New Good Food: Shopper’s Pocket Guide to Organic, Sustainable and Seasonal Whole Foods
After years of “shopping the exterior” at grocery stores, patronizing farmers markets and regularly experimenting in the kitchen with different types of grains, beans and flour, I considered myself pretty knowledgeable about varieties of whole foods. And then I picked up Margaret M. Wittenberg’s New Good Food pocket guide, and I was humbled by her extensive list of foods, definitions and origins, proper storage techniques and ideal uses for cooking.
Each chapter begins by explaining terminology, like what “cold-pressed” means in terms of oil, what exactly “rennet” does for dairy, and what part of a grain is the “endosperm.” When applicable, Wittenberg adds a bit of world history, like the global language of bread (ficelle and lavash) or noodles (harusame). The helpful charts show varieties, characteristics and uses for everything from leafy greens, root vegetables and mushrooms, to whole grains and specialty flours, to beans and nuts. Sections on animal products—like seafood, meat, poultry, eggs and dairy—include buying, storing and cooking methodology. The sections on sweeteners and seasonings each highlight how to substitute, adjust or modify these ingredients in recipes.
Wittenberg also breaks down the jargon of food labeling and industry terminology. Did you know that every food claim on packaging actually has a definition attached to it? “Low in cholesterol” must mean that there is 20 mg or less of cholesterol per serving and “reduced sodium” means at least 25% or less salt than “a food representative of the same type.”
Though The Essential Good Food Guide is Wittenberg’s more in-depth version of this guide, the pocket version is an excellent take-along dictionary, glossary, seasonal buying and cooking handbook for whole, sustainable foods. It is practical, thorough and truly a go-to book for anyone wishing to learn more about the diversity of food and how to creatively and effectively substitute other varieties when preparing meals at home.
New Good Food: Shopper’s Pocket Guide to Organic, Sustainable and Seasonal Whole Foods by Mary Wittenberg
