Long Live Gastronomic Poetry

Mark Strand passed away in November. Somehow I always expect there will be a flurry of magazine covers and articles to eulogize poets with the same kind of attention afforded to celebrities. And, perhaps that might be the case if the world resembled Brattleboro, Vermont where a stranger walked up to a poet friend of… Continue reading Long Live Gastronomic Poetry

Metamorphosis by Jonathan Pacic

This summer has been full of coffee. Iced coffee. Head back to the previous post (and nab the Spicy Sweet Tea Glazed Chicken recipe) to learn why. I’m a passionate tea drinker but I can drink down a cup of coffee with the best of them. I’m an equal opportunity caffeineist. Initially, I had wanted… Continue reading Metamorphosis by Jonathan Pacic

Wine Poetry: Terroir by Phil Coturri

Terroir is an Expression of Place   Terroir an expression of place enhanced by organic practices soil enlivened from extensive cover crops breathe flavor and intensity into fruit.   Terroir vineyards surrounded by gardens the complexity of arugula, Padrón peppers, ripening tomatoes, sunchokes to the bane of the farmer, the chicken, lending to exactness of… Continue reading Wine Poetry: Terroir by Phil Coturri

Food Poetry: “Segments of an Orange” by Jen Karetnick

Segments of an Orange How can I rest? How can I be content when there is still that odor in the world? — Louise Gluck   Hours before she died, my grandmother sucked dry three segments of a navel orange and, claiming her appetite had a short range, hooked out the pulp with her finger,… Continue reading Food Poetry: “Segments of an Orange” by Jen Karetnick

Coffee Poetry: Confessions of a Coffee Snob #3 by Jonathan Pacic

Breakfast is on the brain. Last week’s food poetry morsel included a plate of scrambled eggs that would have been perfect for Sun-Tzu, served up by poet Roy Mash. For many, the beginning of a day would be less welcome without a cup of coffee in hand. Even though I veer toward tea nine times… Continue reading Coffee Poetry: Confessions of a Coffee Snob #3 by Jonathan Pacic

Egg Poetry: A Plate of Scrambled Eggs by Roy Mash

In a crowded East Bay kitchen, I met Roy Mash as we sipped sparkling water before the start of a poetry reading. We began talking about the intersections between food and poetry and he mentioned he had written a bit of food poetry, especially one about eggs. Intrigued, I proceeded to devour the food poem shortly after… Continue reading Egg Poetry: A Plate of Scrambled Eggs by Roy Mash

Food Poetry: Cream of Tartar by Julia Wendell

Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about relationships between mothers and daughters. They can be so fraught of misunderstanding. My mother used to denounce my teenage years as the years I didn’t talk to her. How could I explain the gulf of emotion and crisis upon which I was cresting outside of writing and reading… Continue reading Food Poetry: Cream of Tartar by Julia Wendell

20 Ways to Combat Poetry Writer’s Block

Writer’s block is a myth. Do you think chefs have cook’s block? Do you think Rick Bayless wakes up in the morning and thinks to himself, I don’t know what to cook? Michael Ruhlman probably uttered other statements I jotted down during IACP, but that is the one my mind keeps regurgitating with regularity. Rick… Continue reading 20 Ways to Combat Poetry Writer’s Block