Croissants and Alphonsoes goes Vegetarian (!?)

Well, I'd been putting off writing this post for a while. But I'd figured that when you write a food blog, it might be a good idea to let people know that you're no longer gonna be taste-testing steaks at Tati Bistro on Harbord Street. It's been about 6 weeks since I've eaten meat like beef and chicken and pork, and I'm phasing fish out of my diet (which is a bit harder, I'll tell ya).
What would make a grrl who loved cutting into the occasional steak give up all meats? Well, about six weeks back, I saw a small animal get killed by a car on my street. I know it seems trivial, but in that moment, I was reminded of life, death, and animal suffering in a way that I'd forgotten for years. I'd been a vegetarian through most of high school and my undergrad. Remembering my reasons for abstaining from meat, or at least cutting back was quite easy.
This last weekend I went home to visit my folks in Montreal. And as my dad is vegetarian, I ate much amazing, Gujarati meatless meals. My parents are going to California to visit my aunt for the holidays, so we had our holiday gathering two weeks early. And while my family has had a healthy sense of skepticism when it comes to my new eating habits, My younger sister and her boyfriend both bought me two lovely books that I'm very excited to read. The Moosewood empire has expanded to prepared food and cookbooks, from a restaurant in Ithaca, NY. Their website can be found here. My sister bought me one of their new books, and said that she'd give me one of their others that she doesn't really use. And the present that I'm really excited about is this book, Eating Animals by Jonathan Safran Foer. It has been the hot new book in animal rights and criticism. I can't wait to crack into it.
Last week, The Mixmaster gave me yet another birthday surprise, an evening at the Bata Shoe Museum and a dinner at Vegetarian Haven. We shared the Tofu Drumsticks, which were served with a sweet and sour sauce, and I had the seitan cutlets, which was a sizzling plate. We shared a small blueberry tartlet that is easily the best vegan dessert I've ever had, and tofu ice cream. It was a sinful dinner.
So, no trying out foods with meat in it. But I might get friends to try them, and I'll still report on food culture that has to do with meat dishes. It's not like I'm just gonna be reviewing Fresh over and over now...

Cookery Books Versus Cookbooks

I stopped by the Cookbook Store here in Toronto, and found this section of used cookbooks that I'd never seen before (it's right opposite the cash register). It was by looking through this section that I bought my very first cookery book.
As you can see by the picture, it's by Madhur Jaffrey, a well-known Indian food chef. It was published in 1982; I bought it for $10.00, and it was in mint condition. Ah, cookery books. According to the Merriam Webster Online, the term "cookery book" is chiefly a British term, and dates back to 1639. The word "cookery" dates back to the 14th century and is "the art or practice of cooking". Nowadays, we have a plethora of cookbooks on the market, and this got me thinking about the difference between the two, or maybe a dichotomy that can be found in food culture today.
Cookbooks are often written by celebrity chefs. They sometimes have witty exclamations and catch phrases, to brand their recipes, their cookbook, and their cable tv show. For example, they might yell something like "Boom!" every time they toss seasoning into a pan. Or they might call extra virgin olive oil "evoo". Did that really need an acronym? Who doesn't like saying extra virgin olive oil. It's practically an onomatopoeia.
Cookery books, on the other hand, have been passed down by your mamma or auntie. They might be written in Italian or Armenian or Punjabi, and you will have the darndest time figuring out what the recipes say. Cookery books call for butter. Lots of butter. And cream. And yes, cookery books will put you on Lipitor if you're not careful.
One thing I've noticed about cookbook authors recently, is that a core group of them are getting hotter and hotter. Now, I must say, Jaffrey has quite a striking picture on the back of the cookery book I bought, but do you ever get the feeling that some cookbook authors are Calvin Klein models in their spare time? And yes, I'm looking the way of a certain chef from the Mediterranean. Sure the food looks good, but who can concentrate with all those winning smiles and all that tanned skin?
Cookery books might require you to buy a kitchen scale. It might require you to do things you've never done before, maybe push your skills as a chef. Cookbooks sell a lifestyle. People who buy a Jaime Oliver book often want to be the type of people who buy Jaime Oliver books.
So far, my adventures with Jaffrey have gone quite well. I made a lemony, coriandery chicken dish that had a curry that was heaven. And she does interesting things with raitas (yoghurt salads). Her trick is to beat the yoghurt with a fork so it's smooth and silky.
If you're searching for cookery books you might raid family's bookshelves (if they'll let you), or go here.