On a slow news day in 2009, a famous Australian TV gardening guru and an equally famous cookery author went to war – over the humble parsnip. The guru described the author as ‘wretched’ for serving parsnips to people, as they were not fit for pigs. ‘I’m outraged, I’m angry, I’m upset, I’m crushed. I’m all of those things and a lot more,’ he said on air. He insisted that they (the poor parsnips) ‘were an affront to human dignity. I respect pigs, I like pigs, but I wouldn’t give my pet pig parsnips.’
The author and the parsnip industry rose up to defend the worthy vegetable. The author said the guru was ‘out of touch’ and sent him a box of parsnips with recipes, challenging him to confront his prejudices.
‘I was surprised he was having a go. It’s just a parsnip,’ the author said. ‘If the guru cared to step into a modern restaurant he would find everyone’s using parsnips – they’re in vogue.’
Not only ‘in vogue’, Madam. Bloody delicious.