The Advanced Rutabaga Studies Institute

B.B.C. of Forest Grove, Oregon, writes:

Subject: Rutabagas make the bigtime!

Don't miss the coverage of Grovenet's favorite veggie, the rutabaga, in this week's Food Day issue of the Oregonian (10/19/98). They even have recipes! :-)

D.M. of Forest Grove, Oregon, writes:

From the ARSI Web site: "Mixed with gray food coloring, mashed rutabaga leftovers also serve as a reliable substitute for mortar in various masonry applications."

Is it also suitable for use as a body and fender filler? I understand rutabagas are often used to hammer out dents, as they do not become brittle even after years of service. And I understand there is a certain resonance to the process you just cannot get with steel or rubber.

Which reminds me, what is your opinion about the musicial qualities of rudabagas? Besides Ocarainas of course. I personnally have never had the pleasure of listening to Bach's "Root" Symphony without thinking of Rutabagas.

[This opens up a promising new area for scholarly research by ARSI's staff of trained ethnomusicologists. Thanks, D.M.! --Editor]

G.S. of Forest Grove, Oregon, writes:

Oh my gosh! I didn't read this at first, but saved it for checking out later, thinking it was a serious recipe!

You guys and your rutabagas! (Cracks me up.) I've never eaten one in my life. Has anybody? No wonder K.K. has been using rutabaga recipes as threats!

[We at ARSI don't understand your comments--ALL our recipes are "serious." Try one someday! Remember that hundreds of people, worldwide, eat rutabagas every year. --Editor]

L.A. writes:

[Thanks for the valuable information! I'm embarrassed to admit I've never tried rutabaga chips, though the busy chefs in ARSI's labs are already salivating at the prospect.]

D.M. of Forest Grove, Oregon, writes:

We just may have the start of this year's Homecoming Court for the Rutabaga Festival. Will you be Prime Minister again this year?

I love it when you sing your musical rendition of "Hail to King Aga Batur", especially the Ocarina solo.

J.P.R., location unknown, writes:

Subject: Hate Rutabagas, Love your page!

What a HOOT! I'm sending your URL to all my fellow rutabaga haters!
Check out https://members.tripod.com/~stitchit/
That's me.
Regards, J.P.R.

E.D. of Forest Grove, Oregon, writes:

Just an aside here ... I discovered this week that all my life I have been referring to the lowly rutabaga as a turnip. And vice versa!
Who says we can't educate?

[Just wondering how many easterners, like us, confused rutabagas and turnips. --Editor]

K.K. of Forest Grove, Oregon, writes:

The rutabaga resulted from a chance hybridization, centuries ago, between cabbage and turnips. The plant is considered by botanists to bein the cabbage family.

Go figure.

[ARSI botanists are hard at work gathering evidence to refute this widespread misconception--a true urban legend--which was apparently fostered by turnipite propagandists early in the 20th century. --Editor]

M.G. of Forest Grove, Oregon, writes:

• "F*o*u*r stars," pants Jeffrey Keagan of the LA Times!
• "Two thumbs most enthusiastically up," gesture Skisell and Ebert!
• "An intellectual tour de Concours... a kind of cross between MAD Magazine and Martha Stewart Living Magazine, with a side order of ratatouille, hold the rutagbas," pontificates bioethicist Arnold Kaplan!

Dig the signature background color, too.

(Does someone perhaps have a little too much time weighing heavy on their hands, tho???) ;={>

R.B. of Forest Grove, Oregon, writes:

Great web site! Keep up the good work!

N.M.V, residing in Mexico, writes:

Perhaps you forgot, but the use of these vegetables as weapons was strictly prohibited by the Geneva Convention...

[N.M.V. is correct. Like poison gas, the rutabaga is far too lethal to be used in weapons applications.]

N.M.V, again from Mexico, responds:

But Michael, when was the War of Independence and when was the Geneva convention? I was sure you were going to mention that these weapons [the rutabaga and turnip] had been banned because of the castle remodeled into hotel where they met served these veggies every day, Rutabaga Pancakes, Turnip Turnovers, and Parsnip Pie all in one meal made the convention finish their work in record time.