Discovering The World of Flavors Part Two

 This part is about more exotic foods that have been discovered, but also more concern for weight, health, the environment and justice.  A lot of odds and ends in random order.

 As I age and read about  nutrition I have become more interested in veganism.  The benefits include guilt free regarding cruelty to animals.  More than that you cut down on cholesterol and chemicals.  It also has environmental benefits which means also economic benefits as we try to feed a hungry growing planet.  

 One documentary film that is hard to dismiss is "The Game Changers" (2019) which you can learn a bit more about at http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2021/12/the-game-changers.html   Suggested by friend Bob Stone. Balancing that is natural reality that is our history:  http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2021/05/the-hunt-is-what-life-is-all-about.html

 What animals we choose to eat is subject to social concerns.  Cows and chickens are normal. Pigs are forbidden to Jews and Muslims.  Sheep and lambs are too cuddly for some.   In Tarpon Springs, Florida I decided to try frog legs which tasted fine, but I read their eyes remind people of themselves and so that was the only time.  The idea of horse meat is repulsive to many of us and I worked for a horse publication. Veal is very tasty, but raised cruelly with cows packed tightly.

Talking to a Muslim friend he pointed that Halal meat is healthier as blood is drained from the body.  Also effectively argues that it is less cruel (but some think it is crueler).

A friend from Sharon's work had an emu farm which offer meat with less cholesterol.  It tasted ok, but somehow never caught on.  Goat cheese was discovered and I was told it was healthier.  As it became more popular trending, but there are a lot of surplus male goats, but little Canadian interest except for Caribbeans.

A restaurant was giving out samples and my curiosity gave in to temptation and I found kangaroo tasty.  On another occasion perhaps trying to show my sophistication had more kangaroo meat that had been barbequed.  I was told that kangaroo is low on cholesterol.  The problem is it is difficult to shake the idea of a playful toy.

Calamari was an exotic food I acquired a taste for until I learned that the octopus is a unique sentient being.  Check:  http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2020/09/for-me-this-is-year-of-octopus.html The idea of eating Ox tongue was repulsive, but was persuaded to try at a Korean restaurant and realized they are tasty.

http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2013/11/vb6-vegan-before-6.html   This has been my plan for several years--it partially relieves my conscience and cuts down on meat/fat consumption.

What happens if we all do become vegans?  http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2018/01/what-happens-to-farm-animals-when.html

Weight is a social and health issue.   A battle I am familiar with.  One of the most successful diets I have had  was the F Plan, with the F standing for fibre.  Chopsticks have one good advantage in that they slow me down.  Other strategies have involved mindfulness.   http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2016/03/the-joy-of-half-cookie.html 

We ate Mexican at the suggestion of a brother in law, first in London, (Ontario) then Etobicoke.  Our children loved it.  A few years later Hamilton developed a nearby Mexican restaurant.  Awhile later we learned their menu was gluten free and that turned out to be a key factor for one visitor.  We were surprised that another nearby Mexican restaurant had a Muslim chef which meant their menu was also halal which turned out to a positive for a sister of mine.

The Burlington Library declared, "Beauty of Humanity Movement"  their Burlington Reads selection.  A big feature was a Vietnamese Soup called pho which I sampled and have continued to do so.  Other Vietnamese items I have taken a fancy to include sandwiches with cilantro and spring rolls.   From a newspaper review we drove to Toronto to checkout chocolate covered bananas which indicated a French colonial influence http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2012/07/beauty-of-humanity-movement-book-review.html

Perhaps the best value in a snack is a red bean sesame ball.  Cheaper than a chocolate bar with a mix of sweet red bean and a bread sort of wrapping and sesame seeds.  Have bought at Chinese or Vietnamese bakeries.

Thai restaurants offer my favorite foods.  They have a lot of spices and combinations of other Asian foods.  One combination was lychees in a curry.  They were the first for me to offer peanut sauce.

