here & now

Condiment – Adventures in Food and Form is a really intriguing new publication and project that I have recently come across. I bought it as something more offbeat to give to a friend (who loves food and cooking) for their birthday. And then I liked it so much I had to subscribe! Condiment explores the relationship between food and creativity and food and community and issue #01 includes contributions by likes of Yumiko Utsu, Martino Gamper, Ready For The House, Anders Jander, Per Englund, Ellen Birrell, E.C. Large, ffiXXed, Taiyo Onorato and Nico Krebs, Amanda Maxwell, Shauna T., Melanie Bonajo, Christopher LG Hill and Postalco.  Here’s a note from the editors, Chris Barton and Jessica Brent from their inaugural issue to fill you in further -

“For the most part, food is nature at its most familiar. While views on its production and presentation become ever more complex and conflicted, it is nevertheless us that set the parameters.

As its masters we think: food is here to serve us. But quite possibly: we are here to serve food.  Reversing the roles and giving up control is an eye-opening exercise. After all it is we who are dependent on food, and not food that is dependent on us.

One key attribute to the good servant is enthusiasm and enthusiasm is most often found in the amateur. The true amateur, of which E.C. Large was proudly an advocate, is defined as “one who loves”.

Beyond our own lack of expertise, although that is true too, it is this simple sentiment that has informed Condiment – Adventures in Food and Form. Equal parts wonder and worship, each page of this publication is not as much about what we do know as what we don’t.”

Issue #02 is due for release in late November.