The Story of Coke and Taste

My cousin drinks ten cans of Diet Pepsi daily and hates food that is seasoned and can eat glop out of a can easier than fresh. It might not be PC to say it straight out-- but my dear cousin not only has a different palate than mine, she has no palate skills whatesover. She fears taste. It is not her vocabulary. Do I feel superior? To her? No. To her taste? Well, I hate the word superior, but do I respect her taste? No. Her choices? I allow for them, but respect them? No. Do I have to laud my taste over her? No. I have to warn her if I've used hot peppers in a dish or even balsamic vinegar? Yes. Or at least try. This all comes up because I've been thinking about the comments posted on my previous post on DBGB and natural wines and the way the words elite and elitist bubbled to the top. Elite, is originally from the Latin, eligere, "to elect". In sociology as in general usage, the elite is a relatively small dominant group within a large society, having a privileged status percieved as being envied by others of a lower line of order. (from wiki) The sneer down the nose attitude is unfortunate, though certainly a great jumping off point for satire. But when it comes to world peace amongst food eaters and wine drinkers, doesn't elitism get confused with discerning or particular? While reading a manuscript, I came across a piece that resonated. I was loving how bold it was. The author, an importer, basically said If you like Devil Dogs eat them. Don't apologize. Have all the fun the Dog delivers. Just don't expect him to believe it's as good as a home baked brownie from great chocolate and fresh ingredients. And don't go further to say that anyone who believes otherwise is a food snob. ++ Equality of palates. Hah. Some people have shit taste. Period. Some people have no sense of smell. Fact. Does that mean we should shoot them? No. Bully them? (hmm--okay, no) Educate them? Why bother. Warn them away from harmful tastes and lead them to something they'd rather have? (like the samples I give away?) Absolutely.