Comments on: Who wants to cook real food anymore? http://www.milescollins.com/wordpress/who-wants-to-cook-real-food-anymore Food - Photography & More Fri, 12 Mar 2010 12:41:50 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.7 by: Rod http://www.milescollins.com/wordpress/who-wants-to-cook-real-food-anymore#comment-18155 Sun, 12 Jul 2009 11:27:49 +0000 http://www.milescollins.com/wordpress/who-wants-to-cook-real-food-anymore#comment-18155 Annie, <i>Hanging head in shame</i> don't do that - I'm all in favour of it myself - radical perhaps but radical is what's needed :) Both of our governments actually experimented with Eugenics in the 1930s ! Best Rod Annie,
Hanging head in shame
don’t do that - I’m all in favour of it myself - radical perhaps but radical is what’s needed :)
Both of our governments actually experimented with Eugenics in the 1930s !
Best
Rod

]]> by: miles http://www.milescollins.com/wordpress/who-wants-to-cook-real-food-anymore#comment-18151 Sun, 12 Jul 2009 07:30:58 +0000 http://www.milescollins.com/wordpress/who-wants-to-cook-real-food-anymore#comment-18151 Dave, A great comment, thanks. I have to say matters sound a bit rosier in NYC than they do for me...I might move!! You're absolutely right about the failure bit, why wrap them up in cotton wool at every turn? The fact is that work and life can be crappy and they need to be ready to face that, I've had my fair share of knock backs in my time but I was brought up to get on with it. Maybe that's why I have a problem with all of this, who knows? Miles Dave,
A great comment, thanks. I have to say matters sound a bit rosier in NYC than they do for me…I might move!! You’re absolutely right about the failure bit, why wrap them up in cotton wool at every turn? The fact is that work and life can be crappy and they need to be ready to face that, I’ve had my fair share of knock backs in my time but I was brought up to get on with it. Maybe that’s why I have a problem with all of this, who knows?

Miles

]]> by: Dave http://www.milescollins.com/wordpress/who-wants-to-cook-real-food-anymore#comment-18149 Sun, 12 Jul 2009 05:05:09 +0000 http://www.milescollins.com/wordpress/who-wants-to-cook-real-food-anymore#comment-18149 Late to the party as usual, but I'll throw my two pence in. I have been very happy with the recent grads we have seen - and I want to remind you there is an excellent generation in their final years before college or just entering. The allure of the fast buck has disappeared and these kids are open and bright eyed about their own future. I think we might get whole generation of engineers in a few years - we could certainly use it. For many years on Wall Street I trained (and fired) all the new hires. We would take 20-25 right out of grad school - sack 24 to keep one. The one was usually a disappointment anyway. By far my best hires on Wall Street and in the kitchen have been former military. They always show up, they follow orders exactly, and they are never afraid to speak up when unclear or over their heads. Hard work, discipline, loyalty - all 5 are thriving in their perspective careers. Parents absolutely deserve some blame - sorry, but I feel teachers could take their share as well. I think there might be a thing as too much self esteem - "Wow Timmy! You drew a blob when we asked for an elephant - but it's still GREAT!" horseshit. I remember a teacher telling me how they "celebrated failure" - why? Learn from failure, grow from failure, get inspired by failure, but don't "celebrate it". We have tried (and I think succeeded) in instilling in our kids the joy of doing something the right way - from building a model, to making an omelet, to taking the time to learn how to stand on a surfboard. Failure, patience, effort, and struggle all lead to a much greater satisfaction in the end. Late to the party as usual, but I’ll throw my two pence in. I have been very happy with the recent grads we have seen - and I want to remind you there is an excellent generation in their final years before college or just entering. The allure of the fast buck has disappeared and these kids are open and bright eyed about their own future. I think we might get whole generation of engineers in a few years - we could certainly use it. For many years on Wall Street I trained (and fired) all the new hires. We would take 20-25 right out of grad school - sack 24 to keep one. The one was usually a disappointment anyway. By far my best hires on Wall Street and in the kitchen have been former military. They always show up, they follow orders exactly, and they are never afraid to speak up when unclear or over their heads. Hard work, discipline, loyalty - all 5 are thriving in their perspective careers.

Parents absolutely deserve some blame - sorry, but I feel teachers could take their share as well. I think there might be a thing as too much self esteem - “Wow Timmy! You drew a blob when we asked for an elephant - but it’s still GREAT!” horseshit. I remember a teacher telling me how they “celebrated failure” - why? Learn from failure, grow from failure, get inspired by failure, but don’t “celebrate it”. We have tried (and I think succeeded) in instilling in our kids the joy of doing something the right way - from building a model, to making an omelet, to taking the time to learn how to stand on a surfboard. Failure, patience, effort, and struggle all lead to a much greater satisfaction in the end.