New Zealand is noted for meat pies and we did indeed agree they did have better than at home.  A flavor available fresh for only a short growing season was feijoa, which I absorbed in a sorbet, wine  and with hokey pokey cereal  Driving around the North Island we were struck by the large numbers of sheep eating on mountain sides.  We ate more than usual of lamb items .  Back home it was admitted that lamb fed on grass tastes better than Canadian lamb fed on feed.  My Grandmother Coakwell introduced me and Sharon to lamb with mint as she knew my parents didn't eat it.  We attended a Maori show that included an underground cooking hangi.  Still another treat was at an underground parking lot at major shopping mall where I had a Malaysian item.  On other occasions we had visited Japanese, Turkish, Mongolian restaurants.  On another occasion at a Chinese restaurant I was able to try chicken feet that two friends had been discussing and I could appreciate their interest.  At another Chinese restaurant we ordered a few hours ahead of time and got a Beijing Duck which was more elaborate than anticipated.

The French cuisine is supposed to be top of the food tower.  I love croissants, crepes, onion soup, chicken cordon bleu, escargot and Vichyssoise.   I would like to explore more, but they have the reputation of being expensive and complicated.

One of my jobs took me to health food shows.  There is an emphasis on organic foods which I usually prefer.  New things I discovered included hummus, tahini and tofu. I learned a recipe for tuna curry that was supposed to be healthy for its omega oil.  One of the few things I am allowed to cook for others.

Michael was in Korea and was able to impress us at a local Korean restaurant ordering food in the Korean language.  They let you cook yourself at your table.  Noted for beef dishes.  My latest taste discovery has come from watching Korean tv series.   I started to notice dating couples and wealthy business men often ordered Tteokbokki to impress one another.  The real capper was a spoiled brat in a hospital with parents anxious to placate asked him what he wanted and he replied Tteokbokki and it has proved to be a new favorite.  I didn't catch on to kimchi.

For awhile I lived and worked in Waterloo country and became fascinated by the Mennonites.  Someone recommended the Stonecrock Restaurant in St. Jacob's  and one special treat was shoofly pie (so named because flies were attracted to its sweetness.  Our one year old daughter, Heather  loved it.   One location I visited frequently was Wellesley that was the headquarters for an apple butter factory.  I approached a local grocery store that was embarrassed they didn't have any on their shelves, but a manager sent me to the factory a few yards away.  They showed me a new product called pumpkin butter which was really apple butter that was enhanced by pumpkin.  That became a regular visit, until I no longer had an excuse to  visit the town and was unable to find it anywhere.  A few years later, my son, Michael on a visit from New Zealand for  a computer conference in Philadelphia.  I had learned that some of my Mennonite ancestors had lived in Pennsylvania and sure enough in a downtown market I was able to find both pumpkin butter and shoofly pie.

As I got older I found caffeine stopped me drinking coffee and soon after much soda pop.  I understood chocolate also included caffeine, but fortunately it not elicit uncomfortable reactions that other caffeine sources did.  I read that carobs had no caffeine while tasting pretty close to chocolate.  Over time I learned that carobs are more nutritious in comparison. Even more, carobs help keep one more regular.

At first awareness Sushi seemed both unhealthy and not tasty.  However I developed a taste for it.  I read that Steve Jobs who liked to pretend he was a vegan really liked sushi with eels.  I investigated and that became a favorite.  Eels fascinated me when visiting Western Park in Auckland where I noticed people feeding them.

Ethiopian food had some appeal with some unique spices. and vegetable combinations.  Ingera bread was served with most options and I think was intended as a wrap around, but I cut it up and mixed in and loved it.  It is supposed to be a grain that is especially healthy  A local restaurant that served it went out of business as I have been writing this.

Going to Quebec City I looked for advice, but finally concluded there are no wrong moves.  We once stayed at a bed and breakfast on Ile d'Orleans with a fabulous breakfast each day.  We learned that much of the food for the Quebec restaurants is grown on Ile d'Orleans.

Visiting our daughter Heather in Nova Scotia we learned to like Donaires and later found a shop in Burlington.  Rappie pie is an Acadian dish that my sister in law, Jean likes.  Surprisingly Heather does not care for seafood, but we got out to a restaurant in Dartmouth famed for seafood.

