Thursday, May 15, 2014

CookOUT/RockOUT

Something that you guys should be aware of! A new food and music event celebrating LGBT chefs in America. Something new and fresh that came about -- definitely worth checking out. I believe that they are celebrating it in L.A sometime during the fall this year.

http://eater.com/tags/cookoutrockout#recent
http://www.wtop.com/541/3600490/New-food-festival-to-celebrate-LGBT-chefs

Questions to ponder on..

What has your experience been as a queer in the industry?

How far into your life did you go into cooking?
What role did cooking play in your childhood?
Was it a gendered issue learning how to cook growing up?


Easy bake oven debate



THE NEW & IMPROVED

EASY-BAKE ULTIMATE OVEN BLACK



http://abcnews.go.com/US/boy-friendly-easy-bake-oven-teen-girl-bat/story?id=18003828

Easy bake ovens have always been a topic of discussion amongst kids of a certain age. They question the gender dictated color "pink" that is plastered all over the kitchen toy set. Hasbro has decided to develop a series of gender neutral baking set with the color of black/silver and blue for the past 18 months. That being said, the Mckenna Pope's wish in this article has been fulfilled with its launch of gender neutral baking sets for her little brother.

She even appeared on TED talking about her thoughts and opinions on Hasbro's marketing schemes with its Easy Bake oven's message - "girls cook, boys aren't allowed to cook".



On a separate note..

This little cutie getting his Easy bake oven. A total gem!!!







Hiccups along the way

Unfortunately, there's always a tricky side to things when it comes to an interactive project with people. Here's several cases of things not going to smoothly with us when we were trying to interview people with this topic..

I was also told by the manager at Liquid bar that it is not okay to interview people with questions in regards to gender and sexuality and that it is not legal to do so? That was just a lesson for me personally to learn in terms of people's understanding and acceptance to gender related subjects...

















Although....there's still an upside to that trip down to the Big Gay Ice cream shop is being able to have their famous salted caramel ice cream coated with dark chocolate. yum!!!!








Wednesday, May 14, 2014

1950's Housewife

Marjorie Husted, the creator of Betty Crocker stated that “Good things baked in the kitchen will keep romance for longer than bright lipstick.”


Definition: Housewife

A housewife is a woman whose main occupation is running or managing the family's home—caring for and educating her children, cooking and storing food, buying goods the family needs in day to day life, cleaning and maintaining the home, making clothes for the family, etc.—and who is generally not employed outside the home. Merriam Webster describes a housewife as a married woman who is in charge of her household. The term may sometimes be used in contrast to a career woman.


 






Modern society

In the 19th century more and more women in industrialising countries stopped being homemakers and began to do jobs that men usually did. At this time many big factories were set up, first in England then in other European countries and the United States. Many thousands of young women went to work in factories.

Other women, like Florence Nightingale, decided to go against the social norm, and partake in harder, money earning professions, even if they were rich and therefore did not need to work. In most families where there was a husband and wife, the social norm dictated that it was the job of the husband to earn money and the job of the woman to be the "housewife" (homemaker). Women were often very proud to be a good homemaker and have their house and children respectably taken care of.




 

In the early 20th century the two world wars (World War I, 1914–18, and WWII, 1939-45) were fought by men from many countries. While the men were at war, their wives went to work to keep the countries running. Women, who were also homemakers, worked in factories, businesses and farms. At the end of both wars, many men had died, others had returned injured and some men were able to return to their previous positions. However the wars had taught them different, resulting in more employability. As a result, women kept doing many of the jobs they had commenced during the wars.

By the 1960s in western countries, it was becoming more accepted for a woman to work and be a "career girl" until the woman got married, when she should stop work and be a "housewife". Some jobs like teaching were only done by unmarried women. Many western women in the 1970s believed that this was not treating men and women equally and that women should do whatever job they were able to do, whether they were married or not.


 

At this time, women were becoming more educated. As a result of this increased education, some women were able to earn more than their husbands, so the husband would remain at home to raise their young children. This was not commonplace.

In the late 20th century, it became harder for a family to live on a single wage. Subsequently, many women were required to return to work following the birth of their children however often they continue the "homemaker" role within the family. It is becoming more commonplace for the husband and wife to be employed in paid work and both share in the "housework" and caring for the children. In other families, there is still a traditional idea that housework is only a woman's job, so that when a couple get home from work, it is only the wife who works in the house, while the man takes a rest after his day's work.



