Eating Locally

Eating locally is the new black. The first time I remember hearing about it was back in 2005 when James Mackinnon and Alisa Smith did their 100 Mile Diet. I remember being incredibly impressed by the novelty of their idea at the time. Now it's become almost trendy. Naturally, I'm all for it, especially since I live in the Bay area where it's actually easier to eat locally than to not.

Yesterday, I picked up a copy of Animal, Vegetable, Miracle, Barbara Kingsolver's new book. I don't usually buy hardcovers (I'm too cheap) but I'd been hearing such good reviews from all sides that I caved.

I haven't had time to get farther than the first page yet but I predict good things. According to the book's web site, it is a mix of memoir and journalistic investigation that tells the story of how her family was changed by one year of deliberately eating food produced where they live. One of the things that convinced me to spend nearly $30 on it (besides its pretty cover) was the fact that it includes some recipes. I like books that do that.

I'll post a longer review of Animal, Vegetable, Miracle later but, in the meantime, I want to share a great article called New York Local with you. It's the same exact premise but on a much shorter timeframe and written by Adam Gopnik, who happens to live in Manhattan... It appeared in the New Yorker's Food Issue last month. A fascinating and funny (especially the part about the chicken) look at the challenges of eating locally when you live in a big city, it's definitely worth reading. Enjoy!

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