Some years ago I attended a convention, and I happened to have a head of
garlic with me.

At some point, I met a guy from iirc Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He saw
me holding the garlic, and he asked me, "Is that garlic?"

I said it was. He asked me if he could see it and hold it. He said he
had never in his life (he was in his twenties) seen garlic before.

I was astonished. I grew up in a very urban area: Brooklyn, NY. Most of
the people I know there are not into very creative cooking. They don't
use anything near the many herbs and so forth used by the people on this
ng. But who has not seen a head of garlic in his life? I have to weep in
sympathy.

There were a few places in Brooklyn, though, where you could exotic
herbs, roots, and so forth. The big local Shopright had a nice, very
large selection, though I didn't see too many people overwhelming the
store and rushing to those aisles.

Where I live now, in Rockland County, there is (AFAIK) only one
supermarket near me that carries fresh herbs and such: such as rosemary,
chives, basil, and so forth, though not as wide a selection as I'm sure
many people here would demand in their local stores. It's actually one
of the smaller supermarkets, but they have a decent selection of
vegetables. So I have changed my shopping habits to shop in this store
as much as I can.

In one other VERY big supermarket I asked the guy if he had fresh
rosemary, and he said he didn't know what it was, and no one ever asks
for it. I was a bit stunned, to tell you the truth. Rosemary is not such
an exotic spice. I hadn't asked for the root of some Mexican vegetable,
such as a friend of mine used to use a lot. So I went to the dried spice
rack to show him what it was, and I couldn't find it there either!! Even
in Brooklyn it hadn't been this difficult!

Oddly, this very big supermarket has a much wider (and often better)
selection of fruits than the other one. So I wind up having to go to the
big place for fruits and a few other things, and to almost the other
side of town for vegetables and herbs and so forth.

But my point here is to wonder: have any of you ever discovered adults
who were really unaware of some basic foods? Is this common?

Mordechai

"Mordechai Housman" > wrote:
> Some years ago I attended a convention, and I happened to have a head of
> garlic with me.
>
> At some point, I met a guy from iirc Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He saw me
> holding the garlic, and he asked me, "Is that garlic?"
>
> I said it was. He asked me if he could see it and hold it. He said he had
> never in his life (he was in his twenties) seen garlic before.
....
> But my point here is to wonder: have any of you ever discovered adults who
> were really unaware of some basic foods? Is this common?

I've had that happen quite a few times in recent years. Some of the things
were worcestershire sauce, leeks, salt pork, and celery root. I guess I
could somewhat see leeks and celery root being unknowns, but worcestershire
sauce and salt pork? I know there are a lot more than just these that I can
think of off the top of my head. It's really pretty sad.

I think it comes from eating processed or prepared foods all one's life.
Even if such a person knows of the basic food ingredient, and can perhaps
identify the flavor, they may never have seen it by itself... such as
garlic.

Speaking of rosemary... I have a neighbor that has quite a bush of it in
front of her house. I thought she grew it new every year, but found out this
year it's the same plant that survives the winter year after year. I was
surprised it could survive here through the winter (Washington, DC). We've
had snows well over a foot in the time she's had the rosemary. I guess it's
because of where it's planted and the huge amount of sun it gets.

--
( #wff_ng_7# at #verizon# period #net# )

In article <daMKg.1031$ay1.419@trndny08>,
"Mordechai Housman" > wrote:

> But my point here is to wonder: have any of you ever discovered adults
> who were really unaware of some basic foods? Is this common?

I've always been aware of garlic bulbs since we are a couple hundred
miles from the 'garlic capital of the world', but other than dried herbs
and spices, I have only recently (last fifteen years) seen many fresh
herbs. Fresh cilantro is big in Nevada and I love it. My wife hates it.
I originally thought fresh herbs meant fresh parsley. I'm still ignorant
of many fresh vegetables in the common supermarket.
If I've ever eaten a parsnip, I don't remember it. I'd assume that's a
basic food. So yes, we're out there.

leo

--
<http://web0.greatbasin.net/~leo/>

Mordechai Housman wrote:
>
> But my point here is to wonder: have any of you ever discovered adults
> who were really unaware of some basic foods? Is this common?
>
> Mordechai

More common than you can believe, Mordechai! New York and California
(my home) are places where Mu Shu Pork and Veal Parmigana ARE basic
foods!

A lot of people do not see or know what food looks like before it's
stripped, processed, cleaned and cooked. Urban folk are notoriously
deprived of seeing the original versions of food, as they grow, or are
picked, just off the vine or out of the ground. (Squash blossoms are
an example).

