This is the last post for 2014 and if you still haven’t worked out the menu, there are some Christmas recipe links for inspiration. If you need an idea for something other than Turkey, try Chinese as per Jewish tradition, or perhaps a muskrat (not for the faint-hearted, it sounds horrible).
There are a few entertaining videos as well; the Guardian microplay is excellent, as is the Irish Turkey stuffing though they couldn’t be more different.
Most informative is the graphic on how much of the Christmas supermarket spend actually goes to the farmer, and how much to the shop.
Finally, the round-up of longform food writing from Eater was so good I could not choose just one for inclusion, so you’ve got them all. Hopefully you will have time for reading, between mince pies and turkey sandwiches.
Happy Holidays!
FOOD POLITICS
Why There Are No GMO Oats – Modern Farmer
Celebrity Chefs Cook Up Lobbying Agenda – Politico
American Pie: The Imperialism of the Calorie – History Today
Linda Tirado on the Link Between Hunger and Low Income – The Guardian
The Fight for Water and Oysters – SouthernFoodwaysAlliance
Britain Isn’t Eating: A Microplay – The Guardian
The Oxford Real Farming Conference Q&A with Colin Tudge – IndieFarmer
Community Shop: A Social Supermarket – The Grocer
Behind the Restaurant Boom – The Guardian
Christmas Dinner: How Much Does the Farmer Get – Farmers Weekly
RECIPES
Mince Pies: Where’s the Beef? – Zester
A French Christmas Menu – Saveur
Nordic Christmas Baking – The Guardian
Italian Christmas Dishes – HuffingtonPost
How the Irish Stuff a Turkey (vintage video) – RTE Archives (thanks to silverscreensuppers)
Martha Stewart‘s step-by-step Downton Abbey in Gingerbread – Eater
New Year’s Day Migas with Black Eye Peas and Bacon – Homesick Texan
How to Cook the Perfect Christmas Ham – Felicity Cloake
The Art & Science of Muskrat Cooking – Modern Farmer
OTHER STUFF
A la Cambacérès – LRB blog
Too Many Cranberries – NYT
The Roosevelt Family Coffee Chain – Smithsonian.com
Dietary Restrictions: The Holiday Dinner Song – foodpolictics.com
A Gastronomic Audience with Gérard Depardieu – The Independent (thanks to Kate Hawkings)
I’m Renovating My Kitchen… – McSweeneys
Kitchen Fatigue – wsj (from 2006)
Tips from the 1930s on How To Be The Perfect Festive Woman – The Conversation
Movies and Chinese Food: The Jewish Christmas Tradition – HuffingtonPost
Best Longform Food Stories of 2014 – Eater
Bad Vinaigrette 