David White
The Kiwi documentary-maker created his latest movie, Meat, after realising that many people knew little about how the meat they eat is produced. “Their idea of meat was not really based on being on a farm. They’d created their opinions from marketing material and activist sites. And even though I’d grown up on a cattle farm, my knowledge was also lacking.”
Some people working on the movie changed their diet. Yes, one became a vegetarian, because it made him think about the whole process. At the other end of the spectrum, a friend started eating pork again. She said she thought pig farmers were the worst people in the world, but she had only one source of information. “I’d never been on a farm. The film asked me, not explicitly, to think about where I got my information. So I went and found out more. You know, bacon is delicious.”
Do you follow a special diet? Not really. For a while a few years ago, because of illness, I wasn’t eating any sugar at all, no alcohol, no gluten. By doing that I was able to get better and for the most part it’s carried on.
What did you have for breakfast today? Thoroughbread carrot and fennel gluten-free bread, with Lewis Road Sea Salt Crystal Butter, Fix & Fogg Smoke & Fire peanut butter, topped with tomato, cracked pepper and more salt. Oh, and two long blacks.
What did you have for lunch? I was driving and stopped at a cafe for a Paleo pie. I topped it with my very own David’s BBQ sauce. And I had an apple.
What is your favourite evening meal? Whole fish in tinfoil, with many herbs, butter, salt and pepper, cut up anchovies, anchovy oil, a dash of Campari, lemon juice and verjuice.
What ingredient can you not live without? Very simply – it took me five minutes to come to this conclusion – salt and pepper. Oh, and butter – this took me another three minutes.
Meat is in cinemas from May 4.