Peculiar Eating Habits — The Walking Dead and Chris Cosentino

A feast fit for a zombie (and Chris Cosentino)

Like Cosentino, zombies leave nothing to waste...

I’m a bit late to the Zombie party, but a couple of days ago, I was finally able to catch the AMC series, The Walking Dead. And I didn’t just watch one episode, I watched the entire first season — and I must say, I was completely enthralled.

First, let me disclose that I am terrified of zombies — from the slow-moving zombies creeping aimlessly in the Night of the Living Dead, to the disconcerting cross-country track zombies in 28 Days – the whole concept of soulless, moving carcasses whose only purpose is to sniff and snuff out those with souls resonates through my most inner core, and causes me for brief moments at a time to develop such a severe form of Tourette’s, I believe even my husband (who is well aware of my swearing vice) begins to worry.

That being said, however,  this column isn’t about the ingenious plot, character development and special effects The Walking Dead brings to a cable network that, well, could be the literal walking dead (Jersey Shores and The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, anyone?) — that’s another blog.

Today’s blog focuses on the zombies peculiar — yet trendy (yes, I said trendy) – eating habits. Yes, they bite through flesh, leaving behind mangled remnants of what somebody once was. But they also — when allowed — leave absolutely nothing behind in terms of a carcass. They eat everything in its entirety — talk about being environmentally responsible.

Zombies, it seems, also have a lot in common with today’s trendiest and most well-regarded chefs.

Take for instance, Chris Cosentino.  Cosentino is a chef with a deep sense of love and respect toward the food we eat, and has made preparing and eating offal popular among foodies who share his philosophy of leaving nothing to waste — even if it means consuming the entrails.

Zombies, although without soul or consciousness, share Cosentino’s, uh, passion, for offal. And although their drive is based on pure hunger — their need to constantly quench their taste for (mostly) human flesh — I think Cosentino would appreciate their efforts to ensure every part is consumable and nutritious, providing the sustenance needed to keep their zombie bones strong.

All kidding aside, however, I think Cosentino and the zombies are onto something. As a society, we must begin to realize that food is not a limitless source and meat doesn’t magically appear wrapped in cellophane at the grocery store. Very simply put, food is a nutritional (and also, many times, delicious) source of life designed to keep us alive, healthy and able to function.

And at its very essence — organs, intestines and all — food (meat) should be looked at not as disgusting throw-away parts, but a nutritional source, especially in an era where society is close to maxing out and the population continues to rapidly increase. What does it mean? I hate to break it to you, but it could mean food shortages in the future.

So, next time you begin to turn your nose up in disdain at animal entrails and organs, think about it in terms of not only saving the planet, but saving ourselves — zombie style (sans human flesh, I hope!) — and I’m willing to bet Cosentino would approve, too.

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