Day: August 13, 2013

When the new round of Middle East peace talks begins in Jerusalem on Aug. 14, they will differ markedly from some of the intense face-to-face negotiations that Israeli and Palestinian leaders have conducted in the past in the hope of finally reaching a final agreement between the two peoples. Instead, the process this time — which is meant to result in a deal after nine months — will begin with a meeting between two appointed negotiators from each side, with an American emissary refereeing. None of them will have the power to cut a deal.

“We have wonderful negotiating team lined up on both sides, but the real decisionmakers are not in the room,” says Alon Liel, a former director general of Israel’s Foreign Ministry and a peace advocate who know well each of the negotiators due to meet in Jerusalem. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas…

London-based designer Chris Godfrey has made a culinary mess, and canned it up as an on-the-go alternative to a 12-course meal. The Kingston University graphic design student cooked up the idea while researching his dissertation on how our culture of consumerism distorts our buying choices.

“We all buy into gimmicks whether it be ‘buy one get one free’, ‘all in one’ or ‘one size fits all,'” Godfrey says. “The 12 course meal encourages viewers to question the novelty nature of our consumer culture.  Just because it is a deal, does it actually provide the most beneficial option?”

What’s in it?

Chris Godfrey / All In One

• Local cheeses with sourdough bread
• Pickled Kobe beef with charred strawberry
• Ricotta ravioli with a soft egg yolk
• Shiitake mushroom with filled peppers
• Hailbut poached in truffle butter in a coconut crepe
• French onion soup with fresh thyme and gruyère cheese
• Risotto with foraged ramps…