I enrolled in Intro to Folklore with the idea that we would study fairy tales, look at quilting patterns and maybe listen to some banjo music. I was sort of right. We spent weeks analyzing fairy tales and discussing the implications of shoes, apples and keys, but after this there were no banjos and no quilts. Instead we studied the internet and how it related to folklore. Did you know that Wikipedia is considered folklore? Anyways, it was also during this time that I was desperately looking for a semi interesting topic to write my final research paper on. I decided to write about food. I love food. And if I had to write a ten page paper, it was going to be about something good. I began my research trying to incorporate the current study from my class with the idea that the internet probably played a significant role in the folklore of food. Through my research I discovered food blogs. And I fell in love. I spent hours looking at food blogs, and because I could call it research, I didn't even feel guilty! I soon had favorite blogs that I would frequent and I even contacted their authors to see if I could use their information for my project. Everyone was wonderful and accommodating. 2 banana cakes, 1 fallen souffle and 32 pages later, my paper was finished.
I turned the paper in but continued to indulge in my food blog addiction. For a few seconds I even considered starting my own blog. But a lack of computer skills and an even more obvious lack of real cooking skills ruled that out. But a few weeks ago my Folklore teacher offered me a bargain I couldn't resist. Revamp my project as a blog and I wouldn't have to write a 1000 word essay as my final. Is that really even a choice? But as I mentioned previously, my sorry lack of cooking skills would make for a boring blog. So I had to come up with an angle. I considered my odd habit of writing little anecdotes when I was bored and decided that would do. So here is my food/writing blog. Because you always need a snack to go along with a good story.
In case you were wondering, I still don't know how I did not the paper, but this was the main idea of it-
"The unofficial character of food blogs promotes communication and encourages artistic expression through food. For these reasons, food blogs should be recognized as genuine folklore. After hours of visiting food blogs and baking the recipes I found, I decided that recipes are meant to be shared. They should be spread out so that the whole world can create and enjoy the memories of food"- From "On Sharing and Sugar: An Analysis of Food and Folklore" by Me
“On Sharing and Sugar: An Analysis of Food Blogs as Folklore”
“It is the intersection of food and life that I find most fascinating”. So says Tara (Tea) Austen Weaver, writer of the food blog “Tea and Cookies”. Austen Weaver goes on to say “Food connects to every piece of our life and feeds us in ways that extend far beyond the belly” (teaandcookies.blogspot.com). These statements were the spark for the subsequent research that I conducted regarding food blogs and their relation to folklore. From blog to blog I found common threads and themes that created an interesting folklore. Folklore is defined as “informally learned and unofficial, part of everyday experiences; folklore has artistic, creative or expressive dimensions” (Sims, Martha & Stephans, Martine). To this I add that folklore needs communication and transmission to survive. According to this definition, food blogging is categorically folkloric because it is unofficial in nature; it stimulates communication and creates a tangible, artistic expression in the end.
Food and the Internet
While most people may not equate the memory of a home cooked meal with a computer monitor, the two can be closely related. Many people think that for food or recipes to be “special” they need to have been passed on from generation to generation and taught face to face in a kitchen. What people are just now realizing is that the internet provides an opportunity to share these generations of recipes, not discredit or get rid of them. As Olga Massov’s biography states on her food blog, “Sassy Radish”, “Since [Olga’s] background is Russian, she has and will continue to feature some traditional Russian recipes and those that have been passed onto her by her mother and grandmother” (sassyradish.com). This is manifest as Massov’s Jewish background has given her the opportunity to share traditional Jewish recipes on her blog with others who may be searching for just the right Passover dish (Item 6). But Massov would never just post a recipe; she will tell its story. One example of this comes from her post of the Almond Lemon Torte with Strawberry Puree. Massov tells how this recipe has been popular in her family and how it gives her something to look forward to after the traditional Jewish “Seder” (Item 6). This sharing of recipes and stories on food blogs has created a community of followers and a folk group at the heart of it all.
The Informal Blog
Blogs are all about sharing. “Blog” is a common term short for “web log” and is defined as “a kind of common-place journal or diary kept on the web” (HNN). By this very definition, food blogging fits the folkloric call for the informally learned and unofficial. Food blogging is simply a journal of one person and their commentary on food and recipes. It is most commonly updated as a writer cooks a recipe, writes about it, uploads pictures and posts the recipe on their blog. As with most blogs, those who read theses posts and “follow” them on a regular basis and have the ability to comment on pictures or writing. The very set up of a blog is unofficial and informal. One does not take a class to learn how to blog, just as one does not have to be taught how to read a blog. They are purposely laid out in a user friendly manner because the makers and writers of the blog know the audience they appeal to. The food blog audiences are those individuals who cook at home and have time and a desire to search the internet. They are not kitchen chefs searching for a new menu item; rather they are mothers looking for something to make for dinner. In this way blogs can easily become part of everyday experiences and even a routine in someone’s life. Blogs provide entertainment through stories, something not found in a normal cookbook.
