carol ott online: life and work in pigtown

Interesting note on Michael Ruhlman’s blog today — apparently I was one of the few who didn’t know that the Food Network has shitcanned Emeril Live.  Honestly, I can’t say I’m surprised…or sad about it.  Frankly, I found him insufferable and couldn’t watch the show long enough to figure out if he was a decent chef or not.  Given the other drek on the Food Network, I don’t hold out much hope for him.  (With, of course, the exception of Ina Garten, who I adore.)

I did notice that the news sparked an interesting slew of comments on the blog about how Americans have become more “knowledgeable” about food — I wonder if “knowledgeable” is now synonymous with “foodier-than-thou” in certain circles.  Yes, we have access to better food (or should I say…more expensive food) — but as a nation we’re still fat, diabetic, and full of cholesterol.  Who’s eating all this “better” food?  Folks in Manhattan, I guess.

I was ordering groceries today from Peapod, and I was dismayed to see that one tomato was $1.79.  These are winter tomatoes, people.  They’re not even good.  Yet it was $1.79.  I was talking with a customer, and we recalled a time when it was cheaper to eat fresh healthy foods, and processed foods were expensive (which is why my mother rarely bought processed food…not because she was a boring food snob).  Hell, for $1.79, you can buy maybe three off-brand boxes of mac-n-cheez…and maybe have change left over for a Pepsi.  So…that can be dinner for your family of three, or you can split that pithy overpriced bullshit tomato three ways and call it a day.  Now, I’m not advocating either scenario — but really, I’m beginning to see why broke people buy crap and call it groceries.

Yes, I bought the stupid tomato.  Along with $98 worth of other stuff, not a lot of crap, but I did buy French Onion dip and chips.  In our house, it’s a Christmas eve thing to have chip & dip.  We aren’t big into caviar and pate chez Carol.  I can’t stand either, frankly.  I am, however, making cheese fondue…from scratch…which is so good.  Or we might do beef fondue — I guess I’ll have to take a vote.  But I digress…

I’ve decided that as a nation, we’re not really that knowledgeable about food, we’re just bigger assholes when it comes to sitting down to dinner.  Otherwise, we’d be healthier and happier.  So for this holiday season — I wish you both health and happiness, and quit hogging the spray cheez.