Food Utopias from Denmark to Durham: The Ethics of Eating Well

Nordic Food Lab, located in Copenhagen, derives prestige and authority through its affiliation with Restaurant Noma, currently ranked the world¿s best restaurant. The ¿NFL¿ strives through practical application to create deliciousness from often marginalized or otherwise overlooked ingredients. On the one hand, the work of the Food Lab opens the mind of eaters to the beneficial potential of diversifying our diets and food systems and making the most of limited resources. On the other hand, the social and cultural capital that goes with framing NFL in proximity with the "world's best restaurant" can seem elitist or exclusionary. Josh Evans will help us understand that tension and the ethical dynamics of the NFL's existence. Moving from Denmark to Durham, the discussion will allow the panelists to engage with questions of accessibility on the local front. Even as the food scene has revitalized a part of the city and uplifted the image of Southern cuisine, many large problems continue to persevere in terms of food access. Who is excluded from this popular utopian vision of what food should be? What are the relationships between culture, commerce, identity, and eating, and can the hush puppy still fit in? Finally, how can the success of the restaurant scene in gourmet circles be useful in resolving core issues brought on by poverty?This panel will explore these issues from multiple points of view: those of globally renowned food innovators, local restaurateurs, and scholars.