The Weather and Everyone's Health

Wednesday, December 03, 2008

Blog: dead?

Until recently, I haven't had anything to say other than posting an article with a few comments, which is easier to do and finds a larger audience when I do it on Facebook. However, especially given the now-large number of people who can see my profile on Facebook (by Facebook's standards, all "friends," but in real life many acquaintances, several colleagues, etc.) there are some things that just don't seem to fit there. Such as the following highly personal revelations:

Christmas music: A) I don't mind it as much this year because I figure it's a way of fighting off the cold and dark. But in regards to music that is piped in to public places: I still DO NOT WANT any Kenny G muzak (as I was subjected to in the airport). And never, never any form of Carol of the Bells or Little Drummer Boy. At least it seems like more of this piped-in xmas music has been secular/seasonal and mellow (e.g. "let it snow," "it's cold outside"). B) The real upside of christmas music is that people (including me) get to hear more different kinds of (ok, western classical) music (and probably more live music) from the rest of the year. I think for many people, this is the only time they hear renaissance music, brass quintets, etc (for some people even choirs and orchestras). So for many people they associate these sounds with christmas, but at least they are getting to hear and appreciate it. And I like hearing all these different textures, too. And maybe I can find some free concerts.

Today in a waiting room I came across the November issue of Saveur magazine for the first time. It is gorgeous. It is the magazine I have always been looking for but didn't even know it. I have never felt this way about a magazine before. From the title I thought it would be a stupid snobby food magazine, but then I saw the splash about "Autumn's Tastiest Vegetable!" Inside the organization is something beautiful and innovative as well: there's a feature on Japanese udon noodles that includes a travel piece to a place in Japan known for them, food writing about udon, a recipe for making Udon at home, possibly something about their history and different ways they can be served! Likewise a piece on Catalan cooking features stories about the people and their food, recipes (including a recipe for salsify and chicken). And then there is a sidebar about salsify! And then another about how and where to find it in the US!! !!!! And of course writing about regional American food, too, including an article on the origins of the green bean casserole (which includes an anecdote about the queen of Iran!) and a recipe for it (not involving a canned soup). And a story about NPR food people! It is not a vegetarian magazine, but it is respectful of vegetables. It is about the sensuality of food, but it understands that this means colors, textures, flavors, contrasts--not necessarily drowning everything in butter, foie gras, etc! As far as I can tell it is respectful to the people and cultures it visits. And it is not snobby! Humble home-made foods are extolled alongside restaurant cuisine. And the pictures of food are beautiful, but they are also appropriately not food porn--nor do they appear tarted up or elaborately "staged". And the website had an article on South Indian cooking which not only failed to offend me but taught me things I was glad to know--and then I saw they byline: Madhur Jaffrey! Who are the geniuses who put this magazine together? Where does its vision and guidance come from? How long as it been in publication? What horrible secret is it hiding?

- posted by k @ 4:37 PM