I lived in Europe for a time. Let me tell you, I saw things that I
didn't know were attached to foods that I had come to know and love.
At times, it was traumatic. I won't go into detail, but I will never
trust some foods again.

"Mordechai Housman" > wrote

> Some years ago I attended a convention, and I happened to have a head of
> garlic with me.
>
> At some point, I met a guy from iirc Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He saw me
> holding the garlic, and he asked me, "Is that garlic?"
>
> I said it was. He asked me if he could see it and hold it. He said he had
> never in his life (he was in his twenties) seen garlic before.

This is funny to me, that you were walking around with a head of garlic.

> In one other VERY big supermarket I asked the guy if he had fresh
> rosemary, and he said he didn't know what it was, and no one ever asks for
> it. I was a bit stunned, to tell you the truth. Rosemary is not such an
> exotic spice. I hadn't asked for the root of some Mexican vegetable, such
> as a friend of mine used to use a lot. So I went to the dried spice rack
> to show him what it was, and I couldn't find it there either!! Even in
> Brooklyn it hadn't been this difficult!

That is very strange.

> Oddly, this very big supermarket has a much wider (and often better)
> selection of fruits than the other one. So I wind up having to go to the
> big place for fruits and a few other things, and to almost the other side
> of town for vegetables and herbs and so forth.

It's similar here, one store is better for produce, another for meats.
They all seem to have their strengths and weaknesses.

> But my point here is to wonder: have any of you ever discovered adults who
> were really unaware of some basic foods? Is this common?

Heh, sometimes the cashiers in the supermarkets don't know common
vegetables. I was happy to inform one that what he was holding was a
yellow onion.

Once, a few years ago, I was in a store I wasn't especially familiar
with, and I was looking for shallots. I was really combing the place
looking for them. I was being distracted by these two women, maybe
early 20s, poring over the selection of fresh herbs. They kept picking
up things like parsley, maybe this is rosemary. I don't know, how about
this, maybe this is rosemary.

I'm not really one to start a conversation with strangers, but finally, I
just
had to say it. Are you looking for rosemary? Yes! I picked up a bunch
and said, this is rosemary. (laugh) They suddenly looked like, oh great,
she doesn't know. Apparently the appearance wasn't what they were
expecting, and now they had some nut on their hands.

I smoothed out that twisty thing that binds the herbs, see, it's printed
here.
Oh!!! They were thankful and I went back to my great shallot expedition.

nancy

Mordechai Housman wrote:

> But my point here is to wonder: have any of you ever discovered adults
> who were really unaware of some basic foods? Is this common?

Yeah. For example, there was a guy who hadn't heard of creme fraiche; can
you believe it? :-)
--
Dave
www.davebbq.com

Oh pshaw, on Sun 03 Sep 2006 08:37:20p, Dave Bugg meant to say...

> Mordechai Housman wrote:
>
>> But my point here is to wonder: have any of you ever discovered adults
>> who were really unaware of some basic foods? Is this common?
>
> Yeah. For example, there was a guy who hadn't heard of creme fraiche; can
> you believe it? :-)

Some folks have barely heard of yogurt, let alone creme fraiche. :-) There
are a lot of "backward" communities out there.

--
Wayne Boatwright
__________________________________________________

The old believe everything, the middle-aged
suspect everything, the young know everything.
--Oscar Wilde

"Ludmillia" > wrote in
oups.com:

> I lived in Europe for a time. Let me tell you, I saw things
> that I
> didn't know were attached to foods that I had come to know and
> love. At times, it was traumatic. I won't go into detail, but
> I will never trust some foods again.

Would love to know more.

Maybe start a new thread if you are so inclined.
I love love to learn more about Euoropean ways with food.

"Mordechai Housman" > wrote in message
> But my point here is to wonder: have any of you ever discovered adults who
> were really unaware of some basic foods? Is this common?
>
> Mordechai

Sadly, more common that you would think possible. My neighbor never heard of
peach pie. At least once a month, the cashiers at the supermarket have no
idea what something is. Shallots, scallions, pine nuts come to mind. Of
course to many, garlic is not a basic food, but some exotic spice used only
in restaurants.
--
Ed
http://pages.cthome.net/edhome/

On Mon, 04 Sep 2006 04:22:10 GMT, "Edwin Pawlowski" >
wrote:

>
>"Mordechai Housman" > wrote in message
>> But my point here is to wonder: have any of you ever discovered adults who
>> were really unaware of some basic foods? Is this common?
>>
>> Mordechai
>
>Sadly, more common that you would think possible. My neighbor never heard of
>peach pie. At least once a month, the cashiers at the supermarket have no
>idea what something is. Shallots, scallions, pine nuts come to mind. Of
>course to many, garlic is not a basic food, but some exotic spice used only
>in restaurants.

