Make A Mess!

I was paging through my IKEA catalog, and I noticed that the display kitchens were beautiful, pristine temples for anyone who loves to cook, or maybe watch others cook. Every utensil, pot and dish had a designated place in those kitchens. Space was used efficiently and cleverly. But is this a snapshot of what foodie heaven looks like? Probably not.

I try to be organized and keep my kitchen reasonably clean, but it’s not always easy. Dishes transform into mountains overnight, and every pot, pan, and plastic food cascade outward when I open my small cabinet door. I love to cook, but it’s sometimes discouraging. I think of all the dirty dishes, leftovers, and clean-up, and then wonder if it’s truly necessary to create so much chaos to have a quick bit to eat. Time is never quite on my side either and the temptation to eat out looms overhead daily. 

Despite the downsides to cooking I really enjoying cooking a meal from scratch, regardless of the amount of cleanup it takes to recover from all the sautéing, chopping, spilling, and dropping. The whole process is rewarding: turning the raw ingredients into a prepared dish then sharing it with friends or family. Cooking also strengthens the often weakened connection between the cook and food. In our world of convenience foods that don’t really require thought to prepare, we don’t always get to work with raw ingredients. However, we should consciously try to alter our strange modern ways, even just once in a while.

So, I encourage everyone to look through your favorite recipe book and find a nice couple of foods you would like to prepare. Invite your friends over, but the ingredients, and get to work. Once you start cooking, be sure to use every pot and pan in your cupboards, and let your bubbling creations splatter a little bit here and there. No splatter screens or lids please. 

We should start to reclaim our kitchens from the sterile hands of cleanliness and opt to start making a mess once in a while. It doesn’t have to be every meal; even a few meals a week will help us reconnect with our kitchens.

Ten Good Eats in Marshall

Marshall may as well be christened a culinary wasteland. Burger and fry joints are as high class dining as one could find here. However, there are a few gems in Marshall which may satisfy a fussy palate. Here is a list of ten good things, in no particular order, to eat and drink here in the corn field.

1. Mariachi Fiesta: Arroz con pollo (Rice with chicken)
   I have a friend who only orders this dish, and he never misses ordering anything else. Mariachi Fiesta does a fantastic job making this dish. It seems like it's never quite the same each time --my personal theory is that it depends who made it -- but that is the beauty of Arroz con pollo. It's homemade, rich red saucy goodness. The tender chicken and warming red sauce tastes great when wrapped in a steamy hot tortilla.
   
   
2. Hunan Lion: Sesame Chicken
   Something about the sesame chicken from Hunan Lion makes me jealous. I wish I could be the lucky chicken who could turn into such a great plate of food. Deep fried, bit sized pieces of chicken coated with a tangy red sauce. It's crunchy on the outside, and soft on the inside. Served with steamed broccoli and hot rice, there's nothing quite as divine.
   
   
3. Landmark Bistro Happy Hour
   Cheers! If you are looking for a nice place to sit back and have a drink with some friends, the Landmark Bistro has a great happy hour. The bar is well stocked and drinks are half off from 5 - 7 most weeknights. It's a "nice" bar, fairly uncommon to this area. To sweeten the deal, there are free appetizers. So far, I have seen chicken wings, cheesy potato wedges, and chips and salsa.
   
   
4. Mariachi Fiesta: Vegetable Enchiladas
   Forget eating meat. Vegetable enchiladas from Mariachi Fiesta are equal to or better than the meat filled ones: sauteed bell peppers and onions, rich enchilada sauce wrapped in a tortilla shell. They are succulent, healthy for you, and better than watching any dirty PETA ad -- read this article for a little context.
   
   
5. Momo
   The magical momo is not quite what you may expect in the middle of rural Minnesota; however, thanks to the large body of students from Nepal at SMSU, something great has been introduced here. My Nepalese friend Sapana once told me that momo are one of the favorite foods in all of Nepal. A thin dough wrapper hides a gently seasoned meat mixture. To make it even better, a light spicy tomatoey sauce covers the top. They are simple and lovely. Here is a recipe for momo.
   
   
6. Diary Queen: Ice Cream
   Ah, sweet nostalgia. Dairy Queen gives a lot of memories to people, especially people from smaller towns. DQ has been around for a while, and it's ice cream treats can't be beat -- sorry ColdStone lovers. It's just the right consistency, temperature, and of course, customizable to your liking.
   
