Sandor Katz--Living with Bacteria, Tastefully

The Big Chew Podcast

We can't live without bacteria. Nor would we want to—bacteria help flavor and preserve some of our favorite foods. My guest, fermentation activist Sandor Ellix Katz, explains why we humans should rethink our relationship with these tiny creatures who actually run the place. Sandor Ellix Katz is the award-winning, New York Times-bestselling author of two great books, Wild Fermentation and The Art of Fermentation. He's a really smart, fun guy on a mission—to reconnect people with their food. (Thanks to his books, my cellar shelves hold jars of homemade sauerkraut, pickled beets, pickled green tomatoes...) Sandor and I talk about the history and deliciousness of fermented food, and how safe home-fermenting is. We totally diss that modern Western notion that bacteria are our enemies and that 99.99% of them must be vanquished by sprays or wipes or soaps. "Bacteria are the matrix of all life," says Sandor. He explains some of their many skills—they can transform themselves, unlock the nutrients in our food, improve our health, our mood, and our menus. They also set a good example. They outnumber our cells by orders of magnitude--even in our "own" bodies. They teach us how that whole rugged American go-it-alone thing isn't doable or desirable. Sandor gives fermenting classes around the world (including Vermont this summer!). Check his website for his schedule. You can also buy his books there. www.wildfermentation.com Music in this episode is "Rose" by From Bacteria to Boys, live on the WFMU Scott McDowell Show, used by a Creative Commons license.