Where’s The Beef?
Posted on February 28, 2013 under Storytelling with no comments yet
The number of food choices that we have today is staggering. Go to any major city in the country these days and you can find restaurants that serve every imaginable food. It is not unusual to have variety galore in small towns too, with national grocery chains now stocking their shelves with many products that are unpronounceable. But it wasn’t always this way. There was a time when meat and potatoes, with a bit of turnip and carrot for color, comprised the staple diet in these parts. Throw in some salt cod on Fridays and we’re bordering on gourmet.
This occurred to me recently when I was the beneficiary of a mid- winter barbeque provided by friends. We were talking about the finer things in life like a good steak, premium baloney and corn beef and cabbage. And speaking of beef, there has been a lot of talk in the news these days of beef products being sullied with a dash of horse meat. I have been warned not to try this hybrid product as it could lead to a case of the trots. Filly steak takes on a whole new meaning. You may have to pony up a little extra for this delicacy.
Canada was once primarily an agricultural economy with most people living in rural areas. People raised their own beef, pork and poultry and grew their own vegetables. Grocery stores didn’t carry a vast array of products because country people didn’t need a lot of extra help. Besides flour, sugar, and the occasional bottle of rum, pretty well everything else was homegrown. And when rum was too expensive, well they took matters into their own hands and made their own hooch. Holy water, as it were.
I grew up in a big family and as far as I can recall, meat and potatoes was a daily ritual. We were “townies” so raising our own beef and pork wasn’t an option. Once or twice a year, our parents would buy a side of beef or pork. We were taught the fine art of wrapping the meat in brown paper, tied with a string and labelled with a magic marker… our first lesson in automation as we all stood around the kitchen table, each with a specific task as the meat progressed from one end of the table to the other.
Of course being Catholics, we gave the cows and pigs a break on Fridays and usually had some manner of fish. Back then, the cod were plentiful and could be purchased for 5 cents a pound. Today cod is near extinction and is priced similar to caviar. I can still see the salt cod sitting in a pot of water overnight to remove the remnants of the salt mines. And every once in a while, a leg of lamb would appear on the dinner plate. Ewe wouldn’t believe how much we enjoyed that.
Later in my married life we raised chickens in town – causing quite a flap! A six year hiatus in the county satisfied the kids’ 4H ambitions and we returned to town sans Aloysius, Grumpy and the harem. Now, as the kids have flown the coop as well, we procure our meat from local sources. “Buy less but pay more for it“ is my wife`s formula for sustainable communities.
My steak has been nicely digested but I must admit to being a bit hoarse. I didn’t quite finish my steak. I think I will get it tested. If you see me pawing the ground tomorrow morning, you’ll know why. Might have to do a gallop poll. Take that, you neigh sayers!
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