Cognac butter sauce...
Mechanically I had finished my task to Chef Ted’s approval. He even licked his fingers. I was beyond delighted to impress my Chef instructor, but my heart was still beating through my chest with adrenaline.
This is what it means to kill for your own food. How primal, but enlightening. How stressful yet exhilarating. My little guy had transformed from a living being on my cutting board into components that resembled food. I have killed twelve more since then and each time that I keep count, I am also counting my blessings. My real culinary journey had begun. That was the day I killed my first lobster.
The room was silent and tense as Chef Ted cleaned off his twelve inch chef knife. No one had an answer for him as we contemplated our fate. I couldn’t even reason my way out of this one. It was only the second week of culinary school, and I was not prepared to have to kill something today.
Chef Ted looked up to no verbal objections. “Well what are you all waiting for then? Reach into the bucket and grab your own. Be careful please.”
Walking over to the bucket, I felt my heart jump out of my chest. I tried to slow down my breathing as I could hear my heartbeat. In anticipating poultry day (which was the day after on the syllabus), I was too focused on mentally preparing myself to handle birds since I have an innate phobia for them, but not seafood. I stared at the dirty white bucket sitting on top of the stainless steel prep table in anticipation as everyone else rushed to it. Boasting the fact that I grew up frequenting Chinese fish markets with my grandfather as a child, I was used to the sight and smell of seafood being killed by the monger. But today, I was completely caught off guard.
My eight other comrades were all standing around the bucket nervously picking out their own victim. Half excited, half weary and nervous. We were all squirming none the less but I tried to stand tall in my pristine chef whites, waiting for everyone else to pick first.
Closing my eyes and letting out a shrilling “Eee” sound, I reached in to grab the last one. I felt the weight of the creature drop into my hands and poked at the thick purple rubber band around its claw.
Poor thing. All wrapped up and no where fancy to go. I thought.
I placed my little guy onto my white cutting board, next to my sheet pan full of shiny new tools. I decided not to name him as to keep this professional.
“Gather round my cutting board please” as Chef Ted demonstrated that driving a knife through the head, between the eyes in one clean sweep, to cleave the brain, was the most humane way of killing the animal. Though with much screaming from all parties involved, this did not seem very humane. We returned to our own stations as JD asked, “Can we just boiled it alive instead?” from across the room. “How would you feel if I boiled you alive?” answered Chef Ted in his monotone voice. “But...Ok I heard people put them in the freezer to die first too, can we do that?” Again with his dry humor, “How would you feel if I left you in the freezer to die JD?” I giggled nervously for a moment, and then grimaced at the thought of my own kill.
I looked up at Vicki for support. She was set up across the table, and we had become best friends in the first week. She nodded in my direction and gestured towards Tommy. We both looked at him, and then rolled our eyes. With a smug look on his face, Tommy pompously grabbed the handle of his knife with his fist, sharp side pointing down like he was on a survivor reality tv show, and proclaimed, “This is easy! Watch this ladies...” and went for the kill. He missed. Failing to pierce the creature with his knife, it jumped off the table, and he hopped back too while screaming like a girl. Tommy’s ego dissipated with his embarrassment as his face turned red while he tried to pull his knife out of the cutting board. Chef Ted walked by, shook his head at Tommy, and said, “Let’s go Vicki, its your turn.”
Happy that the attention was still off of me, I watched Vicki frown and reached for her knife. She let out a big exhale of a scream and jabbed the knife straight into the head of the crustacean, and then left it there. Surprised by her own inaction, she let go of the handle and just screamed starring at the poor creature wiggling in agony with a knife through its head. Chef Ted reached over her to pull the knife down to finish it off. “You can’t do that! One clean sweep next time okay?” Vicki stood there frozen with her mouth wide open, unsure of what had just happened.
And then, it was my turn. Beads of sweat and tears rolled down my cheek as I picked up my knife, which had barely bruised a tomato the day before. I took a deep breath, looked down at my cutting board, and beady black eyes stared back at me. Crying through my actions and just shy of hyperventilation, I proceeded. Kill. Separate and portion off into pieces. Clean and place into boiling water to blanch until it turns bright red. Remove from heat, drain, and hold. Mise en Place the rest of the recipe, including the ingredients for the Cognac butter sauce. Mmm, Cognac butter sauce...
