Gladiator to Conclave

09/02/26

Gladiator to Conclave: what can we learn from the food eaten in both Rome and the Vatican?

Although we didn’t witness much eating in either film, we do know that food was, and still is, a large part of the cultural context and backdrop.

The kitchens of ancient Rome and the Vatican might seem worlds apart (even though they both have Italy in common), yet both represent fascinating microcosms of their respective cultures' relationship with food. While separated by nearly two millennia, these two institutions offer an insight into dietary practices, social hierarchies, and the cultural significance of meals. While both films seem far removed from the everyday life of someone in the UK today, surprisingly we share many similarities in both social and dietary behaviours but adopt some of their food practices too.

In ancient Rome, diet was fundamentally determined by social class – sound familiar? The wealthy enjoyed lavish, multi-course meals, featuring exotic ingredients and elaborate preparation techniques (think Michelin starred, gourmet restaurant fare). Dishes included: roasted meats like wild boar and peacock, exotic fish from distant provinces, fruits imported from across the empire and wines from various regions. Meals were intended to be displays of wealth and social status. This food aspiration is still very present in many Western cultures today; and we show our social hierarchy via food trends, social media and even hosting.

In contrast, common Roman plebeians subsisted on much simpler fare such as bread (often made from coarse grains), porridge, beans and lentils, local vegetables and the occasional small portions of salted meat or fish. Romans were big advocates of fermentation and pickling – something which has been revived and increased in popularity over the past few years in Britian. This sugar-free peasant diet of over 2000 years ago, sounds like the current guidelines for a very healthy lifestyle – no wonder they all looked so good in a toga or short leather tunic! (Watch film to confirm this).

In comparison, the Vatican priestly diet is more based on tradition, moderation and sacred ritual. It’s an egalitarian diet designed to be communal and modest. You could say the same for a cup of tea and a biscuit for elevenses with colleagues or friends.

The Vatican's dietary practices, are shaped by religious belief and monastic principles with the emphasis on simple, nutritious meals based upon Catholic dietary regulations. There are seasonal variations founded on the liturgical calendar with occasional fasting and abstinence. All of this also sounds pretty healthy so far, with fasting being the diet watch-word of the moment and seasonal eating more aligned with the planet and nature.

While ancient Romans and Vatican priests might seem dramatically different, their approaches to food reveal fundamental human experiences: the need for nourishment, the importance of communal eating, and food's role in expressing cultural identity. Both cultures shared a deep respect for meals as more than mere sustenance.

The legacy of both Roman peasant food and Vatican meals could be excellent guides to steer us towards a healthier diet and way of life in Britain today. From fermentation and fasting, to eating a diet of seasonal, whole, unprocessed foods which we eat in a communal setting,  are all things we can embrace to increase our wellbeing and improve our daily diets.

Can AI Predict the Future

05/02/26

The Limits of Prediction in an Uncertain World

AI has extraordinary computational power, identifying patterns in vast datasets, predicting consumer behaviour, and even forecasting weather patterns with remarkable accuracy. AI can identify emerging patterns, stress-test scenarios and help us understand current dynamics more clearly. Yet for all these capabilities, artificial intelligence remains fundamentally blind to the future when it comes to major trends and societal disruptions. The reason is simple but profound: AI learns from the past, but the future—especially when it comes to transformative change—rarely looks like what came before.

Major world events which have most shaped our world recently such as the COVID-19 pandemic, the popularity of Dubai chocolate!!! and even the sudden emergence of generative AI itself – none of these were incremental developments that followed predictable trajectories. They were discontinuities, moments when the rules changed entirely. AI excels at extrapolating trends from historical data, but it cannot anticipate the emergence of genuinely novel phenomena or the complex interplay of human decisions, technological breakthroughs, and random chance that produce watershed moments. When the training data contains no precedent for what's about to happen, even the most sophisticated algorithm is essentially guessing.

Societal disruptions often arise from the collision of multiple factors that no-one was tracking simultaneously, or from individual decisions made by specific people at specific moments—choices that could easily have gone differently. AI can tell us what's likely if current conditions persist, but it cannot account for the entrepreneur working in a garage right now on something that will change everything, the political leader who will make an unexpected choice, or the scientific discovery that will rewrite our assumptions. These are not failures of current AI systems that better models will overcome; they reflect fundamental limits on prediction in complex, adaptive systems where human agency and contingency play central roles.

My capability, training and experience over the past decades has enabled me to help companies look at potential emerging trends, societal disruptors and cross-category anomalies. These insights have created and stimulated innovations and new product developments in multiple industries. Until AI finds a way to do this, I’m here to help!

