Interesting Green: Death by foie gras

Today on sunday, Sunday, October 2, 2011, Page 10, Speakeasy
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Source Website: http://www.todayonline.com/Columns/Speakeasy/EDC111002-0000105/Death-by-foie-gras

By Alywin Chew assistant sports editor todayonsunday@mediacorp.com.sg, 04:46 AM Oct 02, 2011

PHOTO: Look, if you’re begrudging every piece of tofu or boiled chicken breast you eat, and incessantly whining about having to go to the gym after work, then forget about it. Just eat and be content. And stop looking at me with those eyes when I’m having my fried chicken.

I live by my palate. Gastronomy is my religion and I'll travel whatever distance and wait however many moons it takes to experience some sort of a divine epiphany (is the sudden realization or comprehension) with my tongue.

I once embarked on a pilgrimage just to try this amazing doughnut we now all know as Krispy Kreme. As simple as it looked, it was without doubt the most amazing piece of dough I had ever eaten. As calorie-laden and saccharine as the icing was, the experience was as good as meeting God and having him urge you: "Go on, have another bite."

I did, of course. Whatever God tells you to do, you'd better get on with it.

PHOTO: London 'goose cruelty' protest. Protestors urge end to foie gras 'naked cruelty'.
http://arsiv.ntvmsnbc.com/news/300333.jpg
http://arsiv.ntvmsnbc.com/news/475329.asp

Hedonistic (pursuit of or devotion to pleasure) gluttons like me indulge to the best of our abilities and, inevitably, it comes at a price. There's no such thing as a perfect dish that's healthy. If it's good, you're going to have to pay for it. If it's healthy, you're going to have to cringe (to shrink in fear or servility) at it.

Whenever I'm at my favourite French restaurant in Bali, I always have to myself an entree of two beautifully seared pieces of foie gras (Foie gras French for "fat liver" is a food product made of the liver of a duck or goose that has been specially fattened). The service staff will cast me looks of disbelief, as if I had just made a death wish.

PHOTO: The experience was as good as meeting God and having him urge you: "Go on, have another bite." Whatever God tells you to do, you'd better get on with it.

http://classics.understars.org/jargon.de.jour/content/sense-of-place.jpg
http://classics.understars.org/jargon.de.jour/

A couple of weeks ago, I read a story on chronic diseases in China. It described a woman having a bowl of oily shredded pork noodles, washing it down with alcohol and then smoking a cigarette for dessert. That might sound utterly revolting to many but, to me, it sure sounded like the perfect way to spend a cold, lazy afternoon.

I honestly don't understand why medical experts are raising such a ruckus (A disturbance; a commotion). We foodies fully understand the ramifications (consequence of the action) - we know our arteries are going to be more congested than the entrance to H&M; we know that our livers will eventually go on strike.

But we don't appreciate being told we have an obligation to stay healthy and useful to society. And we'd rather die happy than eat salads or lift dumbbells.

PHOTO: We don't appreciate being told we have an obligation to stay healthy and useful to society. And we'd rather die happy than eat salads or lift dumbbells.

http://s2.hubimg.com/u/772697_f520.jpg
http://goroscopy1.ru/foto-tatu-borodinoy.html

I had tried to lose weight just once in my life and, when I did carry out this insane no-carbohydrate regime, it lasted for all of four days. Looking at that boiled carrot in front of me, I thought to myself: "What if I don't see the light of tomorrow? Do I really want boiled rabbit food to be my last supper?"

At the end of the journey, I'd rather die a full, contented person, than one who boasts a body like Brad Pitt circa Fight Club but has been unhappy his whole life on a repressive diet. Needless to say, I find it hard to comprehend how vegans (a strict vegetarian who consumes no animal food or dairy products) live.

PHOTO: A woman's vital statistics directly corresponds to beauty. Yang Guifei was known to be plump yet the most adored by the Emperor.

http://skazkazagorod.ru/images/dieta/dieta-1010.jpg
http://goroscopy1.ru/foto-tatu-borodinoy.html

What about obesity, you say? Let no one belittle you for not being little. Who's to say what's gorgeous and what isn't? In ancient China, the infamous imperial consort Yang Guifei was known to be plump yet the most adored by the Emperor. In the Indian culture, a woman's vital statistics directly corresponds to beauty. It's not about the size, really - that's just a societal construct. So don't let it bother you.

PHOTO: Toccara Jones By Steven Meisel (plus size is in again)
Tuesday, April 27, 2010 at 12:10PM
http://ralfbecker.com/storage/post-images/2010-04/Toccara-Jones-by-Steven-Meisel-2008-9-600x401.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1272363211497
http://ralfbecker.com/blog/2010/4/27/toccara-jones-by-steven-meisel.html

If you haven't already realised, plus size is in again. Just look at models Toccara Jones, Alexandra Underwood and Whitney Thompson. Fatter is nicer, and fattier is tastier. So if you really want that perfectly seared piece of foie gras, go for it.

PHOTO: Alexandra Underwood (plus size is in again)
http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lihte1cOhQ1qgbaad.jpg
http://maxeyday.tumblr.com/page/30

Don't get me wrong. I'm not advocating that we should stuff ourselves to death. It's fine by me if you feel compelled to run off what you've just eaten. Just do what you have to do.

My pet peeve is having friends lament to me about how fat they think they are and how desperately they need to hit the gym, only for them to do nothing about it. When they actually do bother to draw up some vague semblance of a diet and workout regime, they continue on this merciless rant about how hungry they always are or how much of a chore it is to exercise.

PHOTO: Whitney Thompson for Diana Warner Jewelry (plus size is in again)
Posted on December 16, 2009, The Long Layering Warner Necklaces
http://28.media.tumblr.com/QpCiQLZ1Sp4h80d7uzWfBbEqo1_500.jpg
http://blog.dianawarnerstudio.com/page/4

Look, if you're begrudging (envy the possession or enjoyment of) every piece of tofu or boiled chicken breast you eat, and incessantly whining about having to go to the gym after work, then forget about it. Just eat and be content. And stop looking at me with those eyes when I'm having my fried chicken.

I totally understand how many people see "healthy living" as a way of achieving longevity but has no one realised how uncertain life is?

PHOTO: Rock climbing, hiking, softball, cheerleading, dancing, snowboarding, kiteboarding, diving, swimming, volleyball and cross country long distance running, in addition to many forms of martial arts and yoga.

http://www.healthy-dietpedia.com/image-files/dashama-konah.jpg
http://www.healthy-dietpedia.com/dashama.html

Some of the healthiest people out there are winning marathons one day and getting killed by a falling flower pot the next. Professional football players, as fit as bulls, can be charging about one minute and suffering a heart attack the next. Alanis Morissette once warned us how ironic fate can be ("Ironic" is a song recorded and written by Canadian-American singer Alanis Morissette, and Glen Ballard, and was produced by him).

I suggest you heed her advice.

By Alywin Chew assistant sports editor todayonsunday@mediacorp.com.sg, 04:46 AM Oct 02, 2011

PHOTO: "Healthy living" as a way of achieving longevity
http://www.imagine-arts.com/images/yoga2.jpg
http://www.imagine-arts.com/

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