The Food

Friends have suggested that I write a blog about food….become a blogger and I have resisted the idea for a very long time.  I’ve resisted the notion of being a blogger because first and foremost, I don’t read blogs and I have a slight prejudice toward blogger.  I’ve always felt that bloggers were the talking heads of the internet.  The second reason I didn’t want to write a blog is because I feel like blogger allow people to live vicariously through their observations….food bloggers being the worst.  Food is something you experience first had….however you come upon it.  Whether it’s the favorite dish you mother made growing up or the spot you frequent after the club closes, part of the joy of food is discovery.  You discover food through travel….through difficult times…through fun times…times with your family and friends….and most of all through the stages of your life.  After all, the food you ate as a child is often different from the food you eat in your young adult days as well as the food you eat when you have a family.  Being one of those people who would prefer to travel the unbeaten path, without a guide, so I don’t need anyone to show me what is good in the way of food, or anything else for that matter….except for maybe the contributors to “The Best Thing I Ever….” because I really enjoy that show. 

So, having said all that I feel that the way I want to contribute to the blogging universe is through my emersion in the food world.  I eat, sleep, and drink food.  I get newsletters/emails daily from about 5 or 6 different food organizations….not the recipe or what’s good kind of correspondence, but stuff from all over the world talking about food production, ingredients, food legislation, and overall industry kind of stuff….the kind of stuff the average person never hears about food.  I also must mention that I do not, nor will I ever consider myself a “foodie”.  I have always equated being a foodie with being a food snob.  I’m sure the self proclaimed foodies wouldn’t consider themselves snobs, but when I hear them talk they remind me of those wine aficionados who I always want to tell to be quiet, drink the wine, get your buzz, and enjoy it.  At the end of the day, food and eating is a necessity and enjoying good food is a privilege…but it’s a privilege that everyone can enjoy no matter how much or how little they have if they know how to go about it.

As for me, the non foodie….I have worked in the food industry for 20+ years as a caterer, kitchen manager, sous chef, chef, account manager, restaurant manager, food service director, and restaurant consultant.  I began cooking at 7, preparing breakfast for my family as my first full meal.  I grew up with a mother and grandmother who cooked constantly, so anytime I wanted to talk to them it was usually while they were cooking.  My love of cooking came way before my love of food.  As a teenager I spent most of my Saturdays (after Saturday school) watching chefs on PBS, though my earliest memories were watching Graham Kerr, the Galloping Gourmet.  I gravitated to his show because he was English, and as a boy I had a fascination with all things English.  I must also mention that both my maternal and paternal grandfathers were cooks….long before most people in the kitchen carried the title of chef.  I began cooking professionally several years after graduating college after being asked to cater a barbecue for a local physician with a friend of mine.  We later formed a catering company and we were off to the races.

Enough about me….I hope that you will read my blog and share your thoughts and observations, as well as any suggestions about future entries.  This undertaking will be a new journey for me and hopefully an enjoyable one for you.  My first topic will be GMOs….what are they and what does it mean to my family’s diet and health, so please stay tuned.

Bill Mables