 

The Scent of the Future

25/07/24

Generation Alpha, born between 2010 and 2025, is coming of age in a world where luxury is increasingly accessible and desirable. One surprising trend emerging among this cohort is their growing interest in expensive, high-end fragrances, regardless of their gender.

Forget the overly keen spritz of Lynx or a floral body mist for teens, Gen A views expensive perfumes not just as beauty products, but as status symbols and forms of self-expression. Social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram have fuelled this trend, with 'fragrance influencers' (yes! they are now a thing) showcasing their collections of bottles and brands, and then giving their personal reviews.

Gen A want to stand out in the world of mass produced goods and they realise that scent is a powerful way to create memorable moments in this experience economy. FOMO is driving their desire to keep up with peers and trends which is increasing some of these luxury purchases.  Growing up in a hyper-connected world, Gen A is constantly exposed to luxury brands and lifestyles through social media and influencer marketing which they were exposed to from birth so their exposure to sophisticated goods and messaging is unobstructed.

So, what is the future of scent for this olfactory-savvy consumer?

We know that right now florals - both flavours and patterns are trending and consumers seem happy with the traditional perfumes of patchouli, tuberose and vanilla combinations but a whole new area of fragrance is being explored by perfumers around the world. The rise of morbid and unpleasant scents is infiltrating the niche and high-end fragrance market.

In recent years, there has been a noticeable increase in the popularity and prevalence of scents associated with death, decay, and other traditionally unpleasant aromas such as cigarettes, faeces and camphor. This trend spans multiple industries, from niche perfumes to home fragrances to experiential art installations. Several factors appear to be contributing to this phenomenon of this olfactory shift towards the macabre. Firstly, consumers are seeking novel sensory experiences in a world saturated with pleasant, crowd-pleasing scents and some are craving more intense and unusual olfactory moments. By exploring such aromas, society is becoming more open to discussing previously taboo topics like death and decay. The growing interest in engaging with these themes through sensory experiences provides a visceral way to confront truth and mortality.

Artistic expression and scientific advances have enabled perfumers and artists to challenge mainstream scents as a form of creative expression, pushing the boundaries of what's considered acceptable or desirable in fragrance and more accurately capture and reproduce highly complex odours. 

Examples of this trend include perfumes intentionally designed to smell like decomposition, candles scented to mimic the odours of a crime scene, and art installations that use scent to evoke feelings of unease or revulsion. While niche, these products are finding an audience among consumers and critics looking for more provocative sensory experiences.

Here are a few of the brands offering scents which will help you stand out in the crowd:

The British cult brand Cursed has produced four bottles of scent: From Hell, Pretty as Poison, Crystal Ritual and Death's Elixir. 

Some of the company copy about the perfume says:

A complex elixir crafted by Death’s hand. Those brave enough may manifest their deepest desires yet bind their soul with an eternal debt.

... Base notes of Sweet Amber and Oakmoss evoke the scent of ancient tombs, while Patchouli and Vetiver emanate an earthy essence, somewhat reminiscent of graveyard soil.

The perfumes creator described the olfactory journey as 'evoking imagery of sharp blades, metal chains, and spilled blood'

Or maybe the perfume by Oddity called Dead Air by master perfumer Mark Buxton, might be more your preference. Journalist Bee Beardsworth wrote the following about her experience of the fragrance, 'Dead Air opens with a salty sea smell bound with complex spices before rapidly acquiescing to a sticky pine needle green and woody bark. It immediately reminds me of snapping twigs in my hands whilst walking in a gloomy forest alone, followed by the musky sourness of the liquid a ladybug secretes on you when they feel threatened, and an almost intangible sadness of being by the cold ocean at night, alone'. 

But smells of grief and death maybe too much for a novice, so how about a gateway fragrance like Hinoki Shower by BTSO, redolent with notes of notes of camphor, turpentine and cigarettes to evoke the aroma of rural bath house in Japan.

A more gentle introduction to tear you away from the mainstream scents might be Ohsphalte by Ohtop which is developed to combine the urban notes of asphalt, concrete and fresh hides of suede.

An early adopter of this trend was created in 2017 by Beaufort of London - the brand created by Leo Crabtree (who you might know as the drummer in the Prodigy) in collaboration with the perfumer Julie Dunkley. The fragrance was inspired by the naval history of Britain and his own childhood growing up on a farm. The initial scent of Iron Duke is urinous, like fresh cow manure with metallic notes of cannons and machinery.

One, thing we always know about perfume is that it smells different on everyone and to everyone. It's a personal preference and the olfactory journey is one we ultimately take alone.

 

 

 

 

 

The Scarcity Paradox

30/04/24

The Scarcity Paradox: From Luxury to Empty Plates

Scarcity is not a one-size-fits-all experience.

