Suppers were tough for me in the late 1950s and through much of the 1960s. I detested liver and onions. I didn’t like cooked carrots and peas. I hated scalloped potatoes and wasn’t big on mashed potatoes either. That limited options back in those days. I sat for long periods of time at the Hutchinson kitchen table when I was a kid. Dad was one of those “you aren’t leaving the table until your plate is clean” people. I suspect there were a lot of those fathers — and mothers — in those days.
My brother, who was a much less picky eater, and I would outwait Dad. Eventually he would get up to watch the supper news. We often relied on the love of our mom to get out of the jackpot. When we got a dog, the problem was solved. (Yes, I now know that feeding dogs people food isn’t good. That said, that crusty little dog lived to be 17. It could have been because of all the liver he ate.)
Anyway, I was at the Saskatchewan Pork Industry Symposium last month. One of the speakers talked about the emergence of plant-based protein, specifically Beyond Meat. That once-cuddly A&W pitchman has people sing the virtues of meatless patties in some ad campaigns. A taste test done on camera outside of Mosaic Stadium in Regina wasn’t popular here in beef country. The speaker at the symposium talked about opportunities Beyond Meat provides for the cattle industry. He said it is the same for the hog industry. He said there is a company trying to replicate bacon using seaweed. He called it Bacon of the Sea.
If a person wants to eat something that looks like beef and tastes like beef, eat beef, he said. He pointed out that there are 27 ingredients in Beyond Meat burgers. They are processed food. McDonald’s burgers are 100 per cent beef and are cooked and prepared with salt and pepper. That’s it. A piece of beef on your burger typically goes from the slaughter plant to your stomach in three weeks. I figured if I was going to write a column about Beyond Meat, I better try one. I can honestly say, I didn’t want to. It was like the old days with liver. I pictured taking my first bite and spitting it out. I had no choice but to try it.
The burger was $6.99. I made it a combo for a shade over $13. Subbing onion rings for fries probably drove the price up. I seem to have a craving for onion rings two or three times a year. I ate four or five before stopping. My dad would not have been happy with me leaving a meal unfinished. I paid for my combo and went to the car to eat it. I didn’t inspect what was between the bun, but lettuce and tomato were visible. I bit in. It tasted good. Really good, actually. I think I would be able to tell the difference between a plant patty and a beef one, but won’t swear to it. (Note: I am at 90 per cent sure I can tell the difference between Coke and Pepsi.)
I am not sure if I will buy another processed plant-based burger, but they aren’t going away. McDonald’s is experimenting with them in Ontario. Maple Leaf Foods has a division devoted to non-meat products. It’s an option companies will have to offer to stay in the game. People want options. As for me, bring on seaweed bacon.
*****
What the heck is going on around here? A farmers’ market at the airport? Our city council has been more depressive than progressive in the past three years. Bike craziness aside, booting the farmers’ market out of Riversdale was one of the biggest boneheaded moves I can remember. Aren’t we trying to get people into the downtown/Riversdale business areas? Don’t we want a farmers’ market that is accessible to as many people as possible? Hasn’t our council talked about gathering places and bringing people together? Now, we will gather at a new spot. That is, if you can find it.
(Photo by Cam Hutchinson)
*****
Let’s get this straight. We are going to pay a pile more for recycling and put fewer items in our containers?
*****
One of the highlights of 2019 in the world of words was the emergence of the insult “OK Boomer.” It’s defined as a catchphrase young people use to dismiss or mock attitudes attributed to the baby boomer generation. For example, if I was to go on and on about the music of the 1970s being better than that of today, a young person, rather than debate the point, would simply say, OK Boomer.
*****
I was surprised on a recent morning when a local radio commentator was talking about Trump and his extortion of Ukraine. The talking head said he had no problem with the U.S. asking for political favours before releasing the aid: “It happens all the time. It’s called politics.” OK Trumper.
-Cam Hutchinson