Yesterday, the BBC posted a story about a new strain of beans that have been developed specifically to be 'flatulance free'.  I sent out an email to a bunch of my friends  proclaiming the fact that now we will be able to eat beans on toast in 'peace'!

Most of my friends (and family for that matter) didn't know what I was talking about.  "Who's eating beans on toast?" asked Robert.  I replied with the following tidbit from the British Nutrition Foundation website: 

Most plant food proteins (with the exception of soya) have a low content of one or more of the amino acids needed by the body (usually referred to as indispensable or essential amino acids).  Furthermore, different ones are missing in different plant foods. Therefore, plant foods can be combined to provide high quality protein. Complementary combinations include:

• Pulses/rice – bean casserole and rice, dhal and rice
• Pulses/cereal - baked beans on toast
• Nuts/cereal – peanut butter sandwich, nut roast

If the proteins from different plant sources are eaten together (or at least over a day), the amino acid profiles of the plant proteins will complement each other.

This led to accusations that I had started a beans on toast conspiracy, and general disbelief that people would eat such things.  I replied by saying that even the British Heart Foundation approves of the staple British meal.  I myself enjoy a bit of the old jolly after a long morning's row.

And then, my old and faithful roommate from St. Olaf, Tom, stepped up to the plate:

Alright, while not generally one to be swayed by talk of health when choosing foods, I'm willing to take the plunge in the name of futhering American/British understanding and actually try out this whole crazy sounding "beans on toast" thing.  Kate is away at class tonight, so I'm on my own for dinner.  I'll crack open a can of baked beans and fire up the toaster.  (And, per Sam's suggestion, I'll add a little scrambled egg to the mix.)  To be honest though I find the picture on the British Heart Foundation's website not so appetizing. But if I've tried "Potted Meat Food Product", this can't be that bad, right?  :-P

The man's a legend.  I don't know what he won't do in the name of further the horizons of 'interesting' food.  And the result of his experiment?  You can see for yourself , but here are his comments:

I was sceptical beforehand, but having now tried it I'll admit, beans on toast is not too bad.  I think the eggs definitely added something.  I'm not sure I'd do straight beans on toast.  My beans sat on the stove for a little too long while I waited for the bacon to finish, so there's an opportunity for future study involving better beans.

Kate just got home and I showed her the pictures.  She says she'sworried about me, specifically how I'm going to get through the next couple of weeks while she's busy finishing up class and dance if I'm already to the point of eating beans on toast and chronicling it on the web.  :-)

Tom, the only comment I have for you is that, yeah, I think the beans were cooked a little too long.  I'll bring over some Heinz baked beans this summer (or perhaps the new flatulance free kind!) and we'll give it another go.

I have now returned from my second trip to Brussels.  The first was with the Oxford University Strategic Studies Group and the second was for my own research as well as establishing some ties between the James Martin Institute and the European Commission.  

The second trip I went by myself, stayed in a shady part of town, and generally tried not to be a tourist.  Instead, I spent two days 'living' in the city: going to the store, eating lunch in a park, drinking coffee at the corner cafe, and generally just standing around - that's what the Belgians seem to be best at (at least outside the EU district). 

Check out my pictures from the trips. Also, I encourage you to have a look at the website for the Atomium, a representation of a crystal molecule enlarged 165 billion times.  It has a museum and lots of other stuff inside of it!

After a lot of discussion, I am pleased to announce the creation of the James Martin Institute's Policy Foresight Programme.  Working with the Programme's Director, Sir Crispin Tickell, I will organise up to six 1-day seminars a year on issues of 'science, technology, and the environment in order to identify leverage points in current policy that could have significant long-term benefits for civilization.'  The first one will be on the future of agriculture and the food supply chain.  I'll post the draft overview in the next few days, but for now, what do you see as the most significant problem facing agriculture and the food supply chain today - one that could possible jeopardise the whole system if not addressed in the next few years?

I held an Easter Egg Hunt and Feast at my place this year. It was a great event with a collection of friends.  Everyone decorated their eggs beautifully, the hunt was picturesque, and the ham. . .took forever to cook!  Relive the moments.

I don’t have a particular preference for these little donuts, but today was the Grand Opening of the Krispy Kreme in Oxford. It has an amazing location, right in the middle of the newly renovated Oxford Castle (which is now a hotel, dining district, and possible outdoor theatre space). So we had to go check it out. And this was, of course, no ordinary outing. It was a quest! Haha! Want to see how it went?

Honestly, most of my friends know that I am much more likely to boycott American goods here than purchase them, let alone engage in an epic quest for them. I’m not really pleased that the main pedestrian block of Oxford has a Starbucks, Kentucky Fried Chicken, McDonald’s, and Burger King on it, with a Pizza Hut, another Starbucks, and a Borders (with another Starbucks) only a half block away. Luckily we still have the likes of Peppers Burgers, Cardew & Co Coffee, and Blackwells Bookshop. Home grown is definitely the way to go.

All that being said, however, donuts are one thing that Oxford does not do. So I welcome Krispy Kreme. Although, it immediately became apparent how long I have been out of America after the first donut sent me bouncing off the walls!