So, tonight I listened to an interview on NPR with the “How To Cook Everything Vegetarian” cookbook author (http://www.npr.org/books/titles/138263720/how-to-cook-everything-vegetarian-simple-meatless-recipes-for-great-food). The interviewer started off with “Your new book has an obvious limitation - no meat. But was that restriction freeing as well?” What an odd assumption, I thought. Being a raw vegan chef (www.livelyvenola.blogspot.com), I have quite the opposite opinion. Relying on meat as the be-all-end-all of cooking blinds the cook to the myriad edible vegetables, herbs, nuts and seeds that can be used to make amazing food. But, I found this opinion not surprising, as it is shared by many in this meat-eating culture. Growing up vegetarian, the most common question I fielded was “Then what do you eat?” as if there clearly wasn’t anything else on Earth TO eat. My response - “Rabbit food.” I was a sarcastic young lady. Give the people what they want.
I rather enjoy the variety in the vegetarian/vegan world, the unique flavors of different vegetables, and different varieties within those vegetables. I never expect meat-eaters to share my love of food, and especially not old-school-set-in-their-ways folks who likely would not eat anything green unless it’s beaten down and brown, cooked until it loses its color. So imagine my surprise when my neighbor, Mr. Joe, called me today to praise my raw pizza.
Mr. Joe was born the same year as my father, but unlike my father, is generally not interested in vegetables. I was even hesitant to share my food with him in the first place, imagining that it would probably be a “waste.” But he was curious, and given that all he eats these days is lunch meat sandwiches, I figured that even if he only took one bite, that would be more benefit than none. I brought him two slices of my Vegetable Medley pizza last Saturday and quickly left. I never like to watch people eat my food. I don’t want them to think I’ll be hurt if they don’t like it; I don’t want them to say they like it if they don’t. More importantly, I would’ve been pissed if Mr. Joe had tossed that good food into the trash. I didn’t want to be there to witness that.
But he called me today, and in his gruff, no-nonsense manner, told me that he liked it. “I ate your pizza,” he said. I held my breath. “I liked it,” he said. (I exhaled.)“What is that crust made out of? It’s very good.” Of all the elements of the pizza, I didn’t think the crust (made of buckwheat groats, sunflower seeds, flax seeds, and a mix of vegetables) would be the draw for him. I told him the ingredients. “Uh huh.” he said. There was a brief pause and then he said, “I don’t like mushrooms. And I don’t like that white stuff.” He was referring to the nut cheeze that is featured on all my pizzas. Funny, because my regular clients rave about the nut cheeze. “I don’t like cauliflower.” Sometimes I think old people are cute like little kids. Aw, he thinks it’s cauliflower, I thought. I told him what it was, but I think either he didn’t hear or didn’t care. "It's very filling," he commented, surprised. (How could anything made only with vegetables be filling?)
Next he put in an unsolicited special order. “I want that crust with some hot peppers on top.” That’s not on the menu. I explained to him that I do a different topping every week, and this week’s topping is Ginger-Lime Tomato (http://livelyvenola.blogspot.com/2011/08/pizza-of-weekend-sep-3.html). I told him I could bring him that and he could put hot peppers on top. He said, “Alright, but I don’t want no tomatoes.” What? Old people want what they want. Mr. Joe reminds me of my (deceased) grandmother. She wasn’t too keen on “healthy” foods either, only changing her diet when her doctor threatened death.
Needless to say, I am pleased that Mr. Joe liked my food enough to call me and tell me so... and order some more. I’d like to believe that good food is good food, and if people are open more to taste than to pre-conceived notions, they might enjoy a wider range of what’s out there.
Mr. Joe mentioned to me the other day that he doesn’t know what to eat anymore. (He and his wife split up a couple years ago, and he’s a Vietnam vet suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). Besides lunch meat sandwiches, he revealed that he eats chicken, pork chops and rice. He doesn’t like that anymore; he’s bored. Who knows? Maybe Mr. Joe will start eating raw. Maybe he’ll expand his palate and begin to enjoy the myriad vegetables, herbs, nuts and seeds available here on Earth. He just might begin feeling better and extend his life a bit. That’s wishful thinking. I’m just glad the man liked the food. It’s nice when vegetarians, vegans and health nuts say my food is good. It’s totally validating and confidence-boosting when an unhealthy sworn meat-eater does.
Thanks, Mr. Joe. I’ll get the hot peppers now.
