Re: [CH] Bay Tree
Brent Thompson (brent@hplbct.hpl.hp.com)
Wed, 24 May 2000 09:17:56 -0700
> I have to talk about Bay Trees on a local community TV station.
> I'm beginning to feel that it is the most useless of herbs.
> Has anyone any uses (that might change my opinon) that I could use on the
> TV show??
Personally liking or disliking bay leaf is one thing, but I cannot imagine
calling bay the most useless of herbs. Presuming we are talking about
'real' bay that is, i.e., Laurus nobilis ("Grecian Bay Laurel").
Many many common and well-beloved recipes from throughout Europe (and
elsewhere too, of course) contain bay leaves, including many of the basic
foundations of French cookery (which is certainly generally reputed as
being a quality cuisine), and bay leaves are in those preparations because
they provide a flavor/aroma which is considered desirable and which is
necessary to create the full flavor potential of each recipe.
Surely many other herbs much more easily compete for the title "most
useless of herbs", such as winter savory (or even summer savory, for that
matter), or borage, or lemon verbena, ...
Indeed, quite the opposite of your contention, I think it could easily be
argued that bay leaf is among the most useful of all herbs, and comparably
as versatile as even thyme, oregano, or parsley.
In addition, Laurus nobilis is a fairly smallish tree which makes an
attractive evergreen landscape addition.
--- Brent