Totally Quotable Clementine: “figuring out the food business” edition

Clementine said this last night over dinner. I can’t remember the context. I think I must have been talking about fried chicken and hushpuppies, as I often am, when she weighed in with her observation. Or, I may have been telling her about the interview that I’d just posted with Amy C. Evans, the oral historian for the Southern Foodways Alliance. Whatever it was that we were discussing, she shared this insight, and I grabbed for a pencil to scribble it down. And, when I did, she asked, as she often does, if I was noting it for my blog. When I told her that I was thinking about it, she responded by saying, “Well, if you do use it, be sure to say that I personally don’t like salty, deep fried foods. I was just saying that they’re popular.” So, there you have it. I hope it’s of value to those of you struggling to make it in the food business.

[Other installments of Totally Quotable Clementine can be found here.]

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12 Comments

  1. Jean Henry
    Posted March 17, 2013 at 12:03 pm | Permalink

    Wow. Clementine is a sage. The human appetite for fat and salt (and crunch) is actually scientifically verified. It was mentioned in the NYTimes Mag feature on junk food a few weeks ago. I have heard it referenced by food historians a lot. Similarly, Joyce Goldstein (a pioneering mediterranean cuisine cook book author and restauranteur) observed, “I don’t care how sophisticated people are, the human appetite for salt, garlic and crunch has no limitation.” I think she was explaining the astounding popularity of caesar salad at the time. So I would recommend you stay the course… and add in some aioli or tartar sauce.

  2. Mariah
    Posted March 17, 2013 at 6:25 pm | Permalink

    Smart lady! Jean, Mark, did either of you catch the interview w/the author (of that NYT piece/& book) that was on the radio (NPR of course) recently? I found it fascinating — basically, some folks in the food industry have seen the need to deal with the obesity epidemic for a long time, similarly to how the tobacco industry realized it would face repercussions re:smoking. The difficulty of just how to do that and not lose market share has been one of the big problems (as, of course, is the problem with making various changes to all sorts of products).

  3. anonymous
    Posted March 17, 2013 at 7:38 pm | Permalink

    I like that she’s requesting caveats now. It’s interesting watching your daughter grow up through the lens of this series.

  4. Eel
    Posted March 17, 2013 at 10:55 pm | Permalink

    She’s got a bright future as a restaurant consultant.

  5. anonymous
    Posted March 18, 2013 at 10:37 am | Permalink

    Everything you need to know about America in one photo.

    http://i.huffpost.com/gen/1041458/original.jpg

  6. Grandma
    Posted March 18, 2013 at 12:25 pm | Permalink

    I know I use the word “Amazing” a lot when I talk about Clementine. I think now I’ll change it to “Fascinating”. God, I love that kid!!!

  7. God
    Posted March 18, 2013 at 3:24 pm | Permalink

    For my sake – please introduce her to veganism.

  8. Eel
    Posted March 18, 2013 at 6:46 pm | Permalink

    Last time I checked, God, both salt and vegetable oil were vegan, so I think you’re OK.

  9. God
    Posted March 18, 2013 at 8:16 pm | Permalink

    Eel: Yes, while veg oil and salt are technically vegan they should be used sparingly. The (holy) spirit of veganism is whole, plant based foods. Go in peace my child.

    Daniel 1:8-16

  10. Aaron
    Posted March 19, 2013 at 1:57 am | Permalink

    Mark,

    I recently moved from Michigan (by way of Ypsi to Traverse City and then back to my hometown of Jackson) to Nashville, TN. Nashville has a lot of good and bad. For instance tax laws suck here, as does 99% of country music. What’s good you ask? Nashville Hot Chicken. The other night I had Nashville Hot Chicken on top of a deep fried grilled cheese sandwhich. My life is forever changed, as our my bowels. It’s a must have.

  11. Elliott
    Posted March 19, 2013 at 10:29 am | Permalink

    Clementine Maynard’s Salted Lard on a Stick at this year’s Heritage Festival?

  12. window
    Posted March 21, 2013 at 4:55 am | Permalink

    Thanks to the British television series MI-5, I am no longer able to appreciate deep fryer humor.

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