Meat. It’s something millions of Australians love to eat. Chicken, pork, beef, lamb and fish gastronomic delights usually aren’t too far away when we venture outside for food in Australia. Meat, certainly a popular kind of food and dish here.
Meat was a big part of my diet growing up. When I came home from school in Malaysia and Singapore, mum always served a meat dish – think stir fried chicken with oyster sauce, steamed soya sauce fish – with a bowl of rice for my dinner. When we moved back to Melbourne, mum cooked the same variety of dinner.
Most of what we eat comes from beneath the ground that we stand on | Weekly Photo Challenge: Beneath Your Feet.
When I got older and went out more, the more my palate tasted popular Australian meat dishes: bacon on toast for breakfast. Beef pie, sausage roll for lunch. Chicken parma, grilled barramundi and chips, steak for dinner. Consuming meat all round the clock. What do we get out of eating meat?
The other weekday afternoon, my friend and I strode into a small but cozy vegetarian restaurant just outside the city. Tofu red curry was simmering behind the counter, and we both decided to get that for lunch. The waitress spooned the curry into a rectangular shaped bowl, which I figured was about roughly the size of two small soup bowls. Don’t know if that’s enough to fill me up…
Time and time again, chicken has been voted as the most popular and favourite meat among Australians. Priced lower than pork and beef Down Under, the poultry – most of which is domestically grown – is naturally a more affordable eat in an expensive country. The more we eat meat (cooked in a certain way), the more we like it?
Sometimes we eat meat because we like the taste of it. Our tongue and teeth enjoy the sensation of meat in our mouths: the chewiness of a succulent medium-rare steak, the grittiness of a hunk of tender pork, the smoothness of roasted chicken breast. As science has found, the browning that comes with cooking meat, or the Maillard reaction, produces falling-head-over-heels aromas.
Consequently, many of us eat meat because it fills us up nicely, leaving us with a bloated yet satiated kind of feeling in the stomach. After all, meat dishes usually come with hearty sauces and gravies which take time to digest. Then there’s the fact that we eat meat for sustenance: high quality beef gives us iron and chicken high Vitamin B5.
Veggies make a meal more wholesome.
After we paid for our orders and found a table, I dug into my red curry. It was watery, wasn’t spicy but tangy. Just the way I like curry. Wait. What’s this piece of veggie in my bowl? “Potato,” my vegan friend said, looking at the cube-shaped thing I spooned up. Stupid. So silly of me for not knowing as I love potato. Then again, not every day I eat vegetarian.
Eating meat has always been big in my family. Certain meat dishes were put on the table during certain times of the year – eating meat, a treat. When I was a toddler living in Rowville, my parents bought roasted duck for dinner once in a blue moon – duck is expensive in Australia, around $35 per bird. We ate KFC once a year when we were in Malaysia, ordering a 30-piece bucket for dinner right before every Chinese New Year. That was pricey too.
Sometimes we eat meat not only because we are used to it, but because eating meat is part of tradition. Eating meat, rooted in the histories of the past. In Chinese culture, yellow-skinned chicken and fish are symbolic of fidelity and unity, and pork strength – three dishes that have always been on the menu at boisterous yet communal Chinese family and reunion dinners throughout history.
With meat dishes come bits of animal fat and calories, so eating meat in moderation is wise. However, countless times during dinner, dad gestured at the chicken dishes with his chopsticks and said to skinny me, “Eat less rice. Eat more meat”. So some might see it a privilege to eat meat; meat, a marker of status – since we can afford to cook meat, might as well eat have a generous serving and beef up. Then again, vegetarian meals aren’t cheap either. This red curry meal. $7.50. Doesn’t come with a drink.
Sometimes we hesitate to eat certain foods because of one reason or another.
We eat some foods and not others, some meats and not others. Not all Australians eat kangaroo, or eat dog or monkey like some do in China. Mention eating koala, most likely Australians will shake their heads in horror. To my mum, the taste of beef is repulsive, and coincidentally the Chinese diet has few red meat dishes. To my mum, Aussie pork smells repugnant compared to Malaysian pork and each time she cooks the former, she marinates it with lemon juice. We all have our personal food preferences, and religion and ethical reasons are why some of us don’t eat meat.
In between mouthfuls of lukewarm curry, I asked my friend her reason for becoming vegetarian. “I saw a documentary on animal slaughter. Terrible what they go through,” she replied, spooning the last bit of curry from her bowl. Righteous. Why kill something of flesh and blood, a beating heart just like ours for food? As Greek historian Lucas Mestrius Plutarch said:
“But for the sake of some little mouthful of flesh we deprive a soul of the sun and light.”
But there’s no forgetting plants are living creatures too, and the exploited labour that often goes behind the journey of getting ingredients from fields to our plates. As spiritual teacher Adi Da Samraj noted, “Everything eaten is killed. Every meal is a sacrifice.” Something died for our meals, something died for the moments we savour a mouth of food, and ironically we die a little inside, and perhaps lose a bit of common sense, when our stomachs grumble and something lives be it animal or plant.
The best meals are the ones made with love.
We eat to live, and in turn eat to live a life we want to live. Eating, more often than not is tied to memory and identity. For some of us, eating meat reminds us of home, eating meat makes us feel at home. We’ve eaten it all our lives. That’s comforting.
Just like when it comes to picking Australia’s national dish, Australia’s favourite meats are up in the air. All of us get cravings and go through eating phases. One day an Aussie might eat a lamb burger, and the next day perhaps a lamb kebab. Or maybe a chargrillled sirloin. Barbequed pork. Skewered honey shrimp. Chicken pie.
I looked down at my bowl. A few pieces of cabbage remained. I put my fork down. Defeated. Feeling full. But not bloated. That was delicious. Probably will be back here for a fourth time. Until then, I’m pretty sure I’ll have oyster sauce chicken.
Do you eat meat? What is a popular meat dish in your country?
Mabel Kwong 
I eat meat. I will eat any meat including the offal of most animals. While I’ve tried exotic species and different cuts it’s hard to go past a rib eye fillet on the bone cooked rare. I’m partial to roasted shoulder of pork and roasted shoulder of lamb too. I’ll enjoy most fish but nothing beats barramundi you’ve caught filleted and cooked in butter and lemon juice on the boat while fishing.
LikeLike
You are very adventurous when it comes to eating, Gary. Hats off to you. Between a shoulder of pork and lamb, I will go for the lamb as pork doesn’t usually rock my boat.
Haha, I just read your comment as “barramundi…cooked in PEANUT BUTTER”. That would be a bit of a dish.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I must give it a go 🙂
LikeLike
And if you do give peanut butter fish a go, you must blog about it. Peanut butter is so underrated in Australia in my opinion.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ll do my best 😃
LikeLike
I have faith in you, Gary, to produce one of the best peanut butter dishes the world has seen and tasted 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
There is no reason to eat (enslave, exploit, abuse, murder) animals or animal products. Fewer plants are used for a vegan diet, same goes for less water, and less land (less forest destruction, less pollution, less death…the list goes on). Meat-eaters only have excuses like tradition and taste. It is easily arguable that a plant-based diet is healthier. And it is factually about 100X better for the environment and exponentially better for the animals. Society has lost compassion and respect because of how we consume animals. No one who has the ability to visit a grocery store has a reason or excuse for eating animal products. Period.
LikeLike
Thanks, Ashley. Certainly plant-based diets are healthier and better for the environment for the reasons you state. We all have a choice to choose what we want to eat, and I think it wouldn’t hurt for many of us to learn more about the ramifications behind consuming both meat and plant-based diets.
LikeLike
🙂 The thing is that we can choose, but it’s certainly not a personal choice. Enslaving and abusing and killing other beings is not a personal choice, and society needs to wake up and realize it!