My sister Rebecca married a Moroccan.  I was offered Coucous which tasted pretty good as a communal meal.  It is often eaten by hand.  An artichoke was on my plate and it was a great mystery to me, but my niece Leila couldn't help laughing as she had me eat it by peeling the layers.

Kelly Bowers a co-worker re-introduced me to pomegranates and this second time I appreciated them more than the first.  Frozen pomegranates are eaten a couple of times each week.

In Cuba Raphael, our breakfast cook convinced me to try jalapenos in an omelette.  For one outdoor dinner we had barbecued fish that was delicious.  Each day we had something different.

 

 

In Victoria we were entranced by idea of gelato, but felt it was a luxury.  But it seemed we tried small portions almost daily and eventually got addicted.  I also remember ordering a Baba ganoush at a chain fast food outlet and felt there was something I could not identify that made it special--literally years later I figured it was eggplant.  We went to a number of cafes in Victoria and while others had coffee which gives me a nervous reaction I chose tea and was actually quite annoyed with a flavor that seemed to be my only choice--rooiboos.  Later back at home I developed a craving for it and was able to find it at the Farmer's Market through a tea and soap merchant that we befriended.  Our favorite restaurant anywhere is Paggliacci.  The service is personal and excellent.   On particular nights the rearrange tables for entertainment.  Lineups are usual, but they often bring out wine for those waiting.    

I had tried baklava at the CNE and loved the sweetness.   My wife's step father had a daughter in law with  a Greek connection and found Greek local restaurants.  We enjoyed the food including moussaka and a Cypriot version at a different restaurant.

My encounter with Persian food was almost by accident.  I was supposed to sell coupons and a Persian restaurant got no response, so I felt obligated to check it out.  My wife and I quite enjoyed it.  My daughter ordered some Persian food including some delicate pastries and it was delicious.  Planning to have more.

Feel free to tell me your taste adventures.  If you haven't already read part one you can check it out here;  http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2023/03/discovering-world-of-flavours-part-one.html

The Game Changers

 Pushing my limits on blog frequency this film had to be included.  My long time friend Bob Stone recommended "The Game Changers" (2019)  and it made an impression that will be hard to cast aside.  

Veganism is something never heard of in my youth, but I have met a few people who are or who have attempted to be one.  Cruelty to animals is repulsive and one also learns that climate change is being accelerated by our meat eating habits.  Although those thoughts are impactful our habits are difficult to change.  The thrust of this film is on our health and for men especially on concepts of masculinity.

Arnold Schwartzenegger epitomizes for many of us masculinity personified.  He admits in his body building days eating meat and eggs was a big part of his strategy, but since has studied the issues more closely and has concluded a plant based diet is not only healthier but does not impeded muscle accumulation.  Arnold is one of the executive producers and talks about his conversion.

The quote I remember most and resets our thinking comes from Patrik Babourmian who demonstrates why he has been labeled "the world's strongest man."  Someone commented to him that he was as strong as an ox and he replied "Have you ever seen an ox eat meat?"  For that matter our favorite sources of meat are cows, pigs and chickens.  

The film is narrated and presented by James Wilks a champion UFC fighter.  A few clips of his fights are shown to demonstrate that not only strength, but quickness are required to reach his level.  During the film he introduces us to a wide variety of athletes who have adopted a vegan lifestyle.  Doctors are also brought to explain the scientific logic for veganism. We see football players, track athletes, cyclists and even a champion Grand Prix racer.

Protein is protein, but actually there is a difference between animal protein and plant protein.  Animal protein contains inflammatory elements that are unhealthy.  As is explained a few times our meat sources are like a middle man taking their protein from plants before passing the adjusted protein to us meat eaters.  

We are shown graphs that illustrates the impact of even a temporary vegan diet.  Strength is maintained and even increased.  Speed and endurance are boosted.   One doctor takes three college football players and demonstrates that sexual virility is enhanced with a vegan diet.

Opposed to veganism are economic interests.  http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2021/05/cowspiracy-points-out-major-premier.html

Directed by Louie Psihoyos who has one Oscar  for "The Cove" (2009) to his credit and a big shelf full of other awards.  Script was handled by Mark Monroe, Joseph Pace and Shannon Kornelsen.  

