Grapefruit__Juice

You've talked about how your grandmother's holocaust experience influenced how she fed you, which led to your re-evaluating how you feed your children. How has her/your families' jewish experience influenced your/your children's lives in other ways?

Can I be a fly on the wall in your kitchen while you and Nicole Krauss eat dinner? I'll be quiet. I love both of your work.

Edited for typos.

That's what I don't really understand about the militant vegan thing. Why is it a BAD thing that an author (whether or not he is vegan, vegetarian, omnivore) writes about this issue and exposes it to the mainstream. Why then 'reject it'? Mark Bittman has done tons for American home cooks by declaring that we need to eat (and cook) more vegetables, beans and non-animal protein (but never advocates for fake meat)...yet he still enjoys animals every now and then. Does that negate his work as well?

Getting people - regular everyday people - to think about what they eat and educating them about the horrors of an industry that they support, is a good thing. Getting that person to order just beans at a Mexican restaurant instead of cheap chicken is a good thing.

Hmm. Interesting. I would have never thought about it that way, that his not being a vegan makes it look hard. I guess you're right, I just still don't know why the book would be wholly rejected because of this. I agree, it has a strong vegan message. I was vegan for close to 3 years total, at 2 separate times. I'm no longer vegan, because I believe it is hard. Hard since I happen to enjoy eating and cooking animal products, although I tend to feel very conflicted about it. I am no longer vegan since I occasionally indulge in animal products. (If I told you that I only purchased pastured meat, blah blah, it wouldn't help by argument, I realize. I was vegan for environmental reasons mostly - some animal cruelty - same reason I won't buy berries from Peru in February.) However, I still am happy with the decisions I do make and since there is no name for people like me (and maybe JSF) who eat 95% vegan, I am stuck with the title "omnivore". After a while apologizing for it, I'm settled with it. I just think that each time someone makes an informed decision about opting out of eating an animal product, it is a good thing. And it seems like you might agree.

In terms of Bittman, yes, it's a bit different. He's described himself as "vegan before dinner". I think you're correct that it is not for ethical reasons, I just think that it has had great consequences on the public at large.

Anyway - thanks for writing back. I appreciate hearing your POV.

I will now think of you when I drink world peace. I've always loved when people get the reference.

Great movie. Thanks for answering my question!

I've read that Groundhog Day illustrates the Buddhist concept of samsara (birth/life/death/rebirth), was that the intention? Are you Buddhist? A Jew-Bu?

And thank you for giving me my standard toast: "I'd like to say a prayer and drink to world peace".