]]> by: miles http://www.milescollins.com/wordpress/who-wants-to-cook-real-food-anymore#comment-18111 Fri, 10 Jul 2009 21:27:17 +0000 http://www.milescollins.com/wordpress/who-wants-to-cook-real-food-anymore#comment-18111 Anne, A good comment that but with regard to the last part I really wouldn't hold my breath, would you? Sounds like another government funded disaster to me. :( Miles Anne,
A good comment that but with regard to the last part I really wouldn’t hold my breath, would you?
Sounds like another government funded disaster to me. :(

Miles

]]> by: Annie http://www.milescollins.com/wordpress/who-wants-to-cook-real-food-anymore#comment-18107 Fri, 10 Jul 2009 18:10:43 +0000 http://www.milescollins.com/wordpress/who-wants-to-cook-real-food-anymore#comment-18107 Rod, et al, Yesterday was not a good day for me and comments in response to posts; my comment on social Darwinism was meant to be tongue-in-cheek, not an express of my true beliefs. Sorry about that; it was truly careless and insensitive on my part. Hanging head in shame, Annie Rod, et al,
Yesterday was not a good day for me and comments in response to posts; my comment on social Darwinism was meant to be tongue-in-cheek, not an express of my true beliefs. Sorry about that; it was truly careless and insensitive on my part.

Hanging head in shame,
Annie

]]> by: Anne http://www.milescollins.com/wordpress/who-wants-to-cook-real-food-anymore#comment-18098 Fri, 10 Jul 2009 14:03:26 +0000 http://www.milescollins.com/wordpress/who-wants-to-cook-real-food-anymore#comment-18098 Miles, An article in the Times today states that Food manufacturers have boasted of increased sales in ready meals, despite the recession. Parents putting those in front of their youngsters are therefore "showing them the way" of how not to cook. It appears that the BBC is preparing a new cookery series (without celebrity chefs) for the end of August called Economy Gastronomy. It is supposed to show you how to save thousands of your food bill and eat better. Hm - let's hope and watch this space. Anne Miles,
An article in the Times today states that Food manufacturers have boasted of increased sales in ready meals, despite the recession. Parents putting those in front of their youngsters are therefore “showing them the way” of how not to cook.
It appears that the BBC is preparing a new cookery series (without celebrity chefs) for the end of August called Economy Gastronomy. It is supposed to show you how to save thousands of your food bill and eat better. Hm - let’s hope and watch this space.
Anne

]]> by: miles http://www.milescollins.com/wordpress/who-wants-to-cook-real-food-anymore#comment-18083 Fri, 10 Jul 2009 07:28:31 +0000 http://www.milescollins.com/wordpress/who-wants-to-cook-real-food-anymore#comment-18083 Anon, Welcome to the site and thank you for a great comment and your own perspective. I have more experience with the 'college parenting' than actual parenting and I have to say that in the 25 years I have been in this industry I have yet to meet anyone from higher education who has had an interest in the future of young people once they have flown the college nest. It is a fact that the only thing a college is interested in is getting a young person to sign up for a 2-3 year full time course. They then enter the industry totally green to the reality of hard work, living away from their parents and handling money they have never before had. I went to work full time and attended college part time, finished with the same qualification but three years experience and the money to go with it. A no brainer in my opinion. There are some dedicated chef lecturers out there don't get me wrong but most will accept anyone onto their courses regardless. My first job was washing pots in a kitchen, I now have young people with no qualifications, no drive or ambition who take a job doing the same thing and complain about it. What do they expect? £50,000 a year in IT?? Glad you like the blog and I hope you return again soon, good luck with the kids! Miles Anon,
Welcome to the site and thank you for a great comment and your own perspective. I have more experience with the ‘college parenting’ than actual parenting and I have to say that in the 25 years I have been in this industry I have yet to meet anyone from higher education who has had an interest in the future of young people once they have flown the college nest. It is a fact that the only thing a college is interested in is getting a young person to sign up for a 2-3 year full time course. They then enter the industry totally green to the reality of hard work, living away from their parents and handling money they have never before had.
I went to work full time and attended college part time, finished with the same qualification but three years experience and the money to go with it. A no brainer in my opinion.
There are some dedicated chef lecturers out there don’t get me wrong but most will accept anyone onto their courses regardless.
My first job was washing pots in a kitchen, I now have young people with no qualifications, no drive or ambition who take a job doing the same thing and complain about it. What do they expect? £50,000 a year in IT??
Glad you like the blog and I hope you return again soon, good luck with the kids!

