Bias

The concept of bias sure does get a bad rap, given its literary relation to prejudice. But bias touches on that instinctual assessment of people we all must do to separate those who bring food to a relationship – whether financial or metaphysical – and those who will only by a feeder of the bounty that you bring to the table. And bias is the accumulation of all those past interactions and scars so that you can optimize the time to find the most fruitful relationships. So in my mind, bias is critically important – not for a meaningful life – but rather for an efficiently meaningful life. And there is economically nothing more scarce in life than time, thus anything that allows optimization of it should be held on a high pedestal. So glory to bias, it is experience being coy under the understandable witch hunt for prejudice – it just occasionally needs to be questioned to make sure it has not run amok.

The connection with tonight’s meal? Well, poor.  Mexicans in the age of Trump are subject to extreme and undeserving prejudices. And yet, they have a strong culture – including culinary – which is usually indicative of a culture that should be admired not disparaged. Have some Chili Rellenos and then tell me that there is not a strong and enduring Mexican culture worthy of respect.

So tonight, chicken enchiladas (yeah, more TexMex than Mex, but I did say it was a poor connection)

Secret ingredient: Himalayan salt sprinkled on the Shishito peppers, which have proved to be a worthy alternative to much more scarce Padron peppers that I crave. And for the enchiladas – thinly sliced radishes on top.

Music accompaniment: Ry Cooder – perfect.