Episode 218: Eating Dirt

This week we'll explore the practice of geophagy, the eating of substances like soil, chalk, and clay as a cultural custom or for dietary or subsistence reasons, with our guest Susan Allport, author of The Primal Feast: Food, Sex, Foraging and Love. Evidence of geophagy has been found at archaeological sites and still occurs in much of the world (including the United States) today. Listen in on a fascinating discussion.

Jane and Michael Stern have completed their dissertation on Philly cheese steak and report their findings. Anya Von Bremsen has returned from France with a recipe for Easy Bouillabaisse, that flavorful Mediterranean fish stew, along with a short list of the best places to eat bouillabaisse in Marseille.

Our gadget gal Dorie Greenspan suggests cooking in steamers for pure, fat-free flavor. She shares a recipe for Spiced Steamed Salmon with Chutney and Chard to get us started. Julia Alvarez, author of A Cafecito Story, tells a fable about how a cup of coffee changed a life, and Lynne takes your phone calls.

Broadcast dates for this episode:

• September 7, 2002 (originally aired)

• November 29, 2003 (rebroadcast)