Daily life Quote by Mark Bittman
![“[C]onvenience is one of the two dirty words of American cooking, reflecting the part of our national character that is easily bored; the other is 'gourmet.' Convenience foods demonstrate our supposed disdain for the routine and the mundane: 'I don't have time to cook.' The gourmet phase, which…” quote by Mark Bittman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/f7c/mark-bittman-19157_daily-life_c-onvenience-is-one-of-the-two-dirty-wor_1191893.jpg)
““[C]onvenience is one of the two dirty words of American cooking, reflecting the part of our national character that is easily bored; the other is 'gourmet.' Convenience foods demonstrate our supposed disdain for the routine and the mundane: 'I don't have time to cook.' The gourmet phase, which peaked in the eighties, when food was seen as art, showed our ability to obsess about aspects of daily life that most other cultures take for granted. You might only cook once a week, but wow, what a meal.””
About This Quote
Source Book: Kitchen Confidential, 2000
American cooking values novelty over routine, labeling convenience as lazy and gourmet as pretentious, revealing cultural attitudes toward food and time.
In simple terms: Convenience is seen as lazy; gourmet as pretentious.
Key Takeaway
Question habits and appreciate everyday cooking.
Themes
culture
food
values
convenience
gourmet
Mood
critical
reflective
Type
analytical
commentary
When to use this quote
- family dinners
- meal planning
- food criticism
- media commentary
Key Concepts
Consumerism
culinary identity
modernity
Questions to Reflect On
- How does labeling convenience as “dirty” affect food choices?
- Can gourmet trends coexist with practical cooking?
A Different Perspective
Convenience foods also address time constraints and can be nutritious.
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