In our house, garlic isn't even a spice -- we use so much of it, it
qualifies as a vegetable. :-)

serene
--
My blog: http://serenejournal.livejournal.com
My cooking blog: http://serenecooking.livejournal.com

Steve Wertz wrote:
> Was this a vampire convention, or something?
>
> -sw

lol - exactly my thoughts!

LadyJane
--
"Never trust a skinny cook!"

Serene wrote:

> In our house, garlic isn't even a spice -- we use so much of it, it
> qualifies as a vegetable. :-)
>
> serene

Think we run similar households serene!

LadyJane
--
"Never trust a skinny cook!"

Mordechai Housman wrote:
> Some years ago I attended a convention, and I happened to have a head of
> garlic with me.

(snipped for brevity)
>
> But my point here is to wonder: have any of you ever discovered adults
> who were really unaware of some basic foods? Is this common?
>
> Mordechai

I have an odd story. When my husband was in his early 20's and joined
the army, he was surprised to eat rice! He had never eaten it before.
On leave, he asked his mother why and she said because she didn't like
it so never served it at to the family.

Travlr

Convenience foods have a lot to answer for.

Quite a few years back (16 truth be told) a friend, who's son was the
same age as my twins, was moving house. I offered to have her son for a
few nights sleepover so she & husband could pack up their belongings
and make the move, without a youngster hanging around.
Shelley was an abysmal cook. Hated it in fact. But did love eating. Had
grown up in China with a household of servants at the homes beck and
call. Interestingly her Mother was a superb cook, but it was not one of
the talents Shelley inherited or nurtured. Although Shelley didn't work
as such, her husband would work all day & return home to cook a meal
for he and she. She'd pre-fed 5 yr old son earlier. His diet comprised
of:
shredded lettuce, cheese, carrot, diced tomato, and a pita bread. Also
included 1 block three minute noodles, cooked in water. Glass of
cordial or milk or fruit drink. hmmm.
Also should point out Shelley was a born again Jew, though not
Orthodox... rediscovered faith since birth of said son, which severely
impacted on foods he could eat.
So, Ben arrives late Friday after dinner.
day 1 : served up a dish of scambled eggs on toasted muffins.
child had never seen an egg in any form and was dubious at first but
once encouraged, loved it.
lunch was sandwiches with corned beef & salad - also never seen or
heard of corned beef but was happy to eat it once assured it wasn't
ham. Loved it too.
dinner: roast chicken, roast potatoes, roast pumpkin, roast sweet
(orange) potato, peas, brussells sprouts & gravy.
can you believe this child had lived to nearly 5 and had NEVER had a
roast dinner? I swear it's the truth! Had never even had any roasted
vegetables! Had no idea what those odd things were on his plate. He was
really unsure on the gravy, but on having a 'taste' before plating up,
gave it a definite 'thumbs up' and "can I have extra?? please???"
breakfast on Sunday was their choice - my kids opted for poached eggs -
another first for this boy. He ended up eating 4! minus the bacon my
kids wanted, of course.
Lunch was a throw together platter: mixed vegetable crudites, dips,
salami, & crusty rolls. He ate like there was no tomorrow!
Dinner was a bolognaise - which he had never experienced before either.
day 2: since eggs were a big hit yesterday, guessed they wouldn't be
out of place on Sunday breakfast. This time did poached variety with
baked beans on the side.
lunch: home made pumpkin soup with bread.
When his parents came to collect him later on Sunday, he'd told them
all the 'new' foods he'd eaten and loved! Father suggested he should
move in with us so his culinary tastes kept expanding. I suggested the
kid should actually eat with his parents for a change and eat what THEY
ate and there would be no problem with his eating habits.....
My kids have been eating curries, Italian, Thai, Chinese, all
vegetables and varied European dishes since they were old enough to
hold a fork.
Makes me SO F'ING mad when lazy parent/s fob off their kid's bad eating
habits , when it lays squarely in their court - the parents court that
is.
The boy in question was chomping at the bit to come back to our house
for sleepovers - oddly enough his Mum became possessive about that and
he never had another sleepover at our house. They moved interstate and
we've not heard from them since.
Still wonder whether his diet was thwarted by his mother's inability to
enjoy cooking....

