-vore
I have been pescetarian since January - it hasn't been too hard, every now and then I miss something (bacon, chicken wings, duck, liver), but for the most part its been smooth sailing. I've always told myself I could give up everything but my beloved seafood.
But I've been having doubts lately - its not so much that I miss the meat - I miss cooking it, sampling it, and being able to try a little bit of everything before me. Earlier today we went to a Chinese buffet - and it was surprisingly good; not too greasy, the egg foo young was actually cooked right (it is almost always overcooked just about everywhere), shrimp and mussels actually tasted relatively fresh. Which of course as a foodie makes me want to see if the rest of their food pans out - I guess thats the problem, I don't think like someone with dietary constraints. I think like a foodie, like a cook, like a gourmand, like a hedonist. I still count Bourdain and Keller as personal heroes - they taught me how to cook the perfect french fry, and for that I can never repay them. I miss putting a beef shoulder in the oven with a bottle of cheap red wine and some root vegetables. I miss oven-'roasting' a whole chicken. Shit. I think I have to take a break from what is surely a healthier and arguably a more ethical diet. What good is knowing how to check if something is that perfect medium-rare without being able to use the knowledge? What good is a cook with limits?
I'm going to revert back to a omnivorous lifestyle for a week and see what happens - I need to see if I really miss it that much, or if I'm just in a nostalgic mood.
But I've been having doubts lately - its not so much that I miss the meat - I miss cooking it, sampling it, and being able to try a little bit of everything before me. Earlier today we went to a Chinese buffet - and it was surprisingly good; not too greasy, the egg foo young was actually cooked right (it is almost always overcooked just about everywhere), shrimp and mussels actually tasted relatively fresh. Which of course as a foodie makes me want to see if the rest of their food pans out - I guess thats the problem, I don't think like someone with dietary constraints. I think like a foodie, like a cook, like a gourmand, like a hedonist. I still count Bourdain and Keller as personal heroes - they taught me how to cook the perfect french fry, and for that I can never repay them. I miss putting a beef shoulder in the oven with a bottle of cheap red wine and some root vegetables. I miss oven-'roasting' a whole chicken. Shit. I think I have to take a break from what is surely a healthier and arguably a more ethical diet. What good is knowing how to check if something is that perfect medium-rare without being able to use the knowledge? What good is a cook with limits?
I'm going to revert back to a omnivorous lifestyle for a week and see what happens - I need to see if I really miss it that much, or if I'm just in a nostalgic mood.