LikeLike
In the end, love makes the world go round. Nothing often is achieved when we abuse each other – and I do believe a meal tastes better when it is made with love and respect for those around us.
LikeLike
Hi Mabel,
I have never given a thought to why we eat meat! I don’t remember when did I eat it the first time though I have vivid childhood memories but I can’t recall any such memory. I am not a meat lover.
I have never liked pork, beef and lamb and avoid them as far as possible. I am not a veggie exactly but I like eating salads as the heaviness of curries keeps me away from them for at least a week after I have eaten them at a party, just thinking…let me try! Probably I am a health freak and like to eat healthy and my habits developed that way.
LikeLike
When I wrote this post, all the time I was thinking of what you would say about it. I have quite a few Indian friends who do not eat meat. Once I had an Indian colleague who brought home-made vegetarian samosas to an office tea party and they were gone in seconds. Very delicious!
It is interesting to hear you say curries are heavy – I suppose the kind you usually eat are coconut-based, which I like a lot too actually.
LikeLike
I am feeling so nice and honoured! Thanks for thinking about me.
We don’t use coconut in North India. It is popular in south Indian dishes but we use a lot of butter or refined butter plus a lot of spices, which give them a special flavour and colour.
Indian dishes are so varied and different that it could take you a year to explore all!
LikeLike
That is so interesting to hear, because coconut is popular with curries in Malaysia. Ah, spices. Never an Indian dish is complete without spices. Even many a roti I had had distinctive flavours to it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Mabel I grew up on a farm in Canada that raised pigs and cows. Meat was a very big part of my youth. I just saw too much, ate too much and now read meat is off my list I occasionally have chicken but mine is mostly a vegetarian diet.
LikeLike
Very interesting to hear, Sue. I suppose chasing after the animals on the farm kept you as thin as a reed back in the day. Your diet sounds like a very healthy one, one that keeps you running around the globe faster than most of us.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Mabel I grew up very traditionally so my brother did much more of the outside chores and I more of the housekeeping and gardening. Isis love climbing trees though so perhaps that adventure thing started early. 🙂
LikeLike
Climbing trees. Sounds like you were a cheeky monkey back in the day 😉 And that way you probably burnt off all the calories you got from eating meat.
LikeLike
The one dish I cook better than my husband is pot roast. I spent years perfecting it. And then I read “The Omnivore’s Dilemma.” And I told my beef-loving husband there would be no more mass produced chuck roasts in our kitchen.
It took him two months to find a Farmer’s Market with very expensive, free range, grass-fed cattle. So now we have beef a lot less often, but i must admit that the beef is much, much tastier. The same rules apply to chicken.
And yeah, we also eat a lot more tofu!
LikeLike
Pot roast? I’m assuming you are referring to beef pot roast. Here in Australia we don’t really use that term but just “roast” and that can refer to either pig, cow or chicken and sometimes turkey.
Like you I really dislike mass produced meat – the exception being luncheon meat or SPAM. Mum cooked that as a treat once in a while as a kid.
To me, chicken is the tastiest. But, I love tofu. Amazing how many kinds of tofu there are!
LikeLike
You look pretty thin in spite of tucking in all that meat, Mabel; may be it is followed up with adequate exercise. In my earlier years, fish was a regular part of my diet, with mutton, lamb liver and chicken gaining a weekly inclusion, all these for lunch and dinner only, together with chappatis and rice. I detest beef, pork etc. No meat or fish for breakfast, where the only add-on was eggs, in boiled or half fried form, together with breakfast fare of dosas, idlis, upma, powdered rice steam cakes called putty, string hoppers, appam etc. Around twelve years ago, I turned totally vegetarian, in keeping with my belief in environmental conservation, prevention of cruelty to animals, and for reasons of better health and hygiene. Vegetarian food is digested faster, and is more healthful. It is organic, life giving and sattvic (Sanskrit word meaning, pure, harmonious, balanced and enlightening), and makes me feel better and more cheerful. So try to become green, is my advice to all my friends….best wishes.
LikeLike
You are right in saying that I’m thin despite consuming quite a few servings of meat each week. I get around by foot a lot, maybe that is the reason…
It is great to hear that you feel much better going vegetarian. In all honestly, I admit I feel less bloated each time I go for a vegan meal – and I’m definitely considering have more of these meals in the near futre.
Sattvic – that is a new word to me and it sounds full of positivity.
Chappatis – I love that. Love Indian bread 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wish I had more to contribute to this conversation, but honestly I am anti-meat!
Just be in moderation is all and eating healthy is generally important. Also, beef and pork and poultry industries are extremely immoral.
But being preachy is not usually helpful.
Here here to tofu!
LikeLike
Fair enough, Ray. We all have our own choices and I respect that 🙂
I love tofu. Amazing that there are so many kinds of tofu around. A tofu meal and only tofu!
LikeLike
Americans consume A LOT of meat. To the point where I seriously took a look at how much I was consuming. I’ve gone thorugh a raw food phase and a vegetarian one, too, both lasted a year each. What works for me is moderation, which sounds easier than it is. But I feel better when I don’t eat too much meat and I simply don’t have the lifestyle nor the metabolism to go strictly vegetarian. I eat a lot and need meat to not feel like I’m eating every 3 hours. That being said, I’ve been known to cook vegetarian at home and meat when I eat out. It’s a good way to balance out your diet and it works for me 🙂
LikeLike
My hat’s off to you Lani for trying a raw food diet. I don’t know if my stomach would be able to handle that since I have trouble digesting cold food at times.
Moderation is certainly key. I think we all feel much better when we don’t overeat, don’t stuff our faces too much no matter what diet we follow.
In general I’m like you too – I find cooking meat much messier than cooking vegetables, so usually eat more meat when I’m out.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Excellent post as always Mabel and such a great topic. I really loved your photos too. So well presented. 😀
As for us, we eat meat moderately. We never sheep, goat, lamb or venison. Now and then some beef but mostly chicken and fish. Meat is very expensive here and when you get older like me and hubby, red meat isn’t that healthy either. I wouldn’t mind being a vegetarian, but as you said, that can be just as costly.
A good substitute for meat is mushrooms. It contains more than twice the amount of protein as other vegetables but not as much protein as meat gives you. I love mushrooms and prefer salads, but it is costly to make as well. But all in all, I think if we really want to give up meat, we will find better substitutes. 😀
LikeLike
“Moderately” Seems everyone is throwing around that word (or moderation) here. Everyone is wise 😀 Good to know that you and hubby watch what you eat. Too much of everything isn’t good for us at all.
Like you, I love mushrooms, especially button mushrooms. They go well with so many things. I like to put them in soups, and when you bite the mushrooms the warm soup bursts out in your mouth!
Thanks, Sonel. I really tried to make the monkey (Mr Wobbles) look as good as the monkeys in your photos 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s a fact. We do have to watch what we eat. 😀
Oh yes, that’s what I love about mushrooms and with lots of garlic as well. 😆
Is that his name? He is totally adorable and the monkeys here would love to play with him for sure! I think they’d be a bit envious because Mr Wobbles have such delicious food to eat. LOL!
LikeLike
Awww, you like garlic too? I actually like garlic a lot. I think it gives food flavour. My mum likes to cook some meat dishes with ginger though. That I’m not a huge fan of.
Yes, Mr Wobbles is the monkey’s name. Each time you pick him up, his head wobbles back to front
I am going to do a whole post on him, hopefully soon. I actually think your monkeys are better looking!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh yes, I love garlic and I feel the same way about ginger. Not a fan of it as well. LOL!
