What she seemed clueless about was the amount of time the average person can devote to cooking.
Yeah, but that's kind of the point. We don't have time because we don't make it a priority. Because we keep sacrificing everything for expedience, we wind up with nothing but a fast pace. And stress. And bad food.
The whole culture is out of whack is what she's saying.
I don't think she has a realistic view - ever. But she did create a successful business based on her philosophy. And she has helped a number of local business, over all. ( local farmers) And lots of people in this area have changed how they think about food.
If I listed all of the local culinary institutions that go directly back to Alice Waters' Chez Panisse it would be a very very long list indeed. There are probably three or four major bakeries that all feature people who started there. Innumerable organic growers. Fish mongers, sustainable farmers, chefs (of course), pastry chefs, cheese makers, etc.
And it's really the French ethos. Locally grown food, in season, simply but properly made. Even the local bartenders are pulling directly off that tradition.
She's clueless like the guy who suggested washing your hands before surgery and was dismissed as a quack.
P-Patches
This is Seattlese for community garden, yes? Never seen the term before, but I love that y'all have your very own.
Yep, Seattlese. And a lot of the people with them are using them for a large portion of their foodstuffs.
Ha! As punishment, Elsie's father is threatening to send her to a convent school! Elsie has "an intense horror and dread of everything connected with that form of error and superstition."
(I have more to say about Alice Waters, but I'm kind of flexeril-loopy right now, and I have no confidence that it would come out as anything remotely approaching what I actually want to say.)
oh for goodness sakes. What does Jesus have against convent schools?
oh for goodness sakes. What does Jesus have against convent schools?
They're run by Catholics, I'm guessing.
Yep. Elsie, by the way, has been reading about the Inquisition and is convinced that she'll be tortured.
I think Alice Waters has been a hugely influential force in moving towards more locally grown food and home cooking, but she came off as unrealistic about the amount of time involved. Does anyone really think priorities can be changed enough that a single mother with a demanding job can spend 30 minutes, plus clean up, to make breakfast? Yes, it's a symptom of a society without traditional family support, little employer support for family time and reduced incomes, but that's a lot to ask of food.