You may well wonder that I can recall the exact menu for the two days
this child stayed with us. I was so appalled that he had never
experienced some of the 'staples' of our diet that it left a lasting
impression. I regarded Shelley as a friend before this exercise.
Afterward I barely had time for her. To rob children of the wonderful
experience of discovering new foods and tastes is wicked. As far as she
and her husband were concerned their son was 'fussy'. Poor little thing
had NEVER been given the opportunity to try NEW foods - and it was
THEIR fault! sheesh!

I firmly believe that there are no fussy eaters (where children are
concerned) just dead lazy parents who can not be bothered to introduce
or experiment with food where their children are concerned. My kids
LOVE all foods - because they've been encouraged to try all sorts of
different dishes. They may not like them, but they will at least try
and then make a judgement. Getting kids to at least 'try' different
foods is half the battle in broadening their tastes. IMHO

LadyJane
--
"Never trust a skinny cook!"

On 3 Sep 2006 23:48:58 -0700, "LadyJane" >
wrote:

>I firmly believe that there are no fussy eaters (where children are
>concerned) just dead lazy parents who can not be bothered to introduce
>or experiment with food where their children are concerned.

I see what you're getting at, and I agree that parents should make
more of an effort to provide a variety of wholesome foods to their
kids, but I'm here to say that I am a good, creative, inventive cook,
and I ended up with one child who will eat ANYTHING (sushi from age 2,
beets right out of the can, hummus, *anything*), and one child who had
maybe a dozen foods that were acceptable, and those foods had *better*
not touch each other.

People are different. That includes kids.

serene
--
My blog: http://serenejournal.livejournal.com
My cooking blog: http://serenecooking.livejournal.com

Serene wrote:
I ended up with one child who will eat ANYTHING (sushi from age 2,
> beets right out of the can, hummus, *anything*), and one child who had
> maybe a dozen foods that were acceptable, and those foods had *better*
> not touch each other.
>
> People are different. That includes kids.

but the difference is YOU TRIED! and probably KEEP ON TRYING!
rather than give up and offer takeaway Maccas, pizza etc.

son is a died in the wool savoury tooth - anything and everything
savoury, within certain limits.
daughter is/was one of those kids born to consume glucose in all it's
forms.
when people asked me whether i was worried if my kids would get 'into
drugs' my only reservation was that Jess would be using an intravenous
form of glucose by the time she was 15!
However... she would always eat what I put in front of her. As long as
there was dessert.
It was a pay-off. I worked (sneakily) around it. And now, happily, she
does have a balanced diet and enjoys trying new savoury foods knowing
she can reward herself with dessert!

;-)

LadyJane
--
"Never trust a skinny cook!"
Nothing better you can do for your children than giving them a love and
appreciation for great food! IMHO

On 4 Sep 2006 00:23:13 -0700, "LadyJane" >
wrote:

>
>Serene wrote:
> I ended up with one child who will eat ANYTHING (sushi from age 2,
>> beets right out of the can, hummus, *anything*), and one child who had
>> maybe a dozen foods that were acceptable, and those foods had *better*
>> not touch each other.
>>
>> People are different. That includes kids.
>
>but the difference is YOU TRIED! and probably KEEP ON TRYING!
>rather than give up and offer takeaway Maccas, pizza etc.

Maybe his parents tried and got resistance all the way. Sometimes kids
are more willing to try things in other people's houses than at home.
(I tend to think they *were* being lazy, but all I was saying is that
some kids are going to be picky no matter how you try.)

serene
--
My blog: http://serenejournal.livejournal.com
My cooking blog: http://serenecooking.livejournal.com

Ludmillia wrote:

> More common than you can believe, Mordechai! New York and California
> (my home) are places where Mu Shu Pork and Veal Parmigana ARE basic
> foods!

Veal parmigiana?!? What's it: just substitute eggplant slices with veal
slices?
--
Vilco
Think pink, drink rose'

Serene wrote:

> Maybe his parents tried and got resistance all the way. Sometimes kids
> are more willing to try things in other people's houses than at home.
> (I tend to think they *were* being lazy, but all I was saying is that
> some kids are going to be picky no matter how you try.)

his mother dished up the same thing, day after day after day, year in
year out.
noodles, pita, shredded veg & grated veg and the odd hunk of cheese.
never cooked a single blessed thing for the kid! (except the dousing of
the noodles which does NOT count!)

which is why he had such a great time at our place - cooking abound!
and he wasn't reluctant to try - just never been given an opportunity
to 'try'!

really wicked as far as I am concerned.