Miles

]]> by: Anon - for obvious reasons! http://www.milescollins.com/wordpress/who-wants-to-cook-real-food-anymore#comment-18067 Fri, 10 Jul 2009 01:09:34 +0000 http://www.milescollins.com/wordpress/who-wants-to-cook-real-food-anymore#comment-18067 What a very sad situation and as the step parent of two teenage Girls I can say the blame starts 'here'. Maybe our generation had it a little easier with our parents providing, my persona situation wasn't so but my husband sent his two Daughters to Uni, despite the fact that neither knew what they wanted to do, both took the easy option and now one has just left and is no further on than she would have been if she had done a very similar course, day release whilst gaining valuable work experience. To clarify the costs included £3,000 a year tuition fees, for attending lectures on just 3 days a week, £75.00 per week for student accommodation "they have the experience the lifestyle" and a living allowance "we mustn't let having to work interfere with study" What really appals me, and where I relinquish the blame, is the complete lack of preparation within the Education system, for life in the real world. When my step Daughter approached me to help her find a job, in an industry I know nothing about, my first suggestion was what does Uni say .. her response was that they were only interested in 'selling' them another year and those that choose to leave after 3 years are left to wander aimlessly. Maybe we have just been unlucky with our choice of Uni, certainly I feel my husband has been far too soft hearted and generous in his support of the girls but really is it any wonder they are so very unprepared when at almost 22 years of age this girl has not yet experienced one single standard working week! Often I have to really stop myself from saying ..." when I was your age" but actually .. when I was her age I had 2 jobs, yes in catering! Oh.. and finally .... The stock pot ... I was brought up in a restaurant, we lived above it and the smell of the stock pot was a constant in my life from the age of 5 to 15 ... of course then we had egg shells floating on top ... or was that consomme? Fab blog, congrats What a very sad situation and as the step parent of two teenage Girls I can say the blame starts ‘here’. Maybe our generation had it a little easier with our parents providing, my persona situation wasn’t so but my husband sent his two Daughters to Uni, despite the fact that neither knew what they wanted to do, both took the easy option and now one has just left and is no further on than she would have been if she had done a very similar course, day release whilst gaining valuable work experience.

To clarify the costs included £3,000 a year tuition fees, for attending lectures on just 3 days a week, £75.00 per week for student accommodation “they have the experience the lifestyle” and a living allowance “we mustn’t let having to work interfere with study”

What really appals me, and where I relinquish the blame, is the complete lack of preparation within the Education system, for life in the real world. When my step Daughter approached me to help her find a job, in an industry I know nothing about, my first suggestion was what does Uni say .. her response was that they were only interested in ’selling’ them another year and those that choose to leave after 3 years are left to wander aimlessly.

Maybe we have just been unlucky with our choice of Uni, certainly I feel my husband has been far too soft hearted and generous in his support of the girls but really is it any wonder they are so very unprepared when at almost 22 years of age this girl has not yet experienced one single standard working week!

Often I have to really stop myself from saying …” when I was your age” but actually .. when I was her age I had 2 jobs, yes in catering!

Oh.. and finally …. The stock pot … I was brought up in a restaurant, we lived above it and the smell of the stock pot was a constant in my life from the age of 5 to 15 … of course then we had egg shells floating on top … or was that consomme?

Fab blog, congrats

]]> by: miles http://www.milescollins.com/wordpress/who-wants-to-cook-real-food-anymore#comment-18063 Thu, 09 Jul 2009 20:49:10 +0000 http://www.milescollins.com/wordpress/who-wants-to-cook-real-food-anymore#comment-18063 Annie, A wonderful comment and perspective thank you. Kids need support and encouragement and that is what I always offer, especially to those who have moved away from their home for the first time. But what I often find myself having to do is remind them of the fundamental principal of earning a living. You have to work for it. We cannot carry on making concessions for younger people and getting worked up because we had to do it at their age, if this rot isn't stopped businesses and ultimately the consumer are going to have a massive problem when future generations are relied upon to 'carry the can'. Everyone I talk to is saying the same regardless of the profession. Miles Annie,
A wonderful comment and perspective thank you. Kids need support and encouragement and that is what I always offer, especially to those who have moved away from their home for the first time. But what I often find myself having to do is remind them of the fundamental principal of earning a living. You have to work for it.
We cannot carry on making concessions for younger people and getting worked up because we had to do it at their age, if this rot isn’t stopped businesses and ultimately the consumer are going to have a massive problem when future generations are relied upon to ‘carry the can’.
Everyone I talk to is saying the same regardless of the profession.

Miles

]]> by: Rod http://www.milescollins.com/wordpress/who-wants-to-cook-real-food-anymore#comment-18058 Thu, 09 Jul 2009 18:55:06 +0000 http://www.milescollins.com/wordpress/who-wants-to-cook-real-food-anymore#comment-18058 Annie, <blockquote>I also think a bit of social Darwinism might not be in order</blockquote> Careful, you could just set me off about Eugenics - best not on this site :) Annie,

I also think a bit of social Darwinism might not be in order

Careful, you could just set me off about Eugenics - best not on this site :)

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