You know what I value? A really good salad. Such as this festival of food served Wednesday at Taco Diablo in Evanston. I've written about Taco Diablo before, when I first visited in 2017, focusing on its first-rate, welcome-to-hell interior design. And I used to really enjoy their bespoke tacos. But then I settled in on this grilled shrimp salad, with orange vinaigrette dressing, and now never order anything else.
It's the rare salad that I can't even finish, though that may be a function of my talking too much when I'm with the buddy I always meet at Taco Diablo.
But that isn't why I'm writing this.
I'm writing this because when the salad arrived, I apologized to my tablemate — saying, "I hope this isn't a bush league move" or words to that effect — as I snapped a photo of my meal.
I know. Photographing your food is very 2010. And I like to think of myself as a sophisticated person, someone who knows which little fork goes with which amuse-bouche. So documenting lunch ... is it de trop? Bad form? I like to think there is a certain gee whiz innocence about it. I hate to imagine there are people thinking, "Gosh, I'd love to have lunch with Neil Steinberg, but I know that when the food arrives he's going to whip out his damn phone and take a picture and I just want to SINK INTO THE FLOOR AND DIE!!!"
Which is not the sort of thing people will tell you to your face. But they will think it.
So I'm asking you, the great reading public. Should I cease doing it? Is having this blog enough mitigation to justify the practice? If I hadn't taken the picture, I couldn't be writing this now. Is that an argument for taking it? Or against? Obviously, I'm rooting for you to say, "No Neil, it's fine, you've slipped far enough into your decrepitude that this is one of your more forgivable habits." But if it isn't really acceptable then I'll at least try to stop. Nobody else seems to do it anymore. As Sarah McLachlan sings, "Better I should know."
It's beautiful! It's edible art.
ReplyDeleteAt what advanced age is it finally okay to be like Eric Burdon, and to shout out:
ReplyDeleteIt's my life, and I'll do what I want
(Don't push me!)
It's my mind, and I'll think what I want
(It's my life!)
Like, what the flood, Mister S...you're gonna turn 65 next week, and officially enter geezerhood. Geezers are allowed to be geezerly, and to do geezerly things from when they were younger...like fifty...and if you wanna take a picture of your food, take a picture of your food. If documenting lunch is bad form, you are now officially old enough to be forgiven for a few egregious fox paws.
If people can't handle your whipping it out and taking a lousy picture, then fuck 'em. They can think whatever the hell they want. Remember, Mr. S...you're a big boy now...you're 65 and a big-city columnist. And they're not. You can always just smirk and say it's for a coffee-table book you're writing. On food. Ignore the raised eyebrow and the quizzical look.
Here's what geezers think: If it gives you pleasure, just fucking do it. Why stop? Who is harmed? That's the bottom line here. And you've earned the right to be an Eric Burdon at this stage of the game. Gave you something to write about, right? If it isn't really acceptable anymore, sofa king what? Nobody else seems to do it anymore? BFD. You're a geezer now. You're allowed. To do what you want.
Haven't worried about such things for a long time, because I'm like one of those oddballs in the old West who doesn't tote a gun. Haven't carried a phone since the first Obama campaign. Lost a couple, and just got tired of being enslaved by them, like that old video game where you keep the baby alive.
The more people became enmeshed in their phones, the more I despised the damn things, and the more vindicated I felt. Especially when I saw pictures of food posted on Facebook. One of the many reasons I resisted the siren call of the motherzuckers for fifteen years..
But I don't see images of plates from foodies anymore. I guess those are saved to their phones. Don't see status updates, either...or what people are DOING...right NOW. Now that millions of geezerly grown-ups have taken over the platform, all that seems to have gone away. Not sorry I missed it.
.
delicious and thanks for the food ideas
ReplyDeleteIt's a pretty salad and I'm happy to have seen it. Rock on.
ReplyDeleteOhforchrisake, Neil, you're a journalist. It's what journalists do. We embarrass ourselves the livelong day just to get a story, and that is what you did. Keep on keeping on. By the way, that's an enticing photo and makes me want to go to Taco Diablo since I live in Evanston.
ReplyDeleteYou live in Evanston? I thought you lived in the UP. We should meet for lunch at Taco Diablo sometime. You can sign my copies of your books.
DeleteYes, please continue. First thing in the morning and my mouth is watering...
ReplyDeletethe unpredictability of your posts is what makes them so fun. I try to guess what will be mused on.. I'm always surprised (and wrong) Just do authentic you.
ReplyDeleteWho are you? Neil, you do Neil. We expect no less. Since when do you need to meet societal expectations or require approval from anybody (well, except Edie)?
ReplyDeleteA picture is worth a thousand words! ( Is that too cliche?)
ReplyDeleteMy long-standing rule is if something looks interesting, or aesthetically interesting, I photograph it. This has always included well-plated foods in public settings, or dishes made at home with novel ingredients. But this doesn't mean photographing every meal before eating it, that's excessive and unnatural.
ReplyDeleteI too am firmly into geezerhood though unlike you I dont think of myself as a sophisticated fellow. I mostly like it when other people post pictures of what they cooked or are about to eat. though I have never...
ReplyDeleteI know you're not a restaurant critic but you play one in your blog from time to time. as well as a photographer which you are quite good at. id say you should feel free to continue taking pictures of food. unless you dont want to.
You do you Boo, I can scroll on by if I don't care to see it, as I do on other platforms. Still enjoyable reading tho...