Awww, that is so sweet! I think that is a great idea and our monkeys would love to see that as well. And no, I don’t think so. Mr Wobbles also have his own charisma and charm. 😀
LikeLike
I love how you can use garlic to cook so many dishes – on all meats, and then you can use garlic on bread too 😀
Mr Wobbles is delighted to be called charismatic and charming. Looking forward to seeing more monkey photos from you at some point.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh yes, and around here we use it in all the dishes, except the sweet ones. I don’t think garlic ice cream would taste too nice. 😆 Garlic bread is my favourite of all, especially with braais or barbeque as you call it. 😀
I am very glad to hear that. Give him a big hug and kiss from me. ♥
I just took photos of them yesterday and will put them up this week. Mama, the female of the troup is pregnant again. She looks so adorable. 😀
LikeLike
Hahaha! Garlic ice-cream. I’m sure that kind of ice-cream is sold somewhere in the world.
Mr Wobbles loves your love and is smiling from eat to ear now. The hug will make him happy all week ❤
Oooh. I am so looking forward to seeing your new photos and I'm sure you won't disappoint 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Haha! I am sure it is. LOL!
Awwww, I am very glad to hear that. Tell him he can have all the hugs he want. As long as he is happy. 😀 ♥
LikeLike
I think you are Mr Wobbles’ new favourite person now 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Awwww, that’s so good to hear Mabel. Give him my thanks and love. 😀 ♥
LikeLike
Mr Wobbles says thank you ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
People look at vegetarians here as if they are crazy in Greenland, though I have now met few recently. There are limited outdoor dining options here especially for vegetarians. But for me I miss that pot pie…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh no, I hope vegetarians don’t get too hard a time in Greenland. Veggies and plant-based foods are good for us…
Pot pie. I love pie too.
LikeLiked by 1 person
We are BIG fans of duck… and lamb… and pretty much any meat BUT lately from a health perspective, we decided to actively cut back on meat in general. So we are vegetarians for as many days as we cook at home. Family meals and eating out, we think is enough “meat” eating opportunities for us 🙂
Another great article too by the way!
LikeLike
Finally, someone else here in Australia likes eating duck. I haven’t come across many Australians who like eating that meat. Health is wealth, and for that reason too I have cut back on eating meat and more veggies, especially leafy veggies as I love them.
Eating out – anything goes since it’s often a treat.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ahhh… AWESOME! Well, when you are next in Sydney.. we will take you out for duck! Or next time we are in Melbourne, you can show us Melbourne’s best duck 😉
LikeLike
I love duck, especially if it doesn’t make me thirsty afterwards. Finding good duck is usually hit and miss in Melbourne, but some places tend to be better than others 😉
LikeLike
I a a meat eater and love steak houses. I guess it all started when I became more and more involved with my sports as meat was a big part of our diet. Surely we could have gotten also everything we needed from veggies and stuff however that would have been impossible to pay back then and now.
As I started to do sports again I actually tried a vegetarian approach however without spending tons of money on supplementaries I could not improve as I basically spend the entire day eating and gave up in the end. Now I have my usual food intake again with a few times a week meat or fish and sports are getting better again and also my health
LikeLike
I have always thought that if you were an athlete that you needed to eat meat to get the energy you need for doing sports. For the reason that it’s expensive (along with the supplements), that is interesting to hear.
You sound like you could eat veggies and never get full, Crazy 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well I get full from veggies and in normal circumstances they would be enough but when doing much sports the energy is burned within a couple of hours so you need to eat again and again and again
LikeLike
Sounds like you might have a very high metabolism rate too. Eating again and again and again must have been very time consuming.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well I only have it when I try out the vegetarian way, otherwise I am fine 🙂
LikeLike
So, more meat for you all the way 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I went to a hippie scum restaurant (vegetarian restaurant) with some Couchsurfers here the other day and had to pay 20,79 aussie dollars for a plate of rice noodles. It was tasty and almost made me full, but I kept thinking that the price was totally insane. You can buy rice noodles in the shop for 1,83 aussie dollars. If I’d thrown in a bunch of vegetables for another 5 aussie dollars, I could easily have fed the three of us with a large meal.
The meals that they got at the restaurant were ridiculous: small and pricey.
It’s good to eat vegetarian sometimes, both for the health and for the environment (also the meat industry really sucks), but I’ll never become a vegetarian myself.
LikeLike
That really is a lot of money for a plate of noodles. I’m hoping it came with a lot of veggie toppings such as tofu and a whole lot of greens. Maybe even nuts.
A popular vegetarian dish here in Australia is avocado on two pieces of toast bread. Many cafes serve that, and sometimes charge up to close to 20 Aussie dollars for that. Crazy. You could buy 8-10 avocados with that money.
LikeLike
I love seeing all the posts from vegetarians. My parents ate meat and were dumbfounded when I quit (in college). I’ve never missed it. My father or grandmother used to wring the chicken’s necks to kill them, then they flopped around a while in the yard, headless. I can remember being about six, and my job was to help by picking off the pinfeathers. I was happy to eat them at the time, when my mother fried them for Sunday dinner. (too much information, right?)
LikeLike
I really dislike seeing people wring chicken necks. It happens a lot in backyards in Malaysia, backyards where families reared their own livestock. The chickens would trash around and make a lot of clucking noise – and it was all over in usually a few seconds. It is very strong of you to stick to the diet of your choice despite your parents’ disbelief. I’m sure they had to figure out how to put vegetarian food on the table when you came round.
LikeLiked by 1 person
They had a big garden, so I hope it wasn’t too difficult. I remember once my father (who raised some cattle) offered me a side of beef for the freezer if I would eat it. I guess there’s really no way to avoid exploiting animals and plants. You picked a really good topic!
LikeLike
The bigger the garden, the more room for the animals to run around and I presume they might be strong, and perhaps put up a greater fight when it came to the end
I’m sure your parents understood your decision to not eat meat in the end. There’s always so much to talk about food.
LikeLike
There are so many different ways to create different flavors of meat, it’s hard not to enjoy meat. I like Chinese, French, Italian, Am BBQ, German sausage, and India food. The last photo looks like Indian food, delicious! 🙂
LikeLike
Sounds like you have tried many varieties of food, Amy, perhaps on your travels or near where you live 🙂 Hard to pick a favourite cuisine, I’m guessing.
The last photo is tofu curry. The restaurant I had it at wasn’t Indian, but I think they based this dish off Indian cuisine 🙂
LikeLike
Sometime ago (before blogging) 🙂 I was in a member of a gourmet club. They divided the members into groups (3 to 6 couples) you chose how many you wanted to have in your group. Once a year, you got to host a gourmet dinner with a theme (most are French, Italian, Greek,American,…) serving a formal dinner in your house. The hostess was responsible to provide the menu and provided entree and dinner, the guests prepared the side dishes and appertizer according to the hostess’ recipe/menu. I learned to enjoy and cooking from this club. 🙂
LikeLike
The gourmet club you were a part of sounds fancy, Amy. So lovely and it sounds like one big pot luck each time there was a dinner 🙂 I bet you learnt how to cook many dishes and I’m sure your guests enjoyed it 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Your pictures always distract me from your writings! Do you carry that stuffed monkey with you when you go out?? Or is that not yours?
You have been reading my blog, so you would know that I am a meat lover first and Malaysian second 😀 . With all due respect to the meat hater who thinks eating meat is bad for health and killing is cruel, I think we have to agree to disagree. You just said it Mabel, plants are living creatures too. In fact recently I am reading more and more articles where scientists claim findings that plants do exhibit some form of intelligence and should be treated as sentient lifeforms too. I cringe to think of how devastated the vegetarians/vegans who do so due to morality would be if this type of research becomes more mainstream. I mean, if plants are also sentient lives, then eating plants is even more cruel than eating animals. At least animals can move and (theoretically) can fight back, plants just sit there helpless as we harvest and devour them.
