No small potatoes: Protest about government program to teach about food

So the US government has started an educational program to teach Americans about where their food comes from, entitled, "Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food" (the article in the Tri-City Herald) . Seems harmless. But 3 senators are arguing that it slights large farms & promotes small & organic farms that cater to the wealthy. To complicate this more, the budget for this program in $65 million (commodity producers have received $5 billion in the last two years). My question to you: should we (and if so, why) try to preserve a rural heritage in our country? What are the benefits & what are the costs?

"No, I don't have a children's menu"

When I was a waitress, I once waited on a table of 2 parents and a young girl, about the age of 4. When I took their order, the young girl proclaimed to me that she wanted the lamb chops (one of the more expensive entrees on the menu). Since she ordered like an adult, I decided to treat her as one and inquired directly to her, "and how would you like those cooked?" Without missing a beat, she replied, "medium rare." Sure enough, she cleaned her plate. That stays with me because I was so impressed by her knowledge and willingness to eat something that we would not equate with serving a child in a restaurant. In the NY Times food section, there is an article about childrens' menus and the impact of kids as the grow. What was your experience when you were a child? Did you order off the "regular" menu or kids' menu? How might this have impacted the kind of eater that you are?

Pay What you Want?

Former Intro2Gastro student, James Grill, sent me this link. Basically, Panera Bread is testing out a new concept: you order what you want & then pay what you want. The complete story is in USA Today. My question to you: how does this concept reflect one's philosophy on human nature? What is the larger question regarding necessities and commodities in our culture?

The Case of the GMO

The US Supreme Court, for the first time, has heard a case on GMO foods -- the question is not whether GMOs are safe to eat, but whether they ruin the environment, namely, the environment of organically grown alfalfa nearby. If you were on the Supreme Court, how might you rule?

What's Next in restaurants?

So, those of you who are familiar with Grant Achatz might have heard that he is opening a new restaurant, called Next. He plans a number of innovative ideas: changing the menu 4 times a year, each of which will be of a specific time and place; charging different prices for different days of the week and time; and having people pay a subscription ticket (pay ahead and he can distribute the proceeds anyway he wishes to his staff -- kitchen staff included). What do you think of his ideas? And if you could choose to eat a meal based on a place and era, what would it be and why?