Tag Archives: Dining

PROMPT: Eating Meat

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Daily writing prompt
What are your feelings about eating meat?
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I have no strong feelings. Everything that lives becomes food, so I don’t see a sound moral argument against meat. There is certainly a nutritional argument against eating excessive quantities of meat (which I would grant many meat-eaters do) but this is not an argument for dropping meat altogether. I accept that there is a reasonable environmental argument, but — counterpoint — it’s delicious.

I see no argument at all against choosing to eat vegetarian or vegan, so I certainly wouldn’t try to talk anyone out of their decision to do so. (i.e. The “you can’t get enough protein” argument is bullshit.)

BOOK: “The Virtues of the Table” by Julian Baggini

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The Virtues of the Table: How to Eat and ThinkThe Virtues of the Table: How to Eat and Think by Julian Baggini
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Publisher Site – Granta

This book examines the nexus of food and philosophy, from the ethics of butchery to the virtue of authenticity to whether hedonism is a necessary component of eating philosophically. Much of the book challenges or debates conventional wisdoms such as whether local foods are inherently better, whether dining is always and everywhere a social activity (or should be,) and whether organic is always preferable. The book covers a wide variety of topics including: mindfulness, gratitude, skepticism, fasting, willpower, spontaneity, technology, etc.

The book offers many ideas for reflection though sometimes it felt like it rambled on for more than the issue in question necessitated.

Each chapter ends with a discussion of a particular food and its preparation as thought relevant by the author. This is a nice grounding mechanism for discussion that tends otherwise to be cerebral and philosophic.

I’d recommend this book for anyone interested in thinking more about food and its intersection with philosophy of life.

View all my reviews

PROMPT: Do More

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What could you do more of?
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Pie eating. I don't mean to be gluttonous about it, but I seldom eat a proper piece of pie. I'd say I get enough dessert, overall, but perhaps need to shift more of the balance of dessert in the direction of pie. Or maybe I just have a momentary hankering for pie, and this is all just meaningless rambles. I do not intend to build a pie-eating action plan, so things will probably remain as they are on the pie-eating front.

PROMPT: Foods

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What are your favorite types of foods?
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Those that are authentic to wherever I am at the moment. [Nothing fancy, but with nutritional value.]

PROMPT: Expensive Meal

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What’s the most money you’ve ever spent on a meal? Was it worth it?
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I can’t remember, but it’s never been worth it. Seems like the more one pays for a meal, the hungrier one leaves it. Enjoy your “foam reductions” if you like, but it’s not for me. I’ll take street food any day — cheap, filling, flavorful street food. It’s got character and doesn’t try too hard.

My palate may be unrefined, but — also — I’m no sucker.

PROMPT: Risk

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When is the last time you took a risk? How did it work out?
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I had lunch at a hole-in-the-wall joint with a truly astounding population of flies yesterday.

The meal was delectable.

PROMPT: Favorite Restaurant

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What is your favorite restaurant?
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I don’t have a favorite restaurant, but I do have a type: mom-and-pop hole-in-the-wall that only does a few things but does them all exceedingly well. I don’t care for frou-frou places, and it drives me batty when a place has a thirty-page menu and you have to play the “guess what they actually have” game. I always loved watching Monty Python’s “Cheese Shop Sketch,” but have loathed reprising the John Cleese part in so many restaurants.

Chains have their place in the travel pipeline or in a busy schedule, but I generally prefer a novel experience over a cookie cutter one.

Fugu Death [Free Verse]

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What a moment!
   When you realize 
     that your lips had been more numb
     than from Szechwan peppercorns,
   and that numbness
     has slid into paralysis.

You are dying:
   death by Fugu --
     poison blowfish.

Your heart will stop.
   You will keel over,
     falling from your stool
     at the sushi counter.

A booth-dweller, 
   seeing you bounce off 
     an adjacent patron,
     wonders why you don't 
     bring your arms up to catch yourself,
     but - of course - they're dangling 
   uselessly,
     and so you land face first.

The booth-dweller cringes.
     
There's nothing to be done for you.

You had the nerve
   to try the Fugu!

But, while Fugu life is exhilarating;
   Fugu death is inglorious.

DAILY PHOTO: Cave Dining

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Taken on January 1, 2016 in Bai Tu Long Bay

Taken on January 1, 2016 in Bai Tu Long Bay

IMG_2453 IMG_2464

One of the interesting experiences to be had on a junk boat tour in Vietnam is dining in a cave. This cave used to be employed as a shelter for fishermen during storms. Given all the rocky skerries in the bay, I suspect being in a boat in a storm here would be terrifying. However, the caves are now prohibited to those without a license. Because the fishermen took to lopping off stalactites and stalagmites because they make for impressive mountains for bonzai displays–and those displays can be big money makers when done well.

 

An example of what I’m talking about can be seen below.

This one was located at the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long in Hanoi.

This one was located at the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long in Hanoi.