” We write with trepidation. How shall we tell our fellow Americans that our palates have been ravaged, that our food is awful, and that our most respected authorities on cookery are poseurs?”

John L. Hess & Karen Hess, 1977

The summer of 2010 is strolling along and for the next 365 days I’d like to take a peek into food and flavor, spices, herbs all the little secrets that make food taste divine including the idea of farm fresh when ever possible.

Recently I have found myself becoming sick and tired of being sick and tired of chain restaurants that supply god awful food. The quality of what we are eating is getting worse and although few will say it, the taste is just plain lousy. If you live in a major city flooded with superior eateries, wonderful, but if you are in mainstream America, you may find yourself surrounded by fast food, regional chain restaurants and little else.

The few mom and pop places that are featured on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives are just that, few and far between. What would it take to re-educate the American palate and brain so that what we  enjoy is not only delicious but healthy, or is that an oxymoron?