The Vegetarian Chronicles: Tofurky Beer Brats

For some odd reason, the validation offered by carnivores is important to this vegan. Such approval came a few weeks ago when, while serving my wife and an acquaintance a sampling of Tofurky Beer Brats, both expressed their delight. Pleased with the enjoyment expressed by two people accustomed to meat eating, I decided to renew this experience today after a shopping expedition at Whole Foods.

For only $3.99, I came away with one pack (four brats) of the product offered by Tofurky. The brats themselves feature an enjoyably spicy flavoring along with a thick texture that should satisfy both vegetarians and carnivores alike. Tofurky Beer Brats, like their animal-derived counterparts, should be avoided by those on a diet, though. Although laden with 27 grams of protein, one serving does feature 13 grams of fat with one gram of saturated fat. Carbohydrates are catalogued at 12 grams. This offering is acceptable for vegans as it contains no known animal products, although it does have soy and wheat within.

For those vegans who are also seeking a nutritious and relatively inexpensive source of food, Tofurky Beer Brats are a a worthy option.

Shakespeare Marathon, Part II: (Watching/Reading Antony & Cleopatra)

One minor misfortune has befallen me as I attempt to take on every play by Shakespeare via the cinematic treatment. This bit of bad luck is the fact that I cannot access the 1972 television adaptation of Antony & Cleopatra starring Charlton Heston. Normally, one does not associate Heston with Shakespeare, but I was looking forward for a bit of an escape from a series that, while admirable, can be a bit confining. That series, of course, is the BBC Shakespeare.

So, I have spent the latter part of this evening enjoying the 171-minute spectacle and eagerly anticipate tomorrow's screening of As You Like It. Not only do I have the BBC option, but an Internet search has revealed that a 1936 film adaptation starring Olivier is freely available on youtube.

On Reading Ralph Ellison and Richard Wright

Few incursions into literature have been as profitable as my recent decision to read both Ralph Ellison's Invisible Man and Richard Wright's Native Son. Even more fortuitous was my random decision regarding the order in which to read these two works. I say this because reading anything immediately after Native Son may prove anti-climactic given the richness of Wright's work.

Invisible Man had been lingering unread within my personal library for far too long. Because of the book's virtues, which have been extolled by Harold Bloom, America's foremost literary critic, my neglect of Invisible Man became a mounting source of shame. While it is commonplace to compare the two novels owing to the prominence they attained for their gifted writers, both black men who had witnessed firsthand the cruelty inflicted upon their race by not only the ruling class, but also by the subordinated Whites, the two works are vastly different.

Ralph Ellison

Richard Wright (1908-1960), in his brief life, knew deprivation on a level going beyond that endured by even the fatherless Ellison (1914-1994). Whereas Ellison was the recipient of a formal education at Tuskegee Institute, Wright saw his scholarship truncated in late childhood. Both men were lured to the North owing to a somewhat less hostile social climate and greater economic opportunities for blacks. Wright, like the protagonist he would later create, came into adulthood in Chicago. Ellison established himself within the Bohemian enclaves of New York. Both cities would serve prominently in their respective works.

Richard Wright

Invisible Man is the chronicle of a person who has been cast out of greater society through both self exile and the roles imposed by the dominant class on members of his race. Utilized cynically by the far left in his adopted city, the narrator develops a growing mistrust that pits him at odds with both white and black society. The sense of betrayal urges him into isolation; however, he also gives indications that the retreat will be temporary and that re-integration will take place and that his struggle will resume. No such optimism permeates the pages of Native Son. Native Son is the chronicle of what transpires when accumulated rage is both sublimated and expended. Everyone in the chronicle of Bigger Thomas is a victim, and no one emerges unscathed. The darkness of the work is partly what it makes it so compelling.

Both men paint a vivid landscape of America in the time before the Civil Rights' Era. The representations are both masterly, but the grim spectre of Bigger Thomas and his fate overshadows even the superlative prose of Ellison. Both novels serve as a fine starting point from which to explore African-American literature.

Shakespeare Marathon, Part I: Read/See Every Shakespearean Play ("All's Well that Ends Well")

An acquaintance of mine, who was also a devotee of Shakespeare, once expressed that those who quickly forget Shakespearean comedy have no reason to be ashamed. His reasoning was that of the canon, it is mainly the histories and the tragedies that should be retained. Familiarity with the comedies is beneficial, he opined, but far from essential. Such a viewpoint is bound to meet with reservations. Although Hamlet, Macbeth, Henry V, Julius Caesar, King Lear, Romeo and Juliet and Othello are essential for anyone of any cultural attainment, comedies cannot be relegated to a wholly inferior status. The macabre spectacle of Titus Andronicus is certainly lesser than the comedic offerings such as The Taming of the Shrew or any of Shakespeare's more whimsical comedies for that matter.

