the food issue

I realise that I have not previously mentioned I am a chef.

Of course, those who know me already know that. You all already know that food and eating matters to me. Our conversations will be turned onto food at any point, at any reference. It is a life of immersion. Cook for work, cook to relax. I have a good understanding of farming and growing, production, cooking, food politics, restaurants, markets, reviewers and writers, of those who contribute to our daily food life.

I won't buy cheap food, just because it's cheap. I can smell the rotting stink as I pass by cut price fruit and vegetable shops. I seethe with rage when I find items bought there deteriorating less than a day after purchasing. Even green bananas. I won't by cheap meat if it's water pumped, preservative drenched, bulk buy, compromised quality. I think that's false economy. I don't want to support bad farming practices by buying cheap cage eggs. I want to encourage good farming and small producers by using their produce, but small scale farming foods are generally more expensive.

Undertaking this experiment, I have found that food is a large expense in our household. Eating is a ritual, a joy, a hobby, our daily obsession. If you look at a budget planner, then buying, preparing, eating and sharing food fills more than the 'food expenses' column. We also cover off 'gifts' and 'entertainment'. Reducing what we spend in this area is imperative, but very difficult. See my challenge? It makes me wince. I'll be thinking about this a lot.