Hyperbolic ruminations on food and film
So my life was upended December 26th by a house fire. I’ve sent out two group emails to family about it and have decided to do the followups here. Below are the first two emails I sent. This weekend I will do an update. It’s been crazy and disorienting. But what better way to end […]
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You can’t go wrong with any of these wonderful appetizers….. I have a slew of new posts prepping but in the meantime, enjoy your holiday weekend with some of the best dips imaginable. Yes I’m being cocky. But I’m also right… This is a compilation of the best dips I’ve offered over the eight years […]
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If you’re gluten-free or on a Keto diet, you can still enjoy a delectable southern plate of chicken, mashed and cream gravy….. Friends of mine – one in particular – get very irritated by the gluten-free craze, particularly the marketing. “Our Bacon is Gluten Free!” Well, yes. It always has been… so shut it. I […]
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A luscious and flavorful curry inspired by an amazing chef, Jazz Singsanong The first time I saw the marvelous Hepburn-Tracy film Adam’s Rib (1949, which you can and should rent on Amazon) I was nine years old and fell in love. I fell in love with those two great actors and their magical chemistry; with Judy […]
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Why are people so afraid of Joker? In the September 25th issue of The New Yorker, Pauline Kael asked “Are people becoming afraid of American movies?” This was, of course, 1978, not 2019. Yet it seems likely the great film critic would have asked the same question forty-one years later, given the critical hysteria over Todd […]
Read MoreBelated Happy 2019! It’s been a long while for a post as I had an incredibly busy fall. Apologies for those who follow! I have a number of posts half-finished, including Breakfast Fried Rice and Heaven In A Bowl… let’s see how much I can keep on track this year. First, though, we begin with the […]
Read MoreIf you follow the blog, you know how much I love vegetables. Which means you know how much I love a good farmers’ market. And while I love farmers’ markets all year round, it’s hard to beat a farmers’ market in the summer, bursting with the best of fresh vegetables, tomatoes in particular. Given all […]
Read MoreLove food? Love film? Love food in film? For my Texas readers, I’ll be in Fredericksburg on Friday, March 3rd at the gorgeous Hoffman Haus hosting a “Food In Film” charitable event for The Hill Country Film Festival and a wonderful Film Camp for children HCFF presents every summer. Food In Film Event I’ll be showing […]
Read MoreFew things make me happier than Thanksgiving side dishes. I certainly love moist turkey with crisp skin but ultimately a plate of side dishes is all I need. While I gave you some excellent sides in the Thanksgiving post, here are a few more that will wow anyone at your table . Recipes and at the bottom of […]
Read MoreIn June of 1979 I was in Dallas, Texas visiting one of my best friends, Lauren Linn. We were dropped off at the movies by our moms who wanted some time away from us. Lauren and I wandered into Being There and my life changed. Starring Peter Sellars in his penultimate performance, Shirley MacLaine and […]
Read MoreFall has arrived. Which means in Southern California we are lucky if it gets down into the 60’s! Still, we’ve had some wonderful gray days as of late which means I don’t need to make up excuses to make food that sings of Autumn. One big Fall favorite is a beef stew recipe I’ve developed over […]
Read MoreOh my, do I love salad. Of all kinds. Cobb Salad, Antipasto Salad (coming soon), Cole Slaw, Greek Salad, Salad Nicoise, Panzanella (OMG), Tabbouleh, Caprese… I can’t get enough. And while my ‘last meal’ would probably include a Caesar Salad, ultimately my favorite salad is a green salad. Of a very specific kind. One reason […]
Read MoreFor many years I was very ‘involved’ politically. During that time I had passionate experiences on both sides of the political aisle. It has been years, however, since I’ve posted anything publicly. A few years ago, a frustration and weariness set in, causing me to think “What’s the point?” I also realized I was doing […]
Read MoreLast week I posted my favorite films of 2015. Here is part 2 of my ‘best of’ list: Only 3 of the many books I read this year make the list… but wow, are these three terrific: A MONSTER CALLS No other narrative in 2015 affected me as deeply as this heartbreaking, brutal yet beautiful novel. […]
Read MoreFitting for the last post of the year, this week I cooked hands down the best dish I’ve ever prepared. It was so good part of me thought ‘Stop now, why keep trying?” Perhaps instead it will encourage me to bigger and better levels. Or maybe I will make only one dish now, over and over. […]
Read MoreGame Of Thrones is like standing behind a mean horse who kicks you in the head, over and over. A friend walks up and says ‘What are you doing?” KICK. You say, “I’m standing behind a horse who keeps kicking me in the head.” KICK. Your friend asks, “Doesn’t that hurt?” KICK. You say, “Are […]
Read MoreIf you follow me on Facebook, you know I produced a record that we launched this week. Here is a little background on the project: 20 years ago a close friend of mine, Chad Holley, called from St. Louis to say he was engaged to be married. Having not seen Chad for a while and […]
Read MoreA few years ago, my roommate and very good friend, Adam, found a little sapling in the jungle that is the backyard. He identified it as a fig sapling. How he did this, I have no idea; if I get near a plant, it dies. Despite my near presence, Adam nursed that sapling into a […]
Read MoreI was raised in the South. Port Arthur, Texas, specifically, a coastal town a literal stone’s throw from Louisiana. Being so close to Louisiana, many people in my hometown were Cajuns, my father’s side of the family included. Throw ‘The South’, ‘Texas’ and ‘Cajuns’ all together and you end up with people who overflow with […]
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