22nd Oct 2011 This Blog Is 'Of Author'

Oct 22A

In recent years, appearing an expression, though clear enough, yet for me rather strange not to say superfluous even absurd. In Spanish here 'de autor' which means 'of author', specially designed or originated by a creator therefore the author. I think it might have been born in gastronomy. There are now all sorts of products, daily practical stuff or simply a concept, or any design. The newest is a variety of Cocktails 'of Autor', meaning a professional,, or just somebody, has put his name on the result of his imagination. These days a plate of scrambled eggs with a tiny bit of change to the everyday dish by some cook or chef is now labelled as 'of Author'.

Not that I don't appreciate the value of culinary innovation, or improvement of any kind; nothing in the world is canonized forever. But the fact is that breaking the tradition or custom with changes doesn't necessarily, nor automatically, mean the end product is better, improved or more attractive.

Some Cocktails are perfectly designed like the Dry Martini or the Rusty Nail. There are other great Cocktails ingeniously invented in the history, each with it's ingredients, the most decisive part, and the precise balance of proportion, aroma and temperature.

As in good culinary preparation, the correct balance of components is basic but the most important. After all, a Cocktail is a combination of tastes and aroma, so is that of a gourmet dish. Invention in itself is not a merit by definition, what counts is the result.

Besides, if 'de autor' boosts vanity, we are all authors, because the word 'author' only means a person who has done a certain thing. Now, all of a sudden, I feel rather proud and satisfied, that regardless whether people think this article I am writing is good, bad, regular, so-so, terrible ... I write articles and Blogs 'of author'!

Tags: author, definition

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