“The biggest political decisions we make are in the foods we choose to eat.”
That was bestselling cookbook author Mark Bittman summing up the purpose of why he met with top D.C. chef Jose Andres Monday at The Center for American Progress and not one of Andres five Washington restaurants — to get back to basics regarding food policy.
The men argued that issues like greenhouse gases, fair trade, obesity and family relationships go hand in hand with the food choices we make. But both criticized the undue amount of attention on the organic and local food movements.
“Our first choice shouldn’t be between an organic, local cheeseburger or a McDonald’s cheeseburger. The first choice should be between an apple or a cheeseburger,” said Andres, expressing his annoyance that we even use the words organic and local in our conversation.
“I mean, when did start putting word ‘health’ before ‘food?’” the chef and PBS’s “Made in Spain” host asked.
Bittman added more frankly that those food movements are “young and immature.”
Perhaps wanting to back peddle a bit being that White House assistant chef Sam Kass — a man who has been receiving lots of praise of late for embracing those such issues — was in attendance, the men did agree that President Barack Obama is making positive strides in setting a better example for the country on eating healthy.
“We’re seeing signs the White House is starting to talk about food in a meaningful way,” said Andres. “In only four months there has been so much progress. Washington could be the center of the progressive food movement,” added Bittman.
We bet, though, they were excluding Obama’s runs to Ben’s Chili Bowl and Ray’s Hell Burger.
