Nuggets of Food History
The General of the Society of Jesus sent José de
Acosta (1540-1600), refined theologian, in Peru to solve problems. Like Mr. Wolf
in Pulp Fiction: “I’m José de Acosta. I solve problems”. An example: is it allowed
to eat iguana on ecclesiastical fasting days? Does abstinence from the flesh
also include the strange animal that lives in both water and land? Is it fish
or meat? The answer of those who see iguana advancing in the water is:
fish. As soon as it paws on the shore, however, it seems rather a terrestrial
creature. It can survive for long outside the sea; it can walk away and go into
the woods, climb up the mountains. Its nature is ambiguous. They need a
solution. Iguana meat is not bad at all. Perhaps it is for this reason that the
answer is: Yes, you can! Probably. Of course, bad news for the iguana.
