MAD, 'the not-for-profit organization that aims to build a community of cooks, purveyors, and thinkers with an appetite for knowledge and a desire to improve the restaurant trade,' has just announced the theme and dates for their next annual symposium. Hosted in Copenhagen on August 24-25th, the theme this year will be "What Is Cooking?"
Here is the announcement directly form their page:
In many ways, this is an incredible time to be a cook. The public has taken an interest in our traditionally blue-collar trade, opening doors previous generations could never have imagined.
But the more attention our industry receives from television, film, newspapers, magazines, and the Internet, the less clear it becomes what it means to cook. A path to celebrity, a means of attaining fortune – the past decade has given rise to a great many things that we know cooking is not. Our goal for MAD4 is to remind ourselves what cooking is.
Let’s re-evaluate the fundamental techniques and responsibilities of the profession. What are the legacies that we should uphold and what should we strive to change? And what’s cooking in the pan, on the grill, in the oven? Where does the food we cook come from and what’s in it? What will it become in the next century and how do we ensure that it changes for the better? How will cooking — and cooks — adapt and evolve?
"What is cooking?" is a daunting question, but we’re curious and excited to hear how some of our favorite chefs, thinkers, artists, producers, and scientists will answer the query. At MAD, we’re looking forward to an informed, open, and revealing conversation.
We hope you’ll join us in Copenhagen this summer.
Tickets will be released spring 2014.
For the updates on tickets, press accreditation, and speakers, please stay tuned to the MADFeed.