Why Peaches Should be the Official March Madness Food

It’s 1891 and it’s rather cold outside in Springfield, Massachusetts.

As the winds blow, James Naismith has been struggling with an assignment given to him by his supervisor, Dr. Luther H. Gulick at Springfield’s Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) Training School.

Dr. Gulick wants a new vigorous indoor sport created for the School’s male students that equals the exercise value of such summer sports as American football and soccer.

And Naismith was given just 14 days to create an indoor game that would provide a much needed "athletic distraction" for the bored students.

Dr. Gulick further demanded that the new game should not take up much room, help to keep the school’s athletes in shape and explicitly emphasize fair play "for all players and not be too rough”.

(A little like being asked to create a new form of soufflé without heat, no?)

After some thought, Naismith divided his physical education class of 18 students into two teams of nine players each. He then directed their attention to the elongated commercial peach baskets he has strapped up high at either end of the gym.

He explained that the new game was played by throwing the ball (on this day a soccer ball was used) into each team’s basket while the opposing team tried to retake the ball and score points in their basket. And so basketball was born – thanks to a peach basket, a ball and one creative teacher.

Well, not quite because there was the ladder. The ladder? Yes, because the peach basket still retained its hard commerce bottom requiring the janitor to climb a ladder after each score and remove the ball. An activity that, as you might expect, slowed the game down dramatically.

By 1906, the basket bottom had been removed (great decision) and the wooden fruit basket was replaced by a chicken wire frame.  Still later the wire frame was replaced by a net 15 to 18 inches in length.

And while the net’s supporting metal ring is now universally called the “hoop”, everyone still refers to the score as “making a basket”.

So, please, don’t forget the noble peach who got it all started when you plan your March Madness promotionals. After all, it did all began with those specially designed long beautiful peach baskets.

Go Final Four!

Your Culinary World copyright Ana Kinkaid/Peter Schlagel 2013 

Amazing New Ferran Video Shows Creative Plans for elBulli Foundation

Only a few days after Ferran Adria presented plans for his BulliPedia to members of the Hospitality Industry and the waiting press corp at the University of Barcelona, he released this stunning video documenting the concepts for his elBulli Foundation, set to open in early 2015. 

To see the future of creative cuisine as envisioned by Ferran and his remarkable staff, take a few moments and view this film in which he lays out his very thoughtful plans for the Center. 

All the components included are designed to preserve the original culinary discoveries of the historic elBulli Restaurant, create new culinary concepts, share them with everyone every where and finally, provide a mentoring environment for inquiry and innovation.

Your Culinary World copyright Ana Kinkaid/Peter Schlagel 2013

Where Will the Pope Live and His Guests Go to Dine After Resignation?

The world was shocked and very surprised when Pope Benedict XVI announced yesterday he is “retiring” from his duties as head of the Roman Catholic Church and leaving the Vatican. No pope has taken such an action in nearly 700 years – and then only in times of great conflict.

Among the many, many questions that such a decision rises is where will a living Pope reside (not to mention what will his title be). Currently Benedict is planning to retire on February 28^th of this year to Castel Gandolfo, the grand historical papal summer palace, located in a small town of Castello about 15 miles southeast of Rome while he waits for his permanent Vatican apartments to be made ready.

Castello is a small town of just over 8,000 citizens perched above Lake Albano and is considered by many world travelers one of the most beautiful small cities in Italy. 

As you might guess, many of the small town’s residents serve in and/or work at the papal establishment that commands the heights above the lake. The religious property include 2 palaces (Papal and Barberini), apartment housing for 21 inhouse servants, an electrical plant, star observatory (Galileo would be happy), professional offices, farm buildings and animal stables.

Also contained in the complex are buildings in the Villa Cybo, set aside for the religious community of the Maestre Pie Filippini and their school, and two cloistered convents, housing the Poor Clare and Basilian Nuns.

So the Pope, as you can see, will not be exactly alone. As a world leader, many people, despite his stated desire to maintain a private life of quiet prayer, will want to seek his counsel and advice.

After meeting with the Pope, his many future visitors will not be left without aid and comfort for in Castello there is a remarkable restaurant that has been offering hospitality since 1882: The Ristorante Pagnanelli. 

This legendary restaurant is located next door to the Pope’s own villa and is now run by the fourth generation of the Giovanni Pagnanelli Family. Today Aurelio Mariani and his wife Jane along with their four sons continue a tradition that includes both heritage and innovation.  

 

And if, success is declared by how the rich and famous come quietly to dine on the remarkable cuisine here, than Pagnanelli can be very proud indeed of their guest list.

Besides the many heads of state and princes of the church that have confidentially booked a balcony table overlooking the Lake, such thoughtful artists as Daniel Day Lewis and Robert De Niro have greatly enjoyed dining here.

The view and the proximity to the Papal Estates certainly are attractions. But what may additionally draw guests to the Pagnanelli dining room is their culinary philosophy, which rests on two cardinal points.

