Naturally fast food.
What?
Duh.
Wait, what?
How?
Stocking up on cookbooks at the local library, like I do, I spotted this fancy one and was intrigued.
Who is Leon? Is there such a thing as "naturally fast food" where you need actual recipes? (I mean, can't anyone throw together a salad ?) Why is this book so artfully fantastic? When did food photography become an important factor in good cookbooks?
The book opens with an "introduction" that seems to assume we already know who Henry & Vincent & this mysterious Leon are, which leaves me even more perplexed, since I've never heard of any of them, haven't seen hide nor hair of "Book 1", and feel like I'm generally well-read in the food world.
WELL.
Google proved to be indispensable again and upon searching, Leon (no Frenchy pronunciation, named after John's dad) is a fairly ubiquitous London fast food eatery. Somewhat along the average time of a wait in the Chipotle line will get you any of their fresh, local, sustainably-raised, generally-healthy food choices of POACHED EGGS in the AM (POACHED EGGS, mo fos!), moroccan meatball "hot boxes" (served with brown rice and fresh slaw), fish finger sammies, various seasonal (SEASONAL!) stews, juices, smoothies, barista-made COFFEES, and gluten-free desserts in their biodegradable packaging.
What the hell, England?
Wondering about prices? SO WAS I.
My ideal breakfast (poached egg with ham & truffle gruyere, toast, and a latte) would be about $9.
A tasty lunch (if I was starving after practice) consisting of any of their fancy hot boxes, a freshly squeezed juice, and coffee (because COFFEE, ALWAYS COFFEE) would run about $13. Dinner might be a couple bucks more, because DESSERT.
And I wouldn't feel like I'm going to die two years earlier from what I just ate? WORTH IT.
Then I go on to find out the founders have helped write the School Food Plan (started by my first food boyfriend, Jamie Oliver and his Food Revolution) that outlines what kids will eat in school and how they learn about food. And they have a program that encourages young people to learn how to cook 5 savory dishes before they're 16.
They also have a line of pretty looking, delicious recipe books. Of course.
Then I lamented living in the U.S. where celebrity chefs seem disinterested in helping make healthy, real food cooler than McDonald's and where 20% of meals are eaten in a car and LET'S ALL MOVE TO ENGLAND because the exchange rate is pretty good right now.
But then I did some more Googling and found some hope, so I'll stay here for now and tell you all about the hopeful fast food future next week.