Welcome ladies and gentleman to the main event of the week! In the category of Culinary Boxing here at Chef’s Mandala, we have weighing in at 4 ounces from Asia, please welcome all natural spices! His opponent, weighing in at 4 ounces as well from the United States, please welcome irradiated spices!
LET’S GET READY TO RRRRR…….HAVE A SPIRITED DEBATE ON FOOD!!!
In the Red Corner – IRRADIATED SPICES
You’ve read the comic books or seen it happen in the movies. Someone is subjected to experimental radiation in a lab and becomes a superhero! Irradiation is a scientific method invented based upon the work of Henri Becquerel in 1895. Soon after the U.S.A. and Britain filed patents for the process. Not just limited to spices, this technique is also used with fresh meat, fish and produce. Today’s challenger first fought while serving in the U.S. Army as an experimental test subject! Today he’s become more commercially popular then our champ. Akin to pasteurization, accusations that irradiated food is less nutritious or taste different are largely false. No heat treatment is involved in our challenger’s process, so he is still just as raw (while now lacking deadly microorganisms)!
In the Blue Corner – ALL NATURAL SPICES
Before recorded history, whether it be on the shores of India or a salt lick in northern Russia, man has used spices to flavor food. While being hunted by a pack of wolves, and trying to quickly gobble down some deer or rabbit meat, our ancestors didn’t have the luxury to rest their meat for half the cooking time. That is where our champ all natural spices comes to the rescue! Much like Tom Cruise dropping people off at the hospital on his way to a movie shoot, all natural spices have been saving cooks from serving bland food. Furthermore our champion has ruled supreme for several millennia. What hope does our upstart challenger have with only a few decades of existence under his belt? Lets see!
FIGHT!!!
- The Play-By-Play
Both fighters launch themselves from their respective corners, cockiness radiating with each step. The champ’s emmaciated frame reflects his all-natural training regime of yoga, tree-hugging, and medication to treat various ailments. In contrast our irradiated challenger is brimming with vigor! Normally you’d only see this level of health with the likes of the Incredible Hulk!
AND THE WINNER IS….
Irradiated wins in a matter of seconds. As a result of over half a century of use, this method of food sterilization is well documented as being safe. It also has a minimal impact on the taste and quality of raw foods. While all natural has a certain romantic appeal, in this age of mass industrialization and exploding population growth irradiated is the safer choice.
