Blockbuster Cuisine

The culinary arts without a doubt require the skill, dexterity, creativity, and thoughtfulness as artworks of sculpture, painting, or installation. Similar to fashion and pulling away from traditional forms of art, the culinary arts are transformative because you can live your life with it.  However, similar to “hipsters” of late who only know Pollock’s “Autumn Rhythm” or Warhol’s “Campbell Soup,” the culinary arts have become more and more of a blockbuster spectacle, throwing around words such as “confit,” “aoli,” and “truffle fillintheingredient,” making dishes seem elevated to gourmet heights when really, there’s just fried food and mayonnaise.

(Note: There is definitely still an appreciation for fried food, mayo, and truffle ANYTHING, but the regularity of these words to attempt to elevate food make the usage of these deceitful and manipulative).

The culinary mass culture is something that I most definitely do not denounce. In fact, I find it exciting to learn about other cultures and cuisines. However, the pretention that follows in restaurants creates an environment that falsely advertises poorly made cuisine into something that tricks people into liking it based on its fancier forename.

I am not claiming to be a connoisseur of the refined culinary arts, nor do I have the skill to create food much better than those of the restaurants I criticize and dine. However, what is frustrating are those who lack in execution, complexity in flavor, service, and authenticity that create an environment seemingly counterfeit.   The appreciation for true gourmet is becoming lost upon us as we demand foods that are fancier than their true being. For example, “Lean and tender pork loin chops crusted with panko and togarashi, with grilled vegetables, lentils and a shallot soy-mustard sauce” actually translates to a regular Don Katsu Pork Chop with overly sweet and salty vegetables (not actually grilled), dry lentils, and a sugary sweet glaze to top.  Why not make the food simpler, better executed, and honest?