Food Revolution

[Kheldarson]

So just finished watching the premiere of Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution in America. Had to say it was interesting watching the responses and the struggles he faced.

But now I have to talk to my friends in Huntington and see if they've been to his shop.

[42_42_42]

We have it DVR'd, but haven't watched it yet. Is it anything like the program he did for the BBC where he was trying to teach a whole town to cook?

[Kheldarson]

I never saw the BBC program. But I would assume yes, since he talked about it a lot. Essentially he went to Central City Elementary School to try and fix the nutrition of Cabell County schools and started helping out a family.

[BookstoreEscapee]

I watched it too. I'm amazed those kids can't identify common vegetables or use a freakin' knife properly. Seriously?!

[Food Lady]

Arrrrgh I put a tape in but forgot to change the channel from CBS to ABC. All I got is the basketball game. I was really looking forward to seeing it.

[Kheldarson]

ABC has the full episodes on their website to watch. Link: http://abc.go.com/shows/jamie-olivers-food-revolution .

So you can still watch both episodes before next week.

[TelephoneAngel]

It never ceases to maze me how many people do not know what some common fruit and vegetables are.

One time in the supermarket, a cashier held up a lime i was buying and asked me "what do these green lemons taste like?"

[Jester]

I'm amazed those kids can't identify common vegetables or use a freakin' knife properly.

It's not just kids. There are many, many adults who are just as clueless. I see it more often than you would believe.

It never ceases to maze me how many people do not know what some common fruit and vegetables are.

One time in the supermarket, a cashier held up a lime i was buying and asked me "what do these green lemons taste like?"

Probably not in that situation, and probably not in a lot of other such incidents, but sometimes, it is a cultural thing, especially if they are from another country. For instance, while visiting Mexico, we found out quickly that there is no differentiation in their language between limes and lemons. "Limon" will get you a lime. You have to really work to get a lemon. Apparently (and don't quote me on this, I can't say this with certainty), lemons are not really native to Mexico, and definitely not part of their culinary scene. Limes are king south of the border.

But yeah, a cashier in a U.S. grocery store really should know the difference between limes and lemons.

[TelephoneAngel]

But yeah, a cashier in a U.S. grocery store really should know the difference between limes and lemons.

I'm in the UK, so a Uk cashier, but still they should know.Other times I have been asked what is a leek? What is an avacado? What is a mango? by (i guess, new) cashiers, but still I was amazed they did not recognise these things.

[Jester]

Depending on where one grew up, such things could be considered exotic. Lord knows I never saw a mango till I got to Florida. At least, not that I knew of. And leeks? Not everyone is familiar with them. Hell, I am very familiar with a variety of hot peppers, but someone from Ohio might not know the difference between a poblano and a cubanelle. Or far more dangerously, the difference between a cherry pepper and an habanero. And I would be willing to bet that there are a lot of people, intelligent people mind you, on this very board that, if presented with both, couldn't tell you which was a mango and which was a papaya.

That being said, someone who works in a grocery store should know the product that they sell....but if they are knew to the store, you should give them some leeway.

[Green_Fairy]

I'm in the UK, so a Uk cashier, but still they should know.Other times I have been asked what is a leek?

mmm...leeks are magical. get some rice, leeks, chicken...good eats.

i was in a grocery store a few weeks ago with The Boy and i picked up a fruit. it was green...had what looked like a mouth on one end with the lips sucked in. it didn't have a label, but it wasn't the only one there so i assumed it was supposed to be there. he asked me what it was and i had told him i had no idea, but i'd find out once we got home and i looked it up on the interwebz. alas, it ended up costing $4 for something the size of an apple, so i didn't get it. i'm still curious as to what it was

[Jester]

GF, never has the phrase "this thread is useless without pictures" been more appropriate than with your last post!

[BookstoreEscapee]

It never ceases to maze me how many people do not know what some common fruit and vegetables are.

I can understand a 6-year-old not knowing, say, an eggplant (I probably couldn't identify one at that age - still don't like 'em) but a potato? They had no problem IDing the french fries, but not the potato they came from. Not one kid in the class. I love that the teacher worked with them and they knew them all by the end of the week, though.

I was amused (and a tad horrified) by his whole chicken-to-chicken nugget experiment. I texted my roommate and said "I am never eating chicken nuggets again." I mean, I knew on an intellectual level what is in them, but seeing that...ick. Can't say I'm honestly surprised by the kids' reaction, though. Sadly.

Limes are king south of the border.

Well, what else would you mix with the tequila?

[Magpie]

But yeah, a cashier in a U.S. grocery store really should know the difference between limes and lemons.

My mom used to work in a produce store when she was a teenager. I'm not sure if this happened while she was there, or afterwards (given how well my dad knows the story, I suspect after, and that he was there). She encountered some nectarines, and commented on the "Little tiny peaches without any fuzz". This is a family legend, and we have been known to tell her to pick up some of the "great big nectarines with fuzz" and the like.

I can understand a 6-year-old not knowing, say, an eggplant (I probably couldn't identify one at that age - still don't like 'em) but a potato? They had no problem IDing the french fries, but not the potato they came from. Not one kid in the class. I love that the teacher worked with them and they knew them all by the end of the week, though.

See, aside from the fact that I was lucky enough to have parents with the time to teach me how to cook (although at 6 I don't know that I did much beyond cookies. Maybe roasts, but nothing that required, you know, skill). However, I remember in kindergarden the teacher going through various foods with us. Admittedly they used flash cards, but the potato and french fries were linked together.

[Eric the Grey]

I'm in the UK, so a Uk cashier, but still they should know.Other times I have been asked what is a leek?

Well, I have to admit that at 40-something, when I cooked my first dish that called for leaks, I had to ask someone in the produce department which they were. They were in a small section with several other things crowded in close, and the signs didn't really help.

Well, what else would you mix with the tequila?

Well, if it's Good tequila, nothing! *mumbles about people ruining good tequila with salt and limes* If it's bad tequila, well life is too short. . .



Eric the Grey