Blogs : Food Media
Food Media CHOW's roundup of food-related news from blogs, newspapers, magazines, cookbooks, and film.
Garlic Begone!
What’s with European epicures suddenly renouncing their national culinary staples? First a star French baker blasts the baguette, and now a handful of Italian chefs and politicians are coming out against garlic. As the AP reports,
A quintessential element of traditional Italian and Mediterranean cooking, garlic is at the center of a gastronomic dispute in this nation [Italy] that prides itself on its food. To critics it is just a stinky product that overwhelms more delicate flavors. Admirers say garlic enhances taste, gives a dish an extra punch—and is also good for the health.
On the antigarlic side are Sicilian-bred chef Filippo La Mantia, who helms a reportedly popular restaurant in downtown Rome, and former Premier Silvio Berlusconi, “whose aversion to garlic and obsession with minty breath are legendary,” the AP explains. “He considers garlic very dangerous for the environment, his personal environment,” adds Carlo Rossella, a top newsman at one of the TV stations Berlusconi owns. “Berlusconi doesn’t like bad smells. Garlic is considered by Berlusconi a bad smell.”
Rossella, meanwhile, says he is allergic to garlic, and he’s on a quest to persuade “distinguished” chefs to create entirely garlic-free menus:
‘Garlic for me is a sort of persecution,’ he laments. ‘They put garlic in almost any dish: With meat, with fish, everywhere. It’s not politically correct to impose garlic on everybody.’
I can kind of sympathize with Rossella on the food-allergy front: My boyfriend’s father is allergic to onions, and he basically has to avoid French restaurants, as well as many other types of cuisine; and then of course there’s my gluten-avoidance thing. But as for Berlusconi and other fresh-breath fanatics like him, those crazies will never pry the garlic from my stinky fingers!
Posted by | Thursday, June 28, 2007 at 1:42pm | 3 comments
« Previous Post: Are Feminism and Slow Food Incompatible? Next Post: I'll See Your Lobster Roll in Court! » |
I've eaten throughout Italy a lot, and have never encountered the massive garlic hits that I've had to deal with in the U.S. A tiny bit of garlic adds great flavor to many dishes, but six cloves in a dish to serve four people? I think not -- you can't taste anything else.
For those of us who are constantly on the look out for seasoning
to replace great quantities of salt on our foods, garlic is an essential additive to be blessed. I will admit to being somewhat of a garlic-aholic adding it to almost all my main dishes in quantity.
My greatest pleasure is at work where we have a kitchen and as I reheat my homemade meals many co-workers become tantalized by the wonderful aroma of the garlic wafting around the room as they sit and consume their bland selections.
I've even tasted garlic flavoured ice cream and it was more than acceptable as a carmelized additive to that creamy treat.
Ban the Bomb!......but not my beloved garlic.
For those of us who are constantly on the look out for seasoning
to replace great quantities of salt on our foods, garlic is an essential additive to be blessed. I will admit to being somewhat of a garlic-aholic adding it generously to almost all of my main dishes.
My greatest pleasure is at work where we have a kitchen and as I reheat my homemade meals many co-workers become tantalized by the wonderful aroma of the garlic wafting around the room as they sit and consume their bland selections.
I've even tasted garlic flavoured ice cream and it was more than acceptable as a carmelized additive to that creamy treat.
Ban the Bomb!......but not my beloved garlic.