Hello.

Hello!!!

I know I’ve been away for a long while. But I’m back, for now, hopefully at regular intervals. Updates, you ask? Well, then:

I am working in a mighty hip pizza place on South Congress that makes mighty fine hand-tossed pies and leaves me sore and tired-limbed, raspy-voiced from yelling over rock n’ roll music, exuding deep musty smells of garlic.

I am reading Moby Dick, growing out my hair, reevaluating my concept of home and a sense of place, trying to take a breath, trying not to burn out on big New York slices of meatball and onion pizza.

On the latter front, here are some things I’ve made myself that stand out in my mind, from October onward:

cherry tomato & sweet onion salad with thyme; cucumber and creme fraiche tea sandwiches, classic lentil salad with supple sauteed carrots and onions and a slurry of rich vinaigrette deep with dijon and smoky tabasco; grilled cheese sandwiches with grana padano, strawberry jam, prosciutto, and thyme.

carrot salad with sunflower seeds; spiced roasted pumpkin with rice & lentils, shaved romano, and parsley; lemony chickpea and tuna salad with chopped romaine and a boiled egg; soft butter lettuce salad with jamon serrano, avocado, figs; spicy tomato, fennel, and chickpea soup; whole roasted chicken legs with carrots and parsley.

There have been some good meals. There have been some late nights, friendly visits, engagement announcements, philosophy talks, and the like. There have been bad days and weird days, pints of delicious home-brewed beer, flirtations, evenings wasted away watching James Bond on TV.

It’s been alright.

See you later.