Cleaning your "plate": a brief cogitation

[ejes]

Yesterday, I was sitting at the kitchen table and watching my father-in-law perform the annual, ritualistic task of carving the turkey. He doesn't do it at the table, he simply carves it up and brings it to the table after everyone is seated. I admired my mother-in-law as she made a tasty gravy from the drippings, neck and giblets as well.

Undoubtedly many of you have had several of the same thoughts swirling through your mind at this same instance or one similar to it. "I wonder how sharp his knife is? Not very from the looks of it.", "What kind of knife is that anyway?", etc. My mind wanders further, back to episodes of Les Stroud eating some rodent and sucking the bones clean as my mind gets set for the gorging we about to partake in.

Then on to a show that is one of my favorites, but that some people I know hate because they view it as simply "Fear Factor" revamped; Bizarre Foods. But it all comes together as to why I like that show at that moment. What I take away from Zimmern is this.

Other countries, and cultures, eat things that Americans don't, or more to the point, won't...anymore. Somehow we, as a culture overall, have become repulsed by even the simplest things like chitterlings, the Pope's Nose on poultry, etc. Perhaps because of their proximity to certain parts of the anatomy or it's "job" in bodily functions. What I take from Zimmern's show is that our palate in the west has evolved (or maybe regressed) into that which maybe makes us wasteful. Or, maybe we've just forgotten how to properly utilize or prepare all parts of foods. Or, perhaps, our culture has just become wealthy enough that we only accept the finest parts for consumption. I'm sure there are a myriad of reasons that could be debated for hours, if not days.

So, my mind comes back to the turkey being prepared before me. When he is finished I think to myself, "Self, I wonder how much sustenance is left behind there" as I see the skeletal remains with bits of meat haning off; left to be discarded. Which it later is.

Now, today, I decide to try something with some left over fried chicken in the fridge. I take a breast and a thigh and begin eating it like I normally would. Soon, I have a pile of bones like I would usually toss. Wow. There is a lot of stuff there that I could still eat from what I've seen from Zimmern's show. Normally, I would just toss this and grab for another section of the tasty bird. However, I pick up each bone and proceed to clean it. I suck on it as I see so many foreign peoples on his show, or like Les when eating what little food he has been able to find. I rake it back and forth on my teeth and eat any cartilaginous parts available (keel bone, joints, etc).

I was shocked at how little was actually left over! I began thinking more. I bet I could boil these bones and get even more in a survival scenario; and probably boil them until totally gone to consume.

I also noticed it took me some extra time to perform this task and after doing so, I didn't want those extra pieces. Hmmm. More of a benefit to this fat-boy.

All that sucking, smacking, raking, crunching. I'm sure I would (or will, much to the dismay of my wife ) cause some concern and looks from those around me in eating establishments. Maybe that is another reason we don't go this far...embarrassment and manners, since it requires the use of your paws as well.

"Clean your plate." Think of all the connotations that statement (or perhaps better referred to as belief/lifestyle) has had throughout history to all peoples. What it means today to different peoples.

Not that I would ever judge others on such trivial thoughts of my own self. I just thought in this season of being thankful for what we have, I would share a moment of perspective I had. I have so few...

 

[bladefixation2]

I used to work with someone who did exactly what you're describing whenever we went to KFC for lunch.

I used to laugh at him, but maybe he should have been laughing at me for being so wasteful.

 

[siguy]

good thoughts...

i know that the knives used yesterday here were good quality and wicked sharp, since i picked them out and sharpened them myself... and recieved thanks and compliments from the various people cutting things up :thumbup:

but about utilizing every possible scrap, it is something to think about. my mom often sighs and asks if i want to run across the street and get chinese when we have nothing left to eat in the house...it is cheap and somewhat filling.

i often poke around the fridge and pantry and try to pull together a decent meal with leftovers and frozen veggies and various canned things instead, since it is even cheaper and is much healthier. sometimes i'm feeling a bit lazy and opt to walk across the street and get the chinese, but it is great practice using what you have to make a good meal.

even if everything doesn't "match" perfectly, like it seems all foods must , it is still tasty and nutritious.

 

[southern bigfoot]

Good thoughts.
I guess we (in the 1st world) live in a world of excesses at the moment.
Kinda sad to think that when packaged foods are passed their due date the shops toss them out to the trash, when homeless and the less fortunate are struggling to find a square a day.

I know some people who wont eat left overs? WTF, I struggle to understand that kind of waste.

 

[wildmike]

When I was growing up the turkey carcas and scraps all went into a soup pot. Personaly I think the soup was better than the turkey. Once the bones were all cooked down the dogs got it crumbled into their food.

 

[kgd]

I remember in highschool bringing a girlfriend home for dinner. My mother was a single mom in those days and worked hard over long shifts in a cafeteria to bring home food. She always prided herself on buying wholsome and healthy meals that weren't pre-prepared and cooking a good meal. I was certainly never wanting for food.

Anyhow, my mom cooked my favorite dinner of porkchops, mashed potatoes and steamed broccoli to encourage the special date. The girlfriend, was trying to be polite, but just kind nibbled a little part of the centre of the chop and later told me how grossed out she was that there was a slice of fat on the side of the chop. When I cleared her plate, a made the motions like I was tossing her food away - no way - that chop was headed to a rightful place on two slices of bread - the fat rind - man that is the best part! Well the girlfriend was dropped at some point but I always kept the image of my mother in my head - you could tell she wanted to give the girlfriend a little talking to about what the real world was like.

We are a totally wasteful society. It is too bad! I have to admit to sometimes nibbling the cartilage off the chicken bones. Actually kind of good!