Michael Pollan

Michael Pollan's Picks Three Lame New Food Rules

​Here at Gut Check, we've had our share of fun mocking Michael Pollan's food rules. However, longtime readers of this blog know that I, personally, am a big fan of The Omnivore's Dilemma and In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto.That said, I must admit I cringed when I saw the three new food ru ... More >>

Ten (Imaginary) Shows We'd Watch Instead of the Food Network's Latest Garbage

Guy Fieri, starring in exactly none of our proposed Food Network shows​The Food Network this week announced several new series to debut this year and next. Frankly, even by the Food Network's ever-lower standards, the list is unappetizing.Among these new shows is an unholy marriage of Guy Fieri an ... More >>

Fuck Michael Pollan #5: Breaking the Food Rules at "Winter Blows" Swap Meet & Bike Show

Michael Pollan's 2007 best seller The Omnivore's Dilemma documented the industrialization of the world's food supply and whipped the foodie vanguard into a self-righteous froth. His encore, the "Manifesto" In Defense of Food, revealed the author as a proselytizing zealot/minimalist poet. ("Eat food. ... More >>

Fuck Michael Pollan #4: Breaking the Food Rules at Old St. Louis Chop Suey

Michael Pollan's 2007 best seller The Omnivore's Dilemma documented the industrialization of the world's food supply and whipped the foodie vanguard into a self-righteous froth. His encore, the "Manifesto" In Defense of Food, revealed the author as a proselytizing zealot/minimalist poet. ("Eat food. ... More >>

Fuck Michael Pollan #3: Breaking the Food Rules at Crest Bowl

Michael Pollan's 2007 best seller The Omnivore's Dilemma documented the industrialization of the world's food supply and whipped the foodie vanguard into a self-righteous froth. His encore, the "Manifesto" In Defense of Food, revealed the author as a proselytizing zealot/minimalist poet ("Eat food. ... More >>

This Week in Gut Check, Regurgitated

Alissa NelsonDanno's Chris Muether​After another cold and snowy week for St. Louis, the favored way to warm our insides is with a drink, of course -- so this week's Girl Walks into a Bar feature was just in time. Check out Alissa Nelson's chat with Danno's Chris Muenther and a video of him mi ... More >>

Missouri Flunks Food Safety Test

Missouri, you get an F in reporting foodborne illnesses. TheHill.com shared a new report from the Center for Science in the Public Interest, grading states on their ability to report outbreaks of foodborne illness. The more a state reports, the better chance they have of getting it under control. "' ... More >>

Fuck Michael Pollan #2: Breaking the Food Rules at Hit-N-Run

Michael Pollan's 2007 best seller The Omnivore's Dilemma documented the industrialization of the world's food supply and whipped the foodie vanguard into a self-righteous froth. His encore, the "Manifesto" In Defense of Food, revealed the author as a proselytizing zealot/minimalist poet ("Eat food. ... More >>

This Week in Gut Check, Regurgitated

Ian Froeb A dish from Shu Feng.​This week, Gut Check was pretty focused on trying to stay warm. But in between snuggling with our space heaters, we made time for some winter-related research. Got the sniffles? Check out Ian's post on favorite cures for the common cold. Interested in disast ... More >>

Fuck Michael Pollan #1: Breaking the Food Rules at Jay International

Michael Pollan's 2007 best seller The Omnivore's Dilemma documented the industrialization of the world's food supply and whipped the foodie vanguard into a self-righteous froth. His encore, the "Manifesto" In Defense of Food, revealed the author as a proselytizing zealot/minimalist poet ("Eat food. ... More >>

Locavores Get What They Pay For

When food activist Michael Pollan put a price tag on some local foods ($8/dozen eggs, $3.90/lb. peaches), he came off as a locavore elitist. The Wall Street Journal investigates to see if this is true, and finds that consumers often get what they pay for. The Chicago Tribune investigates the true ... More >>

Cargill Meat Solutions Recalls Ground Beef

More recalls. A Pennsylvania company recalled 8500 pounds of ground beef for suspected E. coli contamination. The Washington Post reports that the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service found a link between Cargill Meat Solutions in Wyalusing, Pennsylvania, and three cases of the infection in Ma ... More >>

This Week in Gut Check, Regurgitated

Image via ​This week, everybody was talking about recalls and the food supply, Gut Check included. If you need to get caught up, find information on the egg recall here and the Walmart deli meat recall here, and then check out the video of Michael Pollan giving some big-picture perspec ... More >>

Michael Pollan on the Egg Recall

Via Eater, here is video of Michael Pollan, author of The Omnivore's Dilemma and An Eater's Manifesto, discussing on CNN how the egg recall is a case of reaping what we, as a society, have sown:Want eggs at the Maplewood Farmers' Market today? I'd go early. I have a feeling you won't be alone.

