It’s possible she simply forgot about it. It’s likely she didn’t even know what was in it. It’s a backpack. I wonder how many lost backpacks and other items she finds in a week while doing the hard work of a custodian. As long as we’re speculating, I’ll assume the best.

We don’t have a Whole Foods. Our local Asian markets usually carry king oyster and enoki and dried shitake. Grocery store carries white button and portobello, sometimes an expensive mix of “exotic” mushrooms. We have no mushroom guy or gal at the farmer’s market. I think it’s because they spoil so quickly and we…

I do love sardines and canned mackerel. Salmon patties were also a staple of our Southern household. If you can get ahold of a jar of Baltic Gold smoked sprats, you’ll probably love those. 

We love nuoc cham. My recommendation for caucasians (like me), is to use Red Boat for nuoc cham. It’s smoother and less funky. I use Three Crabs - (which I believe is the Viet Huong brand?) for cooking. I do not like Squid, very salty. I also avoid Lucky brand, again, very salty. Golden Boy will do in a pinch. It…

I’m sure it can be made to taste good, because it actually tastes like nothing. I know that there are lots of places in the country where fish isn’t plentiful and there aren’t a lot of options, but it isn’t usually anyone’s first choice. During snapper season I make snapper curry all the time. Small redfish and trout…

Agree! Mackerel is great smoked too!

We love sheepshead. Mackerel is a bitch to clean as well, but worth it.

We don’t have those fish around here, but I would certainly eat them! I am mostly vegetarian but I cannot give up fish. I must have been some sort of marine animal in a previous life. Living on the Gulf Coast, a lot of people turn up their noses at mackerel and mullet (trash fish), but those are two of my favorites.…

Our Asian markets are pretty small...but we are lucky to have them! We live in a coastal military town, so the customers I see are diverse. Must haves for anyone dipping their toe in: spicy chili crisp, the good sesame oil, Red Boat fish sauce (not what I use for cooking, but a good entry level fish sauce without too…

I’m excited about the McPlant! I just hope it’s a small patty with lettuce and tomato and optional cheese. (I’m not vegan and I want cheese.) I yearn for the olden days when hamburgers weren’t big thick patties of meat and not much else. I like a small burger and a small side of fries. If you get a huge burger then…

Shredded cole slaw mix is my go-to for weeknight cole slaw needs. Tonight we’re having bbq shredded mushroom sliders with cole slaw and oven baked fries. I’d rather spend my time cutting up potatoes for fresh potato fries than shredding cabbage and carrots on a Thursday. The mix is also a good way to add cabbage and…

Did not like The Power of the Dog. Snoozefest despite strong performances. Will probably win, but no one will watch it a year from now. I actually really liked Don’t Look Up. The horribly truthful absurdity of where we are politically right now. I expect the film will gain traction as a cult favorite in the years to…

I don’t really have a fantasy food destination. I’m a realist and don’t like to place too much faith in expectations. In the US, I found Portland, Oregon to be the most consistently good/great. It’s hard to find a bad meal there. In Europe, I enjoyed the London dining scene the most. We stayed in Shoreditch and had…

I get that too. We rarely eat out. I (generally) make better at home. But I am in no way capable of running my own restaurant. 

I agree...although I love tuna sandwiches so I probably would have accepted one. Since the scent was already there and all.

My personal food mantra is “you shouldn’t do nothing just because you can’t, or don’t want to, do everything.”  It’s also usable in many other situations. 

My husband and I stopped at a rural Misssissippi gas station on a long Thanksgiving trip in a car filled with luggage and two very upset dogs. I don’t eat meat, so I picked up two egg salad sandwiches. We ate them. I said, “Wow! That was FOOD!” That’s become our saying for edible dissappointments. 

Dear Director Campion: I hated The Power of the Dog. Ugh. I love all of the lead actors, but the script was ponderous and boring and utterly forgettable. Next year no one will be talking about The Power of the Dog. 

Lettuce is the weak point in most salads. I prefer marinated salads that can stand up to refrigeration as leftovers, like a tomato salad or a chickpea salad or a greek salad, or tabouli. You can always add lettuce to the bottom of your bowl if you want and put the marinated salad on top. I even love the oft maligned…

Recently went to Universal Orlando - Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios. I really hated it. Even in February it was super crowded. Sunny. Very little shade. Seemed like all the concepts were jammed super close together with no transition. Visually chaotic. Harry Potter was a big money grab where families were…