Alton Brown’s doing penance: That’s what the Good Eats star tells Grist’s Roz Cummins in an interview; according to the article, “his TV show would begin focusing on sustainability issues: how crops are grown and animals are raised.” Brown says, “I’ve been busy being clever, but now I want to use what credibility I may have to help people think about sustainability.”
Brown says, somewhat weirdly, that the police motto “to serve and protect” will be his new approach to cooking and eating. And then, when the topic turns to overfishing, the interview takes a truly strange turn: “Somebody needs to sink the Japanese tuna fleet,” Brown says. “Everyone’s willing to point the finger, but nobody’s willing to pull the trigger.” So Cummins—“[s]urprised by such a rash declaration, and wanting to present a more effective, lasting, and peaceful alternative”—asks him if he’d be willing to crew on a Greenpeace boat. “‘Yes! Absolutely!’ he answered.” Watch for it: Good Eats on the Rainbow Warrior, giving recipes through a bullhorn.
Also, we’d like to formally take note of the fact that the Live Journal blog We_Love_Alton, in a reaction that’s no less remarkable for being entirely expected, loves the Alton Brown interview. “[This] makes me love him all the more,” a contributor posts, linking to the article. And commenters agree! To wit: “Wow…just when I thought I [couldn’t] love him [any more]!!”
Nicholas, if I may be so bold as to offer some backstory and commentary here. While what AB said about “to serve and protect” may seem weird out of context, the idea is a common refrain with endangered livestock. That in order to preserve an heirloom breed you have to eat them. That way we create a demand and preserve the breed. And Roz’s story does go into more detail about the idea that we can in fact raise an animal to be eaten humanely and yet still slaughter and eat it. Roz even quotes AB quoting his daughter as understanding that concept. And is it a truly strange turn regarding his comment on the Japanese tuna fleet? I’m currently working as a chef in Alaska and know what happens on the high seas would freak any sane person out. Kudos to AB for having the balls to talk the talk but also walk the walk – or in this case sail the high seas. We are in a crisis mode with the world’s fish and drastic measures must be taken by reasonable people.
http://thegurglingcod.typepad.com/thegurglingcod/2008/06/alton-browns-gunboat-environmentalism.html