Eating lite
Riva Soucie
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G-Spot's PWYC
photo: Christina Riley
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No foie gras for these masses
Each year, I feel more and more alien as the end of year approaches. Neither religious nor a fan of superfluous consumption, I find myself with little sympathy for the North American versions of most "holiday" celebrations.Though we worship no deity, Binjo and I are fairly devoted to the philosophies of simple living, and most days of the week this extends to what we eat. Like most problems in the Western world, though, we've found that the most obvious solutions cost money.
For example, for $90 you can join the Ottawa/Gatineau chapter of Slow Foods International, an organization that promotes the preservation of traditional agriculture techniques, sustainable consumption and the pure love of fresh, delicious food. In addition to the membership fee, though, many events have an additional cost, some as much as $45.
Several restaurants and businesses, too, pride themselves on participating in slow food. The Beckta hegemony, for instance, spins part of its image by seeming slow: sourcing local ingredients and participating in the slaughter of a boar at Mariposa some time ago. But Beckta's prices and atmosphere aren't exactly accessible to the unwashed masses.
Thankfully, there is slow food for the rest of us.
A little over a year ago, The People's Republic of Delicious (PRD), a non-profit, student-run kitchen, began as an OPIRG working group. They cook vegan, mostly organic meals for Ottawa U students and visitors. The food is donated by area businesses, including Herb and Spice, the Natural
Food Pantry and Moulin de Provence.The best part is that the food is served on a pay-what-you-can basis. If you can't pay? "That's okay. We will still serve you," participant Geoff Cross assured me. Any money PRD receives from meals goes back into the collective coffer to purchase cooking supplies.
Currently, PRD serves meals every Wednesday at 1 p.m. in the uni centre, as well as at various events supported by the collective.
Carleton University has a similar food alternative. Also run by an OPIRG working group, the Garden Spot offers healthy vegan meals a few times a week in the university centre. Last week, they were serving up a lemony lentil soup and warm potato and pea curry on brown rice. For dessert, soft apple cake with cinnamon-crumble topping. This place is pay-what-you-can too, so eat and be merry. Bring your own container (BYOC).
These are considered community kitchens and everyone is welcome, including non-students. But if you don't feel like mucking through a throng of 19-year-olds to get your slow food, you might try Food Not Bombs, a free community kitchen that operates every Sunday morning in the Bethel Field House (Elgin and Frank).
Or, if you're a little less worse for wear, shop at the Organic Farmers' Market on Saturday mornings. The food is locally produced, organic, and nobody wields his shopping basket like a weapon. Or check out Simply Raw's monthly potlucks. Bring a raw dish and $5 to cover the cost of facility rental. The December 1 edition will feature a screening of the film Eating (Henry Jaglom's mockumentary about women who obsess over food). The local chapter of slow food also hosts many cheap or free events, such as potlucks, dinners and workshops.
These days, I'd rather go hungry than feed the Christmas machine. Luckily, there are other choices.
PRD (Ottawa U's uni-centre)
G-Spot (Carleton U's uni-centre)
Food Not Bombs (166 Frank)
Ottawa Organic Market (1644 Bank, behind Canadian Tire)Simply Raw (www.simplyraw.ca)
Slow Food Ottawa Gatineau (www.slowfoodottawagatineau.org)
Good for everyone I suppose that there are alternatives for those who actually have a social conscience. While I am often guilty of not thinking before I eat it is quite heartening to read that there are others who do actually give a damn about our relationship to food. Keep it up and light the way for those clods like myself!
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Reuven De Souza
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{1 vote}
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There are a few similar operations in my neck of the woods but sadly not as many as you'd think. Truly, in these trying times when we're all tightening our belts and wallets it'd be nice if there were more place to turn to to get a good healthy meal at good prices.
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Pedro Eggers
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| You Mean Students Can Eat Other Things Beside Kraft Dinner?........... |
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This is a great article to showcase the power of community thinking and the importance of food collectives. With so much food wasted every day in the same breath that so many kids going to bed with empty tummies, operating food collectives is a responsible way of centralizing resources and making good food and good meals not only affordable but healthy.
Although, it may be tempting to make some mild guffaws over the name "G-Spot" for the name of a restaurant (please be seated.....ooh..ooh.....yeah...right there..oh-my-God...yes...right..there), this helpful list of pay-what-you-can and community kitchens is a great resource for anyone having a hard time making ends meet.
The food cupboards are noticing increasingly stronger traffic than in any previous years as more families try to cope with near-poverty level incomes, and these resources (especially Food Not Bombs) are important places to know about, either now, or some time in the future when the value is better appreciated.
With the holidays coming, I always hope that everyone has enough to eat, but there still exists so many people struggling to survive. In a country as rich and developed as Canada, it is a crying shame and there is always something we can do to help our fellow brothers and sisters. Give to others this holiday season.
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Steve Landry
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{14 votes}
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Yes, luckily, there are other choices in Ottawa. In fact, it's also good knowing that Ottawa has its own Organic Market, especially if prices are incredibly fair and products grown in the area. I never used to care about the lives my fruits, vegetables and diary product led before they arrived into my fridge, but now I do a lot more. I'll definitely will visit this market sometimes next summer. At least, I won't have to pay a membership to get in...
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Valerie Augier
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{10 votes}
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I'm glad something was finally written about pay-as-you-can healthy eating alternatives.
As a student at Concordia Unviersity who is originally from Ottawa, my fellow student body has been blessed by having the vegan food collective the Peoples Potato serve up a hot, delicious lunch five days a week, 26 weeks a year for the cost of nothing, or by donation. The collective is supported by the students is ran for the students and anyone else who ventures into the school around noon hour.
I know a lot of student unions debate about cutting costs to the in-house school collectives, but this article is helpful to reenforce why they are important and the advantages of keeping around.
For those of you who have yet to check out the G-spot or the PRD I strongly urge you to do so-not only are you supporting (for a very nominal fee) local businesses and a good cause, you get to eay a healthy lunch and enjoy conversation with great progressive-minded people.
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Lauryn Kronick
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{11 votes}
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