Book Review: How the World really works by Vaclav Smil

I often like to pick up books and have no clue what it is really about. So, I found this book on a recommended reading list from Bill Gates and a colleague mentioned that they have cited Vaclav Smil in a dissertation. The title already gives some clues of what to expect: The science behind how we got here and where we're going. (This is also a great cover design!)

I did not however expect this book to have a climate change angle - a pleasant surprise. But, if I knew the author, the climate change approach would not have been such a surprise. Vaclav Smil has published more than 40 books (and 500 research papers) in the fields of energy, environmental and population change, food production, history or technical innovation, risk assessment, and public policy. In my opinion Vaclav Smil is a realist, but he classifies himself as a scientist in the book. 

Naturally the book is well researched and factual. What I enjoyed most was the sober voice of the author. This book does not induce climate anxiety, but it also does not give much hope. The fossil fuel industry is so deeply ingrained in our every day lives that there is, I want to say zero, but for the sake of science I will say, a minuscule chance that we are going to stop the effects of climate change. It is doubtful that we will get to net zero (if that is a realistic target), it is doubtful that we can reverse the damage already done. And there is a big change that we are just royally screwed. The reason why people don't act or believe in climate change is that it is not going to happen in a day, but it will get progressively worse every year.

What amazed me is how recent all these developments are that brought us to the place we are now. Where we are going is much more uncertain.

I thoroughly enjoyed the book, and a highly recommend it!

Review: Isoya Japanese Vegetarian

Isoya Japanese Vegetarian restaurant, located on the 9th floor of 83 Wan Chai road is a fantastic spot that offers vegan and vegetarian cuisine. If you would like the vegan option you can just request it. Usually they have two set menu's that you can choose from and they are fairly well-priced. 

On arrival you will be greeted in a very friendly manner by the staff. A few of the staff members can speak English quite well and they are attentive to your needs. 

I hope that I photographed all the dishes, I was enjoying myself so much that I didn't really keep track. I think that is one way for me to know that it is a very special place!

First we got some green tea in one of these beautiful pots. The staff consistently fills up your tea cup and they will refill the pot if it is empty. On our second visit they gave us something called a water eggplant which cleared our pallets - that was quite enjoyable.

This was the first course. The sesame tofu with wasabi and the miso tofu was stand out parts of this dish. However the tomatoes were by far the best thing I tasted all night! It's from Okinawa and tastes subtly sweet and tangy at the same time - it was delicious! The seaweed also deserves a special mention!

This dish was amazing - the plating was done so beautifully. I particularly liked the mushroom nigiri and the red pepper nigiri. The dish was a little different the second time we went, but just as tasty. When we received this dish I couldn't believe that it was made from vegetables! Plant power for the win!

Now that I am going through these dishes I just realised that everything tasted really good. This was tempura avocado and melon - I love tempura so this was right up my alley. There were lots of oohs and ahhs around the table too!

I can't remember the particular taste of this dish, but it was beautifully presented and I loved the mushrooms and tofu!

I was reluctant to try this dish but wow! I haven't tasted food like this before. The second time we went my partner go the hotpot - it was served after this meal. 

I enjoyed this udon dish with seaweed, although I don't always like it if my food is floating in something. We didn't have this the second time. Instead it was replaced with a cold lime noodle soup - which was refreshing.

And lastly, dessert! No that is not just an orange, it is orange jelly - really innovative.

It was a great experience!

Food: 10/10
Ambience: 9/10
Service: 9/10
Drinks: 9/10

Review: Treehouse Hong Kong

 Treehouse must be one of the best restaurants in Hong Kong. Their whole plant based food are all unprocessed, have no preservatives, refined sugar, artificial sweeteners, dyes, transfats or bleached flour. Most definitely sounds like the place I would like to eat. 

The H-code branch is the one I frequent often and it has a beautiful interior. It has a water fountain and a fridge filled with kombucha and fresh juices that you can grab if you want a drink. 

You can order at the counter or very conveniently use the self-ordering counter where you can spend your time deciding what you would like. Alternatively you can scan the QR code at the table and order like that. The menu consists of salad bowls, pizza and wraps with extra sides such as sweet potato fries and soups. All the food is prepared fresh on order. You can also make your own as the menu is endlessly customisable. This is my go-to:

A sourdough wrap with avocado, eggplant, mushrooms and semi-dried cherry tomatoes with garlic sauce. I must admit that it is so good that I am always reluctant to try something else! I know what I want and I know what I like. I think this is also a great place to start if you want to transition into a plant-based diet.

And look at all these amazing plant-based desserts! Those walnut chocolate brownies are to die for!

After you have eaten, there are dedicated areas to discard of left-over food (highly unlikely!), packaging and glassware to further minimise the impact we have on the environment. You clear your own table and take responsibility for what you have just put into that amazing body of yours.

The think I love most about Treehouse is their consistency: they always have stock and the food always tastes the same. The staff are always friendly and efficient. I have never had a bad experience at their stores. If you have lived in Hong Kong for long enough you know that for these reasons alone Treehouse is a gem that you can visit time and time again.

If you want to go plant-based and think that the food is going to be terrible, you really should visit Treehouse. You will never want to eat anything else again!

If you want to find out more about Treehouse check out their website here: Treehouse: One with Nature.

**Opinions are my own and I am not sponsored by the restaurant to write this post

Documentary: Eating Our Way to Extinction

 The documentary eating our way to extinction is now available on YouTube. Watch it here

It’s fantastic to see that a celebrity such as Kate Winslet has hopped on board as narrator. Good news: Kate is vegetarian and her husband vegan! It’s wonderful to see big names joining the cause to mobilise more people to save our environment.

The documentary opens with a tree falling and in the deafening silence that followed I felt my heart contract. When a masked man with his morphed voice starts talking about the Brazilian forest, I got goosebumps. It’s exactly the attitude of “we do what we want” that has the whole world in the climatic mess we are currently seeing.

The documentary proceeds with stunning shots of mother nature and an appearance by the director explaining how they have spent four years of filming to show the threat of ecological collapse. But he ends with a tinge of hope.

Our lust for more and more meat has contributed significantly to the warming of our atmosphere. We will keep on wanting until there is nothing left to want. However the biggest thing you and I can do is change our diets.

The damage caused by animal agriculture is undeniable and further exacerbated by the inefficiency of our current food production systems. In addition to this the big businesses behind animal agriculture do not want to loose money and all we have to do is vote with our wallets! Please do yourselves a favour and watch the documentary. You may now some of the information already but the more people watch it the more we can spread the word and change the world. We have to. We are running out of time.

This all reminds me of the following passage from Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien:

But in the end, it’s only a passing thing, this shadow. Even darkness must pass. A new day will come. And when the sun shines it will shine out the clearer. Those were the stories that stayed with you. That meant something. Even if you were too small to understand.

But, I think Mr. Frodo, I do understand. I know now. Folk in those stories had lots of chances of turning back only they didn’t. Because they were holding onto something.

What are we holding onto Sam?

That there’s something good in this world, Mr, Frodo. And it’s worth fighting for.