The categorizations themselves have been problematic in regards to Shakespeare. The extent to which the histories of Shakespeare have been based on actual history is a contentious issue, for example. One debate regarding the classification of his plays arises with the work All's Well that Ends Well. Normally classified as a comedy, some have taken the stance that its designation represents a problem owing to the melancholic elements of the work itself. All's Well that Ends Well chronicles the yearnings of young Helena, daughter to the famed court physician. The young man longs for Bertram, a man of higher birth, but is prevented from attaining her desires owing to class differences. Upon healing the king of his lingering malady, she is rewarded with her choice of husband; thus, Bertram is selected to fill this role. The young man, feeling entrapped, flees and is ensnared back into union with the woman he had rejected. Thus, the denouement cannot necessarily be considered a genuinely happy ending as the ultimate desires of Bertram do not seem to be in accordance with matrimony to Helena.

The reason for my choice of All's Well that Ends Well as my first selection in this Shakespearean "marathon" is a prosaic one: it's the first in line in an alphabetical listing and it is an easily penetrable work. My goal for this marathon of sorts is to read each play and enjoy at least one representation of the written word. For this, no greater service has been provided than that of the BBC who, from the late 1970s to the early 1980s, dramatized each work, many of them to widespread acclaim. All's Well that Ends Well, unlike so many of Shakespeare's plays is not given to frequent film adaptations; in fact, scouring imdb for such depictions proved almost desultory. All that was on offer was what the ever-reliable BBC could provide. For this I am grateful and last night I enjoyed over two and a half hours of finely acted Shakespearean comedy.

It is a pity that there are not more cinematic resources for this particular work as the role of Countess Rousillon is one that is indeed multifaceted and would be so worthy of many elder actresses of the British screen, particularly Judi Dench or Claire Bloom. Even G.B. Shaw, a notably acerbic critic of Shakespeare, expressed his admiration for the richness of the part itself. Perhaps in the near future we will have a definitive screen adaptation of the comedy. For now, we will have to settle for the BBC's version and that is far from disappointing.

The Vegetarian Chronicles: Louis Jadot's Beaujolais

A wine recommendation from someone who finds Marmite palatable may come as a bit of a surprise to some. As vegetarians and vegans may already know, many alcoholic beverages undergo a fining process that often involves the use of animal parts. It is not unlikely that your favorite beer, for example, contains isinglass, a substance derived from the dried swim bladders of fish. For a vegan, finding both acceptable and worthwhile forms of libation can be a challenge. Numerous websites have been set up to guide the discerning vegan in his choices regarding the purchase of alcoholic beverages.

Whereas beer is easier to categorize owing to its uniformity, wine has so many varietals that it is nearly impossible to archive what is vegan and what is not. Fortunately, one famous and dependable product, falls into the list of the acceptable. The product in question is Louis Jadot's Beaujolais. One of the many elements of Beaujolais that its consumers find appealing is that it, in many ways, it is a social denominator, particularly in its home country of France. Beaujolais is unique in that is a product designed for the masses that has a quality usually reserved for products much more expensive. Both rich and poor in France appreciate Beaujolais equally. It is a beverage linked to sociability, a substance appreciated by the aristocrat and the peasant alike. Because it transcends class barriers, it is a favorite of so many.

Louis Jadot's version of Beaujolais is never a disappointment. Retailing for around $10.00 in most U.S. retailers, it is a delightful reminder of how much France has to offer, even for those of us on a strict budget.

Herman Cain and a step in the wrong direction

Herman Cain, the 2012 Republican aspirant, has been quoted as saying that people who are out of work and are poor have only themselves to blame. Assuming that Mr. Cain's words have not been taken out of context, one is left to ponder what a staggering blunder such an utterance represents at this time. The United States has an unemployment rate hovering near 10%. Those who have been out of work for prolonged periods of time often find themselves in a state of fear regarding the precarious existences. The fears can be attributed to the dissolution of benefits, the inability to find work and the loss of health insurance.