Editing such a wide ranging film covering a number of short clips requires expertise.  Dan Swietlik had edited "An Inconvenient Truth"(2006) and "Sicko" (2007) along with many other documentaries.  " (2007).  Stephanie Mechura has edited a number of Frontline episodes and such films as "The Price of Sex" (2011).

The two producers were James Wilks and Jason Pace who will also produced "Eating Our Way to Extinction" (2021).  Executive producers included Pamela Anderson, James Cameron, Jackie Chan, Lewis Hamilton and Arnold Schwartzenegger.

Veganism is a difficult concept to commit to, but I have been tipping in that direction.  Mark Bittman, New York Times columnist is aware of the challenge and has offered a suggestion I have had some limit4d success with--see http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2013/11/vb6-vegan-before-6.html  After watching "Octopus:  Making Contact" (2019) and "My Octopus Teacher" (2020) I was struck by this odd creature having intelligence that I have decided I could no longer eat calamari.  http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2020/09/for-me-this-is-year-of-octopus.html

My personal difficulty is I am addicted to the taste and perhaps even more the traditions associated with meat dishes.  It seems animals are subject to humans' sense of fashion.  What to do with all the farm animals as we convert to veganism:  http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2018/01/what-happens-to-farm-animals-when.html

Another film that hit me personally was "Escape from Extinction" (2020) We humans are very self centered, often to the point of hurting our survival.  http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2021/10/escape-from-extinction.html

All films have some impact on us. One of my motives for blogging is to remember important things.  

The first mention of films I have seen are bolded, partly for my vanity, but also to indicate some familiarity. 

Cowspiracy points out the major premier environmental danger

Depressing that one of my joys in life, eating meat puts more stress on the environment than fossil fuels.  The producer, Kip Andersen runs into opposition rapidly.  Green Peace would not talk to him and environmentalist mostly refused to concede any ground.  Some financing was withdrawn.  Animal activists are listed as terrorists and have suffered for it.  Warning if you watch this film you may be inclined to veganism, but that might be for the better not only for you, but for the world.

An undeniable truth is that people are starving while massive amounts of grain is fed to animals so those who can afford to eat meat, can do so.  Protein is available from plants, after all that is where animals get much of it.  A vegan requires about 10% of the land required to feed a meat eater.  

One statement was that livestock was more harmful to the environment than all the exhaust from all vehicles in the world.  Environmentalists are well aware of resistance to tackling the fossil fuel industry and were very reluctant to take on agriculture interests (really the consumption desires of humans).  

If the economic and environmental arguments don't soften your attitude a bit you can also witness the chopping off of a duck's head.  My wife's beloved grandmother used to kill a chicken by the neck for dinner  Film maker Kip decided rather than watch a chicken be slaughtered he bought one and turned it over to a sanctuary. 

Bottom line I believe over population of people is the more basic problem.  Not only are there too many of us, the better off of us stress the environment the most.  If mankind is more successful in raising the standard of living for more people that is a multiplier. 

I recognize I am addicted to meat, but have started considering alternative options.  Recently watched "The Hunt" and philosophically accept that life feeds on death.  Read more:  http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2021/05/the-hunt-is-what-life-is-all-about.html  As we become more "civilized" we get softer and take a lot of things for granted.  Environmental concerns cannot be ignored and it is too self righteous to blame it all on fossil fuels while we ignore a bigger factor.  Methane does more damage than carbon dioxide, but breaks down much faster.

This may sound like an argument for veganism and the movie certainly is, but I prefer to think I am just presenting a worthy view that is too easy to ignore.   Vegans are healthier on the whole.  Cow's milk is a baby calf growth substance and not designed for humans.   

Realizing the logic of a vegan lifestyle, entrepreneurs are developing alternative foods for meat and dairy products and some of them are likely to prosper as trends continue.   But to be honest it would be hard to break long established habits. 

Kip Anderson and Keegan Kuhn teamed together to write, direct and produce this film.  Kip is the principle narrator while Keegan is the cinematographer.  They both have done other documentaries.

