 5@5 is a daily, food-related list from chefs, writers, political pundits, musicians, actors, and all manner of opinionated people from around the globe. One might hear the word "extinct" and immediately think of dinosaurs and dodo birds, but some of our more delicious cohabitants might also be at risk. Shaun Garcia is the chef of Soby's, a restaurant peppered with heritage ingredients, in Greenville, South Carolina. When he's not in the restaurant, Garcia can often be found on his tractor Lucille working his 7-acre farm, where he grows several types of produce from the Slow Food Ark of Taste list. The Slow Food Ark of Taste is a catalog of foods that are at risk of extinction - either biologically because of industrialized agriculture or as culinary traditions - and Shaun has made it his mission to preserve and promote them. Five Reasons to Use Endangered Ingredients: Shaun Garcia Take the Cherokee Trail of Tears Pole Bean, for example. They were carried over the Trail of Tears to sustain the people through that horrible winter, and you can grow and taste them today. That’s a tangible piece of history that would be a huge loss if it disappeared." 2. They are better for you 3. They look and taste better 4. They share their history Learning where you food comes from helps you understand more about the traditions, the environment and the climate of the area." 5. Using them supports your small farmers Is there someone you'd like to see in the hot seat? Let us know in the comments below and if we agree, we'll do our best to chase 'em down. |
  Recent Posts
 |
 |
|
© 2012 Cable News Network. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
| Advertise with us | About us | Help | Advertising Practices
An all round great article!!!
Y'know, I'm sorry. I'm probably going to offend someone saying this, but this organic, non-GMO, not mechanized food production stuff is just a bunch of bullsh!t. You CANNOT feed the population that way. IT WON'T WORK. You can't manage enough yield per acre. I guess you could cut down all the trees and turn the entire country into a farm, but that won't do for the new-age hippy ideal either would it? Look, I'm sorry, I know I'm going a little far with this, but it's really about supply and demand. Either you a.) have to increase supply, or b.) decrease demand. To do a.) you either have to increase yield, which means all the modern farming/livestock techniques, or it means increasing numbers, which means more land. To do b.) you have to kill off a significant portion of the population. Now, I don't mind that so much, but those selected might object, no?
@JCreliever@ Julia GErson – I think it "seems" contradictory because it is! No matter how "red" they want to make the pig meat... Or how "happy" they desire it all to be – There's no such thing as "humane" meat and no such thing as "loving" who you breed to deliberately kill. That's totally self deceiving willful ignorance. ~peace~
The Native Americans would disagree with you.
Some nice thoughts, but backed up with frivolous info.
1. Many are disappearing because they're inferior as a food product, almost always in terms of production and sometimes in taste. A lot of produce, say the Haas avocado, emerged and dominate the market because they're simply superior than the other variety out there.
2. "Nature intended." You're kidding, right? Nature "intended" for plants to be planted in rows and for them to grow in non-indigenous areas? As for it being better, BS. You can't claim that genetic modification is harmful (when consumed) and pesticides used in commercial farming has minimal impact (again, when consumed, as the environmental impact is another argument).
3. Much too subjective. Some people like grass fed beef while others don't. Also, there ain't anything natural about domesticated meat from any farm. Unless you're hunting animals in the wild, you're not eating "as nature intended."
4. Tomatoes aren't native to Europe, and yet those San Marzanos... Don't even get me started on the stuff that's being developed in California.
5. Makes more sense to go with the provider that best matches your needs and tastes. And, I see plenty of local produce in supermarkets these days. So... I shouldn't support the local farmers that sell produce to a large retailer?
Click on the Slow Food Ark of Taste link in the article-there you will find the list of endangered ingredients.
I still think eating polar bears would be good for the species, if they're tasty. It worked for the bison. Of course, herding polar bears would have unique challenges....
I love the idea of preserving the variety that naturally exist in vegetables. Mass farming and genetic engineering has pushes many varieties of foods out of the ecosystem. Corn is just one example; there are 10 times as many varieties of corn grown just to our south in Mexico.
I do have to say, however, that I completely detest when people create new buzz words like "heritage ingrediants".
This is the dumbest article I have ever read. What is the point of this. What a waste of time!