LikeLike
Thank you for the photo compliments, CL. Humbled
No, I don’t go out with my stuffed monkey, Mr Wobbles, all the time unless I feel I can get interesting photos out of it.
“plants are living creatures too.” Very plainly put, even better than my waffly way of saying it. It is very interesting research that you are reading, something I’ll look up.
This might sound far fetched, but all of us in this world, whether human, animal or plants, are made up of atoms and stardust that are constantly in motion. We die a little each day (e.g hair drop, leaf fall of a branch) and disintegrate back into the earth – thereby continuing the circle of life. So to sum up, we are all equal.
LikeLike
Chicken is my favourite meat dish. I do like beef curry/rending as well. Lamb is ok but I don’t like pork and don’t often eat pork though I have a favourite pork dish – Crispy Pork ! 🙂
LikeLike
Chicken is my favourite meat dish too! Like you I’m not an overly huge fan of pork – and I often get lambasted for that by my parents and relatives. They always say, “You’re Chinese. How come you don’t like pork (e.g siew yuk)?”
Crispy pork? Now that is something I don’t mind having a slice of 🙂
LikeLike
Hi Mabel, just wondering, the meat you have mentioned here also fish meat, am I correct? Some people may have different opinion about it, but actually fish is meat as well and it is proven that fish feels pain and suffering when being caught or hurt.
Personally, I have been wanting to be a vegetarian – a person who does not eat meat (from the land and the sea). But I can’t. I am too weak I guess. I limit my meat from land consumption and I don’t eat fish meat at all because of over-fishing issue and most fish in the market are wildlife.
In the Netherlands, Soused herring is a popular fish meat, people eat it raw here. While in Indonesia, I think chicken satay is very popular ones (also in the Netherlands too 😉 )
LikeLike
Correct. I was also including fish meat here 🙂 I have met quite a few vegetarians who don’t eat fish or seafood and they categorise it as meat, and don’t eat eggs either.
I wouldn’t call you weak, Indah. We all have a personal choice as to what we want to eat 🙂 Limiting our meat intake is a good choice – that way we get to eat a wider variety of nutritious food.
First time I’m hearing of Soused herring. I would like to try that someday. Didn’t know satay is popular in the Netherlands. Very cool.
LikeLike
Such an emotional post. Mabel! I also eat meat for the need of nutrition as well and we cannot deny that in order to live we have to consume other forms of life. In the anime “Children who chase lost voice”, there is also a notable idea: the death of one creature becomes a part of another bigger living thing. Therefore, it is a controversial issue when talking about whether we should eat meat and the answer is still elusive. By the way, in HCMC, we have a lot good vegetarian restaurant. They serve qualified meal with a proper amount for a stomach to be filled (you do not need to worry about too little food anymore). Especially, veteran curry in my place is served in very big bowl which my husband and I used to share when we come there for lunch or dinner ❤
LikeLike
Emotional post? Awww. So sweet of you to say it. Maybe the monkey’s sad face in the photo made you say that 😉
That is an interesting anime. It sort of reminds me: all of us in this world, mammal or plant, we are all made up of atoms and stardust. When our time is up in this world, we break up all go back to the earth as particles and the circle of life continues.
Those vegetarian places where you are sound very delicious. I hope the curry isn’t too spicy – I want to try it someday and I’m sure you will show me around ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
To me, it is really an emotional post. You mentioned that what we eat are come from the ground beneath. This reminds me Totto Chan in her magical school on the train with her lunch made of treasures come from the earth and the sea (I guess we can call the submerged surface “beneath” too). We should be grateful for what we have everyday. And also the curry is not so spicy and I hope you can enjoy it some day.
LikeLike
That is such an incredible connection there to Totto Chan :’) So true. Lunch of treasures, the book brings back memories. Simple stories, simple lessons.
Awww. I’m looking forward to coming and eating your country’s curry someday ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
now this is so mouth watering 🙂
LikeLike
Yes, the food is mouth watering. But the monkey doesn’t seem to think so. It looks sad.
LikeLike
We eat mostly chicken and it seems that more and more people in the UK are becoming veggie or vegan. The key for meat eaters is local provenance, as in from local farmers and butchers and living in the West Country of England we are blessed with plenty of these to provide pork, beef, lamb and chicken. Free Range eggs come from local farms too. This makes the buying and cooking of ‘feel’ better. I could never eat a kangaroo, a dog or a monkey, which just goes to show how strong cultural influence really is! I love the idea of guacamole on curry as in your tempting photos show! Growing up we had lots of stews, usually made with chicken or beef and of course our Sunday roasts, complete with Yorkshire puddings and all the veggie trimmings. Inlcuding one of my all time favourites, cauliflower cheese! Still love those roasts 🙂 Always enjoy reading your posts Mabel and the way you make us think about the things we do…or think…or eat 😉 Have a lovely weekend filled with plenty of good, healthy food ❤
LikeLike
You too eat chicken mostly like me, Sherri. I don’t get it when people say chicken it the plainest tasting meat.
It is interesting to hear that those in the UK are more open about eating vegetarian these days. The key really is to eat in moderation whatever we choose to eat, and ensure we eat widely in order to get sufficient nourishment. Also, it certainly doesn’t hurt to think about the consequences our meals have on the environment.
It’s actually nachos and rice under the guacamole 😉 But, that is such a good idea. Guacamole and curry! Cauliflower cheese – it sounds delicious and I want to try some now! Hugs ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
Absolutely, that is just what I have always told my kids – moderation in all things!!!! Oh, I missed that, lol 😀 Why did I think it was curry? Silly me 🙂 I adore nachos so now that meal sounds even more appetising to me! We have discovered an excellent Mexican restaurant in Brighton where my boys live so whenever we go there I love to get nachos and guacamole 🙂 And yes, you can easily make your own cauliflower cheese with a cheese sauce poured over pre-steamed cauliflower. Bake in the oven until bubbly and golden on top, 20 – 30 mins and voila! It is simply delicious!
Have a lovely day dear Mabel…lovely chatting with you as always and hugs back to you 🙂 ❤
LikeLike
Moderation in all things is so important to keep in mind. But, but, chocolate and ice-cream are life…so hard to eat those things in moderation 😉
Thanks for the cauliflower cheese recipe. It sounds so easy and I might try it ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
It isn’t always easy, that’s for sure!!! Let me know if you do try it Mabel, would love to know what you think 🙂
LikeLike
Will do. I like cauliflower a lot 🙂
LikeLike
Then you’ll love this 🙂
LikeLike
🙂
LikeLike
I eat meat about 3-4 times per month. Tends to be seafood, beef or bison. Alberta is Canada’ biggest producer of beef and bison…because of our prairie rangeland. I like chicken but find it a hassle to buy a pack of chicken breasts because the pkging is meant for a family of 4-8.
So maybe I’ve articulated something unique in our region of Canada: bison. https://cyclewriteblog.wordpress.com/2010/12/17/roaming-around-for-bison-distinctly-north-american-lean-and-maybe-gourmet/
Bison is abit expensive but it’s very lean and requires very little time for searing before it becomes too tough.
I used to eat meat nearly daily when growing up. I also ate liver…which now I can’t stand the smell of liver + blood in the grocery store. I’m fine to smell it cooked.
But find for unconscious health reasons to reduce my meat intake over the past 2 decades. It’s been very gradual.
Interesting that your mother detests beef.
LikeLike
Bison. I completely forgot about that. It’s not something you hear every day in Australia unless you frequent high end dining a fair bit. It’s definitely note part of the local fare here as it is in Canada – and emu burgers too. I have never heard of that but not surprised some do consume that kind of meat.