Lady Jane
--
"Never trust a skinny cook!"

Vilco wrote:
> Ludmillia wrote:
>
> > More common than you can believe, Mordechai! New York and California
> > (my home) are places where Mu Shu Pork and Veal Parmigana ARE basic
> > foods!
>
> Veal parmigiana?!? What's it: just substitute eggplant slices with veal
> slices?
> --
> Vilco
> Think pink, drink rose'

Father's day here yesterday and Veal Parmigiana was on our menu!
served with cheesey potato bake, roasted garlic yam, baby spinach,
broccoli & hollandaise, corn on the cob.

went down a treat!

LadyJane
--
"Never trust a skinny cook!"

"LadyJane" > wrote in message
ps.com...
>
> Serene wrote:
>
> > In our house, garlic isn't even a spice -- we use so much of it, it
> > qualifies as a vegetable. :-)
> >
> > serene
>
> Think we run similar households serene!
>
> LadyJane
> --

Count me in on that one. We buy at least three heads of it a week.

kili

"LadyJane" > wrote in message
oups.com...
> Convenience foods have a lot to answer for.

(snip)

> Still wonder whether his diet was thwarted by his mother's inability to
> enjoy cooking....
>
> You may well wonder that I can recall the exact menu for the two days
> this child stayed with us. I was so appalled that he had never
> experienced some of the 'staples' of our diet that it left a lasting
> impression. I regarded Shelley as a friend before this exercise.
> Afterward I barely had time for her. To rob children of the wonderful
> experience of discovering new foods and tastes is wicked. As far as she
> and her husband were concerned their son was 'fussy'. Poor little thing
> had NEVER been given the opportunity to try NEW foods - and it was
> THEIR fault! sheesh!
>
> I firmly believe that there are no fussy eaters (where children are
> concerned) just dead lazy parents who can not be bothered to introduce
> or experiment with food where their children are concerned. My kids
> LOVE all foods - because they've been encouraged to try all sorts of
> different dishes. They may not like them, but they will at least try
> and then make a judgement. Getting kids to at least 'try' different
> foods is half the battle in broadening their tastes. IMHO
>
> LadyJane
> --
> "Never trust a skinny cook!"
>

Ha! That sounds just like my neighbor and her kids. My neighbor hates to
cook, but loves to eat. She's lazy and she's picky (along with being
morbidly obese). Breakfast is pre-cooked bacon with a frozen breakfast
sandwich. She buys chips, brownies and sugared cereals for the kids to eat
when they come home from school. Dinner is usually pizza rolls or frozen
bean and cheese burritos. The only herbs and spices they have in their
cabinet is salt and pepper. They only eat canned veggies.

My neighbor's daughters are also morbidly obese and she nags to them about
their weight problem. I bite my tongue and just think to myself, maybe it's
the food you're buying? It's too late for the kids; they're 14 and 16; the
trend has been set. They have no idea what "real" food tastes like. Their
idea of ethnic food is going to the Golden Corral Buffet and eating meatloaf
with a taquito, followed by New York cheesecake. It's really sad.

kili

"Leonard Blaisdell" > wrote in message
...
> In article <daMKg.1031$ay1.419@trndny08>,
> "Mordechai Housman" > wrote:
>
>> But my point here is to wonder: have any of you ever discovered
>> adults
>> who were really unaware of some basic foods? Is this common?
>
> I've always been aware of garlic bulbs since we are a couple hundred
> miles from the 'garlic capital of the world', but other than dried
> herbs
> and spices, I have only recently (last fifteen years) seen many fresh
> herbs. Fresh cilantro is big in Nevada and I love it. My wife hates
> it.
> I originally thought fresh herbs meant fresh parsley. I'm still
> ignorant
> of many fresh vegetables in the common supermarket.
> If I've ever eaten a parsnip, I don't remember it. I'd assume that's a
> basic food. So yes, we're out there.

Well, to some degree, that depends on culture. Most European Jews, who
tend to be big on chicken soup, wouldn't make a chicken soup without
parsnip root (among other things). So I've eaten it in soup many times.