Mechanically I had finished my task to Chef Ted’s approval. He even licked his fingers. I was beyond delighted to impress my Chef instructor, but my heart was still beating through my chest with adrenaline.
This is what it means to kill for your own food. How primal, but enlightening. How stressful yet exhilarating. My little guy had transformed from a living being on my cutting board into components that resembled food. I have killed twelve more since then and each time that I keep count, I am also counting my blessings. My real culinary journey had begun. That was the day I killed my first lobster.
9.23.2010
crispy fall apples
hello reader! i am back from my summer haitus! :)
Don't you just love fall? Crispy apples, sharpened pencils, clear mind from a long summer vaca? :)
an homage to my food writing class!! --
a few haikus if you will...
melt away city
with my chocolate chip cookie
welcome to pleasure
summer morning dew
fresh like a watermelon
cutting through the heat
large haricots vert
limber and soft to the touch
so green with envy
more to come my friend,... more to come :)
Don't you just love fall? Crispy apples, sharpened pencils, clear mind from a long summer vaca? :)
an homage to my food writing class!! --
a few haikus if you will...
melt away city
with my chocolate chip cookie
welcome to pleasure
summer morning dew
fresh like a watermelon
cutting through the heat
large haricots vert
limber and soft to the touch
so green with envy
more to come my friend,... more to come :)
8.15.2010
the Big Picture
is never simple...
This TED talk by Ellen Gustafson on Obesity and Hunger is a great presentation. She mixes humour in with a very bleak subject, and is passionate about what she believes in. She has publicly stated her opinion, which I feel is of concern to the 80's kids generation, of which I can relate. The idea that our generation is all about the NOW, that most of our notions of being future oriented is to focus on making money -- because it worked for our parents, and that to change the world would take a binding and shift of the me to we perspective. There seems to be a cultural shift in how we approach global epidemics like these issues now because we need to shift our instant gratification modes of problem solving into sustainable and creative solutions in which most of us are not traditionally trained to do or think on this level. That seeing the bigger picture makes most of us utterly depressed and inhibited by fear, and we deal by not dealing, by shopping and consuming more or choosing to be ignorant by ignoring the issues which is the most privileged of privileged place to be as an educated young individual. Though, we still think to ourselves everyday, at the end of it all, what do I WANT? and how will I survive?! Given that the question "what do I NEED to do to get there" comes as an after thought.
This pretty much sums up my current feelings after having some time to absorb, gauge the reactions of, and converse with my fellow peers, friends, and colleagues about our year spent learning about the current food systems in place and the ridiculous policies lobbied and supported by profiting producers and benefactors of the now broken economics of national and world agriculture. Food studies, has been a ride and a half, even in trying to explain to people what is it that i exactly 'do' everyday. And the subsequent TED talk comment section bellow the video link pretty much illustrates why it's been so frustrating at that. People will always have differing opinions on implementing change and what would affect other people the most (yet themselves the least) as long as the situation is out of their circumstance, and out of their control. I find it's always difficult to deal with these world issues at large with a 'me/you vs them' attitude. I guess it always melts down to the core value that is being challenged here -- how does one begin to fight for equality and social justice in a capital power world designed to hold everyone in their place? One can't ever help but wonder "How do I fit into this picture", and "Where do we even begin"? How do we focus on one small thing that can be changed on a daily basis and apply that to the masses? Does that even work when everyone's lifestyles and perceptions of the world are different by and large? Isn't this where nutritional information dealing with diet, health, and lifestyle have always been challenged by authorities and health industries by taking test subjects not proven but correlated to affect something that is really unknown, inspiring drug makers to produce and sell to the masses as a solution? Embedded within industries and systems to organize and treat people are cultural points of views enforced by those in power. So, who wants to tackle being in charge or more than themselves?
This is what I imagine world leaders asking when they get together to meet and greet and converse. I guess that's what I expect national leaders to do, though sometimes it seems like they are more stuck tunnel vision and short term yet expensive 'quick' fixes to keep everybody 'happy'... at least for now...
