Generous Unpretentiousness

Recently came back from a really beautiful and innovative art exhibit featuring the works of Yayoi Kusama at the NY Botanical Garden

Some of the art was stand alone like the pumpkin, while others integrated the natural landscape like the polka dot fabric wrapped trees and the shiny silver balls floating on the pond. 

What struck me pretty hard was the placard in front of the pumpkin. The artist described loving pumpkins for their "generous unpretentiousness". Now I have never thought about what personality traits a pumpkin has but I would have to agree with Kusama that pumpkins are indeed quite unpretentious. I've never stopped to think about the different adjectives I would use to describe produce, but it struck me as uncanny that she seemed to nail the personality of the fall mainstay so clearly. For pumpkins, what you see is what you get. They are heavy, brightly colored and have an easy going flavor. Not to be mistaken for "pumpkin spice" flavor, the pumpkin can be used in a variety of ways from simply roasted, baked into a pie to made into a satisfying soup. 

Are there fruits and vegetables that are pretentious? Would that translate to being fussy and high brow like Belgian endive (they are spotless for about 30 seconds before a cracked leaf or delicate edge begins to oxidize and brown). I think we can all agree that a russet potato is a humble vegetable. Are star fruit flashy and shallow since they are beautiful but never have much flavor? I fell hard down this rabbit hole and realized that I too am a huge fan of unpretentious vegetables. Give me a delicious baked potato, pumpkin bisque or roasted carrot any day of the week and I am a happy camper. In cooking as in life, often times you don't want to be bothered with that pretentious nonsense.