Category: Food

  • Weapon Of Ass Destruction

    Bhutjolokia_1
    I’ve been morbidly fascinated by the Scoville rating of chilliness ever since I paid a visit to San Diego’s Hot Licks.

    Today, NMSU announced the Scoville-busting Bhut Jolokia chile – officially the world’s most potent sphincter-shrinker… this butt-biohazard bears more than twice the spice of the previous record holder… so smokin’ hot, Stephen Hawking dubbed it the Red Hole, so fiery Satan’s added a 10th circle to Hell!

    Incidentally, Bhut Jolokia translates as Ghost Chile…! One bite and you’re dead?

    UPDATE: Ouch. Looks like the Dorset Naga kicks Bhut at a reported 1.6m Scovilles…

  • Facon

    A few weeks ago, Ian and I were speculating about the ethics of laboratory-grown/in vitro meat. We wondered if, as a vegetarian and as a Muslim, whether the consumption of in-vitro meat violated our ethics and beliefs – given that ‘no animal was harmed in the production of this meal’.

    Ian felt his vegetarianism would not be compromised by eating in-vitro meat, however, I my position is less clear…

    • The principles of Kosher and Halal help a believer to appreciate the taking of a life – does artifical meat render this obsolete?
    • Pork is considered ‘unclean’ by both Muslims and Jews – would artificial pork (Facon?) be considered ‘clean’ or should the spirit of Halal and Kosher be honored regardless of the means of production?

    Yesterday Schulze & Webb posted some thoughts on the industrial future of lab-grown meat, drawn from what appears to be a fascinating collaboration with the RCA. It’ll be interesting to see how ethical and cultural issues take shape as this technology progresses… would you eat artifically grown human meat?

    Coincidentally, I had my first experience of bacon at San Francisco’s famous David’s Deli last Monday. David’s serves kosher food (compatible with Halal) and my order was for beef bacon 🙂

    UPDATE: US to approve cloned meat!