Today I introduce a new feature founded as much on a lack of eventfulness in my own alimentary life—there are only so many new kinds of meat one can try—as on my immoderate preoccupation with what and how people eat. “Other Omnivores” will take a look at other people’s thoughts about food and at their eating habits and preferences. My fascination with eating is pretty equal-opportunity, and I’d like to interview eaters of all kinds: self-described foodies and ingredient illiterates, practiced chefs and kitchen dilettantes, strict vegetarians and unabashed meat-lovers. Everyone eats, and, as far as I’m concerned, everyone’s personal food preferences are equally valid—so let’s examine some of them.
I begin with my high-school friend Tristan. It is time to give credit where credit is due: I would never have dabbled in omnivorousness if he hadn’t given me the idea. Tristan, who had become a vegetarian at the age of five after eating some bad cheese-filled chicken nuggets, decided abruptly this spring to start eating meat. The former homecoming king comes from a family of vegetarians, but he says that the choice not to eat meat will be more powerful and meaningful if he makes it as an adult after trying meat for a year or so. Tristan opened my eyes to the possibility of looking at meat from a different angle, and for this I thank him.
Tristan developed his knowledge of French food and wine waiting tables at Tersiguel’s, one of suburban Maryland’s finest and best-loved restaurants. Having recently obtained degrees in English and music, he currently resides in New York, where he works at Opera News, lives in an apartment above Teany, and enjoys eating frogs’ legs, oxtail and Kobe beef hamburgers.
Following are Tristan’s responses to the “Other Omnivores” questionnaire.
Name: Tristan Kraft
Age: 22
Profession: assistant editor
Favorite vegetarian food: Morningstar Farms' Grillers
Favorite non-vegetarian food: close tie between pan seared scallops and steak with fries and hollandaise
Food you will never give up: eggs
Favorite food memory: baked ziti on my first trip home from college
Biggest food worry: mad cow disease
Would you eat meat grown in a laboratory? sure, with fries and hollandaise
Favorite Anti-Vegetarian Society of Meat Eaters slogan: obviously "wwjdfb"
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