According to this six-part National Geographic series, food is not only the staff of life, but also a major sensual experience, while its preparation can approach performance art, involving all five human senses. Enhanced by commentaries from food writers such as Michael Pollan (The Omnivore's Dilemma), and noted personalities like Padma Lakshi, Rachael Ray, and Nigella Lawson, Eat looks at food in all its variety, as well as its role in creating community and establishing memories. Food also has played a part in revolution and war, whether it be the Boston Tea Party, or the fight between the Dutch and British over the supply of nutmeg. And food also contributed to one of the darkest episodes in human history, when Europeans and Americans imported slaves in order to harvest a steady supply of sugar. The documentary describes the role of a number of "food revolutionaries," ranging from Christopher Columbus and the master chef Escoffier, to more modern figures such as Milton Hershey, Clarence Birdseye, and Chef Boyardee. Necessity led to inventions such as flash freezing, TV dinners, and the burgeoning fast food industry. For modern humans, it's a "quest for the crave," too often resulting in the consumption of unhealthy food fare. Other topics include the humble hot dog, the act of grilling as a male throwback to the hunter-gatherer role in olden days, and our eternal desire for poultry and fish. Eat notes that the future may require a "cultural shift," including eating more insects as a way to stretch the food supply for an exploding world population. Foodies here also confess to their various guilty pleasures in cuisine, while all agree that food is an expression of caring. While some of this material has been covered in other recent documentaries, and the series too often strains at humor, on balance it does offer a solid overview of a big topic. Extras include bonus interviews with celebrity chefs, and healthy food tips. Recommended. Aud: C, P. (S. Rees)
Eat: The Story of Food
(2013) 2 discs. 270 min. DVD: $29.95. National Geographic (avail. from most distributors). SDH captioned. ISBN: 978-1-4263-4635-4. Volume 30, Issue 2
Eat: The Story of Food
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