I could never be a true foodie [1], because I let my conscience interfere with my tastebuds. In fact, I let all kinds of things affect my appreciation for a great meal. In other words, I think too much before I eat.
Here are a few examples: I have qualms about buying fois gras [2] (horribly cruel to poultry) or plunking a lobster into a pot of boiling water (surely bad for the karma). I rarely even eat meat [2] (Saturated fat! E.coli [2] scares! The Meatrix [2]! Bones freak me out!). These ideas just make confirmed gastronomes shake their heads with pity.
While I may never be a bonafide epicurean, I think it's fair to call myself an ethicurean. I learned that word and concept from a great blog that I found when I was poking around Epicurious.com [3], a site this wanna-be foodie checks out pretty often.
The Ethicurean [4] is written by and for people who value the taste of their food, as long as it is sustainable, organic [4], local and/or ethical. As they put it, it's for people who believe in SOLE food. Or (and I like this better) people who want to "chew the right thing."
A brief review of their posts—which are written by six people around the country who share an ethics policy [5] —taught me all kinds of helpful things. For instance:
- A rice cooker conserves up to three times the energy [6] of cooking rice on the stove. And it makes perfect rice.
- Have you heard disturbing rumors about the Chilean sea bass served at the wedding of Al Gore's daughter? Don't believe it [7]. It seems that the endangered fish [8] was served by the groom's family and had been previously approved by the Marine Stewardship Council.
- Some Los Angeles restaurants [9] are going greener by using solar-powered dishwashers and biodiesel [9] delivery trucks. Still, they continue to sell bottled water.
It's stuff that I find both interesting and helpful as I try to wade through the ever-more challenging process of buying and eating food. We all know that it can be hard to chew the right thing—especially when there are a lot of mixed messages swirling around.
So I've bookmarked The Ethicurean [10] and I'm so pleased to find an online resource that understands that food is much more delicious when it doesn't come with a side order of guilt.