Food, Self, and Society

I promised in my last post that I’d write about airline food, so here goes.  As you’ll know from having read this blog, I returned from Montana about a week ago.  I had a great time while there, and I can’t wait to see the area again.  The food there was a lot better, and memorable, than the food on the airplanes to and from there.  Why should that be, though?  The food didn’t suck, and was in fact pretty good.  It just wasn’t… memorable.  On the way to Montana I had a “breakfast skillet” – eggs and sausage and a bit of toast and a couple other things… I don’t really remember what else.  It tasted quite good, but there was nothing special about it.  Except the sausage.  Those two links were some of the best sausage I’ve ever had.  Here’s the thing, though – I don’t think it was worth $6.  Would you?  Then there was the $3.50 (or was it another $6) for the “deli pack” – some pepperoni, crackers, a cheese spread, a cookie or two, and a couple other things.  I would say that was worth it, but I’m not so sure if I was really filled, or if it was just supplemental to the breakfast platter.

About three-quarters of the way through the flight back to New York, I decided to become a vegetarian.  (I’ve since changed my mind, but at the very least I’ll reduce my meat consumption a bit.).  Thank you very much, Peter Singer.  I didn’t think he’d get to me.  I thought I’d be able to just ignore the way these animals had been treated, and continue eating.  But no.  I became so disgusted by the thought of what they had gone through that I could not justifiably continue to eat their flesh.  Again, I’ve changed my mind since then, but I have been trying to make slightly more ethical choices about what I do eat.  I got hungry soon after that, and decided to look for food.  The only problem?  They did not have significant choices for vegetarians; my only options were chips ‘n’ salsa, or a “heart-healthy” pack.  I didn’t want either, as neither seemed appetizing, so I figured I’d just eat when I got home.  Then it was pointed out to me that one, I would be more hungry by the time the flight ended, and two, if I had my meal on this flight, and it was within a certain price-range, my school would cover the cost.  So I ordered the heart-healthy pack.  I don’t really recall what was in it, and if anyone could tell me for certain, I would appreciate it.  What I can tell you, though, is that my worries about its taste were unfounded – it was delicious.  Not only that, but it was probably enough for a (small) meal, too.  I didn’t regret that meal.

What, however, has happened (with regards to food) since then?  Not quite that much.  I’m trying to think of something, anything, to help me extend this entry, and I just can’t do it.  Unless I revisit, but update, an old topic.  Yes, that will do.  Baseball food!  I went to CitiField with my girlfriend and my family yesterday, and had a great time with everyone, too.  Cracker Jacks? Peanuts?  No.  I’ll make up for that next time.

For the first time in quite some time, I’ve made meals for myself two days in a row.  Granted, one of those meals was iced coffee, and the other was only Rigatoni Alfredo with Mushrooms, but still – I made myself meals two days in a row.  The coffee was delicious, and the pasta was really good (not delicious), and I didn’t eat either of them by myself.  I had the iced coffee together with my girlfriend, and the pasta… well, I had half of that meal with my sister.  The other half was spent only with Erin, Andy, Michael, Jim, Pam, and the rest of The Office.

Anyway, that’s just about it.  Hopefully next time I can be a bit more interesting.  Until then, my friends, I bid you adieu.

Hey guys.  I know it’s been a while since I’ve updated this, but I apologize for that – I was in Montana for a week presenting at a conference.  Anyway, while I was there, I saw several presentations and posters about various food elements, and topics related to food.  I was very interested in these, so I went to see them.  I won’t really talk about specifics, because in all honesty I don’t think they are completely relevant (at least, not here).  However, it made me wonder – why am I so interested in this topic?  Why am I seeing it all over the place all of a sudden?  The answer to the first one most certainly has to do with this class – my interest was formed due to the class.  But what about the second one?  Have these topics interested people for years (I know they have) and I’m just noticing them now (which I am)?  Or, has the movement really exploded in the last few years?  I realize I’m not being very clear about this and what I mean here, so allow me to explain.  There was a great deal of “locavore” mentality to be found in the Missoula, Montana area.  The mall (tiny in comparison to some of the ones we have around here in the NYC metro area) had a store that focused almost entirely on locally grown food.  And, one of the best steaks I’ve ever had, I had there, and noticed that on the menu they made a big deal of noting that the cow or steer or whatever it is had been grass-fed somewhere within the state of Montana.  It was wonderful, and after reading Singer, I can at least feel good about eating THAT particular steak.

Here’s looking to the future.  Until then, my friends, I bid you adieu.

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PS – I accidentally tagged this as “uncategorized” as opposed to putting it in my “food” category, so it didn’t get forwarded to the class food blog at the time I wrote it.  My mistake.  Sorry!

PPS – Next time, I’ll write about airplane food.