When Paul McCartney and his family became vegetarians in the 1960s, they were still in a clear minority. Things are a little different today, and the fight for visibility has also changed. The Beatle’s awareness of eating a completely plant-based diet also arose out of spiritual interest after discussions with Indian musicians, especially Ravi Shankar. Macca is now also committed to a vegan lifestyle.
His culinary legacy, if you will, is now carried on by his eldest biological daughter, Mary McCartney. The photographer and well-known TV chef has with “Feeding Creativity” (Mary McCartney. Feeding Creativity, BAGS, 280 pages, 40 euros) produces an enchanting, appetizing volume that can be viewed in several dimensions beyond its attractive presentation. He combines photography and food with great nonchalance, enriched with 60 of her favorite recipes for all occasions, times of day and moods. The preparation instructions are very carefully described and should not embarrass even amateur chefs.
A cookbook for friends and family
But the book actually offers added value by bringing the tasty meals to family and numerous prominent friends. McCartney surprises them in their homes or, in the case of some musicians and artists, in the studio or studio, prepares them food and makes sure they like it.
The title reveals its full ambiguity here: it is not only a “cookbook for friends and family” (how lucky to count all these talented minds among your loved ones and then also be able to host them), it is also one written with a light pen An appeal for the importance of good food for the creative creation process.
Nile Rodgers is served a roast and toast salad at Abbey Road Studios, HAIM are surprised with a cleverly prepared artichoke starter. Many dishes are deceptively simple: after a stressful day of filming, Cate Blanchett is treated to a supposedly uncomplicated but strengthening tomato soup (McCartney: “My favorite comfort food”).
The accusation of food porn can be dismissed here, the images of the food are created with great attention to detail and completely without pretentiousness. The pictures are intended to make you want to prepare something, rather than point to its absolute success. The social aspect of food is at the forefront, which is why the places where the food is eaten are just as much of a focus as the many celebrities who are fed.
The result is a cooking guest book freed from any dogmatic strictness with regard to the basic vegetarian composition, which attracts readers of artistic works in this genre, as it alludes to the usual social media reflexes of gastronomic behavior. A celebration of conviviality and culinary options.