Book Shelf: Omnivore’s Dilemma

I just finished reading Omnivore’s Dilemma by Michael Pollan (OK I really just listened to the audio book, thanks Los Angeles Public Library). It is a very insight full and well written book. In it, he goes into detail about three types of meals. One from industrial food, organic, and foraged/hunted.

First he talks about how corn pretty much rules our industrial food chain and how perverse it is. Listen to this for more on more of that. Then he goes on to talk about the origins of the organic movement and industrial organic, which made me think twice about Whole Foods inc.

Something that really caught my attention is the part where Michael spends a week in a farm I’ve heard of  before. This is the AMAZING Polyface farm. The owner, Joel Salatin wrote an awesome book called Everything I want to do is illegal. Another gem. This guy has his farming straight. Very closed loop. Nothing wasted and all out in the open. I hope to one day make it to the farm and have a look around.  The section about grazing cattle is inspiring to say the least.

The third meal involves foraging for mushrooms and hunting a wild California boar amongst other things. All this culminates in a meal prepared by Michael from all (mostly) local and self acquired ingredients.

All in all, I highly recommend this. It left me feeling hopeful about what we eat again. Also gave me a new appreciation for my local farmer’s market.