September 05, 2010

Food heroes

I've found a new food hero or really food heroes - Hugh Fearnley–Whittingstall and the team working at The River Cottage in Dorset.

From time to time I've watched an episode here and there on TV but just as another cooking show. During my holidays this summer I somehow managed to watch every episode of the last series and really got into what it is all about. To cook and eat healthy local, seasonal produce. To be self-sufficient and farm with integrity and honesty, i.e. with organic principles in mind.

Living in the city it's so easy to just walk into the supermarket and buy whatever you want without thinking about where the produce comes from or if it's in season or not. I love fresh asparagus and when those lovely green or white bits arrive in April-May I get so happy. I kept on buying them most of the summer until I looked at the package one day where it said from Mexico. Hm, well that is quite far away, isn't it? Some other food loving friends confirmed my thoughts. The asparagus season here at home were way over. The same with strawberries. I love strawberries but buying them right in the middle of winter flown in from Egypt? No I don't think so. The same goes for apples, plums and pears at the moment. Why on earth should I buy things that have been flown across the world when our local kind is at its peak?

When it comes to meat I'm the same. I really would like to know where the cows, pigs and lambs come from. If they have been able to be outside and play. Then there is chicken and eggs. Free range all the way thank you very much. I'm a firm believer that organic produce is so much better for us and the best thing is also it taste so much better.

River Cottage is very inspiring and shows us that it is possibly to buy and eat local food. That love, care and respect for all sorts of produce will take you a long way.

1 comment:

Unknown said...

I couldn't agree more with you, Cathy! I hope awareness spreads more and more and we come to our senses again and put a stop to this crazyness. Besides the fact, that produce DOES taste best when it's in season, it is simply inacceptable that we continue like this.

I actually thought the same about wine, the other day. Standing at the wine shelves of the local supermarket here in the wine growing area of the Pfalz, looking at wines from around the world, being sold for 1,50 € a bottle. This is not helping anyone... And how is it even possible - thinking only about the transporting costs, the fuel wasted, the low income for the producer, the price-challange for the local producers. Crazy...