The other day my dad told me that he thought it was interesting that he had made it some sixty-odd years on this planet without ever seeing a chipotle pepper, and now he can’t turn around without bumping into one.Cognitive learning theory in the classroom you can get chipotle in sauces at mcdonalds, in kraft mayonnaise, and in every brand of salsa on the grocery store shelf. And you don’t have to live in the southwest to find it any more.Cognitive learning theory in the classroom it’s everywhere.

To my dad, this is an unwelcomed change. It’s a sign that the world is changing too quickly. If someone wants to seek out a foreign new flavor, he should have to seek it out.Cognitive learning theory in the classroom stumbling onto it is fine, but having it thrust is our faces is something else. Call it progress, but at some level it’s a sign that the old ways are just that, the old ways, on their way out, being replaced at a rate that some of us are not quite ready for.Cognitive learning theory in the classroom

And it’s not like my dad is a white bread, steak and potatoes type. Granted, you can count the great irish culinary contributions to society on one hand, but my dad did live in new orleans for the better part of two decades.Cognitive learning theory in the classroom and those folks will mix just about anything together and call it something I can’t pronounce. So it’s not that the chipotle itself is too weird for him; he’s just not crazy about the intrusion of a regional flavor into places where it shouldn’t be, like the center aisles of the grocery store and generic fast food restaurants.Cognitive learning theory in the classroom

When he told me that he was about sick of having chipotle sauces shoved in his face, he might as well have been speaking martian and trying to explain string theory to me.Cognitive learning theory in the classroom for starters, it seems to be the free market at work. There must be a demand for it, or it wouldn’t be there. And while there may be a marginal at best societal benefit to increased scoville-awareness, I have trouble understanding a down side to people from other here sharing a bite to eat with people over there.Cognitive learning theory in the classroom and if they can’t share an actual sit-down meal, then sharing the techniques are the next best thing.

Where my dad sees the old, familiar ways being crowded out, I only see the continual process of refining and refining and refining that which we have.Cognitive learning theory in the classroom I can whip up a tray of blackberry cobbler, but that doesn’t mean I’m replacing my great-grandmother’s chocolate chip cookies, which will always be the gold standard for desserts.Cognitive learning theory in the classroom I’m not so sure culture is a zero net game. The addition of X doesn’t mean that Y must decrease by the same amount.

But it is interesting that father and son are wired so differently.Cognitive learning theory in the classroom my dad wants to be able to walk into the grocery store and see everything he expects in the place where it should be. I want to walk in there and get surprised by something I’ve never heard of before, which I will then look up to see where it came from and what one does with it.Cognitive learning theory in the classroom

I wanted to reply to steve’s post, even though it is from almost 8 years ago. Your words really struck a chord with me, because I see your dad in myself, although I do ride both sides of the fence when it comes to foods remaining in their respective regions of the country.Cognitive learning theory in the classroom I’m almost 59, and I can identify with your dad’s opinion that “chipotle is everywhere. I too never heard of a chipotle pepper until this phenomenon hit.Cognitive learning theory in the classroom I love the idea that we should travel our great country and have each area’s “cultural experience”, but for some, that is impossible to do. I suppose the fact that amazon can bring it to us in less than 48 hours is a blessing.Cognitive learning theory in the classroom

I think what really touched me about your dad is his feeling that something is lost now. I completely agree with him. My grandmother was a very large influence in my life, particularly with food, cooking it, and sharing it with family.Cognitive learning theory in the classroom she taught me to appreciate simple things, like eating tomatoes from the garden, or taking that tomato and adding some bell pepper and onion and a splash of italian dressing.Cognitive learning theory in the classroom cooking a delicious meal for family and friends was love. I tried to bring my own daughter up this way, but she and her husband almost act as though food from the garden has some sort of contamination; dirt, perhaps?Cognitive learning theory in the classroom they are all about going out to eat, rather than cooking, and my grandkids are being raised in that environment. There is no such thing as coming to grandma’s house and learning about the garden and cooking techniques.Cognitive learning theory in the classroom gardens have bugs, and maybe even a snake, and it’s hot outside. I sometimes feel like I have so much history to share, and no one really cares.Cognitive learning theory in the classroom so while I appreciate a thriving economy and the ability to have the culinary world at our fingertips, I too feel sad at times. Something is lost indeed; something simple and wonderful.Cognitive learning theory in the classroom