For Cain to make such a sweeping generalization at such a time shows a capacity for making terrible tactical errors. Cain is an American success story, and for that he should be applauded. The man advanced despite living in a time when racial discrimination was far more pronounced. He used his intelligence to further his formal education and maintained a strong work ethic that enabled him to succeed. In this regard he is a role model. It is also a fact that there are, of course, those individuals who are averse to hard work, hold an entitlement mentality and do expect more than they deserve. Where Cain goes wrong is his myopic take on the poor and the unemployed in 2011 America.

Cain's words offer a simplistic summary of the situation that confronts us today. Many hard-working individuals have lost their employment since the economic downturn began and are actively seeking to return to the workforce; however, for many, this dream, despite repeated efforts, has not come to fruition. It is, of course, possible to take any job that comes along (e.g., fast food, manual labor) and that is a temporary solution to the educated job seeker, but often those jobs do not come with medical benefits, often unaffordable on the private market for those with pre-existing conditions. The problem with taking jobs in fast food or manual labor for those who are qualified to do other things is that job hunting is a full-time job, working in a fast food restaurant or digging ditches does not necessarily advance the skills of someone trained in a specialized field nor is it particularly remunerative, especially for those with a family.

Misfortune has afflicted many within our population. Offering simplistic rationales is not a help. If Cain continues with such declarations, he will find himself among the many who are completely out of step with the average worker. The accusation that those on the left are out of touch with ordinary people due to an inherent strain of elitism is bound to descend upon the right as well. Cain has every right to criticize those who can work, but opt not to; where he is wrong is assuming that each person's misfortune is a result of his bad choices. Many among us get sick, are injured or find ourselves scrambling for new employment not due to bad decisions, but through an unfortunate destiny. It is true that many people have turned adversity around, but this is often not instantaneous. Cain needs to realize this before he alienates a large segment of the voting population.

The Vegetarian Chronicles: Ethiopian Food

My introduction to Ethiopian food was accompanied with a guffaw of sorts. My parents, resident in New York, had mentioned in passing that they had enjoyed a weekend dinner at an Ethiopian eatery in Manhattan. Ethiopia, forever associated with one of the most dire famines of all time, was an unlikely source of culinary pleasure, or, at least I had thought.

Ethiopia indeed was brutalized by a famine in the 1980s. The horrors of what transpired in that African nation were brought home thanks to the efforts of several well-meaning pop stars in Europe and the United States. Because of this tragedy, the very idea of linking the words "food" and "Ethiopia" were incongruous to most, including me.

The disassociation is a misfortune, although certainly nowhere near as grave as anything that has stricken Ethiopia itself in recent years. For those of us who are constantly in search of satisfying vegetarian cuisine, Ethiopian food is supremely rewarding. My own initiation began in 2000 when my sister invited me to an Ethiopian restaurant in Washington D.C., a city that is home to so many of the Ethiopian diaspora. It was here that I sampled injera, a spongy bread that is used as an eating utensil (forks and knives are rarely dispensed in Ethiopian restaurants as the bread can be curled and used to gather the various dishes) along with such delights as shuro watt, kik alitcha and misir watt.

A true love arose that summer afternoon in D.C., one that would inspire me to sample Ethiopian cuisine in Rome, Paris and in my current city of Tempe, Arizona. It is here where I have the good fortune to live within walking distance of the Blue Nile, situated at 933 E. University Dr. Suite 112 Tempe, AZ 85281. The Blue Nile is owned by Abel, an affable Ethiopian expat and tended to by his lovely Kuwaiti wife. The two maintain the highest standards of professionalism, and I have never been disappointed in my many outings to their establishment. Another place for Ethiopian cuisine in Tempe is Lalibela; however, my strict loyalty to my first source of Ethiopian cuisine in Tempe has kept me from frequenting their rival, although I am sure that they offer excellent fare.

The spiciness of Ethiopian cuisine is well complemented with one of the many beers offered from that nation. Two I have had the good fortune to try are Harar and Hakim, both particularly pleasing, especially when imbibed along with the piquant food. As for Ethiopian wine, my samplings have been very limited. Ethiopian honey wine is frequently sold at Ethiopian restaurants and the treacly concoction is not to my liking, but may appeal to those who do not object to the super sweet.

Few countries have can boast a cuisine so rich that it would inspire me to make a pilgrimage to the nation itself, but Ethiopia, along with France, Italy, Korea, China, Japan, the nations of the Middle East and Greece, holds that distinction. Although I have not been to this country which hosts an ancient civilization, it is one of my top travel priorities. Never have I been disappointed by Ethiopian food and the quality of Ethiopian eateries in all the cities where I have sampled it has been supreme. It is for that that I recommend it heartily to both vegetarians and carnivores alike.