   
7. The Daily Grind: Turkey Pot Pie
   I've only had it once, but every time I think about it I drool a little bit. The buttery crust flakes better than the snow when you expose the juicy morsels inside - chunks of turkey and vegetables. Delicious.
   
   
8. Bagels and Brew: Grilled Turkey Panini
   All I have to say is turkey glued between bread with melted cheese. Crusty, satisfying, and not too bad for you.
   
   
9. Bagels and Brew: White Chocolate Mocha
   My best friend introduced me to the white chocolate mocha, and I have to say he has a good sense of taste. Steamed milk, espresso, and white chocolate syrup. Yum! It melts in your mouth any season and any weather. Add whipped cream for that extra special decadence you deserve.
   
   
10. Jimmy John's
    Move over Subway, Jimmy John's has you beat hands down. The bread is umptious, soft yet chewy, and, well, more like real bread. Although not as customizable as other places, these sandwiches are the real deal. They are stacked high with everything you could want, or they can be slim: just meat and some bread. Jimmy John's doesn't skip on the veggies either. They put other fast food to shame, not only for speed, but also what they dish out.
    I would highly recommend the Lulu or the Beach Club.
    

Food Stamps

I was reading this article on CCN.com. A CNN reporter, Sean Callebs, lived off of food stamps to understand how that would affect his life. It seems to have been a fairly thought provoking experiment.

This is the link to the article: http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/01/30/am.callebs.foodstamps.blog/index.html

Reading his article really makes me appreciate what I have in my life that many people simply cannot afford. The luxuries we take for granted, even something as simple as being able to buy groceries or go to a fast food restaurant, are impossible for many people. There are approximately 31 million people who get food stamps in the country. It's really hard to fathom how people can make it from day to day.

The reporter makes some interesting conclusions on his latest posting from March 1.

"I think the greatest lessons I am going to take away from this project have very little to do with the actual diet. I was amazed at how the social aspect of your life is turned upside down when you can't eat out. Secondly, I constantly found myself doing math, "how much can I spend at this trip?" and "If I eat this for dinner, what will I have tomorrow night?"

It is draining. And, mind you, I only have to fend for myself. I don't have to worry about putting food on a table for an entire family. I took this effort on to try to find out how 31-million Americans live each month. That's the number of people on food stamps."

The fact that his social life is completely different is interesting. As in my earlier post, I talked about how we perceive eating alone. Part of eating out is the social experience, and he was missing out on that interaction. He could, still have social interaction with others by inviting people over to eat, but I think it's the "going out" factor that predominates why people like to eat out. You are removed from your private life -- your dwelling place -- and forced to interact with a myriad of other people in the outside world: you friends/acquaintances you are eating with, the hosts, the waiters, other patrons, and the cooks who are preparing your food inadvertently are affected by you. People and families who cannot eat out are missing out on some social interaction that is necessary and a natural human urge.

There is, however, an upside to having to cook at home and watch what you buy. He was forced to, as he puts it, "get much better acquainted with his kitchen." He developed a sense of pride in what he was cooking food for himself. He also started to notice what he was eating: what was good to buy and what was a waste of his money. His example is choosing to buy ready-made/convenience foods like boxed mashed potatoes instead of fresh fruits and vegetables. He also had to think about price and value, something that many of us do not think about when we shop for groceries.

I think from reading his article, I am learning the deeper impact of a society that has a hard time to provide basic nutrition to people. It seems that there is a deep impact on a person's social and personal lives by having to rely on food stamps. With so many people on food stamps, we should maybe be asking ourselves some tough questions. Why are so many people unable to get something like food without assistance? What do we really value as a society? How can we make a difference?

"No Reservations" to Anthony Bourdain

Just like we Americans have too much white flour and white sugar in our diet, we, too, have an over abundance of cutesy, happy go lucky food shows. I don't hate all the shows on the Food Network -- some are really well done -- but many of them fail to really make us think about food on a level beyond just what we can cook in half an hour or what's nice to serve at a party. Thank god for the Travel Channel series "No Reservations." Anthony Bourdain, the host, is a food celebrity with an, albeit very cynical, soul.

Bourdain is a chef and writer who takes food seriously. He is a simply wonderful character whose pessimistic, smart-ass, cynical personality permeates his writing and television show. His witty brand of honesty is funny, and more than likely accurate for most situations he is put in. He says what he wants.

