It’s oxymoronic that the ancient philosopher Epicurus (the man behind the term “epicurean”) didn’t really promote a wide appreciation of food. In fact, he espoused the inarguable tenet in his philosophy that the more mundane and modest the food the better. One can just picture Epicurus back in food-loving Greece hopelessly caterwauling about how eating bland food should be written into law to a crowd of affronted red-faced food aficionados and cooks, who all demand that Epicurus stop his blasphemy and return to their palaces and houses to sample the best food in the land for reconsideration. Epicurus would then reluctantly follow the most outspoken in the group to their home and, after copious amounts of feasting and spirits, he would loosen his tightening toga, wrap his arms around two buxom chorus girls, and resignedly apologize to the flustered host about his previous overestimation regarding dull food. What a racket.
Gross speculation maybe, but good old Epicurus reminds me of another philosopher – Benjamin Franklin – who once testified: “to lengthen thy life, lessen thy meals.” However enduring the aphorism sounded at the time, this was declared before mister Franklin moved to France as a American ambassador where he discovered delectable French grub and mysteriously contracted the gout. You can’t blame him for his edible complex though. His stomping ground – Philadelphia – hadn’t even conceived of the Philly cheese steak sandwich yet, and the rest of the grub in embryonic America was as puritanical as it gets.
While the old chestnut of “eating healthy” is still being relentlessly mumbled today – and probably will be into perpetuity – modern epicureans have helped to transform the philosophy of food from one of meager utility to an honestly inspiring experience. With assistance from modern mutinous epicureans, food is huge now. Some of the most famous restaurants in the U.S. are harder to get into than an Ayn Rand novel. Some eateries are so hot they have actually have groupies and followings. Consequently, chefs have become celebrities, and a few have achieved rock star-like status.
Article comments
1 - Teri
While I was reading the review I found it disappointing to have to wade through all the beginning text that in the end to me did not seem all that relevant to the review, let alone having to wait until page 2 to get to the actual review.
2 - Teri Tactile
I agree. You really need to spell out your reviews to us slow people.
3 - Susan
Epicurus wrote of "simple" food. Not necessarily bland food. But it's refreshing to see him mentioned at all.
4 - O. Rangatan
And as long as we're picking nits I didn't care for that Ayn Rand comment. She wanted to write a book and she did. End of story.
5 - Victoria Ann
I stopped reading at "buxom chorus girls." There is no room for that on the internet.
6 - Cindy
James,
Loved the Ayn Rand bit, the buxom chorus girl bit and, actually, the whole article. I think you have a great writing style.
Tony is a favorite in our home. My husband happens to be reading this book at the moment. We were lucky enough to catch a show he did in Atlantic City last year. It was his first live show I think, he said he was nervous.
I saw Tony's Laos show the other day, where he dines with a man who has lost both a leg and an arm to American land mines that were left behind. He raises awareness about the 100 people killed each year by these mines and the many others who are injured.
To watch a man who is supposed to be a TV entertainer, become so touched by the circumstance of people, that he wants to use his show to inform the world is an amazing rare thing, I think. I like Tony very much.
7 - ryan
yeh stick to the formula HA :)