For those struggling to make ends meet, the focus is on creating abundance. In the current economic climate, with inflation and limited public services, the number of households experiencing food insecurity has soared. Parents are skipping meals to feed their children, and food banks are struggling to keep up with the growing demand.

On the flipside, scarcity is often employed as a strategic tool to elevate perceived value and desirability. Limited editions, exclusive releases, and waitlists create an aura of rarity and prestige around products, driving up demand and prices. We have seen this most frequently in the world of luxury goods but it’s been happening in the food business for years.

For those who are tired of the chocolate overkill cakes, the drip cakes, the themed cakes, the piñata cakes and every other kind of decadent party offering – the next new thing is always something to be sought after to wow the friends and guests at any occasion.

One recent edition to this exclusivity club is the California-based cookie brand Last Crumb who sell limited edition cookies in boxes of 12 for $160. The cookies themselves are individually wrapped and branded with clever puns and creative ingredients combinations such as Donkey Kong, a banana cream pie cookie with marshmallows, thick banana crème patisserie, white chocolate chips, vanilla wafer and real banana pieces, or the James Dean, with the back story about the red head who turned down an Oreo milkshake from the actor, back in the day. The cookie itself has malt balls, cocoa, Oreos, white and dark chocolate inclusions.

The in-box instructions suggest that the cookies are microwaved and eaten in a precise pattern of sitting, studying, sniffing, sharing and savouring. And savour you must, because each delicious cookies costs about £12 and the waiting time to receive a delivery can be up to 12 months. With new recipes and cookies dropping all the time, Last Crumb keeps the affluent consumer craving for more.

The Last Crumb presentation box of 12

The booklet with all the info of how to eat and flavours in detail

Not Today Mr Muffin Man

Donkey Kong - banana cream pie with extras

Everything But The Candles - instead of a cake?

Personal Freedoms in the Future

29/04/24

The Erosion of Personal Freedoms: Masquerading as Safety Measures

In recent years, there has been a concerning trend towards the erosion of personal freedoms across various domains. From international treaties to domestic policies, the delicate balance between individual liberty and societal regulation seems to be increasingly tilting in favour of the latter. Oh oh.

And although our daily preoccupations remain earthbound, there is a whole other ‘world’ of legislation and future potential that few of us think about, unless we happen to watch a sci-fi film or hear of a rocket launch to space.

In fact, what is going on in space? Why should we care? Does it matter?

The Outer Space Treaty of 1967 was a landmark agreement that sought to prevent the militarization of space and ownership of surface or subsurface of the moon or area in relation to it. This was to ensure that space and the moon was used for peaceful purposes. While the treaty's intentions were noble,  not every nation signed the agreement and there are countries and continents which still haven’t agreed to the terms. Those include Africa, Latin America, China and India. As we look towards a future where space travel and colonization become more feasible, it is crucial to ensure that the spirit of discovery and individual freedom is not overshadowed by space wars and weaponised control. It's my prediction that our next world war will be a space war, fighting for the control of all communications, satellites and global domination. Just like the movies!

On the domestic front (UK), proposed smoking bans and increasing restrictions on tobacco use have sparked debates about personal choice and government intervention. While the health risks of smoking are well-established, the question remains whether it is the role of the state to dictate personal lifestyle choices. The slippery slope argument suggests that if we allow the government to regulate smoking, it opens the door for further intrusions into other areas of our lives.

Perhaps most concerning is the rise of laws that seem to infringe upon fundamental human rights, such as free speech and bodily autonomy. The growing trend of "cancel culture" and the silencing of dissenting opinions under the guise of hate speech legislation is a worrying development. It threatens the very foundation of a free society, where open discourse and the marketplace of ideas are essential for progress and understanding.

Similarly, the ongoing debate around abortion rights highlights the tension between individual autonomy and state control over women's bodies. The overturning of Roe v. Wade in the United States and the increasing restrictions on reproductive rights in many countries represent a significant erosion of personal freedom and a troubling precedent for government overreach.

As we navigate an increasingly complex world, it is essential to remain vigilant against the gradual erosion of our personal freedoms. It happens under our very noses and often we are consenting by the very fact we don't even know! While some regulations and laws are necessary for the functioning of society, we must be cautious not to sacrifice individual liberty on the altar of perceived societal benefits. The path towards a more controlled and less free society is a slippery slope that we must resist. We will lose free speech, the right to protest and ultimately, we will no longer have a voice.

It is the responsibility of every person to defend their rights and as we have already seen, this can spark hatred and public criticism. How else can we hold governments accountable? We must engage in open and honest discussions, challenge laws that infringe upon our freedoms, and work towards a future where individual liberty and societal well-being can coexist harmoniously.