"THE STUFF OF LITERATURE"

                                                                                          AN ODE

Squash-bell-flower is the inside picture of this "food art," butter and oil. And charred around the edges like pansies. It is fork edible. Toast a roll. Savor the bloom. Perfume to the nose akin to a sliced whole pomelo, but citrus ratatouilles. For the composition of a bruschetta. The theme is spring-awakening ... for primroses to turn from olive hue. Monet Water Lilies: from table to landscape. Remembering the sublime lotus pond-living mirror at the ruins of Angkor Wat ... "They were both saints, so they could endure these austerities as easily as water pours on fire. But he was a common mortal, so he was at the mercy of his sufferings, like paper placed in fire" (The Buddha). Turpentine on canvas, color black-green of the Mona Lisa. Timeless, Magnificent passing.          

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PEARL PEPPERS AND CHICKPEA SHELLS

Red Peruvian Pearl Peppers. The name was inviting. And this could be-ingredient clicked on the spot (I was in line at Whole Foods yesterday and saw the chickpea shells box on the front cap of the aisle, I had already grabbed the pearl peppers and cornichons on the salad bar and was still thinking what...

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VINTAGE TRAVEL

Berlin, circa Nov. 2016The passage here was long planned— like a pact from two star-crossed lovers.  A week before in Hydra, Greece, writing/burning like a comet assuring-confident-with great expectations of their meeting. The avatar, "riding" it and bringing them together, was their favorite book:...

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RICE AGAIN

I toggle between Francis Lam and Sam Sifton for cooking inspiration, and this week’s cultural attributions to their story-recipes where particularly lovely: it’s about Tet. Tet is the Lunar New Year celebrated in Vietnam, and it’s fast approaching (Feb. 12), and this means food preparation— and prolific...

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