Month: June 2010

Seriously Bad Math

Serious Eats posted their take on the Sandra Lee/Matilda Cuomo lasagna controversy, which is: fucked up. First, they assert that Sandra insulted her mother-in-law. We saw this in none of the stories we read—only Mrs. Cuomo saying she didn’t think Sandra’s lasagna was as good as hers. Seems like if anyone was being insulting at all, it was Mrs. Cuomo, or the reporter who asked the stupid question.)

Then the writer, Leah Douglas, makes a big deal about how Mario Batali’s recipe would be cheaper. She does this by comparing three ingredients.

The typical can of Campbell’s tomato soup, according to online grocery store service Peapod, costs $1.67 for a 10-oz can, bringing the total for the recipe to $3.34. A 16-oz package of Breakstone cottage cheese costs $2.99. Bringing the total to $6.33.

If you were to, however, go off of a recipe from say, Mario Batali, you would be shopping for two 28-oz cans of whole peeled tomatoes, which Hunt’s sells for $2.00 each ($4.00 total), and 4 ounces of ricotta cheese. A 15-oz package of Polly-O ricotta cheese goes for $3.99, but your lasagna’s 4-oz portion only sets you back a little more than $1.00. So your total for Mario’s lasagna is $5.00.

That’s appalling. I went shopping on Fresh Direct, using Sandra Lee’s recipe and the Batali recipe that Douglas refers to, and the result was at least a $13 difference—and that’s without finding the Cacciacavallo cheese he calls for. See the screen shots below.

(I skipped onions and noodles that were in both recipes.)

If you aren’t into Sandra Lee, whatever. But do you homework at least. This is basically foodie fanservice.

Introducing Deep Stomach!

We love getting letters! Especially anonymous ones! Especially anonymous ones with scandalous import! This missive arrived today via secret spy plane. Consider it an anonymous op ed.

Why do I love Shut Up Foodies?  Because I work for a big, old farmers market.  I mean old —- one that’s been serving a metropolitan area for over a century.  Doing the basic work of a farmers market-feeding the community.

Then the bandwagon starts barelling down the street, and everybody is hopping on with no thought to the consequences. Farmers markets have been disneyfied; cleaned-up, prettied-up, touristed.  And the more the merrier, as johnny-come-lately once-a-week markets start springing up seven days a week.

What does this do to farmers?  How can they continue to work their farms when they are expected to tear from market to market?  What happens to the old, established community markets when these boutique markets spring up?  And without those old-established, community markets, the community does not get fed.  It’s back to corner stores with junky processed food.  Only the foodies get the bounty, which as the Salon article pointed out, gets more and more expensive.

So feed the rich.  Screw the poor.  That’s not fixing the food system.  It’s just another bad system.

While this is currently contrarian thinking, it is not sour grapes.  It’s serious and has serious consequences.

Another Reason to Hate Arizona

They’re like the 80s South Africa of America! And now, a diner serving lion. LION. Oh but they are “free range.”

Restaurant owner Cameron Selogie said: “We thought that since the World Cup was in Africa … that the lion burger might be interesting for some of our more adventurous customers.

“But most of them, when we tell them the facts, that this is farm raised and it doesn’t hurt the endangered animals, seem pretty reasonable.”

Enjoy your Aslan sandwich, assholes.

—Snacktime

Sandra Lee Week Continues

Sandra’s philosophy was born out of necessity and the challenges she faced throughout her childhood. The oldest of five children, Sandra was responsible for caring for her four younger siblings and managing the household. Forced to live on welfare and food stamps, Sandra quickly learned how to turn budget-friendly foods into delicious and special meals for her family while stretching every dollar and every minute.

From Sandra Lee’s bio on her website.

Just sayin is all.