I have always enjoyed your writing, from the days you were at the LA Times to your Gourmet days. I was in mourning with you at the demise of Gourmet magazine. In the past, for most of the population, it used to be ok to be liberal, conservative, Catholic, Presbyterian, agnostic, etc. etc. in this country. People acknowledged it and went on about their business. Now it seems more people take offense and go on the attack as though they are personally being offended by an opinion. Sadly, intolerance has taken over and right to freedom of speech has gone away. So, just to counteract the intolerance, I just became a paid member! Thank you Ruth! I welcome your opinions!
Amen. Thanks for re-running this piece. Everything is, in fact, political, and people who complain about something being "political" don't recognize their attitude is also a political position. Oy.
I have no idea what your rerun archive piece has to do with your last week’s post, where you explicitly talk about joining Kamala’s political fundraiser. If that isn’t political, I don’t know what is. We’re not talking about what kind of food you eat on St. Patrick’s Day.
What food events have you joined for Republicans or conservatives or pro-Israel groups? I would guess zero.
I'm just a bit confused about the accusation of being political when so much space was taken by discussions of Eisenhower as a chef. In fact, I saved some of his recipes to try.
This is a sad commentary on our nation's inability to discuss issues without resorting to fury. Maybe take a breath and think about the idea that Eisenhower is the only American President who delighted in cooking. Maybe that is a reason so many in our great country go without enough nutritious food.
At any rate, I love these weekly columns even when the topics are not to my liking. It seems a bit like a column focused on scallops, to which I am violently allergic. I can still enjoy reading about the process even if the result will never be something in which I will agree or delight.
I’m a bit confused about how writing on a food blog about joining a cooking fundraiser for Kamala is not political. “Resorting to fury?” Who’s resorting to fury? Eisenhower was one of only a few presidents who delighted in cooking, so that’s why Americans eat junk food?
Reading about scallops on a food blog is unlike reading about political fundraisers on a food blog. This is not that difficult to understand.
Two sentences referring to a food related fundraiser that segues into presidents who cooked is hardly veering. The fragility evinced by these comments is frankly astonishing.
Promoting a political fundraiser in a culinary blog is veering off topic. The lack of honesty in recognizing this fact is even more astonishing than people who state a preference to keep current election discussion and promotion of fundraisers out of their other areas of interest.
You and other commentors made your point. She has also made hers. I think it's pretty obvious how this article connects to last week. If you missed it, that's on you.
I just love this article, and am so thankful for it. I always teach about food to my English students, and they know how much of a fan I am of your work, but I think they will particularly enjoy this piece today as we are discussing civic engagement. Thank you so much, Ruth!
Such an excellent piece. Thank you. I’m a South African, now living in Northern Ireland. I’m writing a novel about a South African cook exploring the influence the various immigrants have had on its cuisine.
For what it’s worth, I’ve become a paid subscriber because of this. I inferred - whether correctly or not, and certainly based on the behaviors in my extremely liberal community - that perhaps readers objected to your including charming anecdotes about a Republican historical figure. Sigh. I don’t understand why people are devoted to making themselves miserable and hating others. I love about your piece that it is about the human act of making food for ourselves and people we care about - not about THEM or US.
That’s interesting to hear — if anything, I’ve sometimes wished that your writing was more political! It just goes to show there’s no pleasing everyone. It’s your newsletter, and you’re an experienced editor. Keep running it in the way that feels right to you, and thanks for letting us read along!
Thank you for this piece. As a poet, one of the most oft conversations in my writing life has been the personal vs the political—and I have always believed that the personal is always political. I process my life through poetry, and by paying attention and by being a witness, I am able to look at the world and have an understanding of the space that I occupy. Food, as with poetry, I reckon follows the same thread, and so as a woman of colour who have always admired your writing, I am grateful to have read this today.
I don’t think about politics when I am thinking about or eating food. If I did I would have a constant upset stomach. Can’t we just let some things be enjoyed? I enjoy your articles and books and don’t care what your politics are. Now if you endorse a party or candidate, then that would change my feelings. Eating is my only vice and I just want to do it in peace.
It’s funny how people complain about things becoming “political” when it’s about supporting “the other side”. Would the dissenters complain if Ms. Reichl cooked at republican fundraiser?
Really? People complained about President Eisenhower cooking? I thought the article was great. Ike became President when I was four years old, and although my parents didn’t vote for him, they revered him as a WWII savior. The piece took me back to my childhood and reminded me that everyone has a chili recipe!
I love SMdA. It’s beautiful with the cobblestone streets. Don’t forget a tequila tasting at Casa Dragones.
Ruth even your brownie recipe is a melting pot. Plugra is an American high fat butter with a French sounding name that comes from Plus Gras, a high quality chocolate from Equador and , of course, Vanilla from so tropical location.
I have always enjoyed your writing, from the days you were at the LA Times to your Gourmet days. I was in mourning with you at the demise of Gourmet magazine. In the past, for most of the population, it used to be ok to be liberal, conservative, Catholic, Presbyterian, agnostic, etc. etc. in this country. People acknowledged it and went on about their business. Now it seems more people take offense and go on the attack as though they are personally being offended by an opinion. Sadly, intolerance has taken over and right to freedom of speech has gone away. So, just to counteract the intolerance, I just became a paid member! Thank you Ruth! I welcome your opinions!
