I was just talking to Wendi Wooten about The Philology of Taste. It’s true, I was. We have highly unusual conversations around here. Anyway, we covered that and a few other matters and then I came home and found that Scott Thomas had issued another of his famous photography assignments. Food! He wants us to work on our food photography!
I’m all over this one. I love putting food in the posts. In the past year we have had Wendi’s chicken pot pie and Lois’s beans with bacon and my own pot roast and the Mother of All Morels and Crystal and Odi’s Mongolian dinner and Carol Park’s pineapple casserole. We have picked cherries at King’s and dipped apples at Altonen’s and roasted chestnuts from Bob Haack’s Meadowlark Orchard—we even canned apricots! We made cider at the Providence Farm potluck. And of course, we went to the old fashioned hog slaughter. I know you remember that, but don’t worry I’m not going back there for this assignment.
Then I got thinking. You may loathe pot roast. You may prefer lutefisk. Taste is a Highly Individual Matter. And of course, you have to cook for your crew and I have to cook for mine. Variety is important at the Writing Studio and Bait Shop.
There is no accounting for tastes.
I can hardly wait to see what we come up with for Scott’s assignment. It’s due January 26. Stay tuned. And while you’re waiting, you can read up.
You thought I was kidding, didn’t you! I never kid about food.
Torch Lake Views 
Karma
January 12, 2011
What’s a Philology?
LOVE the cat head in the dog food bowl!
All this talk about food has me reaching for the chocolate again!
Gerry
January 12, 2011
I should make you look it up online but I won’t because it’s more fun to tell you that what philology means isn’t how it’s used in the title of the book–and evaluating and understanding that difference is an exercise in philology. Heh heh.
Miss Puss eating from the Cowboy’s dish is probably not really an issue for philologists, but it seemed apt anyway. That’s just how my brain is wired.
Possibly I have not had enough chocolate recently.
Nye
January 13, 2011
That seems like an interesting read. As for the food photo in this post, it’s amusing to see Miss Puss eating the dog food, I guess she can’t read. 😉
Gerry
January 13, 2011
Oh, she knew it was the Cowboy’s dish. She was just curious.
flandrumhill
January 13, 2011
Your photos of Miss Puss crack me up. (Well, more than I am already).
I don’t kid about food either. Neither does my youngest sister Cookie. (Yes she did work as a baker for a while but she’s been known by that name since she was a baby). We’ve both raised 3 sons on hearty fare that is tasty but does not break the bank. Cooking is both the most practical of skills and the most appreciated art on the planet.
Gerry
January 13, 2011
True, that. I was never very artful with food, but I had managed to master the practical skills! Now I am an excellent appreciator. It is a fine thing to have friends who are good cooks.
P.j. grath
January 13, 2011
When I see the word ‘philology’ I immediately think Nietzsche, and as Nietzsche is my philosophical nemesis, I draw back a bit. Your list of past food posts brought me back. Okay, I am already eagerly awaiting your assignment essay now, Gerry.
Gerry
January 13, 2011
Poor Nietzsche, so misunderstood. By me anyway. I am eagerly awaiting my essay, too. I wonder what it will be about?
Karma
January 13, 2011
Okay, I’ll go look it up! 😉
Gerry
January 13, 2011
Poor Karma. See, the problem is that even the definitions of the word aren’t much help, as Harry Randall is making something of a play on words to allude to another book, Brillat-Savarin’s Physiology of Taste. Harry is all about the history and cultural significance of the words we use to talk about food. Here’s a fine example from his book:
“Larousse Gastronomique says that stew was invented in the twelfth century, without explaining just what is meant by stew. It is possible that the earliest written reference to stew in France does date from the twelfth century, but Homer’s reference to stew antedates this by something like 2,000 years. My own guess is that the invention of stew followed the invention of fireproof pottery by about 24 hours.”
See, when I’m not laughing at the antics of my dogs or rummaging around in cemeteries looking for Civil War veterans, I read stuff like that. I, um, think it’s funny. You see how I am.
Cheri Sell
January 13, 2011
I just finished reading THE PARTICULAR SADNESS OF LEMON CAKE which is about a girl who can taste the emotions of whoever made the food she is eating.
Gerry
January 13, 2011
That sounds like a perfectly fascinating premise. I cannot, though, imagine sadness in association with lemon cake. Lemon anything usually perks me right up. Now that I think of it, perhaps we make comfort foods and sparkly treats when we’re feeling down. Something about doing it, though–the act of making something good to eat–pretty nearly always brings me out of the doldrums. Hmm. I wonder if there are any lemons around here.
Gerry
January 13, 2011
This email arrived a bit ago:
Gerry, Your blog reminded me that I too like food, as does Amore.
Love, Dad
Amore is a toy poodle. The attached photo is entitled Amore’s Meal. We must never let Miss Sadie or the Cowboy see it.
Gerry
January 13, 2011
flandrumhill
January 13, 2011
Oh my! That is quite the plateful. Ah, to be a toy poodle… It looks like Amore is better fed than many humans.
Gerry
January 13, 2011
I would be one of those humans. I just polished off a supper of baked potato topped with bacon and salsa. No green vegetables. No salad. Apple for dessert. I gotta start taking better care of myself.
Kathy
January 13, 2011
Oh this is so funny! Miss Puss chowing away… Is this what you are “officially” submitting for Scott’s challenge? (No…it looks like you’ll choose something else…but I think you have a winner already!)
Gerry
January 13, 2011
I’ll know what I’m going to do when I’ve done it. What the heck, I like surprises. I think Dad ought to submit Amore’s Meal, though.
Dawn
January 14, 2011
Food is good. And you’re right, cooking almost always pulls me out of the doldrums. Unless I HAVE to cook. Then I bash pots around, just so husband knows I’m sacrificing. LOL. Photographing food should be interesting. I’ve been giving it some thought, but, like you, don’t know what I’ll do till I see it.
Gerry
January 14, 2011
I bash pots around even when I’m having a good time in the kitchen. I think I’m just an ol’ pot-basher. Also I need new glasses.
Scott Thomas Photography
January 14, 2011
Ah, the power of framing in your cat/dog photos at work!
BTW, for those of you who may need a little help. A renowned food and photography blogger is helping us out today on my blog with this assignment: Beginner Food Photography
Gerry, as to the hog, how about some pics of bacon or pork chops. 🙂
Gerry
January 14, 2011
I think I have a little idea. We’ll see how it goes.