"Food as Art: Culture Never Tasted so Good"

The article is an evaluation and reflection of the event that occured last week in Seattle. The Food as Art event in Puget Sound, Washington brought together the culinary talents of African-American chefs from around the area. This event showcased their artistic and culinary abilities, demonstrating both the tastes and appearances that the chefs or "artists" were able to create. This article included a list of all of the chefs that participated in the event and the foods that they created. For example Harold Fields made a salmon sakura, but the most talked about dish was Debbie Hatfield's "potatoe's three ways" with the taste and presentation creating quite the sensory experience, people were able to enjoy the various dishes and the aspect of art brought to the food. The article also talks about the cakes showcased at the event and the effort and passion that went into making the delicious and beautiful masterpieces.

This event represents that food can be art. If there is an opportunity for chef's to showcase their food, it is similar to an artist showcasing their art at a museum. I think that the fact that food and simple ingredients can be transformed into beautiful and delicious dish's proves that art can be found in food. It is events like this that represent that the line between food being art is thin and cannot be accurately defined but this is much different than flipping burgers and serving fries at a fast food restaurant. The talent and cullinary skills come through and are represented through the chefs dishes. I find that this question of whether food can be art is a difficult one to answer; however, this article demonstrated the power of food and the artistic abilities that are necessary to create delicious and beautiful dishes.


Friedman, J. (2009, April 26). Seattle Restaurant Examiner: Food as Art: "Culture never tasted so good". Retrieved April 26, 2009, from http://www.examiner.com/x-435-Seattle-Restaurant-Examiner~y2009m4d25-Food-as-Art-featured-some-fabulous-creations

"Wrestling in Jelly, for Art's Sake"

This article explains Tara Strickstein's attempt to combine art and food into one and create a "mutual sensory experience." Her interest in the connection between art and food has led her to her newest artistic endeavor, jelly roll. It is performance based installation that involves a sweet shop counter with the accompaniment of jelly wrestling. People will wrestle in jelly and outsiders are welcome to participate. It is an interactive display that demonstrates the combination of food and art. There are an asortment of deserts and treets at the counter that provide patrons with a sensory experience and the wrestling is a contrast of the passive eating experience. She believes that it will allow people to experience things in a new way which will open their mind and senses to different forms of art. Performers will be walking around and interacting with the viewers and looking for opponents. This form of art is unknown and that is what artist Strickstein loves about it.

I think Strickstein's abstract and interactive way of combining food and art represents the endless capabilities of art. It proves that the context of something can completely change its interpretation and definition. In any other place besides a museum this "jelly roll" would not be considered art. In a museum people are looking to interpret and experience. Rather than just being a messy experience it can be seen as a complete sensory experience. Strickstein's artistic vision is shown through her knowledge of both food and art being sensory experiences, she proves that the combination of these experiences produce a different and interactive way to relate to art and food. In the article she makes a very valid point that has been thoroughly discussed in our class, "I asked my parents: 'Why is this art?' " Strickstein recalled. "And that developed into a lifelong questioning back and forth of what makes art. I'm still working on the answer." I think this is a question that can never really be answered because the definition is dependent on so many other aspects that would have to include every factor and interpretaion.

HOULIHAN, M. (2009, April 26). Wrestling in jelly, for art's sake :: CHICAGO SUN-TIMES :: Galleries. Retrieved April 26, 2009, from http://www.suntimes.com/entertainment/galleries/1544071,SHO-Sunday-art26.article

Life Values

Family
Friendship
Health
Enjoyment
Loyalty

When looking at the list of 20 values I thought it would be difficult to pick my top 5. I was wrong. I picked my values based on how I spend my time and how I live my life. Family is very important to me because they are there for me no matter what, they support me in everything I do and they help me grow. I am very lucky to have the support systems that I do. Without my friends and family I truly do not know where I would be. They make me laugh and they help me through hard times. As I have gotten older I am able to recognize the interchangeable roles of both groups. My family have become some of my best friends and my friends have become my family. I came home this weekend to go to the blazer game with my friends, but I stayed to hang out with my family, I could not ask for better friends or a better family.
My 3rd value is health. While I recognize the importance of physical health, I chose this as my value because I have come to understand the importance of mental health. In college it is difficult to manage time between school work and a social life. Without your health you have nothing and I take vitamins, work out and attempt to eat healthy, but what I found has really helped my health is taking time for myself. After the long days of lectures and hanging out with friends I try and do something for myself to give my mind and body time to relax.
My friends, family and health allow me to enjoy life. They inspire me and have taught me to do things that make me happy. Even though I do not necessarily enjoy doing homework the feeling of accomplishment and the reward of getting it done and learning something makes me happy. Going out with my friends, going to concerts, taking photographs and playing in the sun are all things that make me happy and I really make an effort to live my life based around enjoyment.
Without loyalty my friends, family and self would not be valuable. I try to be loyal to myself and my goals. I am committed to my friends and family and I would do anything for them, and they reciprocate that loyalty. I stay loyal to myself, and do not stray from my morals or beliefs. This loyalty helps me accomplish goals and keep and make friendships that last.

Snapple REAL facts

I would like to start this blog with a topic I feel very passionately about. Snapple facts. Many believe that not all snapple facts are real, many try to prove this accusation by claiming that the first snapple fact is that "not all snapple facts are real;" however, their only evidence is false because the snapple fact #1 is actually "a goldfish's attention span is three seconds." So there. Snapple is a source of great knowledge and interesting facts and those nay sayers need to learn their place! I completely agree with MittelMitte in that people must accept the quirky TRUE facts and come to a realization that it was an amazing move on snapples part and that the lawyers and politicians opposition only proves their ignorance. The way snappe facts came about and the idea behind them allows thirsty individuals to not only quench their thirst but their need for knowledge.

http://mittelmitte.blogspot.com/2006/09/snapple-real-facts-are-100-true.html
(The Blog that reinforced my snapple fact passion)