Offal conundrums

Can we square our love of animals with our inability to stop eating their body parts? In this short audio essay, Feminist Food Journal editor Isabela chronicles her evolving relationship with vegetarianism and stubborn love of offal to unpack what meat means to her sense of self.

Meet Baozi, a pet duck at Wisdom Garden Homestay in Yuli, Taiwan and guiding presence in Isabela’s dietary journey. Painting credits: May Lee.

This podcast features writing and sound editing by Isabela Bonnevera and original music by the Electric Muffin Research Kitchen. A full transcript can be found here.

Further reading

Food, Race, and Power: Who gets to be an authority on 'ethnic' cuisines? (Thanks to

Apoorva Sripathi

of

shelf offering

for the recommendation!)

Bonus media

The buffalo in question at the beginning of this podcast. It was painful to think that his time might have been running out. Nepal, 2016.

Not to sound dramatic, but there is nothing on earth Isabela craves with more passion and intensity than this tripe, brisket, and wonton noodle soup from Tsim Chai in her hometown of Richmond, BC.

A soy-based tripe substitute at Isabela’s local Asian supermarket, Barcelona, June 2024.