Like Water for Choclate uses Magical Realism to capture the transformative qualities of everyday food and drink into something more. Also consider reading (and enjoying) Joanne Harris' amazing Chocolat.
We buy it, we bury it, we burn it and then we ignore it. That is how the world deals with trash - all those wrappers, papers, bottles, medical supplies, cans, car pairs, broken parts, TVs, computers, plastic bags and the pile grows higher and higher and higher and higher...until
"Ignore it" is the key phrase, the convenient phrase, that action that makes it seemingly easier until we start to count the overwhelming cost, a cost that the award winning actor and activist, Jeremy Irons, explores in the new film TRASHED.
No matter where you live or where you work, take seriously our responsible for this planet: Recycle/Reuse. It is our choice to make - shall we live in a garden or a dump? Where do you wish to dine, to work - among mounting heaps of garbage? Where will your children (and your children's children) play?
We decide, we define our world, with each choice, with each item we so carlessly tossOR thoughtfully recycle!
Your Culinary World copyright Ana Kinkaid/Peter Schlagel 2013
While watching the fifth episode ofDownton Abbey, Season 3, many of the show’s observant viewers noted that when the American Isobel Crawley hosted a thoughtful luncheon after the death of Lady Sybil, Ethel Parks, the disgraced housemaid, served a final course entitled a “Charlotte Russe”.
No dessert could have been more appropriate, especially after Lord Robert Crawley burst in, shocked that his family was being served by the former prostitute. Christian charity was one thing, but in his eyes, the family’s reputation was quite another matter.
Yet, perhaps his mother, Violet Crawley, the Dowager Countess of Grantham, knew quite a bit more about both life and culinary history when she remarked dryly on seeing the Charlotte Russe, “It seems a pity to miss such a good pudding.”
For you see, the Charlotte Russe is one of those grand dishes that comes with an equally grand pedigree. Its creator was the legendary French Chef Marie Antonie Careme, who history remembers as “the King of Chefs, and the Chefof Kings”.
High praise that, and yet, it is totally true. He not only cooked for the leading powers of his day (Talleyrand, Napoleon, George IV and the Czar of Russia), he defined the toque as the classic chef’s hat, clarified the four “Mother Sauces” and established “service a la russe” as the accepted form of table service in polite society.
It was while he was working for the shy Czar Alexander I of Russia that he created the Charlotte Russe. “Russe”, of course, refers to Russia. (Can you say, “Make your employer feel important by naming something after his country”?)
But who is Charlotte? Charlotte was the sister-in-law of the Czar and was married to George III of England. (Yes, ‘that’ George of ‘Lost the American Colonies’ fame). After the fall of Napoleon, for whom he had worked earlier, Careme had been employed by King George’s son, the Prince of Wales (and future George IV).
While serving the English Prince, he had observed and had come to admire the quiet nobility of this former princess from the tiny German state of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, who managed both a mentally unstable royal husband and a family of 15 overly ambitious children(!)
At the same time she also mentored the careers of Bach and Mozart and supported scientific discovery in the field of botany. The world famous Royal Kew Gardens exist today because of her keen support and insightful interest.
But her contributions do not stop there. Truly a woman ahead of her times, she founded orphanages and hospitals for expectant mothers. She supported education for women, especially for women “to whom life had not been kind”.
So you can see why Careme named a dish after this remarkable Queen, for he had seen enough of life himself to understand its many hardships and the need for rulers to address them.
Whether it was intentional or not,Julian Fellowes, the author of Downton Abbey, could not have picked a better dessert for the 'fallen’ housemaid, Ethel Parks, to serve. She was exactly the kind of women Queen Charlotte had sought to lift up and support. Even the other Downton ladies joined Isobel in her defense. Or as the grand Lady Violet note, neither a pudding (nor a life) are, should be foolishly wasted.
We can be thankful then that the esteemed Careme, in the cold snows of Russia, showed more awareness and compassion to the twists and turns of life by naming a dessert after this courageous Queen than did Lord Robert with his hot tempered moral lecture at the luncheon table.
Equally, the twist and turns of culinary history should often serve to remind us all within the Industry how even the simplest of actions, a kind word – a thoughtful gesture, can enrich lives beyond our knowing. And that, perhaps, is something to always remember, whether we serve upstairs or down.
Your Culinary World copyright Ana Kinkaid/Peter Schlagel 2013
Mitt Romney and Party have treated us to false coal miner rallies where the workers were required to attend by their employer and not even paid their regular wages for doing so. Then there was the phony charity dish washing event staged by Paul Ryan, the Republican vice president candidate.
NOW, we must endure a false Hurricane Sandy Aid Rally.
Unable to continue campaigning as usualduring the worst storm to hit New York, New Jersey and surrounding East coast area in a century, Romney needed to find another way to keep his face before the voting public.
Why not stage a political rally but call it a relief rally instead? Need a photo opp? That's easy. Just send your staff to the nearby Walmart to buy $5,000 worth of canned foodand then heavily stocked the tables in front of the candidate, least he look bad.
Attendees without a food donation were given one by Romney's staff, enabling them to give 'their' (Romney's) food gift back to the Republican candidate when he shook their hand in front of the waiting cameras.
Prearranged, phony, fake, staged!!! Are there words negative enough to comment on the character of someone willing to exploit the suffering of millions of citizens suddenly without homes, lights, heat, food? We are at a loss to find them.
Crafting a self-serving event complete with illusionary donations and then adding childhood stories about one's own generosity, it NOT a presidential response worthy of any individual seeking to one of the world's most powerful positions.
The correct response is to donate cash to the American Red Cross. Cash enables them to purchase the resources most needed by the disaster victims and avoid the costly and time-consuming process of sorting, delivery and even finding a heat source to prepare food donations.
