A better standard of ordinariness
Rachel, do you know when or where Jane Grigson said her wonderful thing about masterpieces and ordinariness? I’ve searched without success, and would like to verify it.
best,
mmMary Margaret Pack
Personal chef, food stylist and food writer
It is a wonderful quote, isn’t it. “We have more than enough masterpieces. What we need is a better standard of ordinariness.” And if there are any readers of this blog who don’t know Jane Grigson’s work, well, you have a treat in store if you like a meld of intelligence, poetry, scholarship and cooking.
I had it from John Whiting (whose page is well worth knowing even if you not lucky enough to be going to Paris bistros). If there are
Here John Whiting’s response to your question, Mary Margaret. Small wonder you could not find it.
My source was Paul Henderson’s “Cornucopia: A Gastronomic Tour of Britain”, London, Little, Brown, 2000, ISBN 0-316-64817-5. Here’s the context, where it appears on p. 277, the next to the last page:
“It is a hard thing to say, but fine food is far from the most important thing in the world. It is not really a question of reaching perfection – that would be too much to ask – nor of lotus-eating, but of finding and maintaining a level of confidence in the food we eat day by day that enables us to get on with the rest of our lives. I forget who said it [he later told me that it was Jane Grigson], but the phrase could apply perfectly well to the food of Britain: ‘We have more than enough masterpieces. What we need is a better standard of ordinariness.’”
Its a great line, but I would like to see it in context. Any idea where the original source might be, the vast majority of internet hits are either John Whiting or quoting him?
No idea where the original source is. That’s why I wrote to John to ask him and he replied with the quote I posted.
Right, the context was what I was seeking, too. I was hoping she had an essay or column on the subject. This sounds as if it’s possible she said it conversation, not in writing? I’ll try to follow up via this book.
I’ll be interested to see what you find out.
Me too. Jane Grigson was one of the most skilled and humane English food writers, it would be a very sad thing if her legacy was to be come a source for sound bites.