Read: 
http://americanmemoryofthe1950shousewif.bgsu.wikispaces.net/Nostalgic+Memories

Articles of Interest (Sexual Identity)


1. Early Childhood Gender Identity and Sexuality
http://www.bhcmhmr.org/poc/view_doc.php?type=doc&id=12771&cn=462






2. Sexual identity: Nature or Nurture?
http://ccfather.blogspot.com/2011/12/sexual-identity-nature-or-nurture.html





3. My 3 year old boy is becoming obsessed with girly things...
http://www.babycenter.com/400_my-3-year-old-boy-is-becoming-obsessed-with-girly-things_12327481_737.bc






4. On “Boxing In”–Pictures, Children, and Identity
http://inequalitybyinteriordesign.wordpress.com/2014/03/24/on-boxing-in-pictures-children-and-identity/




5. Born This Way
http://borngaybornthisway.blogspot.com/



6. In Sweden, Playtime Goes Gender-Neutral For Holidays

Articles of Interest (About Chefs)

1. Meet the Gay Guys Who Could Win 'Top Chef Masters'
http://www.out.com/entertainment/popnography/2012/07/19/top-chef-mark-clark-bravo


2. Michele Ragussis, 'Food Network Star' Finalist, Hits Maine's 'Harvest On The Harbor' In Portland
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/18/harvest-on-the-harbor-michele-ragussis-food-network-star-_n_1962720.html
3. Art Smith, Celebrity Chef, Discusses 'Queer In The Kitchen' StageIt.Com Debut, 'Top Chef Masters,' Lady Gaga And More
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/01/art-smith-celebrity-chef-gay-queer-in-the-kitchen_n_1929597.html

4.  Meet the (Gay) Top Chef Masters




6. 15 Queers Cooking: Anne Burrell Joins Robust Legion of Lesbian Celebrity Chefs


7. Where Is the First Gay Food Network Star?
http://www.out.com/entertainment/television/2011/04/14/where-first-gay-food-network-star

In our findings we found out that there are actually more openly lesbian chefs than gay chefs in the industry...a very interesting realization indeed. 








Inspiration

















Thursday, May 8, 2014

The Galloping Gourmet



The Galloping Gourmet (1969-71), a show named for Kerr's onscreen persona, was taped in Ottawa at CJOH-TV and produced by his wife Treena Kerr.
In this classic 1960s U.K. import, saddle up with host Graham Kerr as he gallops center stage (literally leaping over a dining room chair while swirling a glass of wine to open every show!) and delights viewers with culinary shenanigans and mishaps performed in front of a studio audience. Graham taps into the culinary good life, with recipes heavy in butter, cream and fat paired with wine and delicious, guilt-free hilarity.
Watch the Galloping Gourmet here ----> 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xg9g8o702sE

Thursday, May 1, 2014

Queer Kitchens in New York (Interviews)

Interview with a Student Chef: Noel Valentin
What has your experience been as a queer in the industry? "Fortunately for me being queer in the hospitality industry has not negatively affected my work experience at any of my past jobs. If anything it has provided me with the opportunity to teach and break down preconceived notions about the LGBT community. I have utilized my personal life experiences as a mean of motivation to show the world that gays are as capable as everyone else."
How far into your life did you go into cooking?
"As a child I would always sit on the bucket of rice in the kitchen and watched as my mom or grandmother would prepare dinner. Some time around the third grade when I stayed home from school I decided to imitate what they cooked. I cooked rice and stewed chicken. By the time my mother got home dinner was served. After that I would join my mother and grandmother in the kitchen. When I was 18 I landed my first job in a restaurant." 
What role did cooking play in your childhood?
"I've always wanted to be a housewife, and the ability to cook was one step closer to reaching my goal. Instead of playing in the streets, I would dance around my house cooking and cleaning pretending I was a housewife. As I begin my journey into the industry I am glad I opted out of the typical childhood for a kitchen lifestyle." 
Was it a gendered issue learning how to cook growing up?
"When I was comfortable enough to come out as a gay man, it was more socially acceptable to be openly gay. Being gay has not -knock on wood- limited or prevented me from reaching my goals and aspirations."


<Therapy>



We then conducted 2 interviews at Therapy bar at Hells Kitchen. The interviewees were Paul and Alfino.It was a rather fun experience with the interview. For the most part everyone was really friendly and were really willing to be a part of the interview.