What the World Eats (& Doesn't Eat)

Peter Menzel's book Hungry Planet: What the World Eats is a fascinating look into the menus of different families in different parts of the world. Some of the photos from the book are on this link on time.com.

The book gives a more thorough description of the spread in each photo. I found it interesting that the Bhutanese family (#14 of 16 on the Time link) keeps Red Label Tea in the home for serving to guests. (The family drinks the tea they grow themselves.) In my home, I use Brooke Bond Red Label Tea for personal use and serve "fancier" teas to my guests.

If we are on the subject of what the world does eat, then a natural accompaniment would be to consider what the world does not eat - the taboo in the culinary world. Many Jews and Muslims don't eat pork. The Navajo have food taboos concerning seafood. Most Americans find the thought of eating insects and certain rodents appalling. Same with dogs and cats, but for different reasons. Victor Benno Meyer-Rochow explores the origins and purposes of food taboos on this link. In this article, Meyer-Rochow writes: 

"Probably food taboos (as unwritten social rules) exist in one form or another in every society on Earth, for it is a fact that perhaps nowhere in the world, a people, a tribe, or an ethnic group, makes use of the full potential of edible items in its surroundings."

Some of the reasons explored in this article include: highlighting special events; preservation of health; protection of resource; monopolization of resource; and group identity and cohesion.

Kosher dietary laws are one example of food taboos.

In my search for food taboos, I also came upon a list featuring "The 6 Most Sadistic Dishes From Around the World", and to be honest, it is the reason that this week's post does not feature a recipe. The list includes sashimi that is not only raw but still actually living, everything you didn't want to know about foie gras, and even a Chinese tradition of eating meat carved directly from a living donkey. For reference purposes, the list is on this link, but I don't recommend it for the faint of heart or if you have a lunch break coming up in the next hour er, week or so.