Globalizing (i use term as a verb here) national issues seem to increase our notions of the 'one nation/one world' point of view, which to me seems quite limited. (Maybe it's the labeling that I'm not comfortable with - perhaps it should be 'one humanity, a million cultural solutions' haaa!) Such a 'one nation' point of view seems to go by a 'one leader' policy, in which none of the most 'powerful' or 'rich' nation's leaders can handle all on their own, nor do they want to? Such a notion manipulates the bigger picture as if humans actually have much control over mother nature as one nation state, and seemingly fits the idea of a dying earth that we have crushed into one hand. When really, it's the evolutionary theory of humans killing other humans that is the problem and solution here. Such a global point of view are embedded in first world nations' economic perceptions of trade, agriculture, and food - why I ask? How do we even begin to look at change if we use the same system of organization to devalue the voice of nations that are poorer, instead of looking at their cultural values and how their ancient civilizations have survived and procreated over the centuries. Hence opinions that erk me like "let's increase funding for technology to manipulate natural seeds and plants, gmo technology, and enclosed ecosystems in order to feed the third world" seem to be masked in wonderful intentions to help others, though who takes responsibility when it doesn't work? When a big company patents and sells their new bio-technologies to poor farmers on the other side of the world implying that they can't help themselves, how is this devaluing system solving any problems when they can no longer take control over their own sustenance and way of life? - Again, why? to make a buck? Why do people feel the urge to feed our human need to help other people so we can feel better about ourselves in the end? Is it a sense of survival pointing at the other who suffers and saying to yourself "HAHA! I am doing better than him in life!"? Blaming "human nature" for our ugly truths don't mean anything. The mind can be conditioned to overcome adversity given the right conditions and nurturing, and the body as much as we push it, if not taken care of, will die. Is this just how it works? How do you even begin organizing a million of these varying bodies and minds in a community, nation state,, and then the world?! Are we getting ahead of ourselves blinded by the flashiness of power?
Like puzzle pieces floating in space out of place on a flat table that is unknowingly round, issues of consumption and waste, hunger and obesity, health and living wages, along with private and public enterprises versus sustainable greener economics, creative, innovative, and technological well-being...etc. I can only imagine, anyone would ask "which piece do you grab and focus on first"? hmmm, future world leaders? youth of our nations?
You can tell Ellen is really excited and passionate about this issue, and is exactly the type of personality that would make a great big picture leader. Makes me wonder how she would conduct meetings amongst these great organizations, and how they would be able to work together to combine mission statements. Go Ellen go!
I on the other hand have discovered that I am more of a 'create small change daily, and stick to them' kind of person. I realize that change happens everyday, in an instant. But the greater challenge as I am a product of my generation, is committing to long term change through every day action. I am a situation handler, a problem solver on spot, an organizer, an event executioner. Always have been. I love the multiple sense of accomplishments throughout my day, even as simple as feeding myself a hearty yummy meal that I have cooked out of love for myself and for others when I share. I have no huge ten year goals to 'change the world' or to 'feed' everybody, but I have goals to change my own path, and to find food security for myself and my family. I need to love who I am first, love what I do, and take care of my family first. I know I am accountable for that much in life. In turn, I hope to inspire others to do the same kind of small but impactful things that bring enjoyment into their lives, every day too. But that is never up to me. I just share what I love with you. Simple.
xoxo J xoxo
shout out to BHT, thanks for being my biggest jloeats supporter ;) woot woot! <3
This TED talk by Ellen Gustafson on Obesity and Hunger is a great presentation. She mixes humour in with a very bleak subject, and is passionate about what she believes in. She has publicly stated her opinion, which I feel is of concern to the 80's kids generation, of which I can relate. The idea that our generation is all about the NOW, that most of our notions of being future oriented is to focus on making money -- because it worked for our parents, and that to change the world would take a binding and shift of the me to we perspective. There seems to be a cultural shift in how we approach global epidemics like these issues now because we need to shift our instant gratification modes of problem solving into sustainable and creative solutions in which most of us are not traditionally trained to do or think on this level. That seeing the bigger picture makes most of us utterly depressed and inhibited by fear, and we deal by not dealing, by shopping and consuming more or choosing to be ignorant by ignoring the issues which is the most privileged of privileged place to be as an educated young individual. Though, we still think to ourselves everyday, at the end of it all, what do I WANT? and how will I survive?! Given that the question "what do I NEED to do to get there" comes as an after thought.
