Bourdain, party of a jillion? Right this way...

Thanks to Bourdain for sharing my reservations about a cookbook, and taking that conversation from the literally dozens of readers the Cod has to his considerably larger audience. A few things, in hopes of steering the conversation in positive directions: 

1) The Smithfield cobranding is a major problem for folks who care about eating responsibly, but there is a lot to like in the Whole Hog Cookbook, and I'm looking forward to Libbie Summers's next project. She has a good eye and a good palate. 

2) Given the circumstances as they appear, Emile DeFelice has every right to be furious that pictures of his farm were used to promote Smithfield-branded product raised under very different circumstances. Check out his farm here, and buy his pork here. 

3) In the meantime, if you are looking for a Southern-inflected cookbook by someone who is serious about working with local producers.* Hugh Acheson is the man, and a New Turn In The South is the book. Cookbooks either codify (MTAOFC, Lee Bros), or extend (Momofuku, Zuni, most socalled ethnic cookbooks). Acheson does a bit of both and rethinks a lot of Southern verities -- with exciting results. 

*When they stopped selling pigs at my day job, and I needed a pig, I called Hugh, and he told me where to go, which turned out to be near Ila, GA. It was in the shadow of a bucket loader w/ my pig dangling from it that I formed my theory that it is impossible to talk to a Georgian for more than five minutes before Michael Adams is mentioned unfavorably. 

Comments

[Peanutbutterjellytime]

Awesome, Cod, just awesome.

Best expression of distaste for Michael Adams (relevant to this post) appeared in the Athens Banner-Herald's comments section this summer where a wise farmer said "Give the man a break--it takes a lot to feed a hog."

It appeared after an article about Adams' $50K annual salary raise (funded by the state BOR and the UGA Athletic Association) which Adams, of course, accepted with compassion and sensitivity after a spate of UGA layoffs, a dry spell of several years without merit raises or COL increases for UGA faculty and staff, and a decision to eliminate benefits for part-time employees.

Of course, there's that Vince Dooley business, too.

[PS3 controller]

Good stuff, I like this:The Smithfield cobranding is a major problem for folks who care about eating responsibly, but there is a lot to like in the Whole Hog Cookbook.