I Hereby Declare…

…that people get over the fact that The Food Network isn’t all about food and it isn’t the place to learn how to cook.

It’s probably never going to be and is simply entertainment. It’s what it is. Criticizing them for the lack of serious cooking on their programs is like complaining that there’s not enough hard-news in Jay Leno’s monologue.

If you want to learn how to cook, crack open a cookbook by Richard Olney or Jacques Pepin, take a cooking class, or follow along while watching Julia Child on The French Chef on DVD.

…that people please stop using that phrase “Fat is flavor”.

Espresso, ground cinnamon, marshmallows, red wine, maple syrup, fresh ginger, Ranch Gordo beans, arugula, soy sauce, cranberries, Château Yquem, Concord grapes and sea salt are delicious and absolutely loaded with flavor. Yet they have zero or just very trace amounts of fat.

Fat is not a hero nor is it a villain.

But if you think fat equals flavor, eat a spatula-full of Crisco vegetable shortening and let me know how it tastes.

…that people use their real names when leaving restaurant reviews on the internet.

If you have something to say, especially if you’re going to be negative, why not put your name on it to give it validity?

If you’re truly convinced of your opinions, do it with your real name. It carries much more weight and it far more helpful to others if that’s your intention. If it’s not, you shouldn’t be putting things out there in the first place.

…that people stop picking on Alice Waters.

If you don’t like the message, don’t listen to it.
I don’t like Anne Coulters’ message (…although does anyone?) so I switch her off.

Alice Waters is well-meaning and has been working for over 30 years striving to make eating locally and sustainably a reality and her restaurant gave validity and visibility to a vast network of local food producers.

If you can’t do it or don’t want to listen, then don’t. Continue to eat and shop the way you normally do. You don’t have to listen to her.

…that if you’re worried about eating high-fructose corn syrup, then don’t eat it. Simply stop buying processed foods and eating fast-foods.

Now…Isn’t that easy?

Let’s face it; the people making bottled salad dressings with all that junk in it don’t really care to change their formula. And if you’re interested in healthy eating, don’t buy processed foods.

Read the labels. Don’t eat items like Hot Pockets, sweetened yogurt and frozen pizzas that contain corn syrup. It’s all there on the label.

The big food companies will respond to consumers since their sole goal is to make money: If people stop giving them money and buying that stuff, they will stop making it. If you’re worried about corn syrup in foods, read the labels (or visit their website) which list the ingredients. Then put those items back on the shelf if they have products in them that you don’t want to eat. Write a letter to the company and let them know why you made that decision.

And yes, no matter what your economic means, you can make your own cornstarch-free foods, like homemade powdered sugar by whizzing regular sugar in a food processor. Or grind it in your mortar and pestle, a tool which the least-affluent people in the world use for cooking.

Whew…I feel better…