Accidental Hedonist - This I Believe

This I Believe

05/18/09, by Kate Hopkins

1146 views • Categories: Food, Advertising

With apologies to Jeff Houck of Tampa Bay Online, I want to bring you my own list of things I believe about food. Most of you who have followed me here over the past five years will likely not be all that surprised. But it may bring interesting conversation.

I believe in Italian food.

Related: I believe the simplest food is often the best food.

I believe that there's no such thing as a great buffet.

I believe that Oreos are as good as Big Food gets.

I believe that one should eat Oreos, nay, any sandwich cookie by twisting it apart at licking the insides first.

I believe that Rachel Ray isn't as bad as most people believe she is, Bobby Flay isn't as good as he thinks he is, and Sandra Lee is worse than what most people believe.

I believe beer makers are, quite possibly, the friendliest food people on the planet.

I believe sweet tea is good tea wasted, a sin for which the South should make amends.

I believe that barbecue, of all sorts, makes up for the sins of sweet tea.

I believe there are James Beard award winning chefs who have no idea on how to make a decent corned beef and hash.

I believe that the Food Network is best at drumming up ratings, but really sucks at actual food.

I believe that your average American wouldn't know a good beer, whiskey, cheese, and chocolate even if you wrapped them in a box, and delivered it to them via UPS, and said "try this! It's better than anything else you ever had!"

I believe that Safeway, Kroger, and other major supermarkets don't get put under enough scrutiny by the food world.

Ditto Dean's Dairy.

I believe that food trends come and go, but diners are here forever.

I believe that American's should embrace their local pub/tavern as a community center.

I believe that Kraft Singles are the worst thing put on this planet, but I believe that Velveeta has its time and place (mostly on Tex-Mex).

I believe that there are several well-known food magazines that aren't worth the price we pay for them.

I believe that recipes shouldn't be copyrighted (Do you hear that Chris Kimball?)

I believe that there are hundreds of different ways to make a decent chocolate chip cookie.

I believe that there are some foods that are best served as leftovers.

And I believe that this list is far from comprehensive.

What do you believe?

Permalink • 16 comments

Comments, Pingbacks:

Comment from: Patricia Eddy [Visitor]

· http://www.cooklocal.com

I believe that childhood food memories are rarely as good as adults remember.

I believe that local is best, fresh is excellent, and knowing the producer of your food is the best way to ensure you're getting what you expect and want.

I believe that while bananas are very tasty, one really can survive with only eating one or two a year (the same can be said for almost any fruit or vegetable).

I believe that patiently slicing apples for a pie can be a zen experience.

I believe that to cook well, you need to be willing to get your hands dirty.

I believe that once in a very great while, Wonder Bread and American Cheese are just what the body wants, though I also believe the body is stupid sometimes.

I believe big organic is a necessary evil, but I don't have to like it.

I believe that if Michael Pollan ever knew my name or website, I'd probably make a fool of myself in god-like worship.

I believe that trying new foods is essential to a happy life.

I believe that people are too afraid of fat.

I believe that there are very few rules concerning food that should actually be followed.

I believe I could keep updating this list for a very long time.

Permalink 05/18/09 @ 10:58

Comment from: George [Visitor]

As a Kroger employee, I would like to know what additional scrutiny you might like to see for my industry. I believe that I can help.

Permalink 05/18/09 @ 12:03

Comment from: Kate Hopkins [Member]

· http://www.accidentalhedonist.com

George,

Mostly I'm concerned about "slotting fees" and other similar practices. My knowledge of them is very rudimentary, to be sure, but they seem like a huge obstacle for newer products to overcome, especially from smaller producers.

Permalink 05/18/09 @ 12:11

Comment from: xero [Member]

· /www.xerarchs.com

I love the bit about Bobby Flay. You hit the nail right on the head with that one.

Permalink 05/18/09 @ 13:07

Comment from: carrie [Visitor]

· http://helpandbehelped.blogspot.com

i enjoy a good buffet. it's fun. it might be a little bit generic but not all bad!!!!

Permalink 05/18/09 @ 14:14

Comment from: Erica [Visitor]

· http://www.bravepotato.com

I believe too much time is spent being afraid of food - of complicated recipes, unfamiliar foods, food-borne illnesses, food intolerances, and, yes, fat, and carbs too. A little common sense is stronger protection than overreaction.

I believe it's not a burrito without refried beans.

I also believe I'd be friendlier if I made more beer, too!

Permalink 05/18/09 @ 18:22

Comment from: Christine [Visitor]

I believe that I love your list!

I believe that there is no other pleasure greater than enlisting one's children in the preparing of a meal.

I believe that the dinner table far surpasses any other means of communication with loved ones.