Chicken a hassle to buy? I usually buy chicken breast by the pieces, going up to the poultry counter asking for 700grams or however much I want.
Yes, my mum detests beef and so do quite a few of my Malaysian relatives. Probably a matter of taste.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I might have had an emu dish a long time ago. Or was it ostrich?
I just don’t go to the meat deli counter to buy a single chicken breast. That’s just me.
Except for some seafood and bison, I buy fresh meat in small packs. I just eat a fistful of meat per meal. Pretty modest compared to whopping steak.
LikeLike
Ostrich is the largest bird in the world, followed by emu. They are different. But they do look similar.
I think you save more money buying from the meat deli counter 😉 A whopping steak? I have never finished an entire piece of steak on my own, even if I don’t have anything else like fries or salad on the side.
LikeLike
I grew up on a beef cattle farm where we also had sheep for wool and home consumption, so I grew up on what was considered the typical anglo-Australian diet up until around 40 years ago. We ate chops almost every night, but they were older than the lamb we eat today and had a much stronger flavour which I never liked. It reminded me of the smell of the shearing shed. It’s not such a bad smell, but not one you want associated with food. Steak was a rare treat & I still like it today.
I was vegetarian for 12 years but find I’m healthier with a bit of meat in my diet, so now I eat it, although not in huge quantities. I’m more likely to eat meat, fish etc. at home (rather than restaurants or take away) because I can buy my own and try to make sure it’s been ethically produced.
I know vegetarians and vegans will take issue with me even using the word ‘ethical’ with regard to eating meat, but it’s not a practice that is going to go away any time soon, so those of us who eat meat at least have a responsibility to ensure that it causes as little harm as possible.
This isn’t always as clear cut as people make out – I’m somewhat sceptical when it comes to some of the claims about vegetarianism (especially when based on research in countries like the US, which are very different to Australia). For e.g. I’m not convinced that eating a small steak from cattle raised on pasture by an organic farmer on the north coast is worse for the planet than eating a plate of tofu made from highly processed soya beans grown on the other side of the world on a huge factory farm which has more or less destroyed the local biodiversity.
Living in a modern western society is fraught with ethical compromises and challenges of all kinds every day. I think it’s literally impossible to live without making compromises on something. As individuals we each need to figure out where we’re prepared to sit on that spectrum and be as informed as we can be – which includes not accepting at face value the emotive claims made by either side of the debate.
Sorry for such a long-winded response, I think I’ll have to go off & write my own post about this!
LikeLike
It is interesting to hear you bring up the smell of meats. I’ve noticed that meat – be it chicken, pork, beef etc. – smells so much stronger here in Australia compared to where I lived in Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia. Maybe it’s the way Australia raises it’s livestock, maybe it’s because of what we feed our livestock. It’s anyone’s guess really.
Also interesting to hear you say that you feel healthier with some meat in your diet. I was reading around the subject of going vegan and chanced upon someone saying due to medical advice, she had to incorporate meat in her diet.
“Ethics” is such a touchy subject, and I like the examples you gave. It also made me think of how some vegetarians eat fish and egg, while some are vehemently against it.
I would actually love if you did a post on all of this, and perhaps tie it into the Aboriginal diet which I’ve read is heavily plant-based.
LikeLike
Thanks Mabel, I’ve been hearing all the arguments for a long time 🙂
I was thinking more about writing in relation to food in a bicultural family, I know little about Aboriginal diets, traditional or otherwise so it would feel a bit presumptuous to start holding forth on them.
LikeLike
It would be interesting to read about food in a bicultural family. I’m sure there are certain occasions when you eat certain foods from one side of the family. Also, perhaps you learn to like dishes you never thought you’d like.
LikeLike
Yes, both true. I have actually written a lot about food when I was doing more posts about living in a bicultural family a few years ago, they would all be in the food category on my blog. But there’s always more to say 🙂
LikeLike
Yes, there is always so much to say about eating meat, dining and food in general. There’s always a nice recipe each day somewhere, someplace 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I eat meat, and lots of it. 🙂 Beef and lamb are pretty much equal favourites (depending on how they’re cooked – a lamb roast will win every time, though), with chicken not far behind. Though, I do tend to eat more chicken, than the former two, due to the cost.
Yum. 🙂
LikeLike
I often wonder if restaurants and food places in general do prefer to serve chicken as opposed to lamb or beef due to cost and demand. Like you, I generally eat more chicken. Then beef for the same reason. Rarely pork, though; not a huge fan of how it tastes. Then again, I had many Muslim friends growing up and they don’t eat pork due to religious reasons.
LikeLike
It was difficult for me to read this post in one go. Took me 3 nights because I got so hungry as I read and I just had to quit reading! Nice pictures too and I shouldn’t be surprised to see a monkey in one of photos. That is so Mabel 🙂
LikeLike
Hahaha, that is hilarious. It took me a whole night to process the photos…yet I still think they could look better with more work. Food photos aren’t my forte.
The monkey, Mr Wobbles, is going to get his own blog post at some point 🙂
LikeLike
Another great post about Austrailian culture, Mabel! 🙂 I have heard that Austrailians love meat before, but not why and which type of meat that is the favourite. Now, I even want to travel to Austrailia more, as I know that the food is great as well 🙂
I feel that Bolivia have the same way of thinking. There they eat meat all the time, and just love it! They also live to eat! Here in Norway (atleast in my home), we do not eat too much meat. We do eat it, but not every week. We eat more fish and bread, but that is also a cultural thing.
But I did really like meat once in a while. And your pictures of the food looks sooo good! 🙂 nam nam…
LikeLike
Australians do love their meat. When Australia Day comes around in January, there will be lots of advertisements on TV and in the supermarket encouraging us to buy lamb to cook lamb roasts. That is interesting.
Your hometown diet is certainly different from what I’m used to. Ah, eating bread. That’s a food staple. Just like rice, pasta, potato…another topic for another day 🙂
Nam nam nam…I love how you say it 😀
LikeLike
Hahaha 😉 Yes, it all sounds nam nam 😉
Here in Norway they actually try to encourage people to not eat that much meat as they say it is not so healthy. Do that ever do that in Australia?
LikeLike
Nam nam nam nam nam. I’m saying it fast and I love the sound of it 😉
In Australia, almost everyone eats meat. It is normal to see a meat dish at a meal. However, there are more and more vegan places popping up, and maybe Australians are starting to learn about healthy diets.
LikeLike
Haha, I am glad you like the sound of nam nam 😉 Now you know some norwegain!
I have a friend from Australia, she is vegan. But in Bolivia she ate meat as it was not possible not to. But when in Australia she is. But I guess it is still not that easy there either yet…
LikeLike
Haha! I didn’t know nam nam was Norwegian. Now I do!
I am sure your vegan friend loves Australia very much. Lots of vegan food choices here 🙂
LikeLike
Super shots, Mabel! And a very nice write-up. Indeed, there are certain food items we have an emotional connect with:) I remember how in the evenings mom would keep piping hot pooris and spicy chick peas ready by the time my sister and I got back home, tired and exhausted after playing outside with friends..our home filled with the aroma of fresh puffed pooris! Why can’t life always be that way?! 🙂
LikeLike
Thank you, Uday. That was very nice of your mum. Those pooris and chick peas sound delicious (I love the latter a lot, minus the spices). I’m sure you and you sister devoured it all. Yes, why can’t life be always so simple like that 😉
LikeLike
Happy Sunday my fave sis. Hope you are having a wonderful weekend, eating delicious foods, resting, getting in some writing and being generally awesome. 🙂 Big squishy hug – Kiss, Kiss!
