a few wise words from Jimmy Barnes
Most Australians will know of Jimmy Barnes, but overseas readers may not. He is an Australian rock singer, featured here a few weeks ago on a Musical Monday, singing "Driving Wheels"
In yesterday's Sunday paper there was an article about the soon to be released cookbook, written by Jimmy and his wife Jane, titled "Where the River Bends".
Through its "recipes and stories from the table of Jane and Jimmy Barnes," it charts how ethnic food cultures shaped their family feasts.
In the article, Jimmy speaks of food and immigration, here are some of his words:
**
"When people start to kick up about immigration and refugees and too many strangers coming to this country, I just say, 'Look at what you are eating'."
"Look at what they have brought, the culture and the joy and the richness that food has brought to this country."
"Through all those migrant cultures we learned how to cook the great produce we had here. We have always had great vegetables, great fish, great seafood, but we didn't really know how to cook it well until we took on all these influences."
"He is insistent the key to getting children to eat what you want them to eat - yes even vegetables - is "early introduction".
"Make them taste good," he said. "Put them in a pasta primavera or a ratatouille that will be exciting for them to eat."
I liked the article and on discovering the book is available through preorder
(at Booktopia.com.au), I ordered a copy.
my words>
**I know I have griped at too many people coming to this country, but that's only because I know our governments are focused on population numbers, but don't give two hoots about the necessary infrastructure to support the extra families.
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Sounds like a cool cookbook. I remember my mother serving broccoli and cauliflower when I was a kid, and I hated them, they made me gag. But I like them now. Don't know why, except apparently early introduction does work. Go figure.
ReplyDeleteTom; I hope the book is everything I'm expecting. We didn't have broccoli way back then it was almost unknown in Australia, but we did have cauliflower and I have always loved it, along with cabbage and brussels sprouts.
DeleteHe is right. As a child I was presented with food from a range of cuisines and I am sure that early introduction has shaped my eating habits. You are also right about our government which is quick to take advantage of the skills of our immigrants (particularly cheap labour) but very slow to provide them (and us) what we need.
ReplyDeleteElephant's Child; we could rant for hours over governments, but let's focus on food instead. As a child I ate everything mum cooked, mostly bland and filling, but I remember her desserts, apple strudel mostly made as it was in Germany and served warm with vanilla custard. I remember introducing my children very early to whatever I was eating. If they reached for it from my plate I let them taste. My youngest was enjoying pea and ham soup from five months, the eldest tasted curry at six months. The second child ate everything that wasn't locked away.
DeleteWill check out that cook book. I fear I am a bit in the rut of meat and potatoes. Could use a shake up.
ReplyDeleteArkansas Patti; the book isn't yet printed, I have pre-ordered. I have been in an eating rut myself this past winter, just haven't felt much like cooking, so there has been a lot of mashed potatoes with sausages and onion gravy. I'm looking forward to inspiration once the book arrives.
DeleteYour concluding words are very wise.
ReplyDeleteBarnes is an interesting character. His childhood autobiography was a great read and a cheap eBook. His second autobiographical book is not cheap and I baulked at the cost.
Andrew; I meant to buy Jimmy's childhood biography, but forgot until you mentioned it just now. Can you remind me of the title please?
DeleteWorking Class Boy. It's a great read though sad read, and of course he grew up in your city.
DeleteThe man knows whereof he speaks.
ReplyDeleteJoanne; yes he does. With a Thai-born wife who travelled the world as a child with her family, there are a lot of cuisines happening in their kitchen. And with four children plus grandchildren, there's a world of experience in getting them to eat. I did early introduction with my own children and now all of them eat almost anything.
DeleteAs with everything, it's about the balance. My introduction to veggies was soggy boiled ones that did not taste good. When i am asked why i eat them now and wouldn't then, i can truly say because i cook them correctly!
ReplyDeletemessymimi; my introduction to foods was often covered in white sauce, but I knew the vegetables under it and liked them anyway. Back then, many foods were overcooked, overboiled certainly, probably with the aim of killing germs, definitely because raw foods were supposed to be bad for you.
DeleteSomehow I think it might be a good cookbook to have. I've seen Jimmy and his wife on Tictok, well don't laught at that :) doing a bit of cooking and singing and enjoy.
ReplyDeleteIf we didn't have immigrants living here we would probably be eating the same old food our mother's cook for us and so on..it's good to try other foods and have different ideas.
Margaret d; without outside influence it is easy to get settled into the meat and three veg routine, Port Pirie got a shake up many years ago when a pizza place opened, then again when a Chinese takeaway opened.
DeleteMy kids were good about eating their vegetables when they were young. The daycare lady even said they would try anything she served them. As adults they have their dislikes, The Pony more than Genius. He says it's a texture thing, not necessarily the taste.
ReplyDeleteVal; mine have dislikes and it's a texture thing too, one son cannot have pumpkin, one daughter can't have mustard since her first pregnancy, one daughter cannot eat peas. They're fine with everything else. Oldest son doesn't eat sweets of any kind.
DeleteSounds like a good book. Cooking can be fun ... and tasty.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
Victor SE Moubarak; I hope the book is inspiring enough to have me cooking again. cooking for one isn't as easy as you'd think. Mostly it just doesn't seem worth the effort.
DeleteYes...I read about the up and coming cookbook in Sunday's paper.
ReplyDeleteMy apologies for being very remiss in commenting of late...for a week or so I was without phone, internet and streaming services.
I'm considering reverting to tom tom drums, smoke signals and carrier pigeons!!
So now I'm catching up reading blogs...I've a lot of running to do! :)
Lee; that's where I read about it :) and pre-ordered right away. I knew you were offline, I've seen your comments apologising at other blogs, and until then I hadn't even noticed you were MIA.
DeleteThat sounds like a good book. The part you quoted at the top is the kind of thing that Andy always says. I think sometimes people don't think about stuff like that but just take it for granted.
ReplyDeleteSarah; I hope the book is as good as I am expecting. I think you are right about people taking foods for granted, probably because they have been part of our lives for so long now.
DeleteHello! I'm (obviously) American and like you, I am ok with a reasonably limited number of legal immigrants. So long as they adapt to our culture, aren't here for handouts and can speak, read and write fluently in English I think most people would be welcoming of these new citizens. But in terms of food, I'm openminded to new ideas and foods except for cilantro. Cilantro is very bad! Do they have it in Australia? It tastes like soap and smells like it too. I am not sure why anyone thinks it's yummy.
ReplyDeleteTrue words. What would we do without Pizza, Lasagna, Baguette... or... kale ;-)
ReplyDeleteSoljanka.... I could go on endlessly. And grow hungry!