Dispatches since 2005
The journal
Announcements, new editions, travel, diving, cooking and the working life of a novelist — 3,176 entries, all of them here in full.
June 30, 2007 · 1,503 words
Chef Francoise, Part II
Continuing the adventures begun in “Me O My O,” below. So it was 1986 or -7 or something like that, and my friend Bob Norton (I think it was Bob Norton) said, “You should check out the Cajun restaurant on south Louisiana. It’s like nothing you’ve ever seen.” So where have I heard this before? […]
Read entry →June 29, 2007 · 459 words
Miscellenia
So is this chicken perfect, or what? I was inspired by Jeffrey Steingarten’s rapturous description of rotisserie chicken in his book The Man Who Ate Everything, and so I got one for my new grille. The chicken tasted as good as it looks, though the cleanup was a little messy. Apropos roasting, it’s what I’ve […]
Read entry →June 26, 2007 · 1,091 words
Montserrat Stories
Before I continue with tales of the Baron and Francoise, I thought I’d relate some tales of the island that I picked up during my brief visit.Approaching Plymouth, the capital, one couldn’t help but notice the large and very modern pier that was incongruously attached to the old Georgian town. And, having got onto the
Read entry →June 25, 2007 · 797 words
Me O My O
I owed some folks, so I thought I’d cook them dinner. I made Jambalaya with Creole Sauce, from the recipe of Chef Francoise Auclair le Vison.I hadn’t made the recipe in a number of years, and I’d forgotten how much sheer work is involved. I spent over an hour just chopping up four pounds of […]
Read entry →June 21, 2007 · 166 words
Nemesis Farewell
Farewell to Tractor Beam, my nemesis of the last twelve years. Shortly I will offer it on Craig’s List, perhaps as a found art object. (It would be difficult to offer it as an actual useful piece of equipment, except to a devoted and rather masochistic tinkerer.)The new wee tractor arrived this week. It operates [&hell
Read entry →June 20, 2007 · 473 words
Roasted
When you comprehend the gist of this post, you will be thankful at the restraint I excercised in choosing a title. Really. My old grill died of metal fatigue: the hinges that held on the lid snapped right off. So I’ve been on a quest for a new grill, and asking myself whether I wanted […]
Read entry →June 18, 2007 · 1,226 words
Flemish Dancing
“Flemish dancing” doesn’t sound very interesting, does it? But call it flamenco and it’s a whole other story. Albuquerque is one of the top locations in North America for flamenco, largely as a result of the Festival Flamenco Internacional that’s been running there for the last 20-odd years. The festival is largely the
Read entry →June 16, 2007 · 340 words
Saat Phere
So I’m embarked on the new novel, most of which so far consists of a description of an elaborate Hindu wedding taking place in Bangalore. For background I’ve been taking advantage of numerous Hindu wedding sites available on the net, as well as reminiscences by Steve Stirling (who— through sheer coincidence—
Read entry →June 14, 2007 · 195 words
Shorter Work
The mail brought my copy of Locus, which I seem to get later than anyone I know. (Do they mail them in alphabetical order, I wonder?) This issue contains no less than two favorable reviews of my story in Alien Crimes, a new anthology available from the SFBC. My advice is to buy it before […]
Read entry →June 12, 2007 · 750 words
A Time of Gifts
I’m finishing Patrick Leigh Fermor’s A Time of Gifts. I mentioned a couple months ago that I was reading the book, but you shouldn’t take the length of time between then and now as a criticism of Fermor. Rather the opposite: the book is too rich, and too finely wrought, to read with anything less […]
Read entry →June 12, 2007 · 182 words
From the Mountain
Wednesday: “Steak Tartare and the Cats of Gari Babakin Station,” by Mary Turzillo.Novel excerpt by Karen Joy Fowler. Because we had no power, we ate out. By all accounts, the trout, the duck fajitas, and the mango chicken enchiladas were all very good. Thursday:“Emperor of the Clouds,” by Geoff LandisExcerpt from Impli
Read entry →June 7, 2007 · 242 words
Ten Writers, Very Cold
All was well until the wind storm began. Howling ’round the eaves, screaming ’round the corners, causing mighty ponderosa to sway like seaweed in the tide. Dropping limbs, causing landslides. And knocking out our power, from Wednesday afternoon on. No lights, no heat, no internet. No refrigeration. No way to cook food,
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