This pretty much sums up my current feelings after having some time to absorb, gauge the reactions of, and converse with my fellow peers, friends, and colleagues about our year spent learning about the current food systems in place and the ridiculous policies lobbied and supported by profiting producers and benefactors of the now broken economics of national and world agriculture. Food studies, has been a ride and a half, even in trying to explain to people what is it that i exactly 'do' everyday. And the subsequent TED talk comment section bellow the video link pretty much illustrates why it's been so frustrating at that. People will always have differing opinions on implementing change and what would affect other people the most (yet themselves the least) as long as the situation is out of their circumstance, and out of their control. I find it's always difficult to deal with these world issues at large with a 'me/you vs them' attitude. I guess it always melts down to the core value that is being challenged here -- how does one begin to fight for equality and social justice in a capital power world designed to hold everyone in their place? One can't ever help but wonder "How do I fit into this picture", and "Where do we even begin"? How do we focus on one small thing that can be changed on a daily basis and apply that to the masses? Does that even work when everyone's lifestyles and perceptions of the world are different by and large? Isn't this where nutritional information dealing with diet, health, and lifestyle have always been challenged by authorities and health industries by taking test subjects not proven but correlated to affect something that is really unknown, inspiring drug makers to produce and sell to the masses as a solution? Embedded within industries and systems to organize and treat people are cultural points of views enforced by those in power. So, who wants to tackle being in charge or more than themselves?
This is what I imagine world leaders asking when they get together to meet and greet and converse. I guess that's what I expect national leaders to do, though sometimes it seems like they are more stuck tunnel vision and short term yet expensive 'quick' fixes to keep everybody 'happy'... at least for now...
Globalizing (i use term as a verb here) national issues seem to increase our notions of the 'one nation/one world' point of view, which to me seems quite limited. (Maybe it's the labeling that I'm not comfortable with - perhaps it should be 'one humanity, a million cultural solutions' haaa!) Such a 'one nation' point of view seems to go by a 'one leader' policy, in which none of the most 'powerful' or 'rich' nation's leaders can handle all on their own, nor do they want to? Such a notion manipulates the bigger picture as if humans actually have much control over mother nature as one nation state, and seemingly fits the idea of a dying earth that we have crushed into one hand. When really, it's the evolutionary theory of humans killing other humans that is the problem and solution here. Such a global point of view are embedded in first world nations' economic perceptions of trade, agriculture, and food - why I ask? How do we even begin to look at change if we use the same system of organization to devalue the voice of nations that are poorer, instead of looking at their cultural values and how their ancient civilizations have survived and procreated over the centuries. Hence opinions that erk me like "let's increase funding for technology to manipulate natural seeds and plants, gmo technology, and enclosed ecosystems in order to feed the third world" seem to be masked in wonderful intentions to help others, though who takes responsibility when it doesn't work? When a big company patents and sells their new bio-technologies to poor farmers on the other side of the world implying that they can't help themselves, how is this devaluing system solving any problems when they can no longer take control over their own sustenance and way of life? - Again, why? to make a buck? Why do people feel the urge to feed our human need to help other people so we can feel better about ourselves in the end? Is it a sense of survival pointing at the other who suffers and saying to yourself "HAHA! I am doing better than him in life!"? Blaming "human nature" for our ugly truths don't mean anything. The mind can be conditioned to overcome adversity given the right conditions and nurturing, and the body as much as we push it, if not taken care of, will die. Is this just how it works? How do you even begin organizing a million of these varying bodies and minds in a community, nation state,, and then the world?! Are we getting ahead of ourselves blinded by the flashiness of power?
Like puzzle pieces floating in space out of place on a flat table that is unknowingly round, issues of consumption and waste, hunger and obesity, health and living wages, along with private and public enterprises versus sustainable greener economics, creative, innovative, and technological well-being...etc. I can only imagine, anyone would ask "which piece do you grab and focus on first"? hmmm, future world leaders? youth of our nations?
You can tell Ellen is really excited and passionate about this issue, and is exactly the type of personality that would make a great big picture leader. Makes me wonder how she would conduct meetings amongst these great organizations, and how they would be able to work together to combine mission statements. Go Ellen go!
