Before participating in a round table on global warming at the 20-minute Visions Festival, Juan Arbelaez prepared a “to-do-list” that everyone would do well to fix with a magnet on their fridge.
1. Think of the seasons, on land as in the sea
We think of the seasons for strawberries or mushrooms, never for fish. And yet. Juan Arbelaez caused a stir by declaring in our columns that he stopped cooking the octopus long enough to let his breeding season pass, in spring and summer.
“It was a huge challenge for me who spent 1.3 tonnes per month in my restaurants. But I could no longer bear to see this animal, weakened in its reproductive period, being subject to intensive fishing in summer. It is true that there is nothing better than a grilled octopus by the sea ... But it was stronger than me. I stopped everything for nine months and waited until mid-November to put it back on the menu. Following Juan Arbelaez's example may help keep the species afloat for many years to come.
2. Cooking with your head before trying to test your taste buds
The Colombian chef is not a climate specialist, his approach simply appeals to common sense: "I saw my country Colombia, I saw Greece too, emptying of its agrifood wealth to satisfy more rich than them. For the chef, it is urgent to backtrack. “In Greece, apart from livestock farms, we don't fish anything today. "
3. Between vegetables and meat, reverse the proportions
Can you find ten meats on the menu for a single vegetarian dish? "We should convince restaurateurs to reverse this proportion," suggests Juan Arbelaez. And at home ? "Remove animal protein from one of your three daily meals and you will feel better. With the cold weather coming, the chef recommends the soups to be frozen and to be served at night. “With cheese, croutons or tops of cauliflowers, it's a treat. To help you, you will find 130 “sparkling and full of love” recipes in his book Cuisinez share, which has just been released by Marabout.
4. Eat less, but eat better
Juan Arbelaez suggests finding the taste for good things, by cooking a little less, but much better. "Treat yourself to meat from time to time, but let it be a fucking meat!" Buy smaller quantities, it will cost you less and you will avoid food waste! Juan Arbelaez believes in the virtues of "reasoned consumption" where you do not need to deprive yourself. “Eating well is not luxury! "
5. Keep the festive spirit pegged to the body
For the former Top Chef, having a responsible attitude does not mean giving up the urge to party or share a good meal with family or friends. "I saw it this summer in Greece or in Tel Aviv: they swallow crazy amounts of falafel, hummus or grilled vegetables and that doesn't stop them from dancing on the tables!" Why not in France? "
6. Find the origin of what you eat
Rather than spending the weekend in front of screens, Juan Arbelaez recommends going to the market once a week with the family. "The school should take the children to the market", as one takes them to the theater or the museum. Nothing like it, according to him, to become aware of the seasonality of products and understand where the food comes from. “Young people are curious about this. "
7. Maintaining confidence in the future
What will we eat tomorrow? Juan Arbelaez is serene. “There is such an awareness today that we can only have confidence in future generations. When I see 5-year-old kids picking up trash on the beaches, I can't help but regret being one of those who threw it away at their age. "
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