Mmm... That's Good Death! Edition
This week's notable food and drink events
We don’t mean to gross you out, but have you ever stopped to consider how much death and decay you consume on a regular basis? And no, we’re not talking about all the local taquerias and Chinese buffets that apparently believe health code ratings should be like golf scores. We’re talking about the “circle of life” that sees the excrement of plants and animals fertilizing other plants and animals, who are then slaughtered and fed to us larger, noble animals, which we then convert into the excrement that feeds new plants and animals, launching the cycle anew. If you think about it, the “food pyramid” is really shaped more like a “food ouroboros” where we’re constantly feasting on our own tail—and if that makes your stomach turn, events like Slow Food Austin’s Slow Feast In The Field are a genuine fright fest. Here you’ll get a multi-course meal prepared by Chef Jesse Bloom of Ecstatic Cuisine, using only meats and vegetables murdered right in front of your eyes at Green Gate Farms, then served to you in a steaming pile, while you’re knee-deep in those very same killing fields. The horror!
But of course, the curse of life is that it must come to an end—and if death helps to sustain new life, is it something to fear? Not according to Mexicans, who traditionally look upon death as an excuse to party. (Though they’ve never needed much of an excuse.) And this year’s 26th annual Día de Los Muertos presented by the Mexic-Arte Museum celebrates life more than ever: It’s even renamed itself the Viva La Vida Fest to avoid being a downer. While you’ll still find gaily decorated altars and pre-Columbian funeral art coloring the street procession, equal focus is given to promoting sustainability by encouraging eco-friendly materials and paying special tribute to families who have been in Austin for several generations. Then, of course, there’s the food—traditional delicacies like tamales, mole, sweet breads, and sugar skulls—from locals like Sazón, Rio Grande, and Mmmpanadas. Death has never tasted so delicious.
Fatsometer: 6. Death is also surprisingly fattening.
