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philosophy of food

Philosophy of Food | Friday, period 1

Hannibal arranged everything on the desk, then waited for the students to arrive, smiling as they came in.

Once they were there, he leaned against the desk and began. "Last week, we discussed what makes us see something as food. There are various reasons you may or may not see something as food that another person does. This week, the question is: Why do we eat?"

He waved at the food and drink behind him. "There are the obvious answers; most people will start with, 'we eat because we're hungry'. But it's rarely so clear-cut. Each section I've set up is a pair of foods. You may eat or drink only one from each pair. Choose one - or neither - and explain to us why. Feel free to debate it with each other as well, and to ask me or each other questions."

He leaned forward. "Remember, there are no wrong answers; the idea is to think about it."

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Ready to talk about eating!

Summer Smith

Eric Bittle

"This one is simple." Hannibal gestured at two carafes with glasses and ceramic cups nearby. "Both simple tastes, and little difference between them. Hot water; iced water. Choose one."

"I'm going to go with iced water," Summer decided, shrugging her shoulders. "It's just more refreshing. I mean, I know they're both just water, but hot water just seems boring, like, why not just add some tea? Or lemon and honey? If I want water, I definitely prefer it cold."

Hannibal nodded. "So, food can also be refreshing. And interesting, rather than boring. Would your choice change if it were very cold out?"

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"Well, it's already fairly warm out and it's only going to get hotter, so ice water it is," Eric reasoned.

"So, food can also help with temperature regulation. Even in utility, it isn't purely about hunger."

"Paté." Hannibal waved at the choices. "With fresh-baked, lightly toasted bread and garnish, or as a lump." He grimaced slightly at the latter; after the time spent preparing it, it nearly physically hurt to present it like this. "These are the same basic food, although the first does have some accompaniments."

"That lump just looks..." Don't say gross, Summer, don't say gross. "...like cat food. I'm sure it tastes amazing or whatever, but isn't there a phrase that says we eat with our eyes first or something? So, yeah, those accompaniments make the first one seem way more appetizing than just..."

She waved her hands in the air, swinging her palms down as she stuck out her tongue and made an eloquent ppttthhh sound.

Hannibal beamed. "We do indeed. So, it isn't only nutrition or even taste that is important - food can be about appearances as well."

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sharp_man - 2017-05-20 01:04 (UTC) - Expand

"Presentation matters," Eric decided, going for the option with bread and garnish. "Plus, it's a little harder to eat without the bread. Although I suppose you could use a spoon."

"If you wanted to," Hannibal agreed, "but yes. Presentation definitely matters. How food looks is important, even though it has no bearing on its function."

"Pan-fried salmon, or barbequed salmon head. Please keep in mind," he added as he squared the plates up, "that the head of the fish has much more nutrition, particularly prepared like this."

"The first one," Summer decided resolutely, taking a little nibble of the pan-fried salmon. "I mean, if I was starving or dying and needed the nutrients, sure, but since it's not an issue right now, I'd rather not have to look my food right in the face. I know, I know, blah blah blah, cognitive dissonance, it's still a dead animal, but it's a little less weird when it doesn't look so much like a dead animal."

Hannibal nodded. "You're conscious of that fact, which is a good start. Many people prefer that their food not resemble too strongly the animal that it came from. Why do you think that is? If you already know what it is, why would its appearance make a difference?"

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"... I think Summer said it far better than I ever could," Eric had to admit.

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sharp_man - 2017-05-19 23:54 (UTC) - Expand

"Beer and wine," Hannibal said. "Choose one."

"Neither," said Summer, folding her arms resolutely in front of her with a disapproving frown. "Because it's morning."

And she was not her mother, thank you very much.

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"I'm not much of a drinker," Eric admitted with a frown. "But if I were to pick one to drink alone, probably the beer. Now, if we're talking accompanying a dish, that's a different story. Usually when people talk about food and drink pairings, wine is what's being discussed, although there are exceptions. I don't know anyone who would accompany a hamburger or pizza with wine, for example."

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"Cotton candy," Hannibal explained, pointing at the pale purple threads. "It's not so fluffy as the mass-produced stuff, and the dye is cabbage-based, though I assure you you won't taste it. And chocolate, anise, and sea-salt toffee."

Ohhh, now, this was a tricky one, while the others had all been no-brainers for Summer. Because it involved sugar in very appealing forms, but, let's face it, almost all sugar was an appealing form of sugar in this current stage of her life. The description of the cabbage in the cotton candy did wrinkle her nose a bit, making her a little doubtful, but...fluffy spun sugar goodness! It just melted right in your mouth and made your fingers all sticky, which just made her think of good childhood memories, but on the other hand, chocolate. Chocolate was chocolate was chocolate....

"Ummmmm. Chocolate," she finally decided, grabbing a piece, so she could nibble and savor for whatever remained of class. "Because I'm not five."

Sure. She'll just keep telling herself that.

I was totally going to write an entirely new class.

Aaaand then I forgot it was Friday. *facepalm*

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Talk to Hannibal!

OOC!