First, every ingredient must be outstanding and purchased whenever possible from local farmers and producers, not to mention those sourced from the family’s own farms. Pagnanelli also changes their menu monthly to flow and connect with the seasons. 

Second, while honoring Italian culinary history, they are not afraid to seek innovation combinations, such as Ostriche Fin de Clair e Ostriche Noblesse and La Nassa dei Crostacei con Aragosta, Astice, Scampi e Mazzancolle. (Diners' Alert: the menu is only available in Italian). 

In short, this remarkable restaurant have endured, high on a mountain top, for over 100 years by never fearing the new while also respecting past traditions.

Perhaps this wise blend of both the tested and the innovative is a wise theme for the College of Cardinals in nearby Rome to consider as they seek to pick a new pope for the 21^st Century.

It’s a philosophy that any wise chef knows will enable his restaurant to grow and to be part of modern life. This same philosophy of the old and the new could also guide and strengthen the contemporary church. Let us hope the Cardinals come to understand the feast that both life and spirituality can and should offer to all.

Post Note, February 13, 2013:

Vatican spokesman have revealed to the world’s waiting press that the final residence of Rome’s retiring Pope will be the Convent of Mater Ecclesiae – minus the good Sisters of the Community of the Visitation. The 20 year old four story building and gardens are central located right behind St Peter’s grand Basilica.

It will contain a complete home residence as well as contemporary chapel, kitchen gardens and a roof terrace overlooking Rome itself. Benedict, once dubbed the "Prada Pope" for his fondness for fine red designer loafers and haute-couture crafted vestments, directed that customized renovation on the Convent begin in November of last year.

While it is unknown what activities the Pope is planning to address in his retirement, it is well known he likes to stroll in sunny gardens. At Mater Ecclesiae he will have a chance to see the eggplant, zucchini and other vegetables planted by the Sister in the Convent's vegetable garden prior to their gracious departure. 

Nearby are also Spanish orange and lemon trees, whose fruit has been used in making the Vatican's legendary maria marmalade. One can only wonder if this Pope, who left before death's deadline, will ponder the complex nature of his legacy as he breakfasts on tea and toast high in his secluded garden world.  

Post Note, February 14, 2013:

Of interest to Vatican watchers was the information released today that the charming Monsignor Georg Gaenswein, the Pope's devoted private secretary, will remain his holiness' aide, residing with him at the renovated Convent of Mater Ecclesiae on the Vatican grounds. 

Eyebrows were, however, raised when it was also announced that Monsignor Gaenswein will also serve as Perfect of the new pope's household.

This position has long been regarded as that of gatekeeper as the Perfect maintains the pope's calendar and so controls who has access to the papal throne.

One can only wonder if the new pope will also be a fan of 'marmalade' or if he is allowed to prefer a different 'jam'.

Your Culinary World copyright Ana Kinkaid/Peter Schlagel 2013

Raise a Toast to the True History of Thanksgiving

Holidays are interesting events. Often their original meaning and even purpose is lost over time. This is especially true of Thanksgiving, an American holiday celebrated on the next to last Thursday in November.

It’s true that since colonial times various states and cities had held harvest celebrations but there was no national holiday called Thanksgiving on the calendar.

Sarah Josepha Hale was the first figure to seriously urge that a national day of giving thanks be established. Beginning in 1827 and continuing for the next 36 years (!) she used her position as editor of the influential Godey’s Lady’s Book magazine to press governors, senators, and presidents alike to create such a day of gratitude and reflection.

As a member of Boston literary elite (and a working mother) she also spoke against racial inequality – an issue it seems America is still struggling with as evidenced in our last national elections.

At the same time there was another younger person working in a distance frontier tavern, serving shots of applejack brandy to all who’d listen to his folky but pointed stories.

And he too was questioning the injustice of inequality.

In 1863 that same man would make Hale’s dream of a national Thanksgiving holiday a reality.  

He did so to remind the nation during the darkest days of the Civil War that there are some truths and values so universal that they are worth fighting for no matter the cost or the time it takes… thoughts captured so well by the Union Colonel Joshua Chamberlain as he spoke to his men on the eve of the critical battle of Gettysburg.

Yes, the person who created Thanksgiving as a national holiday in the U.S. was Lincoln. His courage and strength saved a nation. His fight to do so was not easy as shown in Steven Spielberg’s new movie, Lincoln.  He never gave up. There is a lesson there.

Perhaps when we celebrate Thanksgiving this year we should do more than remember Pilgrims in funny hats. In addition to giving thanks for the turkey and dressing, perhaps we should also give thanks for the many brave men AND women who have throughout history fought so bravely with words and deeds for the human rights that should belong to all people.  

That feast should belong to us all everywhere.

Your Culinary World copyright Ana Kinkaid/Peter Schlagel 2012

Romney's Hurricane Sandy Relief Rally Was a Fake Food Drive

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 usual during 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 food and 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