We’ve recently escaped several dark decades in which government agencies advised us to limit our egg consumption. Happy days for the perfect poachers, the soft scramblers and the omelet lovers among us, eating eggs every day is now OK! Science has officially changed its mind. To assume that eating cholesterol rich food would automatically raise cholesterol levels in our body was a bit too much of an assumption. It turns out that our bodies are well prepared for the intake of rich and nutritious foods, when we consume more cholesterol, the liver simply produces less.

Personally, I have always intuited that eggs are nutritious and to be respected and celebrated. As a chef, respecting food means more then my ability to drool over picture perfect ingredients. I like getting stuck in the soil and dig up the roots of real food.

What does respecting food mean when it comes to eggs?

Birds should not live in cages or confined spaces, period. Instead, allow them to act out their natural instincts such as foraging for food and roaming freely. In return they share with us the best version of their greatest gift, bounteous eggs.

Take it a step further, wouldn’t you think that the quality of our lives is going to reflect in our health? To blame an increase in heart disease on the consumption of eggs was a bit simplistic after all, wasn’t it? Perhaps an overall look at our stress levels, social interactions, connection with nature and our ability to poach a perfect egg can give us more insight. (poaching is perhaps the most satisfying of all kitchen skills) If you choose not to eat eggs, of course that’s OK too.

Question this.

• Do you drink milk? How about goats milk, or pigs milk, or mother’s milk? (this is a question, not necessarily a suggestion)
• Use oil in your salad dressing? How about sesame oil, avocado oil, coconut oil?

You see, somehow along the way we’ve been conditioned to defaults such as cow’s milk, olive oil and of course, chicken eggs. There’s a whole world out there waiting to be explored!

When it comes to eggs, the secret is, duck eggs are far superior!

So without any further ado, here’s the story of the glorious duck egg in 4 pictures. Just as it’s told every day in the quaint Balinese village of Mongan. Hundreds of these nuggets of gold make their way through the kitchen of Bali Silent Retreat every week.