For a name you might recognize, Leonardo DiCaprio was the executive producer.  Yes, that big Hollywood star and Oscar winner likes to support liberal and environmental causes.

If we become more humane and environmentally sensitive what will we do with all the livestock?  http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2018/01/what-happens-to-farm-animals-when.html

If you are interested in trying a practical vegan diet checkout this:  http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2013/11/vb6-vegan-before-6.html

What happens to farm animals when humans convert to veganism

I am not a vegan or a vegetarian, but like some others have been consciously reducing my meat intake.  Why is that?  Health is a concern and veganism has lot to commend itself.  Animal cruelty bothers an increasingly urban population.  In addition livestock are a very significant contributor to global warming.

Economics will trump everything when the price of meat increases faster than average incomes.   Read about a partial vegan diet, http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2013/11/vb6-vegan-before-6.html

Attitudes towards animals varies a great deal depending on whether you are urban or rural.  One of my jobs helped me appreciate the differences:   http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2011/06/rural-and-urban-contrasts-towards-pets.html

The bigger trend has been as people do have more money they prefer to eat meat.  Flavor, prestige and protein all factor in.  Urbanization encourages sensitivity for animal cruelty while at the same time it also desensitizes citizens removed from their ancient farming history.

Industrial farming has found ways to breed more animals on less real estate and converting forest resources to farming which is increasingly for grains to feed animals.   We are not getting our calories and proteins in the most economically efficient way.  For the wealthy it doesn't matter, but increasingly for the rest of us it will matter.

Unless demographic trends and attitudes change it is inevitable that meat will eat up more of our financial resources and once again become a luxury item.  If we get better control over fossil fuel's contribution to climate change, someone is sure to notice that farm animals are a huge contributor.

What will we do with the excess number of pigs, cows, sheep, etc?  Working with pet people concerned about homeless cats I learned of  neutering programs.  Feral cats were captured, neutered and then released  We don't really want a lot of pigs and cows running around the streets, but possibly a few will be seen as pets.  There has also been a trend to stop animals being tested for chemicals and behavior.

There is much concern about over population in the world and that refers almost exclusively to humans.  We pollute, waste resources.  Throw in overpopulated animals and we have to find ways to control our finite resources.  Of course someone will pipe up and say as we need to we will find a way.

There will be a sort of war at a bacterial level.  Wild animals and pets and domestic farm animals have all played a role in human diseases.  Hunters are given an opportunity to kill animals when authorities determine there are too many.  When some diseases threaten to go epidemic authorities order killings on a large scale

Just throwing out some ideas about what is very likely to draw more attention in coming years.

SHIP OF THESEUS

Circumstances guide our lives.  We think we are in control, but decisions are made all around that we don't control.  I needed to return a library item, but my usual drop off location was inconvenient (due to a flu scare) and I decided to drop it off at a smaller library.  Another decision was to check out their facility.  They had a section of foreign DVD's with a limited selection.  Noted one that I had never heard of, put back and as the selection was almost all ones I had already seen or had heard negative reviews about I picked it up again.  Noticed the name Kiran Rao that I recognized as the wife of Aamir Khan, a much admired Bollywood personality.  Later learned she had had nothing to do with the production of the movie, only that she liked it and decided to promote it.  Looking for a time filler thought it would be the best of a lack lustre choice.

You might not like it, but I thought "Ship of Theseus" was a master piece.  Definitely qualifies as an "art" film with heavy emphasis on philosophy, but also very aesthetic.  The director/writer/co-producer Anand Gandhi dropped out of school, but obtained a diploma in philosophy.  To earn his keep he at first wrote television scripts for low rated, but popular Indian tv shows.  He worked on two shorts before taking on this feature film released in 2012 after a three year effort.

A philosophical frame begins the film:  if a ship is replaced part by part is it still the same ship?  And if the old parts are used to build another ship is that new?

The plot is a bit confusing and leaves many viewers mystified at the end.  We are greeted by a blind photographer.  She seems very confident and working with her boyfriend takes photos that are displayed in galleries.  She is given a corneal transplant and ironically seems bewildered and lacking in her former confidence.

