Relation between food and alchemy

First of all we have to understand what alchemy means and undertakes. What is the essence of alchemy? Alchemy is the art of transmutation and evolution, primarily of the alchemist through processes of degradation or decomposition, liquefaction, solidification and creation of a new element through processes either physical or chemical.

The manipulation of the elements and the proper tools are the ones that will determine the final product. The alchemist studies the processes and applies them on himself (not literarily) in order to evolve into a greater being or greater conscience.

Why do we use food for this experiments? Instead of following the paths of the old alchemist that used to play with metals and dangerous chemicals, we go for easier but at the same time, equally complicated products. Food, being organic, has the property to transmute, but degenerates faster than chemicals or metals. By applying the right forces, you can achieve the same effects in a piece of meat than in a piece of metal (even though the process is going to be different). By the same effects I refer to a new functional product, like using certain acids to bestow a metal with new properties. It's kind of the same thing with proteins, you use an acid (lemon juice, vinegar) in order to transmute the meat into a new and less dangerous edible product (carpaccio, ceviche, etc).

Also, we use food to make life easier for everyone. The materials and chemicals used in an alchemist laboratory are very rare and hard to find, and not everyone is allowed to have an anvil in their houses if they want to go the metal alchemist way. But a kitchen is a must in any habitable place in the world. Try to make some experiments on your own. Every time you cook something pay attention on how it reacts to certain movements, certain amount of heat and other ingredients that you mix together (Mix cream with and acid and will separate and forms clumps, but what happens if you heat the acid for more than 5 minutes and then add the cream slowly... it mixes evenly). This kind of reactions are the ones that we must pay attention to, and see how can we apply this processes into our lives. Remember that this art started in order to understand ourselves and the universe.