On the other hand, I once was badly in need of fiber, and I left the
office to go next block over and I bought some celery. When I brought it
to the office, and one of the secretaries (admittedly, not one of the
very intelligent ones) saw me washing it and so forth to prepare to eat
it, she was agog. "You're going to EAT that?" I said, "Yes, that was my
intention." She expostulated that celery was for soup, not for eating. I
really didn't have an answer to that one.

Shrug. I ate it anyway, her opinion notwithstanding.

"Ludmillia" > wrote in message
oups.com...
> Mordechai Housman wrote:
>>
>> But my point here is to wonder: have any of you ever discovered
>> adults
>> who were really unaware of some basic foods? Is this common?
>>
>> Mordechai
>
> More common than you can believe, Mordechai! New York and California
> (my home) are places where Mu Shu Pork and Veal Parmigana ARE basic
> foods!
>
> A lot of people do not see or know what food looks like before it's
> stripped, processed, cleaned and cooked. Urban folk are notoriously
> deprived of seeing the original versions of food, as they grow, or are
> picked, just off the vine or out of the ground. (Squash blossoms are
> an example).

Okay, but many of these things are available in supermarkets, right in
front of their eyes. Didn't they ever go, as a small child, with their
mommy to the supermarket, and see these things?

I'm (laughably) an adult, I'm 44 years old, and if I see an
unfamiliar-looking vegetable or something in the produce section, I will
even ask a stranger what it is, if there's no one else to ask. I MIGHT
even ask what it can be used in.

"Ludmillia" > wrote in message
oups.com...

<snip>

> I lived in Europe for a time. Let me tell you, I saw things that I
> didn't know were attached to foods that I had come to know and love.
> At times, it was traumatic. I won't go into detail, but I will never
> trust some foods again.

You've certainly intrigued me! Can you discuss this in some sort of
semi-oblique way without disgusting yourself (or anyone else)?

My late father, who was a butcher of the old school (no self-service at
HIS store!), used to tell me in graphic detail how salami was made, in a
facetious effort to cool off my desires for it.

And a friend of mine who has a farm and a meat processing plant once
told me that if I knew how hot dogs were made, even the finest kosher
hot dogs, I would be so disgusted that I would never eat one again.

"Nancy Young" > wrote in message
. ..
>
<snip>
>
> Once, a few years ago, I was in a store I wasn't especially familiar
> with, and I was looking for shallots. I was really combing the place
> looking for them. I was being distracted by these two women, maybe
> early 20s, poring over the selection of fresh herbs. They kept
> picking
> up things like parsley, maybe this is rosemary. I don't know, how
> about
> this, maybe this is rosemary.
>
> I'm not really one to start a conversation with strangers, but
> finally, I just
> had to say it. Are you looking for rosemary? Yes! I picked up a
> bunch
> and said, this is rosemary. (laugh) They suddenly looked like, oh
> great,
> she doesn't know. Apparently the appearance wasn't what they were
> expecting, and now they had some nut on their hands.
>
> I smoothed out that twisty thing that binds the herbs, see, it's
> printed here.
> Oh!!! They were thankful and I went back to my great shallot
> expedition.

LOL! That's a funny story!

"Nancy Young" > wrote in message
. ..
>
> "Mordechai Housman" > wrote
>
>> Some years ago I attended a convention, and I happened to have a head
>> of garlic with me.
>>
>> At some point, I met a guy from iirc Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He
>> saw me holding the garlic, and he asked me, "Is that garlic?"
>>
>> I said it was. He asked me if he could see it and hold it. He said he
>> had never in his life (he was in his twenties) seen garlic before.
>
> This is funny to me, that you were walking around with a head of
> garlic.

I used to do the Sabbath cooking for my contingent of con-goers. This
goes back about 15 years, when I was in my late twenties, and still a
bachelor.

"Dave Bugg" > wrote in message
...
> Mordechai Housman wrote:
>
>> But my point here is to wonder: have any of you ever discovered
>> adults
>> who were really unaware of some basic foods? Is this common?
>
> Yeah. For example, there was a guy who hadn't heard of creme fraiche;
> can you believe it? :-)

No! Really?

"Wayne Boatwright" <wayneboatwright_at_gmail.com> wrote in message
28.19...
> Oh pshaw, on Sun 03 Sep 2006 08:37:20p, Dave Bugg meant to say...
>
>> Mordechai Housman wrote:
>>
>>> But my point here is to wonder: have any of you ever discovered
>>> adults
>>> who were really unaware of some basic foods? Is this common?
>>
>> Yeah. For example, there was a guy who hadn't heard of creme fraiche;
>> can
>> you believe it? :-)
>
> Some folks have barely heard of yogurt, let alone creme fraiche. :-)
> There
> are a lot of "backward" communities out there.