I believe that the joy of using what you produce in your garden in a recipe is sublime.

Permalink 05/18/09 @ 18:27

Comment from: Paul Bergen [Visitor]

· http://flann4.wordpress.com

I believe that I will not do justice to your remarkable collection (but I believe that I will continue).

I believe that heat, as in chiles, should be the sixth taste.

I believe that I could live without garlic (not that I do, but I could). In other words, I believe garlic is overrated.

I believe that restaurants should be barred from serving simple foods such as hamburgers because for the most part they just don't seem to comprehend their already existing perfection.

I believe that there is enough variation in the human body that no diet is healthy for all.

I believe that cooking well is easy to do occasionally, difficult to do consistently.

I believe that though I prefer someone to be adventuresome with their palate, (I do remember a phrase about someone not sleeping with someone who was open to new cuisines), I ultimately do not believe that you should judge someone about how they eat or cook.

I believe that there are times when food prep is next to godliness.

I believe that coffee and liquorice and watermelon are underused in cuisine.

I believe that someday good restaurants will follow their good meals with good coffee. And, unfortunately, I do not believe that will be in my lifetime.

Permalink 05/18/09 @ 22:26

Comment from: Jeff Houck [Visitor]

· http://www.tinyurl.com/thestew

I believe that this is an outstanding post.

No apologies necessary, Kate.

Permalink 05/19/09 @ 02:55

Comment from: them apples [Visitor]

· http://www.them-apples.co.uk

I believe that the best tasting food isis is the food that you grow, collect or catch yourself.

Seriously, who doesn't love eating blackberries or raspberries straight from from the cane?

I also believe that anybody, anybody can cook. Take one egg, one cup of flour, one cup of milk, whisk, spoon into a hot greased pan = pancakes! congratulations, you're cooking.

Permalink 05/19/09 @ 04:30

Comment from: Melissa [Visitor]

· http://aloshaskitchen.blogspot.com

Great post Kate (of course I love the copyright remark ha!).

"I believe the simplest food is often the best food."

I need to remember that more and more often.

And kudos for saying what you did about Rachael Ray and Bobby Flay.

Permalink 05/19/09 @ 10:39

Comment from: Chuck [Visitor]

I second the Rachael Ray comment. While she may be slightly annoying, or really endearing, she actually cooks. It may be from bagged, pre-cut produce, but it's not from cans and boxes.

Permalink 05/19/09 @ 11:47

Comment from: Paula Maack [Visitor]

· http://www.ambrosiaquest.com

I believe this was another thought provoking and entertaining post by Kate.

I believe people should cook by sense rather than by recipes. (Not that there is anything wrong with recipes!)

I believe that people who try to decide for others what is in or out, or what should or shouldn't be done, are the most clueless and out-of-touch folks around.

I believe washing hands between prep steps is highly underrated.

I believe any buffet that has a plethora of fresh, quality seafood and produce, both cooked and raw - done properly - is a great buffet.

I believe in using the best ingredients available - always.

I believe only you can decide what is best - for you.

I believe snobbery is highly overrated.

I believe the children are our future... and that we are in for a rude awakening.

I believe I am going to go make myself another Lemon Sorbetto Cocktail from the lemon ice cream I made yesterday, and watch American Idol and Glee on Tivo.

Cheers,

~ Paula

Permalink 05/19/09 @ 21:16

Comment from: John [Visitor]

· http://www.cooklocal.com

"I believe that Oreos are as good as Big Food gets."

Double Stuffed possibly, but I'm still more partial to nutter butters, which leads to...

"I believe that one should eat Oreos, nay, any sandwich cookie by twisting it apart at licking the insides first."

Add in 'round' after 'any' and I agree. But twisting open a nutter butter? That's wrong.

Permalink 05/21/09 @ 17:46

Comment from: Andrea [Visitor]

· http://cheeseandpears.com/

I believe that cooking your own food is just part of your day. "I cannot even cook an egg" is not something you should say in public

I believe that cooking is a social thing. Cooking for someone else other than yourself makes it meningful

I believe cooking is creating.

I believe in wine.

I believe in coffee in the morning.

I believe that Chinese cuisine is one of the best in the world.

I believe in Jamie Oliver's recipes.

Permalink 05/23/09 @ 09:53

Comment from: Maaike [Visitor]

I believe people in general think cooking is much harder than it actually is.

I believe in taste.

I believe any product can be part of a healthy diet, in moderation.

I believe in simple food.

I believe in real butter.

I believe in cooking experiments.

I believe in Nigella Lawson, Jamie Oliver and all of those other authors who are striving to promote cooking to the public.

Permalink 05/29/09 @ 15:56

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