In his show, Bourdain travels around the globe learning about different world cuisines. He's not a bubbly character by any means, but he does enjoy himself in a reflective, realistic way. Bourdain said “I think (Travel Channel) knows it's not getting Jamie Oliver or Rachel Ray when they throw their lot in with me.”

He must be one of the luckiest men in the world, being able to travel around the world and experience a completely different food experience wherever he goes.

I like the fact that he provides a background of a particular dish or ingredient, but that isn't why I love the show. My major reason for watching the show is that the man actually consciously thinks about the context of the food he is eating. He interrelates the people, culture, climate, and history of a place to form a comprehensive food snapshot.

In his episode about Egypt, he explored cuisine in modern Egypt, which hasn't changed much for centuries, especially in rural regions. Some dishes, such as a duck stew made with mallow leaves, garlic, and duck stock have been prepared the same way for centuries. He marveled at how a country where only four percent is suitable for agriculture, the fertile land in the Nile River Delta, has supported civilizations for millenniums.

He really, truly cares about the food and the place and the people, normally wrapping up each episode of "No Reservations" with a nice reflective statement. He's not an average tourist, chef, or writer visiting these seemingly other worldly destinations, he is just himself, enjoying something he truly is passionate about.

The link to Bourdain's blog is http://anthony-bourdain-blog.travelchannel.com/.

Eating Alone

I have known quite a few people who hate to eat alone. They will call anyone, just so that they can have a companion while they are eating. I've gone with people to grab a bit to eat, even though I didn't order anything, and I have also called people just to have someone to go with when I eat somewhere. The more I think about it, it's interesting how we perceive eating alone versus eating with others.

If I see a person eating alone at a restaurant, I think of a few reasons why he or she is eating alone. The first scenario is that he or she is a complete loner who doesn't care about a social life or friends. Strangely, I know some people who are loners. I know a guy who mostly stays in his room, chatting with online friends or watching Youtube videos. But, strangely and mind bogglingly enough, he doesn't like to eat alone. He still searches for someone to sit down and have a meal with. Interesting, huh?

A second scenario I run through my head is that he or she just didn't have time or the resources to eat with anyone like not having a cell phone or having a busy work schedule. That kind of person probably doesn't want to eat alone, but alas, they had no choice. I think I fit into this category quite well. I would love to invite friends over for breakfast, lunch and dinner all the time, but sadly time is usually not on my side. I usually have back-to-back commitments that pull me here and there. Sorry friends.

When I see that person eating alone, I think all of us, even if you don't want to admit it, have some kind of reaction. I have been criticized for eating alone because I probably looked like a loser. Another friend says it's sad to eat alone, and I would tend to agree. But why do we have an urge to eat together? Friends and colleagues go out for lunch all the time. Families go to "family restaurants" to eat together. Eating meals together, as a family, is a cherished cultural institution. There is a whole ad campaign linking eating meals together with family unity, mutual understanding, and even reduction in drug usage rates amongst teenagers. Eating together carries a lot of positive connotations and values, while eating alone seems to carry some semi-negative ones.

Why do we want to eat together, instead of alone? Psychologically, how does it affect us to eat alone versus with others? Sociologically, what do our values say about eating alone versus eating with others?

One possibility may be a combination of all kinds of factors -- psychological and sociological and biological -- that contributes to our desire to eat together. Thinking back through history, all the way back to the Pleistocene -- the era of ice ages, mega fauna, and early man -- one of our earliest conceptions of cavemen is a huddled group of people, sharing a fresh kill around a roaring fire. Since then, I theorize, people have probably carried that kind of eat as a group mentality. For early man, it was survival instinct: strength in numbers, hunting game together, and sharing the kill. For modern man, we don't really struggle to survive for our basic needs, but that urge to eat together has stuck with us. Perhaps the fight for survival was so intense, so deeply etched in the psyche of our species, that eating together is just something that is going to stick with us as long as we live. Psychologically, it gave our ancestors a sense of peace, perhaps even joy to know that others are suffering the same kinds of troubles and tribulations. Sociologically, eating together probably advanced social interaction, forming the early foundations of our now complex cultures, languages, governments, and technologies.

So, next time we see someone eating alone, maybe we shouldn't take it so lightly. Eating with others has been with us for many millenniums, and will no doubt remain a part of our species, until we are either no longer alive or no longer human.