Writer, Eater
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.
The cruelties of good nutrition – or the day the broccoli came home to roost
France, celebrity chefs and bad diet
France is seeing the rise of homegrown celebrity chefs and open concern about dining habits.
Review: Eating Between the Lines, by Rebecca Huntley
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.
Jamie Oliver's Ministry of Food hits our screens
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.
Australian National Children’s Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey
The findings of the 2007 Australian National Children's Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey were released today. There's been a little media attention, and I guess this will ramp up as the dailies run it and the various 'stakeholders' start saying their piece. The results? Depends who you listen to. I'd say that, notwithstanding some analytical gaps, things don't look as bleak as the non-expert 'epidemia' scaremongers like to say.
TASTY PRESERVES
Greed, business and bookselling
Australian book retail chain Angus & Robertson (A&R) has got itself in the poo. The mainstream media (Fairfax) ran stories briefly (08 August) about A&R attempting to screw its suppliers by demanding payments to cover their 'gap' in profitability.
Read more Fri 10 Aug, 2007Spring harvest in Paris
All sorts of things grow when the weather is going crazy. In Paris this week, the temperature fluctuated between 14C and rainy and 35C and excruciatingly humid. I got home from a day of walking around the rive gauche (Left Bank = mix of university, studenty, somewhat...
Read more Fri 29 May, 2009The harangued consumer can't navigate SOLE food, ethical eating and the 'simplicity' of cooking
The cauldron of ethical, responsible eating has been bubbling away for a while. Advocates of various issues throw in their own chunk of passion while others try to package this pot au feu in a pastry case,...
Read more Sat 19 Jul, 2008Pastéis de nata — Portuguese custard tarts
Of the many baking projects I've launched in the last ten years, only one has caused serious weight gain, burns and an absolute lack of fear of puff pastry. Portuguese custard tarts, known as pastéis de nata (cream pastries) or pastéis de Belém (Belém...
Read more Tue 04 Nov, 2008What is your supermarket importing now?
Continuing my occasional quest for examples of disappointments in supermarkets, I have found a new example of the import-cheap-product-at-all-costs approach to retailing. What do you think I found?
Read more Tue 21 Apr, 2009