I just love visiting your site little one, you write about things I just never really consider, its cool.
I do indeed eat meat, a few years ago I mentioned to my doctor that I was considering not eating meat for a while, he advised that I had to be careful going ‘cold turkey’ with it, something about my blood type meant it could be a little dangerous for me. So I scraped that idea and just cut down on the amount of red meat I eat, chicken & fish to feature heavily in my diet.
Although, in saying all of the above, I am absolutely unable to eat meat if I have witnessed or know the story of the animal before I eat it. Something about that turns my stomach.
Hmmm…. Like you say, Aussies seem to eat everything. As a Hospitality worker, I find that the meats that are popular come in waves, 2014 we served a lot of duck, this year seems to be Kangaroo is popular. Lamb is barely on our menus because of the price, but beef seems to be one meat that is here always.
Anyways, I will have to maybe take a closer look at my diet, perhaps consider cutting out some of that protein, or maybe I just go to the gym and run some of my eating off.
Have a good day loveliest one. Mwah! xoxo
LikeLike
I think it is very wise of you have visited a doctor before going vegetarian. And thankfully you did because it could have been unpleasant down the track. I’ve heard about this before, that some people can’t not have meat in their diet for a medical reason. So, it’s true.
I am surprised kangaroo meat is gaining popularity in Australia. I guess many of us are more open to trying new cuisines…and because you cook well and run the industry so well.
Such a heartwarming comment, sis. Love the Kiss Kiss. Right back at you and lots of huggles 🙂
LikeLike
I think it would be hard for me to be healthy without meat and fish, especially since I’ve developed allergies to eggs and dairy. I do hate the way most of our meat and poultry are raised, so I try to buy meat that’s not raised on factory farms. Big chunks of meat have never appealed to me. Two to four ounces is enough,
LikeLike
So sorry to hear about your allergies to eggs and dairy. That means watching closely what you eat since egg is in many a dish. Eating meat in moderation is certainly wise – not only good for our health, but also for the environment around us.
LikeLike
This is a very timely and enjoyable post for me to read… I returned back to the States about 4 weeks ago, and while running around with work was able to stop through my home town to stay at my parent’s place for a night and had the meal I had been dreaming about, a great rib-eye steak. The feel, the taste and the ambiance created in my mind took me back years – enjoyed it thoroughly. It is for the reasons you state so well in your writing: memory of steak we had so often growing up and an identity so to speak as it reminded me how special home it. Comforting.
What I also find so interesting, is that when I first arrive in Seattle I crave that first salmon I buy and cook. In Hangzhou, my first meal is almost without fail a simple dish of dumplings (饺子) that comforts me in my surroundings and gives me a feeling of home and belonging. True comfort food. The taste alone can bring back memories and trigger thoughts long lost. As we get older, I think these foods are pieces of life that bring us back to a simpler time – and these tastes grow as we get older and explore new ideas and culture.
Your photos also look delicious ~ Very well done 🙂
LikeLike
So nice to hear that you had a very nice meal back in your hometown. You must have been hungry for it, long time coming. Love how you entwined your eating experience with time too – food transcends time, in a way, in order to evoke comforting memories of the past.
It is very, very timely that you bring up eating dumplings. The other day my dad said to me (direct translation from Cantonese), “Those white men/Westerners really, really love eating dumplings!”. Not the first time he said it, though. It made me ponder why and…I don’t know. Maybe dumplings are more digestible and palatable than other foods, making it popular with everyone. Like you, I love dumplings.
Thank you but food photography really isn’t my forte. It took me a whole night to process the photos and yet I don’t feel satisfied 😀
LikeLike
Ha, ha – yes, we do love dumplings. My old boss use to visit China in the late 70s, and he would always talk about the simple dumplings meals instead of the large banquet meals. I think it may be because it is a bit similar to Western food (ravioli or pasta)…and it is very tasty. As for photographing food, not a forte of mine either, but you did quite well 🙂
LikeLike
Dumplings similar to ravioli and pasta, gnocchi as well…yes, now that you mention it, it makes sense. I suppose dumplings, the filling that goes into dumplings, are similar to meatballs too. I don’t know if anyone else makes this connection. It is interesting indeed.
LikeLike
My first month in China back in the 90s, I really had a hard time finding food I liked in China (I was young and totally out of my element) and lost about 10-15 lbs (which I did not have to lose), and it was dumplings to the rescue. I loved them, and as you say I think it was just the comfort of “pasta with meatballs” basically. Enjoy your week! 🙂
LikeLike
Dumplings to the rescue! Not only do they taste good, but they are easy to eat and stuff into the mouth…unless you count piping hot xiao long baos (小籠包) as dumplings too. That might be hard to eat quick if you are ravenous.
LikeLike
So funny, while the 小笼包 are tasty, they are too hot for me temperature wise 🙂 Piping hot foods and liquids drive me crazy (especially when I am really hungry!). My first ‘home’ in China was in Xi’an, known for their delicious 饺子和 包子。Discovering those made my dining life much easier.
LikeLike
But piping hot foods make the body feel more energised and alive, at least in my opinion. 饺子和 包子 seem like smaller versions of the Western meat pie, to be honest 🙂
LikeLike
Funny, I am the exact opposite. I think piping hot food lacks flavor because it is too hot…and I have what I’ve been told is a ‘cat’s tongue’ – just can’t have anything too hot. Even my coffee has to cool down a bit (I’m always the last to finish). And I think you are right, the 饺子和 包子 are like little meat pies 🙂 Would like to have a few right now…
LikeLike
That is really funny. I am a slow eater. When I start eating, my food is hot. At the end of my meal, it’s cold and I don’t find it as appetising. Meat pies make great snacks 🙂
LikeLike
As usual Mabel, you’ve posted a very interesting subject with lots of FOOD for thought LOL. I LOVED the Plutarch quote in the middle and it made me think about being much more mindful about what I’m eating. My husband and I pretty much gave up red meat years ago when all of the scares about cholesterol etc were in the news. We had meat every night as I was growing up and its amazing how after a few months without it I don’t miss it at all. Now if I had to give up chicken and fish, I’m afraid I’d starve to death!! I’m just not a creative enough cook to fill my meals with veggies, fruit and grains. Thanks for making me think about how every meal represents someone or something else’s sacrifice. I love that thought!
LikeLike
I knew someone would run that food pun by in the comments…and it is you! It is true that red meat has a fair bit of cholesterol though it tastes good. Interesting to say you don’t eat it much. Recently I decided to go meat-free for dinner, eating noodles and veggies only. And like you, I didn’t miss meat. Though I must say, I got hungry later those nights before I went to bed!
LikeLike
Marbel… don’t get me started.
I love meat. It saddened me to no end when I realized that I was at the end of my tour and had to leave Okinawa. I loved Shabu Shabu & Yakiniku, and man do the Japanese spoil you, the cuts were so fresh. I lived & worked there for 2 1/2 years and I wished that it could have lasted longer (forever). Everything was perfect, the people, food, culture & atmosphere.
I could eat thin cuts of Beef/Pork & Daikon swished in Kim Chi based soup (I like the Korean spice over the Japanese salty style) all day, everyday. And Yakiniku, just keep the Pork, Mushrooms & Orion (beer) flowing and I’ll be a happy man.
Now I’m a sad man… lol, I need to plan a vacation to go back.
I love your blog. I actually have Family/Friends that live in Australia. I have never been but I do plan on visiting one day, as I love to travel (and take pictures). Seems like a lot of things have been sprouting out of Australia lately. I’ve been following some of the Jersey Club music scene (EDM), cover artists (like Jayesslee) & random fashion blogs over the recent years.