Just as the audience for food blogs is casual so are the authors. Those who write food blogs are often talented cooks, kitchen savvy mothers and budding pastry makers, but rarely are they seasoned chefs. Experienced chefs, those who own their own restaurants after having gone through culinary schools, have little reason to blog. They often work full time in their profession and do not feel the need to share what is just a hobby for many others. This is why the realm of food blogging remains fairly relaxed and informal. This does not mean that professionals cannot blog; sometimes a chef or someone who works in a restaurant kitchen will retire from that life and begin a blog (cannelle-vanille.blogspot.com). In some cases those who start off with food blogging gain such success and encouragement that they decide to open a restaurant. This was the case with Molly Wizenburg, author of the food blog “Orangette”. Wizenburg states on her blog that she is “not professionally trained in cooking. [Her] only ‘training,’ as it were, comes from growing up in a family of avid eaters and home cooks” (orangette.blogspot.com). Yet after several years of food blogging Molly Wizenburg announced the opening of her restaurant “Delancey”. One may note that since its opening, the posts on “Orangette” have been fewer. While followers of “Orangette” are pleased with the success of Molly and her chance to open a restaurant, comments on the blog show that followers miss the more frequent postings by Wizenburg. (orangette.blogspot.com). It would appear that Wizenburg is moving away from the realm of informal blogger onto another stage in her cooking career.
But as one blogger moves on, several more move in. One reason for this might be the increasing popularity and convenience of blogs. One new blogger stated that “the blog market is really big, especially for newly married people with small kids” (Item 8). These newly married people are those who are technologically savvy and have lived through the creation and expansion of the internet and blogging and know of its casual nature. They know that the internet allows private access of a site, at any time of day and by anyone. There are no designated events or times that one must look at a blog. One looks at a blog when they want and where they want. They are not obligated to do anything with the information they retrieve, but they are welcome to use it if they desire. This unofficial nature is one of the things which makes food blogging folkloric, one of the things that makes food blogging possible.
Communication and Folklore
But something is not folkloric just because it is unofficial. It should become part of the everyday, it should create groups and communities who share common ground and communicate. Food blogging has created an online community of people brought together by their love for food and their interest in sharing it. As recognized earlier with Olga Massov’s story, food bloggers do not simply share a recipe. A recipe index would be nothing more than an online cookbook. A food blog writer will weave a story behind each creation they attempt. They share baking failures along with their successes, like Molly Wizenburg and one of her cakes. After many attempts, Wizenburg finally creates a satisfactory recipe and says “I finally found the ultimate cake, I quite nearly made a spun-sugar cage to crown my humble masterpiece. I almost reconsidered cooking school. But instead, I decided to cut to the chase and just hurry up and start sharing” (Item 4). Molly writes to an audience, a group of followers who are very real to her, as she admits by saying of an earlier try at the cake, “I wasn't happy to share it with anyone, much less with you, discerning reader” (Item 4). Author of food blog “Noble Pig” shares why she was attracted to food blogs when she says, “I was instantly drawn to the details of this person’s life; her cooking triumphs and failures, her family issues and other mindless, random details” (noblepig.com). Food bloggers create these relationships, and they are not one sided. An example of this is in the comments left on blogs. Comments are a casual way of communicating with the writer and other followers of the blog. Food blog followers can ask questions about a recipe or comment on a photo and the food writer can in turn answer questions or accept compliments. An online relationship is developed and though a follower of a blog may never meet the author, they can feel a connection to them as they look up recipes and read accounts from their lives regularly. Followers of blogs describe this by saying food blogs can be “really inspiring” (Item 8) and that they make one want to “go home everyday wanting to make or recreate my own version of what they have done” (Item 8).