Now hold on, yogurt? They don't have televisions? They don't see
commercials?

"Steve Wertz" > wrote in message
...
> On Mon, 04 Sep 2006 02:27:21 GMT, Mordechai Housman wrote:
>
>> Some years ago I attended a convention, and I happened to have a head
>> of
>> garlic with me.
>>
>> At some point, I met a guy from iirc Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He
>> saw
>> me holding the garlic, and he asked me, "Is that garlic?"
>
> Was this a vampire convention, or something?

Actually, it was a science-fiction convention, and we were playing a
live-action role-playing game called "the Masquerade," which was about
vampires.

"Edwin Pawlowski" > wrote in message
. com...
>
> "Mordechai Housman" > wrote in message
>> But my point here is to wonder: have any of you ever discovered
>> adults who were really unaware of some basic foods? Is this common?
>>
>> Mordechai
>
> Sadly, more common that you would think possible. My neighbor never
> heard of peach pie. At least once a month, the cashiers at the
> supermarket have no idea what something is. Shallots, scallions, pine
> nuts come to mind. Of course to many, garlic is not a basic food, but
> some exotic spice used only in restaurants.

Interesting. I wouldn't dream of cooking without it. Okay, it depends
what. I have never put any in a pie, at least not yet, but you never
know.

"Serene" > wrote in message
news
> On Mon, 04 Sep 2006 04:22:10 GMT, "Edwin Pawlowski" >
> wrote:
>
>>
>>"Mordechai Housman" > wrote in message
>>> But my point here is to wonder: have any of you ever discovered
>>> adults who
>>> were really unaware of some basic foods? Is this common?
>>>
>>> Mordechai
>>
>>Sadly, more common that you would think possible. My neighbor never
>>heard of
>>peach pie. At least once a month, the cashiers at the supermarket have
>>no
>>idea what something is. Shallots, scallions, pine nuts come to mind.
>>Of
>>course to many, garlic is not a basic food, but some exotic spice used
>>only
>>in restaurants.
>
> In our house, garlic isn't even a spice -- we use so much of it, it
> qualifies as a vegetable. :-)

Same here.

Mordechai Housman wrote:

> But my point here is to wonder: have any of you ever discovered adults
> who were really unaware of some basic foods? Is this common?
>
> Mordechai

What, you've never had the checker at the grocery store ask what it is
you're buying? If it doesn't have a bar code, chances are someone aged 20
or younger has no clue what they are scanning. Sad, but true.

Jill

kilikini wrote:
> "LadyJane" > wrote in message
> ps.com...
>>
>> Serene wrote:
>>
>>> In our house, garlic isn't even a spice -- we use so much of it, it
>>> qualifies as a vegetable. :-)
>>>
>>> serene
>>
>> Think we run similar households serene!
>>
>> LadyJane
>> --
>
> Count me in on that one. We buy at least three heads of it a week.
>
> kili

Buy it? Grow it! In pots!

"jmcquown" > wrote in message
.. .
> Mordechai Housman wrote:
>
> > But my point here is to wonder: have any of you ever discovered adults
> > who were really unaware of some basic foods? Is this common?
> >
> > Mordechai
>
> What, you've never had the checker at the grocery store ask what it is
> you're buying? If it doesn't have a bar code, chances are someone aged 20
> or younger has no clue what they are scanning. Sad, but true.
>
> Jill
>
>

I've had checkers ask me about ginger root, cilantro and turnips. They also
have asked about types of avocado, types of greens and onions. (Prices vary
depending upon brands, as we all know.)

kili

In article <dCTKg.15780$242.170@trndny06>,
"Mordechai Housman" > wrote:

> "Ludmillia" > wrote in message
> oups.com...
> > Mordechai Housman wrote:
> >>
> >> But my point here is to wonder: have any of you ever discovered
> >> adults
> >> who were really unaware of some basic foods? Is this common?
> >>
> >> Mordechai
> >
> > More common than you can believe, Mordechai! New York and California
> > (my home) are places where Mu Shu Pork and Veal Parmigana ARE basic
> > foods!
> >
> > A lot of people do not see or know what food looks like before it's
> > stripped, processed, cleaned and cooked. Urban folk are notoriously
> > deprived of seeing the original versions of food, as they grow, or are
> > picked, just off the vine or out of the ground. (Squash blossoms are
> > an example).
>
> Okay, but many of these things are available in supermarkets, right in
> front of their eyes. Didn't they ever go, as a small child, with their
> mommy to the supermarket, and see these things?
>
> I'm (laughably) an adult, I'm 44 years old, and if I see an
> unfamiliar-looking vegetable or something in the produce section, I will
> even ask a stranger what it is, if there's no one else to ask. I MIGHT
> even ask what it can be used in.

