On Cooking and the Future

All my recent posts seem to have been recipe-based, so it's time for a little philosophy. Or at least something not based on a recipe.

I find myself thinking ahead these days in two specific ways. The first is wondering about death - still way off I hope, but at 53 not as far away as when I was 33. The second is about what we will be eating tomorrow. And that latter part in itself splits into two sections: the evening meal, which is our big family moment of the day - nobody is at their best for breakfast - and into which I try to pack as much nutritious pleasure as possible; and the future of food.

That future of food thing was given a jolt this morning with news items on Today about poor harvests worldwide, the need to accept knobbly fruit and veg (for goodness' sake it's the taste that matters), and the growing pressures of the global population boom. One speaker who may even have been a Tory politician heaven forefend spoke some sense, predicting further shocks to come - Asian prosperity means that middle class Asians are demanding more meat, and that in the end means higher prices for grain all round.

Henry Rowntree, from whom we buy Aberdeen Angus beef every now and then told me of a visit by Brazilian farmers. They wanted to improve their stock with help from his bulls, but said they were no threat as within four or five years Brazil will be a net importer of beef, prosperity again driving demand.

A grain farmer interviewed on Today spoke about why the lousy summer has slashed his yield, but with uncharacteristic optimism said it will all be ok in the end, these things go in cycles etc. Having observed the vile summers we have had for the last four years I wonder. Has the climate in Britain, in Northern Britain in particular, changed to include a wet season in place of a summer?

All of which prompts various thoughts, in no particular order: enjoy things while we can; grow more of our own, prices ain't going to fall anytime soon; avoid waste; invest in umbrella futures; and pass me a glass of decent red wine.