Yet another unreality food show has hit our Australian telly screens. My Kitchen Rules, where teams representing five states vie for the title of most-self-confident but not-quite-expert home entertaining maestros. People showing off to each other isn't exactly my idea of fun cooking viewing, but hey, maybe there's something to enjoy in it.

Every contestant in Masterchef Australia episode 61 had crunchy macarons. (Ok, except Andre, who didn't have macarons at all.) The microphones captured the powdery crunch. It should never have been like that. I think I know why it might have happened. NOW UPDATED with extra stupid stuff.

I don't think most Australians have any particularly awareness of the conditions for livestock animals in Australia. We hear occasional stories from overseas and can, of course, read books such as Fast Food Nation or The Omnivore's Dilemma to get even more of an idea. We know that chickens lead an awful life in battery farms, but what of pigs and other animals in Australia?

I am disturbed, disturbed! An article in The Guardian late last year drew my attention to the existence of a list. A subversive, deeply disturbing list. A list with earth-shattering implications for my hitherto guilt-free diet of pastry and chocolate. As if we needed more proof that things haven't been right in the United States in recent years, I fear that the military-industrial-vegetable complex is attempting a green coup.

I just tripped across a very funny article about a US television cook, Sandra Lee, who seems to create all sorts of abominations. The commentary is funny and the pics and vid are great illustrations.

France is seeing the rise of homegrown celebrity chefs and open concern about dining habits.

Eating Between the Lines has received a bit of media attention since its publication recently. I heard a radio interview with the author and found the discussion interesting. I've now worked my way through the book and as you'll read, I wasn't impressed. This is a work which ranges too broadly and has difficulty bringing together the threads. The author specialises in well written social commentary, but without enough insight to make for powerful reading.
 
 

I've been meaning to write this for months. Where oh where is the Australian culinary content on Wikipedia? It's pitiful. Stephanie Alexander is completely absent. Maggie Beer is described as a 'cook' and Shannon Bennett doesn't even get a mention. If you explore related categories, you'll find that numerous significant restaurants are missing (Quay, Aria, Bennelong, Claude's, Grossi Florentino, Mietta's, Jacques Reymond, Vue de Monde, etc), while alongside the few notables (Bistro Moncur, Flower Drum, Berowra Waters Inn) are dross like the Pancake Parlour and Henny Penny. This needs fixin' good!

Over at Australia's SBS Food site there's an article about blogging called Everyone's a Critic, published on Oct 7. I'm not sure how you find it if you don't already know it's there. When you do find it, there's a surprise. It's all about foodblogging. But forget about Australia.

Jamie's latest social project TV program hits Australian screens. Commentators will be horrified at scenes of domestic deprivation, but differences between the UK and Australia might make it seem a bit unreal.