Geez...
Reading this thread makes me realize just how lucky I was to have the
parents I had. We eat a great variety of foods, I love to cook and I'll
try nearly anything at least once! There are a few foods I just cannot
enjoy but I'm still always looking for new stuff to try. <G>

I have a rule to try at least one new food every time I hit the oriental
market.

Talk about new varieties....... ;-)
--
Peace!
Om

"My mother never saw the irony in calling me a Son of a bitch"
-- Jack Nicholson

"jmcquown" > wrote in message
.. .
> kilikini wrote:
> > "LadyJane" > wrote in message
> > ps.com...
> >>
> >> Serene wrote:
> >>
> >>> In our house, garlic isn't even a spice -- we use so much of it, it
> >>> qualifies as a vegetable. :-)
> >>>
> >>> serene
> >>
> >> Think we run similar households serene!
> >>
> >> LadyJane
> >> --
> >
> > Count me in on that one. We buy at least three heads of it a week.
> >
> > kili
>
> Buy it? Grow it! In pots!
>
>

I can't wait that long! LOL. No, seriously, maybe I'll try it in the
spring. I can't keep a plant inside because my cats have an obsession with
digging them up. I've tried and tried; it's not worth it!

Question, to grow it, do you just plant a head of garlic? How does it
reproduce?

kili

"kilikini" > wrote

> "LadyJane" > wrote

>> Serene wrote:
>>
>> > In our house, garlic isn't even a spice -- we use so much of it, it
>> > qualifies as a vegetable. :-)

>> Think we run similar households serene!

> Count me in on that one. We buy at least three heads of it a week.

I ordered a few pounds last spring, to arrive soon, I hope! Who
knows how this weather has affected the growing season.

nancy

"Mordechai Housman" > wrote

> Now hold on, yogurt? They don't have televisions? They don't see
> commercials?

I'm thinking maybe the Galloping Gourmet is why I knew what
a head of garlic looked like, fresh garlic (perhaps any garlic at all)
never crossed my threshhold, growing up.

nancy

"wff_ng_7" > wrote in message
news:yuMKg.1165$I71.1017@trnddc01...
> "Mordechai Housman" > wrote:
>> Some years ago I attended a convention, and I happened to have a head
>> of garlic with me.
>>
>> At some point, I met a guy from iirc Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He
>> saw me holding the garlic, and he asked me, "Is that garlic?"
>>
>> I said it was. He asked me if he could see it and hold it. He said he
>> had never in his life (he was in his twenties) seen garlic before.
> ...
>> But my point here is to wonder: have any of you ever discovered
>> adults who were really unaware of some basic foods? Is this common?
>
> I've had that happen quite a few times in recent years. Some of the
> things were worcestershire sauce, leeks, salt pork, and celery root. I
> guess I could somewhat see leeks and celery root being unknowns, but
> worcestershire sauce and salt pork? I know there are a lot more than
> just these that I can think of off the top of my head. It's really
> pretty sad.

Okay, well salt pork I would ALSO have trouble identifying, since I eat
only kosher and I am not even aware of having ever seen salt pork,
whatever that is. I did nonce see large pigs' feet in a bottle at a
store I went to several times.

> I think it comes from eating processed or prepared foods all one's
> life.

You're probably right. That also goes for garlic powder as well.

> Even if such a person knows of the basic food ingredient, and can
> perhaps identify the flavor, they may never have seen it by itself...
> such as garlic.
>
> Speaking of rosemary... I have a neighbor that has quite a bush of it
> in front of her house. I thought she grew it new every year, but found
> out this year it's the same plant that survives the winter year after
> year. I was surprised it could survive here through the winter
> (Washington, DC). We've had snows well over a foot in the time she's
> had the rosemary. I guess it's because of where it's planted and the
> huge amount of sun it gets.

The part that we use as a spice is the leaf, isn't it? So after it is
picked, it grows back again the next year, I assume.