Column / The Human Palate

“The Human Palate” is a blog about the anthropology of food. From terroir to terrine, it covers the cultures and traditions of farming, foraging, cooking, and eating around the world. With an emphasis on people and places often overlooked, “The Human Palate” explores Homo sapiens through this one fundamental need that shapes us all—food.

The Human Palate

South Sudanese Refugees and the Taste of Displacement
27 Oct 2016
Food rations sustain refugees, but what’s missing is fulfillment and a sense of home.
The Human Palate

Will GMOs Put an End to Hunger? Ask the Hungry
2 Aug 2016
Scientists and activists battle over the pros and cons of genetically modified organisms. In the midst of this heated debate, important voices have been lost.
The Human Palate

Hmong Gardeners in America’s Dairyland
28 Jun 2016
Lands donated to former refugees provide stability and nourishment—not only in the food that is grown but through the community that’s taken root.
The Human Palate

Lao Camp Food (Part 2)
8 Jun 2016
A bomb clearance team in Laos eagerly buys bush meat from local hunters. Then they realize they're eating threatened and endangered species.
The Human Palate

Lao Camp Food (Part 1)
26 May 2016
I recently spent several days camping with a bomb clearance team in southern Laos. Quick history: Laos, per capita, is the most heavily bombed country on Earth. Between 1964 and 1973, U.S. forces flew more than 580,000 bombing missions over the country in an effort to root out Communists and stop the supply chain along the Ho Chi Minh Trail. Hundreds of millions of bombs were dropped; up …
The Human Palate

Coffee To Go
15 Apr 2016
Coffee is a cultural drink, prepared different ways in different places—which can be a hassle for travelers seeking their regular cuppa Joe. Here’s one solution.