LikeLike
So nice to hear you had a great time in Japan, and the food sat well with you. From what I know, there are lots of raw food in Japan, not sure if that suits your palate. But I’m sure if you did turn down a dish, the Japanese didn’t mind. Sounds like hospitality wants you to feel comfortable all the while while you’re dining. You never know, you might get the chance to go back some day.
Thanks, Michael. Australia is bigger than it sounds…each state here has its own vibe and personality and I’m sure you’ll like the food here.
LikeLike
meat was a big part in our meals when i was growing up. my family raised poultry and pigs. now that i am much older, we have less meat in our diet and more on fish and vegetables. love your yummy pictures, Mabel! 🙂
LikeLike
Eating meat in moderation sounds wise, Lola. Good health-wise, and also lets you have room to try others foods too. Thank you, glad you like the photos 🙂
LikeLike
In Brazil we also eat a lot of meat!! Specially beef.
A normal Brazilian meal should have a kind of meat. The most popular ones are beef, chicken and fish. Pork isn’t so popular because Brazilians tend to think that pork meat isn’t healthy as the pigs can transmit lots of diseases. But I believe this is changing lately.
I also have some vegetarian friends, some more radicals than others, I understand their decision, but I don’t see myself eating only vegetables 😀
LikeLike
Hahaha. I knew you loved meat because of all the burgers you’ve talked about on your blog! And no surprise you like beef. I too am not a huge fan of pork – depending on how you cook it, it tastes different 😀
If we do meet someday, we must go and eat burgers!
LikeLiked by 1 person
You are right, pork really depends on how you cook it! Some ways a better than others, I only eat in once in a while, even though here in Germany is very popular.
Yess we have to eat burgers when we meet hahaa 😀
LikeLike
We certainly have to go eat beef burgers when we meet. Or chicken. But in general I prefer beef burgers, especially those with thick patties. Thick and juicy 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
hahahaha me too!! Here in Munich there are some great places for burgers 😀
LikeLike
And I look forward to visiting Munich for the burgers 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
hahaha yaaaay!! Come!! 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Interesting post, Mabel. Some years ago we were almost moving into a vegetarian lifestyle when I discovered that my iron stores were through the floor. It was also pointed out that our diet was probably not really appropriate for three fast-growing boys. So we now eat meat more regularly but I try and buy as ethically as I can afford – free range, organic, grass fed, etc.
LikeLike
Glad to hear you found out your body wasn’t up for a vegetarian diet 24/7. Goes to show we should consult professional advice before changing our diets drastically. I wish free range wasn’t so pricey in Australia. Then again, sometimes it isn’t always about the cost.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well one thing this post did for me is to make me hungry ! It clearly wasn’t a good idea looking so closely through the photos of food when my tummy was already grumbling LOL
This was an outstanding post Mabel. I love how you manage to capture every essence and every perspective of whichever topic you are discussing. For example you made sure that even though the post was about meat, you added the vegetarian perspective too. Making it A totally unbiased article 🙂
Meat is one of the major supples in our country. Chicken as you said is more widely eaten here too. But around some house like mine we prefer “Mutton”, If you know what that is 🙂
P.S I’m literally drooling by now cuz the photos you shared looked so yummy 😀
LikeLike
Thank you, Zee. That is so kind of you to say you thought this was an outstanding post with yummy photos. I am touched ❤
Mutton! I completely forgot about hat term. Lamb. I suppose that is used to make kebabs in Pakistan. And so is chicken. Vegetarian food is delicious too – and I'm sure there are vegan restaurants where you are. We're all entitled to choose the diets we want to follow.
LikeLike
I meant it Mabel, you are so talented ❤
LikeLike
Thanks, Zee ❤
LikeLike
Yes, Mabel, I eat almost all kinds of meat being sold in the markets, except pork. I’ve given up pork since 2008 when I rented my own apartment. It was actually something I should have done a lot earlier than that year but, you know, it was just something impossible to do when you are living with your parents. Besides, my parents were the ones who cooked for us.
I agree with you in saying that eating is a cultural thing. Religious too if you may. In the place where I grew up, we have this yearly patronal town fiesta where every house is obliged to join by preparing a multitude of meat-based (beef, chicken, dogs, and pork) meals. I can’t think of a better hyphenated-adjective. Nevertheless, I’m sure you get my point.
So what happens during the big day is that people from nearby towns flock our place for free meals. To date, we, Catholics still practice that kind of celebration. It’s actually something I disliked. See, people are obliged to spend money even if they are financially incapable. To be able to comply with that obligation, they are forced to borrow money or worst, sacrifice their dogs. Sorry for this gory revelation about this mutton of the earth but it’s really common in our place. Anyway, I guess that’s too much information now so let’s cut it there.
Know what? I was about to eat when I got hooked to reading this article. Then I kind of hesitated to eat when I read this: “Everything eaten is killed. Every meal is a sacrifice.” For some reason, it opened my eyes to some kind of harsh reality that just penetrated my heart. To make it short I lost my appetite for a good reason, I think.
LikeLike
eating meat
LikeLike
Point taken 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
You and I share very similar experiences, Sony. My parents like cooking and eating pork, whereas I tend to avoid it when I can. It’s hard to turn down meals your parents cook for you
Free meals for everyone at the festival. That sounds so generous. But I get you on the financial part – a kind of pressure that we can do away with.
Every meal is a sacrifice. To think about it on another level, in a way we give people jobs with each meal that we eat, from the waiters to the people in the feels who pluck the ingredients from the ground. So, in a sense, we are helping others when we eat, as cheesy as it sounds.
LikeLike
oh.my.god. the shots are awesome and these meals look soooo tasty… what is the green topping sauce made of?
I clicked on the link for the national Australian dish, but it does not seem to be working… now I’m quite intrigued 🙂
for my part, I eat all kinds of meat… and the major ingredient in most traditional Bulgarian meals is pork 🙂
LikeLike
The green topping? That is avocado, or guacamole, as some like to refer to it. I love eating avocado on toast bread for breakfast in the mornings. You should try it if you haven’t 🙂
Thanks so much for letting me know. I have fixed the link, and here is it anyway:
https://mabelkwong.com/2015/02/19/just-what-is-australias-national-dish-there-isnt-really-one/
Ah, pork is popular in Bulgaria. Interesting 😀
LikeLike
I’m afraid I do eat meat, although it’s something I’ve never felt particularly comfortable about. If someone could invent a way to make sure they contained all the necessary nutrients, I’d happily live on doughnuts and coffee.
LikeLike
Sometimes I reckon eating is time consuming – you need to think of what to eat, where to eat, perhaps buy the ingredients and cook, sitting down and eat… I’d happily live on doughnuts if I could. Gourmet doughnuts.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, there’s definitely a ready market out there for any scientist who can combine the DNA of a cow and a doughnut (not to mention a Nobel prize for discovering doughnut DNA).
LikeLike
i highly respect those meat lovers that could convert to vegan. its hard work. pure torture.
I do remember trying to have salad meals daily. Trying to be healthy. I ended up unwell, weak, sick, emotional… etc etc. it’s like drugs. i need meat. lots.
Well, anyway, i believe is about how much we are used to having meat since we were young. We were fed with deliciously cooked meats. It is hard to change the taste we are used to.
LikeLike
Sorry to hear you felt sick eating only salad meals. Must have been lack of protein or iron in those meals. Maybe eating different kinds of salads might have had a different outcome. But who knows.
So true. In Chinese Malaysian culture, meat dishes are staples of many a meal. Hard to avoid.
LikeLike
Many thoughts, and as usual – an important and well written post. Food is common to us all – of course – and I believe we all should think a bit more about what we eat. I do. Your post make us do. Good. But, I do not always follow my thinking threads into real life…
It’s that quote – disturbing, isn’t it. Because it is true. I close my eyes.