ReplyDeleteGene J:
ReplyDeleteNo Neil, it's fine, you've slipped far enough into your decrepitude that this is one of your more forgivable habits.😎
If you started live-streaming yourself as you ate it I might give you a different answer but I have no issues with anyone taking a picture of their food. And the few chefs I know still regard it as a compliment.
ReplyDeleteI live in Evanston also! Have you been to Mensch’s?
ReplyDeleteThe variety of EGD is the spice of life. And, delicious food served beautifully is artful. I'm happy to have seen this. I might even think of a reason to drive north from 75th in the western 'burbs then east for miles on an inevitably busy and stoplight-heavy local street to visit Evanston and Taco Diablo.
ReplyDeleteKeep snapping. Your old. We get special concessions.
ReplyDeleteOne of the few rules for life I have is "never punish yourself because someone else is an ass". If taking food pictures pleases you what others are doing is of no concern.
ReplyDeleteSo long as our actions don't hurt other people, I see no reason why we need to apologize for, make excuses for, or justify anything to anyone.
ReplyDeleteSometimes our actions hurt other people and we don't realize it.
DeleteA good way to find out is like Neil did ask.
When I see photos or videos of the great chefs putting dishes together it seems to me that they are concentrating on what the food looks like when presented in much the same way that my artist daughter concentrates on the look of her paintings. As such, the look of the food can be considered art or artistic. Art should be shared. I try to not let those outside of my life dictate or influence what I do as long as what I'm doing isn't offensive. If you want to take photos (I like taking pictures of flowers) and share them with people or just have them as a reminder, so be it. Do your own thing!
ReplyDeleteSnap away. I do.
ReplyDeleteIt's a damn good looking salad.
ReplyDeletePictures are totally fine for a legitimate purpose - which this was. But now I would like a post on what constitutes a "bespoke taco"!
ReplyDeleteI guess I meant "fancy." Not the standard beef and cheese and whatever.
DeleteThat is a beautiful salad. Thank you for sharing!
ReplyDeleteHave you been chastised for taking a photo of your food?
ReplyDeleteIf so, reprove that individual for their inability to enjoy life. I'm sure they life is so great and grand.
I do however, wish that taco diablo was a bit more, i don't know, Pilseney? I suppose that's my most common complain of the burbs; an Evanston 8 is a Highland Park 12, but only a city 6.
No Neil, it's fine, you've slipped far enough into your decrepitude that this is one of your more forgivable habits.
ReplyDeleteIn the words of Dr. Seuss ...“Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You.”
Hey, it's your meal. Do your thing. It's not like you're marching around the restaurant, snapping pictures at other tables and saying things like, "Woah, that's a lot of carbs!"
ReplyDeleteI love Taco Diablo. I get the guac and the enchiladas rojas. Muy bueno. Take the photos. What cares?
ReplyDeleteDoesn’t bother me a bit. Some folks are too focused on things of perceived importance that in 10 minutes will be completely forgotten.
ReplyDeleteSometimes your food pictures make my mouth water, as with this salad. If the photos bother people enough for them to complain, let them find another place to bitch. Many of us appreciate a diversion from the horrible news coming from DC.
ReplyDeleteThe owner of Taco Diablo should at least give Neil a voucher for a few free salads. Seems to me that the photograph will entice more than a few EGD fans to see if the food at Taco Diablo tastes as good as it looks.
ReplyDeleteAs for me, I plan to show the photo to the people at Al's Grill in Oak Park to see if they can make something similar.
john
Please keep taking pics and writing about the experience! I’ve never been to Taco Diablo, but I’ll definitely go now! AND…I’ll try the salad!!
ReplyDeleteI just saw a friend’s food pics from some European meal and it looked unappetizing to me although they said they were going to greatly miss the fare “ over there”. So I said thus, and she returned with, “ you don’t like Creme brûlée?” Well… now that she told me what it was, (as it looked like some curry soup), then I responded with “yes, if that’s what it is, I could choke that down.”
ReplyDeleteWhen you take a foodie pic, you should share the title of the dish, restaurant, and country or state of origin, so You Are Okay Neil!
Better you than food mags that cost $7.
ReplyDeleteYour photos are just as appealing and appetizing as the glossy foodie magazines.
Most germanely, it's a lovely photo. I would be prepared to have lunch with you any old time, as long as the pictures you take are of the food and not of me.
ReplyDeleteNeil, you're really pushing the limits of the aesthetic envelope this time. Cooking, like painting, is an art form. It is meant to be shared and appreciated, not only for its taste, but for its appearance. Good food critics talk about "breads" and "circuses." You've covered both, but I have to admit, as a photographer/artist, I was as taken by the bar and signage as the food. Both are enticing. In regard to conformity or the lack of it, I think Oscar Wilde got it right: "Be yourself because everyone else is taken."
ReplyDeleteYou have no need to worry about such things. You will always be you, EGD.
I also value a really good salad. Or even a pretty good salad. That looks swell and it's a fine photo, as usual, though I always wish places would take the tails off the shrimp, so I don't have to! I had the "famous" Greek salad at Miller's Pub last night and, while I very much enjoyed it, it was not quite as attractive or inviting as that.
ReplyDeleteWhat the rest of us should be doing may be debatable, and I never take photos of my food, but it seems to me that "having this blog (is) enough mitigation to justify the practice" in your case. 🙂
Never stop that! I do the same. The pictures can be beautiful (like yours), can bring back good memories when you see it again down the road, be a document of your life and so much more.
ReplyDeletePlease keep posting. We had a great meal there a few years ago and this was a reminder to go back.
ReplyDelete