urbanfoodie

*20-something, filipina american urbanite
(Minneapolis via NYC, SF, & the Chicagoland area)
*creator, consumer, and all-around enthusiast of food
Feb 22

The Not-Actually-Spoils of the Food Wars: Busing Away Hunger with the Sisters’ Camelot

Before I read this piece, I had heard of the problem of inefficient food distribution systems. But I had no idea that there were folks out there helping make the most out of a wasteful situation. Check out Bill Lindeke’s piece for the Twin Cities Runoff to learn more. 

Oh, and!

Twin Cities folks with stories to tell (especially anything related to food culture!), email submissions@twincitiesrunoff.com for more information or join our mailing list to keep up with opportunities to contribute to this fine publication.


TCRunoff | Twin Cities | food politics | Comments (View)
Apr 23
The entire Food Inc. movie is now free to watch online. (via soupsoup : arig)

The entire Food Inc. movie is now free to watch online.

(via soupsoup : arig)

Food Inc | food politics | sustainability | Comments (View)
Mar 23
“Many other street food advocates pointed out that street vending isn’t just a showy way to add “vibrancy” to a city; it’s an important means to allow people on the lower rungs of the economic ladder to get a foothold in the local business community. In other words, aspiring food sellers should be able to go from owning a cart to owning a restaurant; the current ordinance requires exactly the opposite.”

Metro Mag on problems with the current street vending ordinance. Via chriseats, who also has a fantastic summary of the city meeting on bringing food trucks to downtown Minneapolis.

Street vending is so close I can almost taste it! But I agree, more time is needed and a better approach should be crafted. The ordinance on the table right now is one step forward, two steps back. As much as I love Hell’s Kitchen, whose gripe with food trucks comes down to not wanting new competition, it seems to me the city should be enabling new businesses [insert obligatory especially “in times like these” comment], not just necessarily rewarding existing ones. (via colinkloecker)

*URBANFOODIE’S TAKE ON THIS*

This point speaks to what I think is the elephant in the City Hall room: issues of equity, access, socioeconomics, and (yes, I’m going to go there) race. People with dreams of trendy, hip food trucks aren’t the only folks who have an investment in a street food movement. This is a potential opportunity for people from low-income and immigrant backgrounds to start businesses that would be impossible with traditional brick-and-mortar models. Given that these populations usually have fewer economic AND social capital resources, they may be shut out of these entrepreneurial opportunities, particularly with requirements such as prior ownership of a brick-and-mortar operation. Look at the culture of street food in major metropolitan cities: the Halal Cart in NYC, the Bacon Dog Cart in LA and SF, the Kogi Truck model in LA.  You cannot ignore that this is an issue for immigrants and minorities. I also find the reactions of current business-owners interesting: indignation? Threat? What is really going on here with these reactions? 

To the Task Force that will tackle this issue at a much deeper level:

I urge you to take a broad, critical perspective in examining issues of fairness and access. Widen the view about how we think about who the stakeholders are and what our city has to gain from this initiative. This is the time for a city that prides itself on community and progressiveness to walk the walk (preferably on a sidewalk that will have a Tamale Lady cart).

street food | social justice | Minneapolis | food politics | Comments (View)
Jan 31

Anonymous asked: Do you think society has an obligation to regulate the food we eat (like the new york city trans fat ban)?

Dear Anonymous,

My apologies for sitting on your question for so long. This is a TOUGH question whose answer could take the turn of a long treatise on my personal thoughts on the role of government in society and the social contract. To be honest, that kind of philosophizing is not my bag. Let’s just say that I tend to lean more socialist than liberatarian - that I prioritize the common good over individual rights.

However, I do honor the right to individual choice when s/he is in a position to make a choice that is fully informed with the best scientific knowledge available and free of the influence of entities whose interests run counter to the individual’s rights (e.g. corporations). When there is overwhelming evidence to suggest that a substance is harmful, government should be able to regulate the use of that substance in spaces that enter into the public sphere. Take asbestos for example. Smoking in restaurants and public establishments.

In the case of food, there have been no scientific research studies to suggest that trans fats have any positive health properties and many studies that link trans fat to numerous health risks. Essentially, trans fats benefit no one except the corporations who seek to extend the shelf life of their products. Now, I don’t know how I feel about the government stepping in and saying, “Hey, it’s illegal for you to eat that Oreo.” But I do think that it’s reasonable for the government to mandate that companies include information on their labels, as the FDA mandated in 2006. (Rest easy, Oreo lovers - they don’t contain trans fat anymore).

Then there come other questions of regulation when it comes to ethical treatment of animals - like the whole foie gras ban controversy in Chicago, banned in 2006, then repealed in 2008. That begs the question of animal vs. human rights (or perhaps more accurate: the right of humans to exploit animals)…which is one much too big and individualized for me to tackle here. And let’s face it, I’m not ready to go down that road because I am too selfish to ever turn to veganism.

Thank you for your thoughtful question!

EDIT: Thanks to AdamBez, who pointed out that government already regulates food quite a bit via crop subsidies.

—-

Ask me anything. I might answer it one of these days.


food politics | government | regulation | Comments (View)
Jan 21

Thanks to @tavallai for the tip on the Hungry in America documentary trailer.

food politics | hunger | poverty | Comments (View)
Jan 20

Thoughts on the Privilege of Being a Foodie

Allow me a moment to share something that I’ve been grappling with lately. The thoughts aren’t well organized, but I have to do this or I’m going to go crazy… I can’t bring myself to post anything else until I get this out of my system. Warning: <ramble>

Recently, I have been trying to wrap my head around issues of race/class, food culture, and food politics. Namely, I have become keenly aware of the fact that I write this blog from a place of privilege.

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food politics | ruminations | family | Comments (View)
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