Have you noticed how complicated the general subject of food has become lately? Nightly news broadcasts, both national and local, are constantly presenting segments on the latest foods found surprisingly beneficial or detrimental to our health. One day red wine is good for you, the next day it’s harmful; the same for foods like coffee and chocolate. Now I understand that these examples may seem ripe (pardon the pun) for controversy, but how about when the stories are about less obvious food items that no one would have deemed controversial before they became startling news headlines…red meat, tuna, sugar substitutes; the list grows daily.
We all know the importance of maintaining a healthy diet. Certain foods should be altogether avoided, while others should only be enjoyed with strict moderation. The significance of this general rule-of-thumb only increases as we gain entry into the 50 plus age demographic. Every once in a while, however, you just want to throw caution out the window and enjoy a meal where words such as “nutrition,” “calories,” and “tooth decay” are jettisoned from our vocabulary.
I sincerely do not mean to disrespect anyone with serious health conditions involving diet (heart issues, diabetes, etc.); obviously adhering to your physician-prescribed regimen is the way to go. But who opened the window and threw out the fun in food? As a 50 plus male, I want to enjoy my occasional pizza, indulge in a smorgasbord of Chinese food, and hit a prime (oh the puns!) chop house and savor a thick, juicy steak along with some thirst-quenching brew with the guys.
While a lot of 50 plus males still think the kitchen is only for eating and not doing any of our own cooking, an increasing number of us have picked-up the skillet and ventured forth trying our hand at the culinary arts. Two fairly recent discoveries have helped encourage these efforts; I’m referring to The Food Channel’s Diners, Drive-ins and Dives show and The Travel Channel’s Man vs. Food show. Various chefs and food pundits have become stars in our food universe as a result of having successful TV shows, with two in particular having broad appeal to the 50 plus male—Guy Fieri and Adam Richman.
Mr. Fieri hosts Diners, Drive-ins and Dives. Each episode finds Fieri visiting inexpensive, but high-qualit
y locally beloved food establishments that have typically been in business for many years, often having passed through family generations. As you watch the fare being prepared, he lovingly describes the kitchen action and asks the chefs/owners questions when presented with some surprising ingredient or method of preparation. The real treat is watching this man’s enjoyment when it comes time to sample the food. As a chef, Fieri knows his way around a kitchen and you sense there is nothing artificial in his commentary. His unabashed respect for the proprietors and their craft is a joy to behold, as is his warmth and humor when he joins diners at their tables. Every time I watch this show, my hunger pangs go through the roof. Good, basic food, expertly prepared and eagerly consumed.
Mr. Richman hosts Man vs. Food, which finds him making a sojourn to a city that has a locally legendary restaurant which, while generally known for its hearty food, is particularly famous for providing a time-honored, mind-boggling food challenge. This involves either the consumption of a specific dish containing an incredible amount of bounty or is in the upper stratosphere on the hot spice scale. Some of the challenges are accompanied by the added requirement of a time limit. The first two-thirds of each episode show Mr. Richman sampling the fare at other eateries in town and cavorting with the chef and diners. He has an effervescent personality, is funny as hell, and is an instantly likable guy. You wish he was your older brother. The final third of the show is when we actually watch “man vs. food,” as Mr. Richman takes on the challenge at the featured restaurant, hoping to gain a spot on the ever-present Wall of Fame. Foot-high sandwiches, seven pound burritos, pizzas the size of two manhole covers, and ten-decibel peppered ethnic foods (often with prodigious amounts of side dishes) have at times succumbed to the Richman appetite, and at other times have taken the measure of the man. Win or lose, he’s always gracious and ends each episode with an amusing mock news conference with the diners who served as his cheerleaders during the challenge. Great TV!
So guys, I encourage you to become a viewer of these shows. Amiable, knowledgeable hosts combined with outrageously enjoyable restaurants and appreciative dining customers have finally put some fun back in food.
-Neal