I eat meat, but try to eat more vegetarian than I used to. If i go to a restaurant I usually make a vegetarian choice. Maybe I find it too difficult to cook really tasty food if I cannot use meat? Chicken and fish is on our table at least 5 days a week. The other two I try vegetarian.
My daughter became a vegetarian in high school, but she is the only family member who always cooks vegetarian. She studied at the science program and dug deep into what cattle/meat production does to our environment. So for her – even though she is as much an animal lover as I am – it’s saving the planet that is the most important thing. And that is my reason as well. I believe many young people in Sweden are either vegetarians or vegans or other – but most of the middle aged and older people here are brought up with meat on the table every day.
LikeLike
The quote from Plutarch is certainly disturbing. After all, aren’t we all living organisms on this planet with a heart, or at the very least a soul?
Interesting to say you tend to cook meat at home five days a week. Same with my parents. I’ve found an easy way to cook veggies – just boiling them and eating them straight from the pot. Palatable if you’re not too fussed about taste.
So heartening to hear the younger generation in Sweden are thinking about the environment hand-in-hand with food. Good on your daughter. Sounds like it’s a matter of time before other parts of the world catch on.
LikeLike
Let’s hope so. Food produced in the vicinity and eco-food is much wanted here now.
LikeLike
“Eco-food” I haven’t heard that word too much here in Australia, but I’m sure it’s a matter of time before we start hearing it more.
LikeLiked by 1 person
A balanced diet is best, and that should include meat. The food pyramid suggests the recommended balance, but indulging every now and then is not bad. Skip too much of any food group and you’ll probably end up needing artificial supplements. What’s the point of that?
I like a regular portion of high grade wagyu. No point eating the cheap stuff, if you don’t have to.
LikeLike
I often wonder how effective are artificial supplements. Heard they work best when taken over a period of time.
Agree with you on wagyu beef.
“Indulging every now and then is not bad”. You said it best. After all, chocolate if life.
LikeLike
I could happily be vegetarian, Mabel. I hate handling meat though I don’t dislike it, unless it’s fatty.
LikeLike
Vegetarian food can certainly be tasty. I don’t mind cutting lean chicken breast meat. That took a while for me to learn.
LikeLiked by 1 person
lovely post, i also did my last post on Pakistani food and meat is a very important ingredient of almost 80% of the dishes. Loved the dishes here 🙂
LikeLike
Thank you, Akhiz. I loved your Pakistani food post. So much meat your country eats and everything looks so delicious.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Mabel 🙂 I liked your photo as it was taken on our lunch together! Definitely an interesting read and I like that you take all opinions into account. As you know, I am against cruelty to animals and living proof that we don’t need to eat meat to be healthy and happy but I don’t try to push my views on other people. I like that you enjoy the food we eat together and glad that it never seems to bloat you or upset your tummy! Looking forward to seeing you soon!
LikeLike
I am glad you liked this post though you are vegan. Totally respect your choice. Thank you for introducing me to vegan food through our lunches and your blog. The food makes me feel good and I look forward to eating more healthy meals soon with you.
LikeLike
Very interesting read, Mabel, and your article has given me an idea for a post – so, thank you for that. 🙂
I used to be a very, very picky eater before moving to Taiwan. However, that has change and I now consumed less meat and more fruits and vegetables.
LikeLike
You photograph food very well, so should you do a post on food, I look forward to it 🙂
More fruits and veggies are always good – full of natural vitamins and nutrients. Then again, meat has its own goodness too. Moderation is always key.
LikeLike
Delicious photos Mabel. Love the new drawing of you at the top too!
I love meat. Can’t really live without it. I agree that it fills me up, but also it’s rooted in tradition too, like you mention. Being ‘vegetarian’ just isn’t really popular where I’m at. Certain meat dishes like meat pie with mushroom and grilled chicken wings I simply crave. It’s home. My favourites are roasted beef, and lobster (if you count that as ‘meat’ and not seafood). Interesting thought about plants being living beings too, and that something dies to nourish us. If I ever become vegetarian I think it would be for environmental reasons more than anything, since it takes much more land and resources to produce meat as compared to veggies!
LikeLike
You really do love your meat dishes. I’d happily have a meat pie and grilled chicken wings any day. I love lobster, but isn’t it expensive. And so is crab. I like to think that plants have a soul in them too – think about how plants know how to grow tall, know how to grow upwards and bend towards the direction of the sunlight. Even they crave for decent weather like each of us human beings.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Crab! Yes. Steamed crab with hua diao wine and ginger? Or curry crab Thai style? The wonderful seafood dishes. It’s my weakness; the toughest bit to becoming vegetarian. And speaking of plants that feel, I recall reading a children’s book about it. Was it Roald Dahl? Something about plants screaming in sub-human frequencies which we can’t hear, but showing that they feel “pain” of sorts.
LikeLike
Ooooh. I love mild chilli crabs, Malaysian style. I don’t even mind painstakingly cracking them open to reach the juicy flesh.
I also like butter prawns (see link). Don’t know if you’ve tried them, but sometimes I love the butter flakes more than the prawns:
cateringexpert.com.my/wp-content/uploads/Butter-Prawns.jpg
Aaaah. That is such a familiar story but I can’t for the life of me remember who wrote it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
because it’s delicious, unless you’re some tree hugging vegan thou, lol
LikeLike
I’m no vegan but I’m sure there is vegan Mi Goreng somewhere…though I do not know if it is tasty as the normal ones…
LikeLike
me no vegan but me eat very little red meat now, many fish and vege.
i think ‘rendang daging’, ‘bah kut teh’, ‘siew yok’, ‘char siew’, ‘satay daging’ are some malaysia all time favourite local meat dishes, which i sure you familiar. loved them when i was having them, but no craving to go back.
have a good weekend, mabel.
regards, ken
LikeLike
Fish is very popular in Malaysia, especially steamed fish with soya sauce (I hope that is what the sauce is called…). Spot on. All those pork meat dishes I’m familiar with. Love satay with peanut sauce. It’s one of the Malaysian foods I miss eating, apart from Hainanese chicken rice.
Also, I’m a fan of chicken breast as opposed to drumstick or thigh…many Malaysians I’ve met baulk at that 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
my elder daughter is a fan of chicken breast too, i have always wondered why. things you can do with fish … any recollection of them ikan cencaru sumbat sambal? mmm mmm mmm …
regards,ken
LikeLike
Chicken breast is boneless. Smooth and feels good on the tongue 🙂 I absolutely love ikan cencaru sumbat sambal…minus most of the sambal 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hey Mabel! Great post, it really made me think! I’m in Aus too, and my family would often have big family BBQs where salad wouldn’t even get a mention, we’d just eat meat! As I’m getting older i’m trying to include more vegetarian meals as I agree with what you say, a living thing died whenever we eat a burger,so it probably wouldn’t hurt us to at least cut down sometimes… I do love steak though! Thanks for the post!
LikeLike
Thanks Bec. BBQs are certainly delicious, aren’t they 😉 Today I was in the city and there was a sausage sizzle and it was so hard for me to walk past without buying something off the grill. Like you, I’m actively eating more veggies these days and actually, I’m feeling better because of it.
Glad we have connected. And you live in Melbourne too 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, we’re both Melbourne girls! Did you go to any of the events to celebrate Melbourne’s birthday?
LikeLike
I wish I did but I didn’t! I only found out on Sunday afternoon there were celebrations, free concerts and Aussie food at Docklands, and the big old Enterprize ship made an appearance there. There’s always next year!
LikeLiked by 1 person