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FOOD FOR THOUGHT |09
The Gastronomica Reader
Eating Animals
he award-winning Gastronomica:
ating Animals is a riveting
T
The Journal of Food and Culture
E
exposé which presents the
is a celebrated quarterly US journal
gut-wrenching truth about the
conceived and edited by Darra
price paid by the environment,
Goldstein. She explains: ‘In conceptualizing
the government, the Third World and the
Gastronomica, I set out to create a publication
animals themselves in order to put meat on
that would distinguish itself from the glossy
our tables more quickly and conveniently
food magazines with their unfailingly upbeat
than ever before. Interweaving a variety of
lifestyle stories and staged photographs.
monologues and balancing humour and
I envisioned a way to examine both the deeper
suspense with informed rationalism, Eating
and the darker sides of food: the eating
Animals is as much a novelistic account of
disorders, the marketing that fosters obesity,
an intellectual journey as it is a fresh and
the politics of hunger, the hunting and
open look at the ethical debate around
butchering of primate species, the emerging
meat-eating. Unlike most other books on
bio-technologies that can both serve and harm
the subject, Eating Animals also explores
us. I wanted to create a magazine that would
the possibilites for those who do eat meat
use food for thought, provoking people to think
For the Love of an to do so more responsibly, making this an
seriously, widely, and deeply. At the same time,
important book not just for vegetarians,
it seemed crucial that Gastronomica celebrate
Orchard
but for anyone who is concerned about
the aesthetics of food - through poetry and
the ramifications and significance of their
prose as well as through stunning artwork, hether you fantasise about
chosen lifestyle. Passionate, humane and
including photographs and original illustrations.’
W
having a whole orchard,
compelling, EatingAnimals is an urgent
just a cherry tree in a pot,
examination of the meat industry and our
For those of us who don’t know the journal
or even the perfect apple
relationship with it, by one of our most
there is now a book: designed both to
pie, this beautifully illustrated book
brilliant younger writers.
entertain and to provoke, TheGastronomica
bridges the gap between the special
Reader offers a sumptuous sampling from
place orchards hold in our hearts and
‘Theeverydayhorrorsoffactoryfarming
the journal's pages - including essays, poetry,
the practicalities of growing and
areevokedsovividly,andthecase
interviews, memoirs, and an outstanding
cooking orchard fruit. Orchards are
againstthepeoplewhorunthesystem
selection of artwork. In words and images,
found worldwide and this compre-
presentedsoconvincingly,thatanyone
it takes us around the globe, through time,
hensive book explores the traditions of
who,afterreadingFoer’sbook,continues
and into a dazzling array of cultures. Informed
fruit growing and the story of individual
toconsumetheindustry’sproductsmust
throughout by a keen sense of the pleasures
fruits, as well as providing delicious
bewithoutaheart,orimperviousto
of eating, tasting, and sharing food, this book
recipes and general cultivation advice.
reason,orboth.’J. M. Coetzee
will inspire readers to think seriously and
As interest grows in sustainability, the
deeply about what goes onto their plates.
preserving of heritage varieties and in
Jonathan Safran Foer was born in 1977.
Take a look at www.gastronomica.org
organic produce, this book is a timely
He is the author of ExtremelyLoudand
celebration of tree fruit and its
IncrediblyClose and EverythingIs
TheGastronomicaReader Edited by Darra
enjoyment.
Illuminated, which won the National Jewish
Goldstein. University of California Press, Book Award and the Guardian First Book
£27.95, hardback, 376pp, 1 February 2010
FortheLoveofanOrchard:
Award. He is also the editor of the
Everybody’sGuidetoGrowing and
anthology AConvergenceofBirds:Original
CookingOrchardFruit by Jane FictionandPoetry, inspired by the work
McMorland Hunter and Chris Kelly. of Joseph Cornell. He lives in New York.
Pavilion, £25, hardback, 288pp,
15 March 2010
EatingAnimals
by Jonathan
Safran Foer
Hamish Hamilton,
£20, hardback,
352pp,
4 March 2010
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