Beware the Insidious Thyroid-Destroying Powers of Bok Choy

Bok choy, lookin' innocent. Don't be deceived.​From MSNBC, via Gawker, comes a truly odd story: A woman nearly died after eating only raw bok choy -- two to three pounds a day -- for several months. Apparently, the 88-year-old woman thought it would help her control her diabetes.It turns out that ... More >>

See Food Documentary Fresh at Schlafly Bottleworks Tonight

Image via​Tonight, as part of its "Good Gardening Good Food" film series, Schlafly Bottleworks (7260 Southwest Avenue; 314-241-2337) will host a screening of the documentary Fresh.Here is the film's official synopsis:FRESH celebrates the farmers, thinkers and business people across America who are ... More >>

The Humane Society and big agriculture slug it out over animal rights

St. Louis Food Blog Digest: 3.6-3.12

​Gut Check dishes on our favorite St. Louis food blogs. Cupcake Project: Stef made the ultimate St. Patrick's Day cupcakes and announced a chocolate liqueur cups giveaway. One Hot Stove: Nupur made black bean pumpkin soup. Sugar Spice and More Things Nice: Rachel discussed Michael Pollan's F ... More >>

St. Louis Food Blog Digest: 2.6-2.12

Gut Check dishes on our favorite St. Louis food blogs.Local Harvest Dish: Maddie got mindful about eating. Iron Stef: Stef embraced the crazy tastiness of Martha Stewart.Andrew Mark Veety: Andrew got excited about a future with a new kitchen, new garden, and new food writing opportunities. Feast: ... More >>

Throwback of the House: A Crown Fit For a Corn King

Oh, corn. You subsidized, ever-present source of cheap carbohydrates. You've been much maligned in recent years, what with that blabbermouth Michael Pollan and filmmakers poking into your business.It's gotten so bad that we now need television ads to be reminded of the wonder of your versatility.Ro ... More >>

Featured Review: Pulled

Farmers' Market Share: Whole Wheat Bread

User "Zyance," Wikimedia Commons​December is a sad time for the farmer's market aficionado. At minimum, it will be three months before the first spring greens are available. We're down to two monthly markets, the indoor Tower Grove setup at St. John's Episcopal Church on Arsenal Street and Maplew ... More >>

A Food Writer's List of 10 Essential Food Books

​As much as I'd like to assemble a Top Ten Food Books of 2009 list, I'm so far behind in my reading that I'd struggle to compose a Top Ten Food Books of 2008 list. Best I can do for this year is two books. First, Momofuku by David Chang and Peter Meehan. It's a cookbook, but you can -- and should ... More >>

St. Louis Food Blog Digest: 11.7-11.13

Gut Check dishes on our favorite St. Louis food blogs. Sounding My Barbaric Gulp: Kelly experienced the pain in the ass of French cooking. Iron Stef: Stef hung out with the Forking Fantastic authors.Show Me Vegan: Lisa reviewed Eating Animals.

The Morning Brew: Friday, 10.9

​ Fast food moratorium probably won't solve obesity problem, even as Burger King redesigns to bring people closer. (Los Angeles Times, Advertising Age)Michael Pollan's readers share their eating rules. (The New York Times)New York Times disses southern fried chicken. Civil War II commences. ... More >>

Reminder: Joel Salatin at Webster Tonight

A reminder: Farmer Joel Salatin will speak at Webster University tonight at 7:30 p.m. Salatin heads Polyface, a Virginia farm whose "beyond-organic" practices have been featured in Michael Pollan's The Omnivore's Dilemma and the recent documentary Food, Inc. His lecture at Webster is titled "Ballet ... More >>