I on the other hand have discovered that I am more of a 'create small change daily, and stick to them' kind of person. I realize that change happens everyday, in an instant. But the greater challenge as I am a product of my generation, is committing to long term change through every day action. I am a situation handler, a problem solver on spot, an organizer, an event executioner. Always have been. I love the multiple sense of accomplishments throughout my day, even as simple as feeding myself a hearty yummy meal that I have cooked out of love for myself and for others when I share. I have no huge ten year goals to 'change the world' or to 'feed' everybody, but I have goals to change my own path, and to find food security for myself and my family. I need to love who I am first, love what I do, and take care of my family first. I know I am accountable for that much in life. In turn, I hope to inspire others to do the same kind of small but impactful things that bring enjoyment into their lives, every day too. But that is never up to me. I just share what I love with you. Simple.
xoxo J xoxo
shout out to BHT, thanks for being my biggest jloeats supporter ;) woot woot! <3
6.12.2010
Freedom Brain Fries
10 tragic moments in food propaganda
http://www.salon.com/food/feature/2010/06/10/food_propaganda/slideshow.html
first off -- HAHAHAHAHAHAHA. thank you writer Shah, for pointing out how ridiculous food propaganda can be. Mixing politics with food is like trying to open a fresh 5lb paper bag of flour and having it explode - everywhere. Poof!
Though, it says a lot when such food companies are so terrified of losing sales that any negative association to current events is perceived to be too real to consume. It's called marketing. i wonder what would happen if all the "chicken of the sea" cans turn into "oil of the sea" cans now, if there are even any fish left. or maybe they should just call it mint chocolate depression. HAHA, awww. too real, too real, bring it back.
My theater days had taught me that comedy is a way of observing the world and pointing out the ridiculous truths that everybody else thinks but doesn't want to be martyred for saying out loud. And when you can point fingers at something or someone who is brave enough to put themselves out there as an example of the situation to laugh at it out loud, then we're accepting it as nonsense as a cultural whole.
This article represents how I really feel about everything I've learned thus far about the American food systems and politics in general. Though important to point out significant historical events that are swept under the rug in order to learn from them through a cultural lens, it is also important to laugh at all the ridiculous forces that influence the way food products are marketed and sold to a overly excessive consumer market, in a way that places the blame on someone or something put out there for all to see. By bringing it up in discussion, I only hope to stir up enough attention to find relatable feelings about everyone's current food situation, and I package my thoughts with academia in order to claim credibility. Thank goodness for push button publishing. ;)
So this is all good. I was finally able to laugh at myself last night about how heart breaking it feels to get my foodie perceptions of the world shattered to a million pieces in the last two semesters of my food studies (I use this word 'foodie' very carefully). It takes a lot of strength to get up everyday and go to class to learn about everything that is wrong with our food systems and subsequently how it is destroying our perceptions of the world, and what it would take change it all, consumer's choice of course. We would have to scrap everything and start from scratch basically, returning to old school methods of how to organize ourselves as a species. Yet, there is no such thing as "the good ole days" other than the time period of their lives when people refer to when they were most ignorant about the realities of their own world. Which stirs up great unrest because I am a problem solver, a situation handler, and a perpetual thinker. Yet who am I to change politics and the way of the world or to solve hunger? Those are not my life goals, and never have been. I live to eat and to share my joy of food with people. I live to inspire others about gaining access to better than what they already have. (This mentality is a product of my generation ;) - eighties kids always shop for better because they've only seen the world get worse and worse in terms of politics within their own lifetime, and those who thrive are the ones who don't settle for anything less than their present situation) But I also love to learn and teach. I am addicted to learning and self discovery in a way that teaches me to thrive. Thriving to me means more than just survival, for me it means fighting for a quality of life. It's also tough being resourceful when you are constantly told that there are no resources left where you study and where words like that either inspire creativity or stunt it. Hence I look elsewhere because I am not bound by birthright to the country in which I study, and now I see that as the greatest blessing in disguise. Perhaps this is what perpetuates my nonsensical feelings of not belonging to any one place. My life is split between three places, and two countries. My heart is where the love is, and the love is where the food is.
Claiming my 'foodie' identity became a journey where I was enraptured by the idea of discovering where my food comes from; ignited by my culinary life while working in the kitchen. That became my point of access. As a restaurant worker the only time you get to try haute cuisine is if you go into a kitchen, prove that you're worthy by working for free and keeping up with the pace, and maybe you'll get to sneak a few bites in here or there. You're expected to be an expert at food because those who have access to buying the 'best' out there with capital power in such a private society actually knows more than you about good food. but because you live and work around food all day and see the ugly realities of its carbon based nature, through food safety measures, the glamour of it all is claiming your access to good food like a badge of honour; that you've 'made it' in the darwinian sense of survival. that you will always be around food and make it your life to survive off of it. that you are better off than those struggling to scrounge up for a meal daily. I may have just found my thesis. :)
Home is where the food is, and is where my brain has space and the freedom to breathe.
