My Contribution to Feeding the World

Eating cold-blooded animals, a more efficient way to eat flesh for those of us who can't live without meat. In the picture you see a delicious Szechuan broth with frog legs floating along with chili peppers. You can find this delicacy at Legend Restaurant in the Upper West (109th and Broadway).

Although not better than giving up meat entirely, I'm (almost) sure that the environmental impact of cold-blooded sources of meat is much smaller that beef, chicken and pork. Like humans, cows, pigs and chickens spend most of their calories keeping their bodies warm. Frogs, snakes, and others use the sun for that. I guess the next logical step is eating bugs. Stay tuned

Global Kitchens - An Awesome Exicibition at the American Museum of Natural History

The new exhibit  “Our Global Kitchen: Food, Nature, Culture” at the American Museum of Natural History is something you don't want to miss if you are anywhere on the East Coast. I had the opportunity to check out a few days ago now I can't wait to visit it again. The exhibit covers the history, science, economics, culture, and taste - yes you can taste the stuff! - of food from all over the world. They even talk about Chontaduros, my favorite fruit!

Right as you come in, the world's amazing diversity of food crops, including some very weird looking potatoes, is showcased. As you continue you come across a cool live example of vertical gardening, growing greens and herbs. Then, you are suddenly bombarded with vivid colors and figures representing an Aztec public market (see picture). The curators did an impressive job capturing in this vibrant scene the chaotic and diverse nature of markets - You can almost hear the women selling the tamales and the garrobos. The exhibition continues with several documentaries and a demonstration on how to make delicious cider. There are also various displays on the economic significance of agriculture, and how it's traded around the world. Anyway, please visit it if you have a chance. You won't regret it.

To learn more about the exhibition read what the NYTimes had to say about it. Also, check out the promotional video below: