Sunday, September 18, 2011

And Sometimes Vanity Prevails



Looks like chef pants, doesn't it? Well, before the chili pepper and goldfish and cupcake chef pants got so popular. I mean the old checkered kind.
There was a time back in the '90s when I was so self-absorbed about cooking, I found myself wanting a chef's jacket. Nothing outrageous, just a white double-breasted deal. I even checked them out in catalogs, but sanity prevailed. When would I ever wear the thing? Certainly not for company. And I do just fine in an apron, so it would be a shame to dirty it up in the humble duty of spaghetti sauce. Yeah, sanity prevailed.
This was all before blogging. I didn't know about other "normal" people's obsessions. I just thought I was the smartest foodist in town. I read all the right magazines, I shopped for the best equipment, I knew where to buy ingredients.
I would be the first to admit I'm not an ambitious cook. I would also admit that sometimes supper is Doritos and cottage cheese.
Then food blogs arose! I didn't get in on it as early as some of my favorite writers, but by early 2005 I was yapping my mouth about what I eat, on the Internet. I actually thought I had something to say. In some cases, maybe I did. What a great outlet for the self-absorbed.
But the good thing was reading the other blogs. Ones that could really teach you something, and could entertain. Fabulous photography, too.
There are middlebrow blogs, as well, some of them very popular. I don't think any of us are in competition with one another (except maybe for ad revenue).
I look at some of my early posts, and I see that I was a bit avant-garde on some topics. I was into Sandor Katz and fermentation before most of you, believe me. I was growing my own vegetable garden before that became the hot, hipster DIY fad. But that sounds competitive, and I don't mean it that way.
I'm just saying I actually did have something to say. And I've never made a penny off it.
But with the boom of intelligent food blogs (some of them now idle, sadly), I began to question my own showoffiness. Who wants to hear about an egg I scrambled, even if I am the best egg scrambler in the world? (I could tell you how. Maybe I will someday.)
Those checkered pants in the photo? They're pajamas.

21 comments:

chilebrown said...

I want to hear about your eggs scrambled only wearing your checkered towel.
signed Mr. Lowbrow.

Zoomie said...

I'm only very rarely in the vanguard, but I enjoy reading about those who are, as long as they know how to write. Luckily, you do.

Cyndi said...

I remember when I first started my cooking blog I was so AVID. I posted every day. I felt like a failure if I didn't post. Then through the years I took breaks from it and posted only sporadically. It got to where I didn't want to post that I'd cooked the same thing I'd made the month before - and there have been days upon days where I made nothing new. I LIKE what I make over and over. I just don't have the mojo to constantly try new things to blog about. So my blog sits neglected for weeks at a time. Tonight I'm having taco salad. I've made taco salad about once a month. So why blog that? By the way, I hope you continue to blog, even if sometimes you're cranky like Cranky.

cookiecrumb said...

Chilebrown: I will tell you about the eggs, wearing my checkered thong. Very French.

Zoomie: Aw, Zoomster, you didn't have to be so nice! Blush. Thanks.
You are an awesome, stalwart blogger, and what could be better?

Cyndi: Spectacular to see you again. Yes, you were a potent blogger. I agree, who wants to hear about another bowl of spaghetti? Those scrambled eggs, though...

cookiecrumb said...

SORRY ABOUT THE TYPEFACE. IT'S A MISTAKE.

Ms Brown Mouse said...

I was going to ask about the typeface!
I've loved your blog for years and years and I now have pajama envy!

cookiecrumb said...

Mouse: It's amazing to me that you would have pajama envy. I've seen your owl jammies!

kudzu said...

Ha. Reminds me of the Groucho turn that went something like, "He shot a cat in his pajamas," with the flippant, "Don't be silly, cats don't wear pajamas......"

Owl pajamas. Indeed.

Greg said...

Chef's pants are pajama pants! Checkered thong? Provacative!

cookiecrumb said...

Greg: You know you're a dirty old man, right? Keep coming back!

chilebrown said...

I am watching Mildred Pierce with Joan Crawford. I saw her cooking chicken but no waffles.

Kris said...

If we're gonna talk about scrambling an egg and DIY gardening (on your roof, no less! with your city approved 3 chickens!), then I'm crawling into my PJ's and crackin' a PBR.

I make dinner, therefore I am too full and tired to blog (most of the time!).

kudzu said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
cookiecrumb said...

Little Pots: Thanks for keeping me on the straight and narrow. PBR!

Chilebrown: The new version of Mildred Pierce with Kate Winslet def has waffles.

cookiecrumb said...

Kudzu: That Ms. Mouse likes to wear owl pajamas in her library, which is guarded by more owls.
I am on the lookout for a fabulous PJ set, which I will wear all winter. Ideas?

kudzu said...

Actually, Lanz (yes -- those granny gowns we always got for Christmas) makes....wait for it...owl pajamas. Just saw some in the Vermont Country Store catalog whilst looking for something totally different (comestibles). Check 'em out online.

cookiecrumb said...

Kudzu: That might just do! They are good quality. Remember the Lanz shop in the Stanford Shopping Center?

Chilebrown said...

Are you happy that you have neglected and blown off the medium that has made you a star? Do you want us to feel sorry that you have hidden yourself in that ‘Marin Politically Correct’ spasm of weirdness? We the readers want to hear about “I Mad and I Eat”. Amen

cookiecrumb said...

Chilebrown: I've actually been a little sicky the past few days. I am ready to return, thanks for the courage. :)

Ms Brown Mouse said...

One link, Peter Alexander! http://www.peteralexander.com.au/PA_IWCatLoadSections.process?CalledFrom=Main&Catalog_NAME=Spring%20Breeze&Level1click=Women&Section_Id=

cookiecrumb said...

Mouse: What a great store! I looked at everything, and now I think what I need is a velour lounge set. I wouldn't sleep in it anyway.
Ew! Did she say "velour lounge set"?