Viva Arugula!
John Schwenkler pens a conservative defense of arugula, and muses on the poverty of movement “conservatives” who scorn it. “So whether we’re Slow Food conservatives, libertarian grass farmers, or gastronomically traditionalist organic-loving liberal foodies, let’s all stand firm against the attempt to treat our diets as just another pawn in the politicians’ scheme,” Schwenkler writes. “Hotdogs, corn on the cob, and warm apple pie are entirely deserving of their all-American reputation – but what good is our freedom if they won’t let us eat arugula?”
Via Dreher, who adds: “Food snobbery is one of my pet peeves. You get it from pseudo-foodies, who turn up their noses at more proletarian fare, but given where I come from philosophically, and the circles in which I run, I more often encounter its reverse: a knee-jerk condemnation of any attempt to stand athwart the Great American Junk Food Conveyor Belt and say ‘Stop!’ as evidence of snobbery and effete liberalism.”
Full disclosure: I don’t even know what Arugula tastes like.
October 10th, 2008 at 10:42 am
It’s like spicy lettuce. You’d like it.
October 13th, 2008 at 12:56 pm
Have you read “Crunchy Cons”? I heard an interview w/ the author on NPR and thought of you.
I’m not a big fan of arugula. But at least it’s not frisée. Wayyyy bitter.
October 13th, 2008 at 10:53 pm
Flossie!
I haven’t read it, but it’s on my to-read list. I’m a fan of Rod Dreher’s though. I read his blog.
I’m not sure if I AM a “crunchy con.” Thus far I’m too cheap and lazy to buy local and organic. But I applaud others who do.