If somehow I’ve conveyed to readers that I disrespect restaurants, I’ve expressed myself badly. When we go to a new restaurant, we do so with optimism. True, we do not eat out often, as we are ourselves cooks, but when we discover a place we like, we tell everyone – because we know all about […]
Joseph Byrd
Write Joseph Byrd at eat.your.spinach@gmail.com
Posted inEat + Drink
The Future of GMO, Cloning and Other Controversies: Part II
In last week’s column, I bemoaned the "religious" zeal in opposition to GMO, which seeks to end any discussion by withdrawing funds for research. I said that such efforts reminded me of the Bush administration’s refusal to fund stem-cell research. In that context, here are two inventions nearing production: 1) Introduction into the rice plant […]
Posted inEat + Drink
GMO, cloning and other controversies
Within the past few years – starting in 2000 with printed notices at the Arcata Co-op registers, rallying the troops – there has been a potent local reaction against genetically-modified (GMO) foods. Well, the Co-op has a bad record for consumer-friendly action (as opposed to decisions that are motivated by its directors’ narrow concerns). Was […]
Posted inEat + Drink
Two Artisan Cheesemakers
Talking with Craig Nelson, plant manager for Rogue Creamery, one of the most successful "artisan" cheesemakers in the country, I asked why French cheeses are so much more varied and flavorful than American ones. "The FDA has much higher standards for pathogens," he told me, "and many companies have even less tolerance than the FDA […]