Photography – CYNTHIA D. BERTELSEN

A Trip to the Bathroom, Being a Reflection on the Passing and the Passion (and the red-walled toilette) of M. F. K. Fisher

October 21, 2020

The first guest post ever on Gherkins & Tomatoes! The following story comes from Leo Racicot, a talented poet and writer and friend of the famous author, M. F. K. Fisher. Ms. Fisher wrote extraordinary prose about food and life and everything in between. She pretty much started all the hullabaloo about food writing and … More A Trip to the Bathroom, Being a Reflection on the Passing and the Passion (and the red-walled toilette) of M. F. K. Fisher

Lauren Groff’s “Florida”: Nurturing Noirishness

July 10, 2018

This is the last post I plan to write for “Gherkins & Tomatoes.” At least for a long while. After almost 10 years, it’s time to fold up the tent, so to speak, and move on. Thank you, all of my regular readers, for stopping by, I’ve loved getting to know you and sharing opinions. … More Lauren Groff’s “Florida”: Nurturing Noirishness

Come to Dinner: A Meditation on Judy Chicago’s Art

March 29, 2018

Artists and writers often depict society in ways that raise eyebrows and curl lips with disdain. The artist Judy Chicago and her massive installation – “The Dinner Party” – turned the tables on the art world back in 1979. She chose the powerful motif of a dinner party to make her statement. With all the … More Come to Dinner: A Meditation on Judy Chicago’s Art

A Murder of Crows, An Unkindness of Ravens

October 11, 2017

They’re not visible to the naked eye, but I hear their raucous cawing every day, the very second I open the door. Crows, maybe ravens. No matter where I live, these glossy black birds congregate. The only place on earth to escape these intelligent creatures lies far south, in Antarctica. Crows and ravens eat whatever … More A Murder of Crows, An Unkindness of Ravens

Traces of Old Florida

September 17, 2017

I left the house this morning, seeking a sense of normalcy in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma. What I found in my neighborhood proves the resilience of old houses in Florida. Battered off and on for over 65 years by hurricanes of all strengths, these gems still stand. And so does the natural setting around … More Traces of Old Florida

9 Years of Writing about History … A Celebration!

July 27, 2017

Nine 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 Meléndez, 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 9 Years of Writing about History … A Celebration!

Tales of Alligator Flesh and Tails

July 12, 2017

Alligator meat is quite varied in itself The meat found in the tail is white and sweet, and can easily fried or sauteed. The leg meat is dark and less tender, with a color and texture similar to a beef shank, best used in soups and stews. The body meat is more like that of … More Tales of Alligator Flesh and Tails

Seeking Food at the Crossroads of History

June 21, 2017

When it comes to the kitchen, I’ve always been a seeker, a pilgrim in a more modern sense of the word, “A person travelling to a place of particular personal interest.”* It all began on a diesel-perfumed street corner in Puebla, Mexico. I stood in the shadow of a broken streetlight, sunshine and sweaty bodies … More Seeking Food at the Crossroads of History