Bottomfeeder, by Taras Grescoe, is a scathing indictment of mankind’s treatment of the ocean and the fish that inhabit it. Grescoe has attempted to write an Omnivore’s Dilemma for seafood, and why not? Pollan’s book was both informative and affecting, and Grescoe does well to aspire to that. Unfortunately, he only succeeds at the former. In fact, the book is so jam packed full of information, there’s almost no room for any personality at all.

Bottomfeeder is structured cleverly; each chapter follows a different kind of seafood and how it has been impacted by man. He covers oysters on the East Coast, and explores how they could be instrumental in restoring polluted waters. He explores the impact of gourmet popularity on the monkfish, once thought to be a by-catch unfit for the gourmand’s table. In the most horrifying chapter, he exposes the disgusting conditions by which shrimp is farmed, and I have never been so glad to be a vegetarian.

The basic argument of the book is that we need to eat seafood more carefully, and it’s hard to argue with that. But the book is short on suggestions; how does Grescoe propose we get the entire nation of Japan to stop eating so much fish? On his own journey to Japan, he explicitly decided to throw his principles of responsible eating out the window, and dined on the most expensive (and overfished) tuna as well as sampling whale sashimi.

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Whereas I saw the opening of Uncle Louie G’s as a herald of Spring, Jess and Garrett see the same in the growing lines at Shake Shack. Click below to read more.

“…epitomizing the elemental pleasure of straightforward, cheap food.”

Posted by Howard

The NY Times has a fantastic article entitled “An Unlikely Way to Save a Species: Serve It for Dinner.” Click the quote to read it.

“Mr. Nabhan’s book is part of a larger effort to bring foods back from the brink by engaging nursery owners, farmers, breeders and chefs to grow and use them.”

Posted by Howard

One of my favorite food personalities, Mark Bittman, had a live broadcast on on one of our local public television stations. Click here to watch Mark correct the spelling in a viewer’s email, be won over by the George Foreman Grill, and address “obese American people.”

Posted by Howard

Lidia’s Italy 4/20 — Lidia prepared pizzelle, stuffed with escarole and sausage. It was actually interesting to see because it was basically the same ingredients as last week, escarole stuffed in a yeast dough, but with a completely different preparation. These were folded into empanada-like triangles and baked in the oven. She also made baba au limoncello (instead of rum), which was something new for Lidia’s mother. (PBS, Sunday at 5:30pm)

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Japanese style bacon wrapped hot dogs….

First time I heard about Japa Dog was on Anthony Bourdain’s show No Reservations, specifically the Vancouver episode. I love yoshoku (western food with a Japanese twist); curry rice dishes, spaghetti with tobiko, omurice, and so much more. So when I saw the Japa Dog stand on tv, I wanted one. Why didn’t I see this episode BEFORE I went to Vancouver? BOO…!!

So when my boss decided to have a bbq I decided to make Japa Dog’s Terimayo dog….eh…minus the teriyaki sauce and fried onion. Oh and mine is wrapped with BAAACOOOONNN…!!! These went quick! I had to quickly get one before they were all gone. I think next time I’ll add some sprouts and oroshi.

Posted by Donny