Celebrate Potato Season

This is what I love about this time of year: when it gets cold, everyone stops worrying about the shape of their bodies and starts relaxing about food. After all - at least here on the east coast - swim suits are a distant memory and a carefully chosen sweater makes everyone look good.

In 1979, the editors of Gourmet were obviously thinking along those same lines.  For here is a wonderful array of international potato recipes.  I love the idea of potatoes stir-fried in Sichuan peppercorn oil (and I love the idea that Gourmet was offering the recipe almost 40 years ago).  The llapingachos were also way ahead of their time (achiote in 1979?), and they sound delicious.  As for potato gnocchi - is there anyone on earth who doesn't love them?

I plan to try all three recipes this week.

In case you need a reminder of exactly how different those days were, here's a cartoon from the issue.