Perhaps Romney, one of the wealthiest men to ever run for president, might consider this well known fact and write a check to the Red Cross equal to say the price of his wife's show horse, instead of focusing on obtaining PR photos of himself.
Post Note, November 1, 2012: The staff at Your Culinary World has voted unanimously to award Lindsay Lohan the BURNT COOKIE AWARD for absolutely stupid statements.
With an almost unbelievable careless disregard for the safety of others, she twitted, "WHY is everyone in SUCH a panic about hurricane (i'm calling it Sally)..? Stop projecting negativity! Think positive and pray for peace."
Dear Miss Lohan, hurricanes and the loss of life that they bring is no joke. You should know better or be silent. Being a celebrity is a responsiblity, not a platform for spreading dangerous misinformation!
Your Culinary World copyright Ana Kinkaid/Peter Schlagel 2012
Many Americans are surprised when they learn the jack-o'-lanterns are actually a British tradition. And this fact is borne out by the fact that each year London's legendary store, Fortnum & Mason, holds a pumpkin carving contest.
But the story doesn't start there. Back in the mists of pre-Christian days, the Celts of Scotland and Ireland repeatedly told each other the story of Stingy Jack.
Now Stingy Jack was always playing tricks on everyone, including the Devil himself. Once he tricked the Devil into climbing an apple tree on the pretense that the Devil should prove he did not fear this controversial fruit of self knowledge from the Garden of Eden.
Jack then hurriedly placed crosses all around the tree and made the Devil promise not to take his soul when he died as the term of releasing him from the hostage tree.
When Jack finally did die, he was, of course, denied entrance into Heaven because of his many mean deeds. He also found, because of his bargain with the Devil, he was not welcome in Hell either.
The Devil, still resenting the trick Jack had played on him, condemned Jack to roam the earth at night without friends or comfort. But the Devil, who was once an angel, was not without sympathy for the errors of humanity, so he tossed Jack a hot coal from the eternal fires of Hell to light his path on the darkened earth.
Jack’s soul fell back to earth, without form. At first Jack tried to enter homes but he only scared people. Then one lonely night, he remembered that he had once carved turnips and gourds into scary faces and hung them from trees to frighten people in the night.
Jack found an old one he had once made still hanging from a tree and there he put his coal and soul, far from the freighted villagers.
Knowing a good thing when they saw it, for no village wants lost souls wandering about at night, the local folk carved and hung more turnips and gourds 'lanterns' in the other trees - just in case there were any other additional spirits needing a welcoming home.
And these lanterns, came in time to be called “Jack o’ Lanterns” after, you guessed it, Stingy Jack himself.
Scottish and Irish immigrants brought this custom of carving a turnips and gourds to the United States along with many other lovely customs (such as whisky/whiskey).
But when they saw the gigantic pumpkins offered for sale in America’s rural farmers’ market – well, who wants to carve a little turnip when a huge pumpkin would be so much easier.
The early American writer Washington Irving combined all the bi-continental story elements, added a touch of Dutch New Amsterdam, and created the unforgettable tale of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow – complete with flaming pumpkin heads and lost souls in the night.
Today, Halloween wouldn’t be Halloween in either the U.S. or Britain without pumpkins. So, whether you carve or bake, be kind, be generous or Stingy Jack just might visit you!
Post Note: Oct 20, 2012: It seems a love for pumpkins is now going international because Burger King outlets in Japan are offering the BK Pumpkin Burger and the Pumpkin Bomb Burger from October 26 through November 11 this year.
Both burgers come with beef patties, fried kabocha pumpkin slices, bacon (is the combination of 'bacon and pumpkin' to be our newest food fab?), and, of course, lettuce. They're topped with a nut sauce made from sesame seeds, peanuts, almonds, cashews, and hazelnuts. Oh, yes, they do come with pumpkin fries for those in the true 'spirit' of the season.
Your Culinary World copyright Ana Kinkaid/Peter Schlagel 2012
Northern Italy was struck over the past weekend by amassive 6.0 earthquake. Not only have six people sadly died and many others injured, but Italy’s esteemed Parmesan Reggiano cheese industry has been severely damaged.
The great cheese houses of the regions have lost over 300,000 giant cheese wheels, valued at over 8,000,000 EUR or $10,045,604 USD.
As far back as the era of Renaissance andLeonardo da Vinci, there have been questions as to why northern Italy suffers such severe earthquakes.
Today we know that the African tectonic plate, upon which Italy rests, pushes up and under the European tectonic plate, forming theSwiss Alps. The resulting pressure forces the former seafloor up, creating the high alpine peaks, complete with embedded see life fossils.
The price of Parmesan Reggiano will likely soon be equally high, so consider calling your supplier and laying in an additional store of this prize cheese.
Just be sure to remember, whether your menu includes Parmesan Cheese Baskets or Eggplant Parmesan, that many in Italy’s famed cheese industry are suffering, so consider contributing to the Italian Red Crossso that life (and cheese production) can return to normalcy. Viva Italia!
Post Note, May 29, 2012: Poor Italy! Another massive earthquake of 5.8 magitude hit northern Italy around 9AM local time today.
With many individuals in school or at work in already weakened structures, the death count has risen to at least 15.
Area cheese makers, who were then working to salvage their great Parmesan Reggiano wheels, have had to evacuate their warehouses as the ceilings and lights over head shook once again with frightening force.
Let's hope Mother Nature takes a rest very soon and grants a peaceful night of undisturbed sleep to all within the area.
Your Culinary World copyright Ana Kinkaid/Peter Schlagel 2012
Monday, July 15, 2013 at 5:30PM 