The food blog community does not just exist from writer to reader however. There exists an interesting relationship between food bloggers as well. When I became interested in food blogs I had no knowledge of the popular blogs so I ran an internet search for “food blogs”. I found literally hundreds of food blogs on the internet and chose just one to look at. But after that one I never had to search again, they simply came to me. I found that most food bloggers follow other food blogs. They will mention other food blogs on their own blog and they will post links to the food blogs that they frequent. They often try recipes that have been posted and give credit to the original author (teaandcookies.blogspot.com). I found myself skipping from blog to blog, and I felt like a child in a toy shop where I could not play with one toy at a time because of my excitement for the next. I know that I am not the only one who felt this way upon the discovery of food blogs. The author of food blog “Noble Pig” describes her experience when she says “Then there was that epiphany moment while searching for a recipe on the web that I came across a food blog… I kept returning to the site and then realized there were other sites like hers out there. EVERYWHERE!” (noblepig.com). Because of the growing popularity of food blogs there have been other sites dedicated to food blogs. Serious Eats.com posts “Food Blog Awards” every year in several categories. There are categories for “Best Chef”, “Best Food Photography”, “Best New Blog” and several others. Those who frequent blogs and those who write them have the opportunity to vote on their favorite and a winner is chosen (seriouseats.com). But even with things like awards, these food bloggers do not seem to be in competition with one another; they encourage and support the creation of food in all forms. This non solicited communication between food bloggers creates a vast community, one that has open doors and plenty of room. Anyone interested in food blogging is welcome to search, comment and join in on the conversation. The way in which food blogs stimulate communication and inspire sharing is another reason why food blogs are folkloric.
Food as an Artistic Expression
As the earlier definition of folklore pointed out, folklore has “artistic, creative or expressive dimensions” (Sims, Martha & Stephans, Martine). Food folklore takes this tangible dimension to a whole new level as the outcome of a recipe incorporates sight, smell, touch and taste. Food blogs try and share this with readers by posting artistic and appetizing pictures, describing aromas and textures and giving details of a taste. It is enough to make someone hungry when they read on Tara Austen Weaver’s blog- “Tea and Cookies” that “The rice tastes of ginger and garlic, thick and comforting. The toppings—chopped celery leaves, dried shallots, pickled radish give it textural interest. There may be meat mixed into the rice as well, but the whole thing is full of flavor” (Item 5). On food blogs, food is not just a sustenance needed to survive, it is an artistic creation. Food can look appealing, smell delicious and taste wonderful. Food can range from sophisticated tortes to simple graham crackers and the memories that go along with them are just as diverse. Food blogs are most folkloric because of the memories they share and create. One such memory is shared by Massov on her blog as she remembers her first introduction to s’mores. Being from the USSR
Just because a recipe is not passed on for generations does not mean it cannot be nostalgic and full of memories. In fact food blogs allow for the transmission of one recipe to reach an even greater audience, and not only through the web. The food of a recipe taken from a blog has the ability to be shared, tasted and admired. Take Molly Wizenburg’s Sour Cream Banana Cake with Chocolate Ganache which she posted on her blog several months ago. Wizenburg tells its story on her blog, “The frenzy was sparked by a dinner party Friday night, to which I’d brought an impromptu, seemingly simple creation: a single-layer banana cake with a chocolate ganache glaze” (Item 4). Wizenburg explains that though beautiful, it was not the right texture or flavor. After finally perfecting it she posted the recipe on her blog. I stumbled across the world of food blogging just at a time when a large batch of bananas were going bad in my cupboard. I decided instead of my normal Banana Snack Cake that I would be bold and try something new. I looked up old recipes from “Orangette” and decided on the Sour Cream Banana Cake (Item 2). I made a double batch so that I could share, and share I did. I took one entire cake to the rock climbing gym for my boyfriend and all of our climbing friends where it was received with great praise. The leftover cake was put in the fridge at work and finished by the employees of the next morning. One of my boyfriend’s co-workers asked him for my recipe and I promptly directed her to “Orangette”. I cut slices from my second cake and delivered them to my brother, my neighbors and my cousins who were in town. And with each slice I told the same story, “I recently became fascinated with food blogs and this is my first experience using one”. How different my story would have been without the delicious and tangible visual in their hands. This cake was a way for me to creatively express my new interest in food blogs. The artistic outcome from the recipes and stories shared online is yet another reason food blogs have entered the world of folklore.
Conclusion
The unofficial character of food blogs promotes communication and encourages artistic expression through food. For these reasons, food blogs should be recognized as genuine folklore. After hours of visiting food blogs and baking the recipes I found, I decided that recipes are meant to be shared. They should be spread out so that the whole world can create and enjoy the memories of food. Food blogs are like that Sour Cream Banana Cake; tasty in the comfort of my kitchen, but delicious in the mouths of my friends.
Wow, fairytales are some of the best things ever invented. They teach so many lessons! Now food on the other hand is like WOW, flavor that takes a deeper meaning straight to the soul! But, then again, I am a guy...
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