The Morning Brew: Thursday, 9.10

​ President Obama endorses higher taxes on soda to help fund food stamps. (Kansas City Star)New FDA rule and reporting systems aims for contaminated food to be reported faster. (The Boston Globe)September 21 issue of The Nation focuses on food, with writings by Alice Waters and Michael Pollan ... More >>

The Morning Brew: Wednesday, 9.2

​ What's wrong with Sheila Lukins' obituary? Lots of things. (The NYTPicker.com)Michael Pollan has his say on Whole Foods boycotts. (Newmajority.com)Illinois' new alcohol tax hike is in effect. (Belleville News-Democrat)Optimistic restaurateurs opting for smaller venues and menus in new vent ... More >>

New Michael Pollan Article in Times Magazine

Michael Pollan (The Omnivore's Dilemma, In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto) has an epic new article in this weekend's edition of the New York Times magazine in which he tackles the decline of cooking in America and the rise of food-related television programming. Well worth your time. Here's t ... More >>

Cooking for Your Cat: In Which Bess Meets Her Match, or The Carnivore's Dilemma

RFT staff writer Aimee Levitt and her cat, Bess, continue their culinary adventure.One of the hazards of my job is forced immersion -- some might say obsession -- in a particular subject for months at time. Pick-up artists, education, death, comic books, vampires...the books and articles pile up. (S ... More >>

Where's the Beef?: Has Allison Burgess created faux food, fad food — or a groundbreaking meat substitute?

Monsanto to Food, Inc.: Drop Dead

flickr.com/photos/jonbauerSchlosserFood, Inc., the new expos é -documentary about the food industry, doesn't open at the Tivoli until June 26, but it's already generated a fair amount of controversy in St. Louis.Co-produced by Eric Schlosser of Fast Food Nation fame and starring Schlosser and M ... More >>

Monsanto to Food, Inc.: Drop Dead

flickr.com/photos/jonbauerSchlosserFood, Inc., the new expos é -documentary about the food industry, doesn't open at the Tivoli until June 26, but it's already generated a fair amount of controversy in St. Louis.Co-produced by Eric Schlosser of Fast Food Nation fame and starring Schlosser and ... More >>

FoodWire: Michael Pollan in St. Louis Tonight

Michael Pollan, author of the seminal books The Omnivore's Dilemma and In Defense of Food, is speaking and signing books this evening at St. Louis County Library headquarters (1640 South Lindbergh Boulevard). Doors open at 6 p.m., the program begins at 7. On his Twitter feed, STL Bites' Bill Burge r ... More >>

St. Louis Food Blog Digest: 5.9-5.15

Gut Check dishes on our favorite St. Louis food blogs.Welcome a new blog to our merry band, Becky and the Beanstock. Go check it out.Sauce: An interview with Michael Pollan.Sounding My Barbaric Gulp: Kelly roasts her haul of farmers' market radishes.STL Hops: Mike has news of the new weekly cask a ... More >>

Plant Power: Local Harvest Café embodies a welcome new concept in sustainable chowing-down

Taqueria el Jalapeño Review Prompts P.R. Blitz

Wikimedia CommonsSilly me, thinking I could share my desert-island fantasies without any consequences.In last week's review of Taqueria el Jalapeño, I wrote the following:It won't surprise regular readers of this column to learn that if I were stranded on a desert island, I'd want the only restaura ... More >>

The Morning Brew: Friday, 1.23

In today's news: the salmonella outbreak, country-of-labeling origin hits a road block, Tom Vilsack on healthy eating and Chinese New Year food shortages.

The Morning Brew: Thursday, 12.18

In today's news: Michael Pollan on Tom Vilsack, the sweetener Truvia and a victim of Bernard Madoff's Ponzi scheme.

Michael Pollan at Washington University This Afternoon

Sorry for the short notice, but I learned this moments ago: Author Michael Pollan (The Omnivore's Dilemma, In Defense of Food) will be honored with the Washington University International Humanities Prize today at 4:30 p.m. The ceremony is at Graham Chapel. Afterward there will be refreshments and ... More >>

The New York Times Magazine's Food Issue

Eat Food, Not "Food"

Bookplates: In Defense of Food

The Morning Brew: Monday, 2.4

New York Times Still on the Mercury Beat

The Morning Brew: Thursday, 1.17

Reviews of New Michael Pollan Book

Michael Pollan on Sustainability

Review Preview: Pho Long

Pho Real

Pho might well be the ideal fast food.