Ugly fruit and vegetables become the latest trend

The wrong size, not round enough or too bumpy – fruit and vegetables are rejected by purchasing companies due to their appearance. But the situation is reaching boiling point. Under chefs' magic wands, the kitchen reveals the hidden beauty of unsightly produce, singing its praises without subterfuge. 

When entering the supermarket distribution network, 40% of fruit is rejected. Too long, too big or too small. They want the Venuses of the orchard with their smooth and glossy skin – the ones that will capture the light on stalls and shelves.

A damning fact

Across all foodstuffs, supermarkets alone throw away almost 7 million tonnes of food. In other words, 40 kg of food waste per year per person.

Serge Gainsbourg, the Arcimboldo of the microphone, summoned the troops. As the man referred to as Cabbage-Head Man sang: "The hidden beauty of the ugly can be seen right away." Is it time to do away with narrow-minded ideals of attractiveness? Rather than avoiding the unusual, let's embrace the nature of chance.

Transforming the unattractive 

Aubergine, turnip or red kuri squash – can you really judge a book by its cover? Their aesthetic curiosities aside, ugly vegetables are bursting with promise creating a world of possibilities and flavours. Tables Barrière wants to give its clients the chance to enjoy this diversity. By the power of alchemy, good becomes beautiful.

The magic is sometimes unintentional or even clumsy. And the Tatin sisters, restaurant owners in Lamotte-Beuvron, certainly aren't going to argue with that. In this age of mindful consumption, atrophy becomes a trophy. "Ugly" produce is making its way to your plate and the planet and your taste buds are reaping the benefits.