Down the Rabbit Hole: Wandering through an Amazing Maze of Links

A long time ago, like many children, I read Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland. The White Rabbit always intrigued me. Walt Disney’s interpretation of the character, with his twitching, nervous upper lip and hoppity movements, made me laugh. As did his habit of clutching his timepiece, which I called a grandfather watch. Just like the … More Down the Rabbit Hole: Wandering through an Amazing Maze of Links

A Plethora of Food/Culinary Memoirs for Your Reading Pleasure

In doing some research recently, I realized just what an amazing treasure we food-and-book-lovers have with all the food/culinary memoirs that have been surfacing for years. And as luck would have it, as is wont to happen these days with a few clicks and the right keywords, I came across an amazing bibliography compiled by Jessica … More A Plethora of Food/Culinary Memoirs for Your Reading Pleasure

Joy to the World: A Look at the 9th Edition of “Joy of Cooking”

The arrival of a new generation of the Joy of  Cooking feels like seeing a new baby born into the family. Personal and very welcome. First, though, a bit of perspective on the story of this famous and enduring cookbook. * After her husband’s suicide in 1930 during the Great Depression, Irma S. Rombauer – … More Joy to the World: A Look at the 9th Edition of “Joy of Cooking”

11 Years of Writing About Food and Culinary History – A Blog Anniversary!!!

Eleven years ago, I decided to poke a toe into the world of food blogging. I settled on the name, “Gherkins & Tomatoes,” based on a painting by Luis MelĂ©ndez, a tribute to the period of history known as “The Age of Exploration.” Faced with a blank screen demanding something, anything, the first words that … More 11 Years of Writing About Food and Culinary History – A Blog Anniversary!!!

Cooking Cuban During El PerĂ­odo Especial Estadounidense

The picadillo at the Columbia Restaurant in Ybor City, a neighborhood in Tampa, Florida. That’s where it began, where the seed got planted. I’d just turned 21. To celebrate, several friends treated me to a fancy dinner there. And I ordered the picadillo, sided with a lime dacquiri. I think. I vaguely recall black beans, … More Cooking Cuban During El PerĂ­odo Especial Estadounidense