Food is Love

Food television, social media and Google, have made the mysteries of food more accessible than ever, and more misunderstood than ever. The media, has bastardized food to unrecognizable and unachievable expectations. Food photography glorifies dishes by using inedible props, and other trickery to enhance its appearance. Cooking competition shows leave us with the impression that a skilled chef can turn a blind basket of ingredients into a Michelin 3-Star plate in 30 minutes. Facebook regularly shows us 12 kitchen hacks that will make us all gourmet chefs. The pressure to write a 500-word essay to entertain the ADHD masses while sitting at their computers at work in less time than it takes their boss to circle back around to their cubicle is real. And the lack of thought and editing that goes into these articles is certainly evident by the, well, obvious lack of editing.

So, here’s the ugly truth: Food when prepared well, and plated well, is impressive to the eye for a hot second. In a moments time, the outer surface of prepared dishes start to dry out, wilt and sag. Timed food competitions show nothing of a chef’s ability to plan and create a well-balanced dish. And lastly, but not least of all, nothing good about cooking, and food preparation, is a “hack.” As a matter of fact, there is a well-known word for shitty cooks in professional kitchens.  And, that is, a “hack,” to wit, “that shoemaker, is a “hack.”” Media tricks of the trade shine a fancy light on food, making the very difficult appear easy. To me, it is a slap in the face to chefs who have worked their whole careers perfecting their craft, to prepare and deliver delicious and beautiful food, in a timely manner, at the right temperature, and at a at a good perceived value

Do you feel me?  If yes, then welcome to my journey to present to you Real Food. Real Food is love. It is not fast; it is not a hack. It begins with thoughtful, responsible farming/ranching, and it ends with skilled and thoughtful preparation and cooking. The result never hides the cook’s intention, and process Real food is evident in the result, and shows the cook’s attention to the principles of good sourcing, and good cooking. Isn’t that what love is all about?