Category: Food and Drink
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A cup of coffee
I have a dreadful confession to make:… I don't actually like coffee. Which is perhaps why I've never finished writing a book, why my writing/working/career have all tended to drift around chaotically rather than moving forward in an efficient, organized… no, that's probably just me, isn't it. I was particularly ruthless in disposing last month…
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Babette
I have been reading Isak Dinesen’s stories for two or three days, marveling as always at how beautifully they are written, at how rich they are – like everyone I wish there were more of course, but they probably wouldn’t be so layered and subtle if she had written them much faster. This afternoon I…
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Therapeutic
One way to get past sullen dullness is to do things, to make things, to have something to take care of. Two window boxes with herbs: parseley, sage, rosemary and thyme – and basil, as it happens; some new plants, plus the three rather tired ones I’d had in the windowsill all winter, all of…
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Duisburg III: Breakfast
Wow. German breakfast… ‘Full English breakfast’ is something I seldom have at home, as it is a rather elaborate restaurant ritual; and besides, although I enjoy it while I’m eating, all those fried meats tend to return and get re-tasted all day. Modern German breakfast – I don’t know how long this has existed in…
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Being-in-the-world
Still been a bit groggy, and dismayed by the grogginess (though grateful for that extra hour today). Finally forced myself out of the house in midafternoon; walked through the neighborhood, among people doing the things people do (students in couples shopping, a guy with a big smile riding a bike, various children). Mild envy of…
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South
Tonight’s pasta: conichiglie, with chopped-up anchovies melted in olive oil, and roasted tomatoes, and capers, and a can of tuna (that was possibly overkill) and lots of black pepper. It’s got a bit of a kick – hmm, no lack of anchovy flavor…. I would love to live in Italy, or Spain, or Greece. A…
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Luxuries
A bit sleepy/groggy tonight, don’t know why. Too much sugar, perhaps?… Brought back from Spain: turrón, several kinds – egg yolk and sugar, which I love (and which I was told doesn’t last, so I bought only one); almond paste and crushed almonds; and chocolate with almonds. Didn’t bother with the wafer and egg whites…
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Out to lunch (Sitges V)
Today Susan and I went in to Barcelona on the train, to wander around and indulge ourselves. I wanted to do something unusual for lunch – in Sitges we have been a bit too conservative, too pedestrian, landing repeatedly at a popular Argentine steak house (pleasant but a tiny bit boring). So we were thinking…
Paul Attinello 