The second segment involves a monk with strong views on animal rights.  He is diagnosed with cirrhosis of the liver and confronted with some difficult choices. He is an activist against animal testing and we see him with lawyers presenting a case in court.  Philosophy is argued with a lawyer as the two ponder life.  The monk rejects medication for his condition as he discovers the providing companies did animal testing.  Eventually he gets a liver transplant as he feels he needs to live to carry on the cause..

The third segment involves a conspiracy to steal organs from patients requiring surgery and to sell them to others.  The protagonist is a stock broker who received a kidney transplant and revisits the hospital where his activist mother is recovering from a fall.  This is where he learns about the kidney thefts.  Many of the recipients are unaware of the theft, but thinking that some poor or dead person donated the organs.  One of the stolen kidneys is traced to Sweden where they confront the recipient who feels guilt and tries to deal with it.

At the end of the film the three main characters who have all received a transplant are brought together with other transplant recipients for a screening.  At the end all we see is a cave with shadows.  This was a referral to Plato's Cave Allegory that human perception is like seeing shadows on a wall and not reality.

This film was successful winning awards at a number of festivals, but I suspect was not a blockbuster at the box office.  Kiran Rao saw it at a festival and decided to promote it and was asked to present it.  She had been a lifelong vegetarian who converted with her husband Aamir Khan to vegan.  If you have seen the trailer for "Dangal" you might overcome some of your prejudice against veganism.

The extra disc with special features is a gold mine.  Perhaps other movies have as interesting a background or I have overlooked much.  All movies demand collaboration and the features bring many elements to our attention.  Two shorts each with philosophical questions.  A 28 minute short from 2003, "Right Here, Right Now," follows two chains of events from one person leaving home.  One chain is of frustration (the boy rejected his mother's efforts) and the other chain of john (the same boy accepted his brother's painting).  None of the actors were paid at the time, but were compensated after it won some international awards.

The second short from 2006, "Continuum" is 38 minutes and consists of short themes of different continuums.  Pankaj Kumar was one of three cinematographers.  This short also won an international award.

The cinematography is outstanding, even stunning in parts.  The cinematographer, Pankaj Kumar who also helped write the script had done a few shorts, but this was his first feature film- and he received awards and nominations from several film festivals.  He suggested the photographer be blind and the writer accepted.  He went on to handle the cinematography for "Haider" and "Talvar" both of which have been discussed in earlier blogs.  Next product will be "Rangoon."  See http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2015/02/haider-bollywoods-version-of-shakespeare.html

Anand had admired sound designer, Gabor Erdelyi who had mostly worked with the Hungarian film industry.  The sound for "Ship of Theseus" has been described as lush.  One film he had worked with was "The Turin Horse," a very harsh movie with constant howling winds.

Originally Anand had brought Aida Aydah Elkashef from Egypt to help advise on casting decisions, but was impressed how she read off auditioning scripts and persuaded her to accept the role of the blind photographer.  That sounds like an oxymoron, but they sought guidance having one person consult with the everyday concerns of blind people, but also found an actual blind photographer.  Aida played herself in a 2013 Oscar nominated documentary, "The Square" about the events at Tahrir Square.  See http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2021/06/the-square-illustates-fragility-of.html

Sohum Shah originally won a place in the cast, (as the stockbroker) but was discouraged by the waiting period and asked to come on board as a producer to assure himself the project would move forward.  The script seemed like something he wanted to be associated with.

Neeraj Kabi had impressed Anand in a stage play and was recruited to play a monk.  In some ways this role took on most of the philosophical burden of the film.  He lost almost 17 kilograms over a period of 4 months to show a man with cirrhosis of the liver who eventually gets a transplant.  He also had a role in "Talvar" an interesting film blogged about earlier plus "Detective Byomkesh Bakshy"

Hugo Weaving, a prominent Australian actor is listed as producer.  Unable to learn anything of his involvement, but that he had been listed as a co-producer a decade ago.

In short I do recommend this film.  It does use subtitles, but a lot of the dialogue is in English.

Anand demonstrated an ability to write a provocative script and collaborate with large number of actors and technical staff to produce a master piece.  Hopefully he will get more opportunities.