jamie oliver: chef, father, revolutionary
Thursday, February 11, 2010 I've loved Jamie Oliver since before he was married with kids. When he was still "the Naked Chef", and he drove his little moped around London. I remember first seeing his cooking show on the Food Network and loving the simple way he prepared food and talked to the person behind the camera.
Over the years I've watched Jamie's career grow and change. When he started Fifteen, and took hard on their luck kids and gave them world class chef's training so they could have a career I was moved. When he did "Jamie's Dinners" and took on the challenge of changing the way school children in England were fed, I watched and cheered. When I saw "Jamie's Fowl Dinners" about the chicken industry I was shocked. But when I saw his latest mission, "Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution" I cried. Watch the trailer for his new show that will be on ABC starting March 26th, I know you'll be moved.
Jamie has been a personal hero of mine for years. Cooking was always in my family, and I grew up pretty confident in the kitchen. But in 2005 when I had to make huge changes to the way I was eating I felt so alone. I couldn't rely on old family recipes, and I had to change the way I was thinking about cooking. The first few months were pretty bleak, I thought that I would have to give up my love of cooking forever. Then one day I was sitting in my office and I picked up a copy of Jamie's Kitchen. I had stood in line for 2 hours in the Vancouver rain to get it signed by him at Chapters. When I flipped through the book, I found myself inspired by the simple foods and the gorgeous photographs by David Loftus. Jamie's approach to food got me back in the kitchen.
I combined all the things that I learned from my grandmother & my parents over the years about cooking with Jamie's simplistic approach to food. Suddenly I found myself excited to try new dishes and make things up. My diet of no white sugar, white flour, starches & fats didn't always mesh well with Jamie's recipes. But he managed to inspire my palette to try new combinations and be more adventurous with my food choices. Over time he also became a big influence in the way I thought about where food came from, and what I was putting into my body.
Jamie was awarded the TED Prize this year. Normally it goes to 4 people, but this year it went just to him. He wants to start a food revolution in America. He wants kids to learn about food and cooking, and bring life back to our kitchens. While I am not American, I think that his mission might be the one thing that will kick off a movement. Here at fat girl skinny, I've been sharing my mini-revolution, but I would encourage you all to please help Jamie with his project. If you live in the US please sign his Food Revolution Petition here. To read more about his TED Prize & how you can help go here.
Please help Jamie and be a part of the revolution. Even for those of us who don't live in the US, start a revolution in your kitchen & on your plate.
~kat
Reader Comments (2)
I discovered your website a few days ago and it has inspired me to embark on my own journey away from processed foods. thank you for the inspiration and lovely recipes thus far!
out of the drive throughs and into the kitchen!
That's great to hear! Thanks for stopping by and good luck with your journey :)