WALKING IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, WATCHING THE SEASONS CHANGE, is always a treat. Maybe never more so than right now. Our neighbors embrace the holidays. Some with modest, quiet displays in their windows, some with exuberance. But all our walks and drives through the neighborhood had not prepared us for this. Continue reading “Santa’s actual house, right here in Pilsen”
The pandemic is increasing hunger in virtually every community in America. Here are ways you can help feed people, wherever you are.
THE HOLIDAYS ARE A TIME FOR GIVING. That has always been the case. And now, in the midst of a pandemic, it has never been more important. Hunger, always a challenge even in this richest of nations, is at levels not seen in decades. Continue reading “Hunger affects us all—here’s how to fight it”
NO RECIPE AGAIN THIS WEEK. With so much going on everywhere, we’re just not ready to write about sautéing and braising and such. Events continue to roller coaster, even now. But along with the pervasive anger, fear and hopelessness, there are true signs of hope. Signs change may be finally coming. Continue reading “Black Lives Matter: ways we can help, learn, make a difference”
WE’RE NOT SHARING A RECIPE THIS WEEK. You’re reading this post when you’re reading it, but we’re writing it on Tuesday, June 2, 2020. Eight days after the death of George Floyd. Right now, in these unprecedented—and many would say unpresidented—times, no one is thinking much about cooking. We’re thinking about safety. And justice. About something so broken for so long.
Take care of yourselves. Care about others—even, and maybe especially, those you don’t know. And may never know. Do what you can do to help, and be safe. We’ll be back next week.
Some thoughts on life and food right now, and five simple, comforting recipes.
THE OTHER NIGHT ON OUR NEIGHBORHOOD WALK, Marion said two things she was missing most right now were us getting in the car and going to see one of our daughters—both live driving distance away—and the two of us going to some little place for cocktails and dinner. A place like Martin’s Corner. Continue reading “Life in the time of shuttered restaurants, long walks and embracing home cooking”
[su_dropcap style=”flat”]B[/su_dropcap]lue Kitchen is up and running again. We had to make some changes—and will continue to iron out some glitches—but we’re back. Look for a new post this Wednesday!
[su_dropcap style=”flat”]W[/su_dropcap]e were in Mexico City recently. Ciudad de México, CDMX. On our return, a colleague asked me what we’d done. I said, “We drank mezcal and ate bugs.” Totally true. We also did other things. Continue reading “Eating, drinking, walking and museuming our way through Mexico City”
[su_dropcap style=”flat”]W[/su_dropcap]e just got back from a road trip, across Wisconsin up to Duluth, Minnesota, at the western tip of Lake Superior. Then up along the lake’s northern shore. Up into the Minnesota Northwoods. Up into Canada, to Thunder Bay. Up to the top of the Sleeping Giant in Ontario’s Sleeping Giant Provincial Park, to an open observation platform 100 meters above Lake Superior’s rocky shore below. Up north. Continue reading “Up North”
Tuna quickly pan-seared with capers and parsley is served with a drizzle of blackberries, balsamic vinegar and garlic. Recipe below, courtesy of one of our San Francisco hosts.
[su_dropcap style=”flat”]W[/su_dropcap]e like to do our homework before we travel, carefully researching museum exhibits, places to eat (and drink), good walking/shopping neighborhoods, even overhyped things to ignore. On our recent trip to San Francisco, we did none of that. Just told our various friends we were coming and showed up. It was glorious. Continue reading “Our San Francisco host turns guest cook: Blackberry Balsamic Pan-seared Tuna”
[su_dropcap style=”flat”]W[/su_dropcap]e just got back from a wonderful long weekend in San Francisco. “Just got back” as in it’s Tuesday, sneaking up on midnight, and we got home after midnight this morning and both somehow managed to get up and go to work on this same morning. I’m sitting here staring at a blinking cursor, staring down my Tuesday night post deadline and realizing it’s not going to happen. We’ll be back next week, possibly with a recipe, certainly with some stories.
Meanwhile, enjoy the Calder sculpture above, one of many in the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art’s collection, this one in an outdoor courtyard with a living wall. Or as I said when we saw it, “A Calder walks into a fern bar.” Thanks, folks, I’m here all week. Try the veal.