A look into GRUB

Before I began this vegetarian journey, I made sure that I stocked up on books to read, and sites to search. I wanted to make sure that I had all the information I needed, at hand. One of those books was “Grub: Ideas for a urban kitchen” – a joint effort by author’s Anna Lappe and Bryant Terry. It exists as a multifaceted tool – as a cookbook, a guide, and a book that is supposed to both “stir you to action, and stir up your appetite.” But the book itself has an identity, a particular audience it caters to. The title alone reflects that – “GRUB.” The word is an informal word that represents food or the act of eating it. Its slang, which I suppose attracts those in an “urban kitchen.”

The book is divided into sections: Part One, Part Two, and Part Three. Part One serves as a crash course in the politics of the American food system and market, its illusions, and seeks to “wake up” its readers. Part two delves deeper into the land of everything “organic,” what it means,” and why it is better. Lastly, Part Three seeks to put all of those things together through food. Each menu is categorized by season (Winter, Summer, Spring, or Fall), and accompanied by a soundtrack. Although the book doesn’t explicitly target readers from a single race, it does seems to focus on a particular culture – that of the African Disapora. Its recipes include menus for an “afrodiasporic cookout,” a “straight-edge punk brunch buffet”, complete with an Afro-Punk playlist, and Mardi Gras Grub aka “Phat Tuesday”.

The people read this are most likely people who identify themselves as “urban,” and who care about the world around them. Although the book also does not outwardly say it – it also caters to a vegetarian or even strictly vegan reader. I have yet to come across a recipe that involves an animal product of any kind. This book is for those young, politically aware, readers who will be moved to “action” while listening to Ray Charles and cooking “New Millenium Soul food.” At least for now, I guess I'm one of those people :)