Avoiding Pink Discs

We went out for dinner Saturday night with another couple.  They, like me, are big carnivores and since I don’t get a lot of support on that here at Rancho Deluxe, the chance to hit a Brazilian Rodizio place is a big plus.  If you’ve never been, most of these places, sometimes known as churrascarias,  feature people walking around with various grilled meats on large, sword-like skewers.  They come to your table and slice off whatever you want.  In addition, most of these joints have fantastic salad bars which can serve as meals all by themselves (and in the case of the vegetarians in your party, do!).

As I was at the salad bar, something stuck me which I’d like to share.  No, someone didn’t toss a roll at me – it’s more about one dish that was there.

It was a plate of sliced tomatoes and mozzarella – sort of a Caprese salad.  Brazil has an Italian population so that’s not really weird.  But the tomatoes!  Alas.  Yes, they sort of resembled the best thing about late Summer, but these were light pink discs that had no flavor.  I say that without even having tried one – you can tell just by looking.  They’re fake tomatoes, in my book and that’s what spurred the th0ught.

How much of what we accept today is fake?  One thing about which I’m glad is that The Who halftime show last night didn’t have the usual fake audience members dancing in front of the stage to create excitement.  That had been a hallmark of NFL halftime shows.  The Grammys too – what’s up with the people paid to be excited in the mosh pit?

Taped music and vocals in “live” performances.  Weak voices of cute performers with limited talent changed electronically in the studio to make them palatable.   Fake!  You’ve heard my thinking on the Kardashians and Paris and the rest of the fake celeb world (including those morons on the Jersey Shore).

Our standards are way too low.  If real tomatoes aren’t in season, don’t put out fake ones.  If you can’t put out your best product, don’t screw up your reputation by delivering anything less.   Great performers generate real excitement – step back and let talent do its magic.   Nothing happens?  Maybe it’s because people can spot a fake a mile away (and a pink disc too!).

Thoughts?