At the beginning of the day, after a very early start gardening, I decided to enjoy a leisurely stroll through a recent indulgent purchase, a travel/food book, “Saha” by Greg and Lucy Mahlouf. I was struck by how much the attitude to food has changed in my lifetime, and how privileged I have been, being able to sample food all over the world. As I read Saha, I recognised the Syrian cheeses, the date biscuits and meatballs common in the Levant.
I was raised on organic veggies grown in the garden and simple home cooking. The first time I ever ate in a restaurant, I was 11 years old. The choice in our neighbourhood was Chinese, Chinese or Chinese. Both of my parents experienced the scarcity of the Depression and World War 2, so Chinese food was pretty exotic and only for special celebrations.
Only a generation later, and looking at my bookshelves, you would think I was a food critic. My cookery books are the culinary equivalent of Around the World in Eighty Dishes; Middle Eastern, Indian, Italian, Russian, Swedish, French, Austrian, Jewish, and even one from Newfoundland. I have specialist books on Trifles, bread making and pasta. I use most of them, and can find the ingredients for most of the recipes in our city.
In the last 10 years we have the cult of the celebrity chef, an entire TV channel devoted to food, and specialised holidays where you can learn to cook your food of choice.
How sad that we live in the generation with possibly the worst famines and food wastage in history.
Makes you think doesn’t it?
1 comment:
How sad that so many people starve while others glut themselves on fast food and overindulgent cuisine.
I have quite a few international cookbooks too Jane. I have one from Nova Scotia, but not from Newfoundland! You've got me there.
Kat
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