Thursday, April 16, 2009

Fashionable Food Forecast

I'm going to make an important fashion prediction. While it might not affect how you dress, it will certainly affect what you eat. Now, I don’t typically dabble in fickle fashion trends. I tend to favor the classics, myself. But, here goes …

I predict that the Brownie is the new Black.

Now you may not have had any inkling of this the last time the fashionistas descended on New York City, but I'm telling you the brownie is going to be the chic confection in the current comfort-craving, back-to-basics environment. Consider the evidence in favor of this most enduring treat. Let’s start with versatility. Like the little black dress, the brownie is stylish on its own, but it’s also easy to accessorize. Serve it plain, or with a scoop of ice cream, some fruit, add walnuts or an elegant frosting. And, it goes anywhere – great for a lunch box, dinner or even a late night tryst.

Then there’s the brownie’s practical affordability. In this age of economizing, frivolous chiffon cake is out. Lemon meringue pie misses the mark. The brownie is simplicity with substance, delicious but never dowdy, frugal but always fun. You've probably got all the ingredients for this Fudgy Skillet Brownie right in the pantry.
Let’s not forget the brownie’s timeless elegance. You probably didn't know the brownie's tony origin. The brownie was created in the kitchen of Chicago’s Palmer House Hotel for the 1893 Columbian Exposition. Mrs. Bertha Palmer asked the hotel chef to create a dainty ladies dessert that could be included in box lunches at the fair. The recipe is still served at the Palmer House today. By 1898 a Sears Roebuck catalogue had dubbed the dessert, “The Brownie.”

Finally, there’s the seductive power of chocolate. You've probably seen the headlines. Tired of all the dismal news, we are flocking to chocolate for a little boost. Well, chocolate and the brownie? It’s the whole scrumptious package.
So, go ahead. Treat yourself to a brownie, and enjoy a luscious moment on the cutting edge of fashion. Trust me. When you see the brownie strutting its stuff down the runway on “America’s Next Top Model,” you'll kick yourself for ignoring my advice.

©2009 T.W. Barritt All Rights Reserved

12 comments:

Lydia (The Perfect Pantry) said...

Oh, I hope you're right; I've never stopped loving brownies. (And did brownies ever really go out of fashion?) But I need to know -- will we stick with the basic fudgy brownie? Will designer brownies be all the rage?

~~louise~~ said...

Well, T.W. sounds like you're feeling better. I for one am very happy!

I thought for a moment you were describing me:) "The brownie is simplicity with substance, delicious but never dowdy, frugal but always fun.I LOVE brownies, but then who doesn't??? GREAT forecast, now, when is this weather going to break?? Today is just a tease? Thanks for sharing, T.W.

BTW: Did you see the Jefferson Scalloped Potatoes recipe I posted?

La Cuisine d'Helene said...

I always loved brownies. I like them warm with a scoop of ice cream and a chocolate sauce on top.

Duncan | syrupandtang said...

I couldn't agree more! Brownie articles and recipes seem to be everywhere this year. Any idea why?

The Old Foodie said...

They've got my vote!

T.W. Barritt at Culinary Types said...

Lydia - With brownies, I'm still a button-down, classics kind of guy.

Louise - I'll bet you have at least a couple of good brownie recipes up your smart sleeve!

Helene - YES! Ice Cream!

Duncan - at least in the US, I think there is a huge cry for comfort food right now.

Janet - Is the brownie the original retro cake?

Lori Lynn said...

Cute post.
Oh, I did not know the origins of the brownie, and I hail from Chicago. Thanks for that tidbit of info.
LL

Elyse said...

Oh man, I love your culinary forecast. What a completely fabulous prediction. I adore brownies. A good ole fudgy brownie is definitely one of my favorite treats. Here's to a brownie fad coming this way!

veron said...

Brownies are my favorite incarnation of chocolate and yes they are always fashionable!

Jann said...

There is nothing that tastes better,especially right out of the oven, with a blob of ice-cream on top.(I love that thin crust on the top).....oh, and the part around the edges of the pan, crunchy! And.... this is one of my favorites where I enjoy licking the bowl-just with one finger.Can you tell I enjoy brownies?

Tera said...

I'm shocked. As a fan of both the brownie (just a touch underdone with with a scoop of vanilla ice cream) AND “America’s Next Top Model” (just a touch overdone with a scoop of sassy judges), I'm not going to disagree that brownies are extremely good comfort food. However, I stand by my original prediction about the pie trend. Trends take time to bake, so to speak. Be patient and you'll see I'm right. ;)

T.W. Barritt at Culinary Types said...

LL - I'm heading for the Palmer House the next time I'm in Chicago.

Elyse - And it's so easy to make it a fad!

Veron - It's important to have fashion options!

Jann - I made a brownie pudding cake yesterday - the crust was excellent, and it was molton on the inside.

Miss Tera - Nothing against pie, at all. But seasons change, and so do fashions. We will continue to watch the pie trend. We're not abandoning that at all.