Thank you for the soulfood.
xoxo J xoxo
http://www.salon.com/food/feature/2010/06/10/food_propaganda/slideshow.html
first off -- HAHAHAHAHAHAHA. thank you writer Shah, for pointing out how ridiculous food propaganda can be. Mixing politics with food is like trying to open a fresh 5lb paper bag of flour and having it explode - everywhere. Poof!
Though, it says a lot when such food companies are so terrified of losing sales that any negative association to current events is perceived to be too real to consume. It's called marketing. i wonder what would happen if all the "chicken of the sea" cans turn into "oil of the sea" cans now, if there are even any fish left. or maybe they should just call it mint chocolate depression. HAHA, awww. too real, too real, bring it back.
My theater days had taught me that comedy is a way of observing the world and pointing out the ridiculous truths that everybody else thinks but doesn't want to be martyred for saying out loud. And when you can point fingers at something or someone who is brave enough to put themselves out there as an example of the situation to laugh at it out loud, then we're accepting it as nonsense as a cultural whole.
This article represents how I really feel about everything I've learned thus far about the American food systems and politics in general. Though important to point out significant historical events that are swept under the rug in order to learn from them through a cultural lens, it is also important to laugh at all the ridiculous forces that influence the way food products are marketed and sold to a overly excessive consumer market, in a way that places the blame on someone or something put out there for all to see. By bringing it up in discussion, I only hope to stir up enough attention to find relatable feelings about everyone's current food situation, and I package my thoughts with academia in order to claim credibility. Thank goodness for push button publishing. ;)
So this is all good. I was finally able to laugh at myself last night about how heart breaking it feels to get my foodie perceptions of the world shattered to a million pieces in the last two semesters of my food studies (I use this word 'foodie' very carefully). It takes a lot of strength to get up everyday and go to class to learn about everything that is wrong with our food systems and subsequently how it is destroying our perceptions of the world, and what it would take change it all, consumer's choice of course. We would have to scrap everything and start from scratch basically, returning to old school methods of how to organize ourselves as a species. Yet, there is no such thing as "the good ole days" other than the time period of their lives when people refer to when they were most ignorant about the realities of their own world. Which stirs up great unrest because I am a problem solver, a situation handler, and a perpetual thinker. Yet who am I to change politics and the way of the world or to solve hunger? Those are not my life goals, and never have been. I live to eat and to share my joy of food with people. I live to inspire others about gaining access to better than what they already have. (This mentality is a product of my generation ;) - eighties kids always shop for better because they've only seen the world get worse and worse in terms of politics within their own lifetime, and those who thrive are the ones who don't settle for anything less than their present situation) But I also love to learn and teach. I am addicted to learning and self discovery in a way that teaches me to thrive. Thriving to me means more than just survival, for me it means fighting for a quality of life. It's also tough being resourceful when you are constantly told that there are no resources left where you study and where words like that either inspire creativity or stunt it. Hence I look elsewhere because I am not bound by birthright to the country in which I study, and now I see that as the greatest blessing in disguise. Perhaps this is what perpetuates my nonsensical feelings of not belonging to any one place. My life is split between three places, and two countries. My heart is where the love is, and the love is where the food is.
Claiming my 'foodie' identity became a journey where I was enraptured by the idea of discovering where my food comes from; ignited by my culinary life while working in the kitchen. That became my point of access. As a restaurant worker the only time you get to try haute cuisine is if you go into a kitchen, prove that you're worthy by working for free and keeping up with the pace, and maybe you'll get to sneak a few bites in here or there. You're expected to be an expert at food because those who have access to buying the 'best' out there with capital power in such a private society actually knows more than you about good food. but because you live and work around food all day and see the ugly realities of its carbon based nature, through food safety measures, the glamour of it all is claiming your access to good food like a badge of honour; that you've 'made it' in the darwinian sense of survival. that you will always be around food and make it your life to survive off of it. that you are better off than those struggling to scrounge up for a meal daily. I may have just found my thesis. :)
Home is where the food is, and is where my brain has space and the freedom to breathe.
Thank you for the soulfood.
xoxo J xoxo
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