What do the EU, globalization, hybrid seeds, and Spanish tomatoes have in common? Why are our chickens literally eating the Brazilian rainforest? These and many more questions are answered in Austrian film maker Erwin Wagenhofer’s eye opening documentary “We Feed The World”. You can watch the entire documentary (in German) here, or buy the English version here.
This film is a must for anyone who cares about the environment and the food they put in their bodies. The consequences of Western style industrialized food production and globalization are shocking, to say the least.
For facts about subsidized agriculture, genetically modified food, starvation, and other issues discussed in the film, click here.
McDonald's official picture of Filet-o-Fish
Next time you feel the urge to stuff yourself with a breaded piece of particle board composite “fish” that’s dressed with tartar sauce and a slice of “real cheese”, and all squeezed in between two sheets of fluffy PVC, think again. Cause you’re about to commit a culinary crime equivalent to murder in the first degree.
The real Filet-o-Fish. Photo by Ryan/grubgrade
If the Filet-o-Fish’s actual appearance doesn’t offend you enough to run for the hills, then maybe this will.
Photo by Ryan/grubgrade
Still not turned off? Well, then…
Photo by Ryan/grubgrade
Bon appetit!
Today marks the 40th anniversary of the first humans landing on the moon. While I like to think they snacked on zero gravity Mars bars while shooting through space, the reality of space food is far less appetizing, although NASA makes it sound like 5-star cuisine.
Not only were Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin the first humans to ever set foot on the moon, they were also the first humans to eat on the moon. While romping around in their cute outfits, they enjoyed a lunar picknick of ham-salad sandwiches, fortified fruit strips, and rehydratable beverages
The astronauts’ diet has come a long way from the freeze-dried, dehydrated “foods” that had to be rehydrated with water and sucked from tubes or eaten out of pouches. Today, NASA’s food lab offers 185 dishes, and astronauts at the International Space Station (ISS) are each allowed to bring two cases of non-perishable foods, such as M&Ms or chips. Special requests – birthday cakes, or a pizza from Pizza Hut – are sometimes considered as well. Astronauts even get to eat tortillas that are manufactered by Taco Bell’s supplier, although I’m not sure this gives them an edge over their Russian colleagues.
Here’s a look at some of the “food” from past missions astronauts had to put up with while floating around in space. Makes you think twice about wanting to become an astronaut, doesn’t it?!
Beef with Vegetables from the Apollo 11 Lunar Mission/Photo NASA
Early space version of "chicken or beef?"/Photo NASA
Dining a la Star Trek/Photo NASA
Rehydrating freeze-dried space food back in the day/Photo NASA
Lunch to go NASA style/Photo NASA
The well set table/Photo NASA
Astronaut's lunch box, 1980's/Photo NASA
Bon appetit!
The ominous and ill boding question we all dread at 35,000 feet. Directed at us in a voice dripping with promise by a friendly underpaid flight attendant in an ill fitting suit and too much make up. For a split second, you can almost imagine yourself digging into your favorite risotto, creamy and comforting, followed by a decadently rich chocolate cake. Until the plastic tray is dumped on the stupid little table in front of you. Still hopeful, you peel back the aluminum foil, burning your fingers. Ah, there it is. Chicken or beef?
So, what will you have next time? Pasta or fish?
Welcome to Thorny Tomato! I love to eat, and I love to cook, so I have decided to mix it all up and dish it out as a delicious little blog. Speaking of delicious, how come we don’t all like the same food? Some of us clearly prefer their cake, while others would rather dine on something more…shall we say, earthy. What is it with people loving to suck on raw oysters, nibble on mold encrusted cheeses, and get their hands dirty on greasy chicken wings? Sound all finger licking good to you? Then why are ant eggs, dog meat, sheep eyes, or tarantulas so hard to stomach? Paradoxical. To see what pushes people’s yuck buttons, check out this poll. Here’s what pushes my yuck button…Bon appetit!
