La Pastelera Culpable

Peru bans GM foods

2011-11-04T11:52:00.002+01:00

Ok, I know I don't normally translate my Spanish posts into English, but we all like a little bit of good news, so that's what's on the agenda today: some good news from Peru.Yesterday, the Peruvian Congress passed the moratorium on genetically modified organisms. Peru banning GMs might already ring a bell for you, because Congress actually already passed the ban in June this year, but the then

Perú prohibe los transgénicos

2011-11-04T11:15:00.004+01:00

Hoy os traigo una buena noticia; una buena noticia peruana. Esta semana, el Congreso peruano aprobó la moratoria sobre transgénicos.Quizás ya os suena algo de esta historia; será porque el Congreso ya lo aprobó en junio, pero el presidente por aquel entonces, Alan García, devolvió la legislación al Congreso, diciendo que era incompatible con las responsibilidades del país bajo acuerdos con la OMC

A meeting in Parliament

2011-11-04T10:15:00.004+01:00

This week I made the epic trip outside the village gates, onto one bus and then another bus, and into London. To Parliament, oh yes. Through security and having our photos taken for the visitor pass, and through the enormous old hall, up the stone stairs, into a Committee Room with plush carpets on the walls, and media darling and general hero at life Jon Snow.This was a meeting entitled 'COP17:

A disapointment; CAP proposals

2011-10-13T13:02:00.004+02:00

The Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) is the EU's policy of agricultural subsidies and programmes. You might not know all that much about it, but you are most definitely affected by it. In fact, paying for the CAP takes up just under half of the EU's total budget; an enormous amount.The CAP is a serious magnet for debate about anything relating to fair trade, "dumping" (where subsidised

Charolais Cows

2011-10-13T12:55:00.003+02:00

I've been buying books. Lots of them. A new term has begun with the MSc and I am trying to swot up, but one of my favourites is a skinny, pocket-sized number about British cow breeds, perfect for taking for walks in the countryside; "Know Your Cattle". Now I know that the 10 white cows in the field next door are Charolais, a breed known for utility rather than beauty, and the first

Saying goodbye to Spain

2011-10-12T11:50:00.000+02:00

So after three happy years, I have moved home from Spain to England. I have said goodbye to tortilla and jamón, and hello to roast dinners and apple crumbles. We left at the end of another hot summer and one in which we finally made time to soak up the sun in our last weeks, relax on long windy beaches, and stuff ourselves silly.Saying goodbye was sad and teary, and the 30-hour bus journey

Por qué es tan difícil cambiar el comportamiento de la gente?

2011-10-04T23:55:00.005+02:00

Hoy estoy pensando en el porqué detrás de nuestras acciones, o mejor dicho, detrás de nuestra falta de acciones.Acabo de leer un informe de 2006 titulado "Why is it so hard to change people's behaviour?" (Por qué es tan difícil cambiar el comportamiento de la gente?"). Trata de explorar las razones por las cuales la gente no efectúa cambios en su vida, cuando la gran mayoría de la población

Un desayuno porcino

2011-10-04T20:39:00.003+02:00

Un desayuno perfecto que me alegró la mañana hace ya algunos meses, pero sigo pensando en él. Panceta de cerdo ecológico, grelos, un huevo, y pan de centeno frito en la grasa de la panceta.En mi humilde opinión, un desayuno dulce nunca podrá alcanzar las alturas de un desayuno porcino. Con eso declaras que vas en serio, con eso anuncias que no estamos para tonterías, con eso podrás enfrentar

Razor Clams

2011-10-04T20:04:00.003+02:00

Each summer, Spain erupts into a series of wine-fuelled village fiestas, to honour regional traditions, customs and foods. They are greedy, hot days to gobble down delicacies, get dressed up in some kind of costume, or throw goats from church roofs (really).In Galicia, at Spain's north-western tip, most of the fiestas focus on the region's delicious foods. They honour the mussel, the clam,

Asturias

2011-10-04T16:44:00.004+02:00

Asturias, land of lush mountains, blond cows and 40-odd cheeses has had a widely spread publicity campaing touting it as a natural paradise. We spent nearly a week there this summer, whizzing over in the little white car from neighbouring Galicia, and very much agreed. It's dark green forests, dramatic beach coves and arrogant grey mountains are astounding. Dark brown, light brown, black and

Lunch is soup

2011-02-12T14:10:00.006+01:00

Sometimes the best remedy is just to eat lunch.Especially, that is, if last night involved one vermouth too many, and lunch is good soup and sourdough bread.Time to study now.

La selva alimentaria

2011-02-10T20:44:00.013+01:00

Las razones por las cuales compramos la comida que consumimos son varias. Quizás compras este yogur porque es el más cremoso, quizás compras estas naranjas porque te gusta empezar el día con un zumito. Quizás compras esta mantequilla porque es ecológica, y este pescado porque te dicen que deberías de comer pescado dos o tres veces a la semana. Pero, ¿piensas mucho en los que produjeron lo que

we're back

2010-12-30T13:33:00.000+01:00

I've just finished a delicious lunch, of organic morcilla and chorizo, fried with courgettes and happy eggs, washed down with home-brewed kombucha. Last night I slept like a big fat baby, relaxing after three months of having two jobs and doing an MSc. Today, there is no photo, just a smile that 2011 is about to begin, and a promise that I will blog again soon.

My Advice for Eating Better

2010-09-17T18:50:00.008+02:00

I like food. I like eating. I like cooking. I like shopping for dinner. I like waking people up with scrambled eggs, or a fatly sliced watermelon and yoghurt. I like picking blackberries, spreading soft butter on hot toast, or stirring a big cauldron of soup. I like the juice to drip from a bright orange. I like white goat's cheese to crumble at my touch. I like my fruit swimming in thick

Guacamole de Pancho y Chio

2010-09-17T14:15:00.002+02:00