Your previous story was a delight to read, Ruth. And mention of Le Jour de Merci Donnant brought memories of Art Buchwald's annual column that we'd seek out in the Int'l Herald Trib when living in France in the early 70s...That MADE Thanksgiving for our family, so far from an American table...Thanks for this, as well as the Onion Rings!
This is my favorite thing of yours I've read so far, and nudged me to think more analytically about the very specific china/silver/goblets/serving plates my family used for "fancy".
We had a glass dish of celery and green olives on the Thanksgiving table when I was very young in the early 1970s - what a pleasure to go asking & learn that that came down through my dad's side of the family from my great-grandmother, who would've been a slightly fancy newly married hostess at the turn of the 20th century.
I totally agree with many of the commenters here about the article on Ian Dengler. Fascinating and thought provoking. Food traditions here in NZ often started in Great Britain where my grandparents came from, though since the time of many more recent Chinese and other Asian immigrations particularly in Auckland we are much more cosmopolitan.
LOVE this article! I would also love to be one who is explained by him. (Our family did not follow tradition particularly, though turkey was often the main dish. Sometimes it was goose, duck, or even a rib roast... )
Hi Ruth, When I saw the topic was 'Turkey Talk', I thought I'd just skim a bit, because I don't really like turkey and I'm backed up on emails. But then I opened it and started reading the piece on Ian Dengler and couldn't stop. It was that good! I wonder what he would make of today's food trends. Thanks for sharing it and also for the link to Buchwald's piece that I've always loved.
Corti Bros., my favorite place to shop when we lived in the foothills of Sacramento for 22 years. He turned a vast food wasteland into heaven on earth. I miss it so!
The story about Ian Dengler was just fascinating! Has he written any books I could find.
I'm sorry to say that I stayed in touch with Ian for about fifteen years and then lost track of him. As far as I know, he wrote no books.
So sorry to hear that. He seems like real treasure!
Whole Foods has a special all-day Fridays for a changing assortment of cold water oysters such as Blue Points at 12 for $12.
Island Creek Oysters are among my favorites; I was introduced to them by reading "Shucked" by Erin Byers Murray. Great book!
A classic post! So many rapturous rabbit holes to fall down.
This reminds me of the New York Times regional dialect quiz: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2014/upshot/dialect-quiz-map.html?unlocked_article_code=1._kw.GnsO.Lzfod5jkavXj&smid=url-share. “Tonic” is the most New England thing ever. You bought it at the spa, otherwise known as a convenience store.
Thank you for posting this. My husband, aunt and I just took it and had lots of laughs around the differences in dialect.
Your previous story was a delight to read, Ruth. And mention of Le Jour de Merci Donnant brought memories of Art Buchwald's annual column that we'd seek out in the Int'l Herald Trib when living in France in the early 70s...That MADE Thanksgiving for our family, so far from an American table...Thanks for this, as well as the Onion Rings!
This is my favorite thing of yours I've read so far, and nudged me to think more analytically about the very specific china/silver/goblets/serving plates my family used for "fancy".
We had a glass dish of celery and green olives on the Thanksgiving table when I was very young in the early 1970s - what a pleasure to go asking & learn that that came down through my dad's side of the family from my great-grandmother, who would've been a slightly fancy newly married hostess at the turn of the 20th century.
Thanks so much for the John Donahoe idea. That site is fantastic.
I’d love to read the rest of “Food Sleuth”! Do you have it?
I totally agree with many of the commenters here about the article on Ian Dengler. Fascinating and thought provoking. Food traditions here in NZ often started in Great Britain where my grandparents came from, though since the time of many more recent Chinese and other Asian immigrations particularly in Auckland we are much more cosmopolitan.
LOVE this article! I would also love to be one who is explained by him. (Our family did not follow tradition particularly, though turkey was often the main dish. Sometimes it was goose, duck, or even a rib roast... )
I love reading the old menus you print. Thank you so much for sharing!
Hi Ruth, When I saw the topic was 'Turkey Talk', I thought I'd just skim a bit, because I don't really like turkey and I'm backed up on emails. But then I opened it and started reading the piece on Ian Dengler and couldn't stop. It was that good! I wonder what he would make of today's food trends. Thanks for sharing it and also for the link to Buchwald's piece that I've always loved.
Wow so enjoyed reading this post. Thank you for sharing- fascinating- I would have loved to share a table with Ian!
Corti Bros., my favorite place to shop when we lived in the foothills of Sacramento for 22 years. He turned a vast food wasteland into heaven on earth. I miss it so!