What kind of fukwittery do you base that statement on?
Any info about food can always be helpful it might be something you know about and sometime not , but u can always learn even if it"s from a child ,I think it was a Great article .
Funny... With love, but then kill it... You've got a funny definition of love. Do you beat your wife to show her love?
Only when she doesn't listen
Soby's is wonderful thanks to this chef. Thank you so very much.
More specific examples of endangered ingredients would have been useful here. This article seems to have been written with the assumption that the reader already knows what ingredients are endangered. I don't.
I think the author is referring to non-GMO's (follow the heirloom vege's link CNN provided) and naturally raised beef, pork and poultry– the ones that aren't given antibiotics, growth hormones, feed mixed with animal by-products and are allowed to see the light of day more than twice in their lifetime.
Wow, I almost missed this article. Just got done with dinner. Northern right whale sushi, spotted owl confit, scrambled Kemp's ridley sea turtle eggs and a salad. Great article.
I love to cook with and eat local grown ingredients like mentioned in the article. However, most times, when you can find them at a local Farmer's Market or such, they are extremely expensive. Unless you grow them for your own use, the average person can't afford them. (Think organic food prices!) And, yes, I agree, the article gave very little to no info about "endangered" ingredients. Would have been nice to have a list, also where telling where you could get seeds for planting.
There's a nice family-owned seed business that deals strictly with non-GMO's. They are from Missouri, but recently bought an old seed company in Connecticut. They even offer free shipping with orders over $5. Try the Wethersfield Red Onion packs next spring–they grow fairly large and are very tasty, plus the history behind this onion is pretty interesting.
http://comstockferre.com/shop/
When I think of "endangered" ingredients I think of things like Chilean seabass which is hugely popular and is endangered because it is being fished faster than the population can replenish. The chef here appears to be using to term to discuss items that are in danger of falling off the culinary map because few people have heard of or care about them. This is similar to the way wooden wagon wheels are "endangered" because people are not having them made for their covered wagons anymore.
That's not the point at all. The point is, most people in our society have no idea what REAL food tastes like. Even those who buy fresh food from the supermarket and cook at home. Those hot house tomatoes? They taste like paste compared to a tomato grown in your own backyard. And don't even get me started on eggs. That anemic, thin-shelled thing you buy in the grocery store is nothing compared to an egg from a chicken that was actually raised on pasture. They yolk is nearly orange and they are so delicious. Even my cakes rise higher when I use them.
To compare this food to a wagon wheel is to just parrot all the propaganda from the factory farm lobby. Food is food. No matter how its produced or how it's adulterated. And cheaper always means better. Even though it's the fuel for your body.
Food is just like anything else. You get what you pay for. You pay for cheap food, you get cheap health.
Amen sistah!
How bout a list of ingredients that are endangered and worth working into our culinary practices.. I agree very little info in the article
Click on the Slow Food Ark of Taste link in the article, and there is the list.
It does seem rather contradictory doesn't it ?
"Your pork will be red, the way it’s supposed to be, with nice marbling. The animals are raised with love."
Well, not THAT much love. They do KILL them.
Love does hurt sometimes.
Love tastes even better smoked and cured.
This is the dumbest thing I've ever read. Congrats, I think I'm through with CNN.
Don't let the door hit you on the way out...I don't think you will be missed for your insightful contribution to this site.
That is rude. Just because someone thought an article with almost no information wasn't that good doesn't mean you should be a jerk about it.
Gee Dave,I was thinking the same thing about your reply.
do u cook
Why is it dumb? Because you don't have the time or the inclination to try some of his suggestions? That doesn't make it, or CNN, dumb. That makes you ignorant, inflexible and myopic.
Have a nice day.
am i to presume the taste of real food will be readily available with a taste from the past!
the idea of preserving extinct edible delacasies and growing them organicly brings a orchastrated line of healthy products to the table for many cooks looking to get away from genecticly engineered foods; cooks from virtualley all four corners of the planet will be waiting in anticipation!
I give Chef Shaun a 1, 2, 3, 4, FIVE! Great article and I don't think I've ever really thought about extinct ingrediants, before now that is. Thank you!