You said it! Time for me to sign on as well--another still mourning the loss of Gourmet and a total Ruth fan.
You are a gift. Period, full stop. xx
Amen. Thanks for re-running this piece. Everything is, in fact, political, and people who complain about something being "political" don't recognize their attitude is also a political position. Oy.
You go, Ruth! Too political? What BS.
I have no idea what your rerun archive piece has to do with your last week’s post, where you explicitly talk about joining Kamala’s political fundraiser. If that isn’t political, I don’t know what is. We’re not talking about what kind of food you eat on St. Patrick’s Day.
What food events have you joined for Republicans or conservatives or pro-Israel groups? I would guess zero.
I'm just a bit confused about the accusation of being political when so much space was taken by discussions of Eisenhower as a chef. In fact, I saved some of his recipes to try.
This is a sad commentary on our nation's inability to discuss issues without resorting to fury. Maybe take a breath and think about the idea that Eisenhower is the only American President who delighted in cooking. Maybe that is a reason so many in our great country go without enough nutritious food.
At any rate, I love these weekly columns even when the topics are not to my liking. It seems a bit like a column focused on scallops, to which I am violently allergic. I can still enjoy reading about the process even if the result will never be something in which I will agree or delight.
I’m a bit confused about how writing on a food blog about joining a cooking fundraiser for Kamala is not political. “Resorting to fury?” Who’s resorting to fury? Eisenhower was one of only a few presidents who delighted in cooking, so that’s why Americans eat junk food?
Reading about scallops on a food blog is unlike reading about political fundraisers on a food blog. This is not that difficult to understand.
Don’t be sad. America has free speech.
It doesn't appear that the OP was questioning anyone's right to free speech. It's more about veering way off topic.
Two sentences referring to a food related fundraiser that segues into presidents who cooked is hardly veering. The fragility evinced by these comments is frankly astonishing.
Promoting a political fundraiser in a culinary blog is veering off topic. The lack of honesty in recognizing this fact is even more astonishing than people who state a preference to keep current election discussion and promotion of fundraisers out of their other areas of interest.
You apparently are unable to read for context.
You apparently have the analytical skills of a snail.
Than stop reading her posts. It’s very simple. 🙄
The fragility evinced by your comments about a criticism of the politicization of a food blog is frankly astonishing. Get a life.
Did I hit a nerve?! 😱
Is your life so bleak that you have nothing better to do than pee in the wind?
What a wit.
My plan is to laugh hysterically at the left if Trump wins…
You and other commentors made your point. She has also made hers. I think it's pretty obvious how this article connects to last week. If you missed it, that's on you.
Food *is* political, and I’ve now officially joined as a paying member to publicly agree with you on that.
I just love this article, and am so thankful for it. I always teach about food to my English students, and they know how much of a fan I am of your work, but I think they will particularly enjoy this piece today as we are discussing civic engagement. Thank you so much, Ruth!
Such an excellent piece. Thank you. I’m a South African, now living in Northern Ireland. I’m writing a novel about a South African cook exploring the influence the various immigrants have had on its cuisine.
I can’t wait for that, Gwynne. I spend most of the year based in Johannesburg. ( Can’t bring myself to call it Joburg or Jozi yet…🙄)
For what it’s worth, I’ve become a paid subscriber because of this. I inferred - whether correctly or not, and certainly based on the behaviors in my extremely liberal community - that perhaps readers objected to your including charming anecdotes about a Republican historical figure. Sigh. I don’t understand why people are devoted to making themselves miserable and hating others. I love about your piece that it is about the human act of making food for ourselves and people we care about - not about THEM or US.
That’s interesting to hear — if anything, I’ve sometimes wished that your writing was more political! It just goes to show there’s no pleasing everyone. It’s your newsletter, and you’re an experienced editor. Keep running it in the way that feels right to you, and thanks for letting us read along!
Thank you for this piece. As a poet, one of the most oft conversations in my writing life has been the personal vs the political—and I have always believed that the personal is always political. I process my life through poetry, and by paying attention and by being a witness, I am able to look at the world and have an understanding of the space that I occupy. Food, as with poetry, I reckon follows the same thread, and so as a woman of colour who have always admired your writing, I am grateful to have read this today.
I don’t think about politics when I am thinking about or eating food. If I did I would have a constant upset stomach. Can’t we just let some things be enjoyed? I enjoy your articles and books and don’t care what your politics are. Now if you endorse a party or candidate, then that would change my feelings. Eating is my only vice and I just want to do it in peace.
It’s funny how people complain about things becoming “political” when it’s about supporting “the other side”. Would the dissenters complain if Ms. Reichl cooked at republican fundraiser?
Really? People complained about President Eisenhower cooking? I thought the article was great. Ike became President when I was four years old, and although my parents didn’t vote for him, they revered him as a WWII savior. The piece took me back to my childhood and reminded me that everyone has a chili recipe!
I love SMdA. It’s beautiful with the cobblestone streets. Don’t forget a tequila tasting at Casa Dragones.
Ruth even your brownie recipe is a melting pot. Plugra is an American high fat butter with a French sounding name that comes from Plus Gras, a high quality chocolate from Equador and , of course, Vanilla from so tropical location.
Some.
For those who canceled due to the "political" tone, will you include a recipe for snowflake sorbet to top the brownies?