First Person Singular by Wendy Braitman

The Joy of Produce

I was cozy at home with the Times this morning, but I booted myself out at 9 AM to drive to the Hollywood Farmer’s Market, because I’d committed to it here last week, and it’s good to keep your promises. I talked to a few strangers (also, as promised), but they were vendors, and I’m hoping that counts. I also made small talk with two separate neighbors who live right up the street (and I know that doesn’t count). The fruits and vegetables were beautiful, and worth the trip.

Deadline for contest submissions is Monday.

Would You Date a Vegan?

Let me start by apologizing to vegans out there. I don’t mean to disparage your eating habits (even though, honestly, I don’t get it). I could’ve as easily titled this, Would you Date a Sausage Eater? but then you might think I was talking about sex. My real question here, and I ask this in earnest -
Is it important that our romantic partners like to chow down on the same things we do? Earlier this week, a man emailed from Match.com, and after chatting for a few minutes on the phone, I learned that he doesn’t drink alcohol (sticking mostly to herbal teas) and refrains from sugar and white flour, among other things. “My body is a temple,” he said. When I heard this, my heart sank, and I pictured a life drinking alone, sneaking off to munch on my home-baked brownies. How much do our food choices define us? Are we what we eat?

Don’t forget our new CONTEST. Deadline, August 9th.

Photo: Carsten ten Brink

When Not to Buy Generic

My dog, Rose just waltzed in to find her usual napping spot under the desk. Rose is generic, some kind of poodle-bichon mutt, and I wouldn’t want it any other way. But sometimes, brand makes a difference. Like this one time, a few reckless years ago, with a guy I met online.

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Carbs for a Saturday Night

At about 10 PM on Thursday, my thirteen year-old friend Hillary sent me the following text:

Hi. R U busy Saturday night? Can I hang out with you?

I was flattered that she considered me a cool enough companion, until I realized Hillary probably figured I was one of the few people who would be available on date night, with less than 48 hours notice. Since I’d just seen Toy Story (EPIC!), I suggested we stay home and make pizza.

Yay. I am sooooooooooo excited.

Ambitious project for a night off. But worth it. Recipe follows.   Continue reading »

Foolproof Way to Cook Fish (Thanks, Julia!)

I’m not good at cooking fish, so I never attempt it for dinner parties. It’s hard to get the timing right. One extra minute and your main course is overdone. When non-meat eaters came to the house recently, I decided to give it a try, but only because Julia Child was in the house. This salmon recipe (from Julia and Jacques Cooking at Home) is perfect if you’re dining alone, or easy enough when you’re entertaining a crowd.

Image: Woman Who Loves Fish, 2003, Maggie Taylor

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Sunday updates

From The Best Sauce of Tomato Season – A sliced view of the first home-grown tomatoes from the garden, surrounded by Bufalo di Mozzarella, sprinkled with aged Balsamic (which I carted home from Italy). Corn and asparagus were from Whole Foods. Vodka is from the freezer.

From Joan Rivers, Can We Talk: A Piece of Work, the film by Ricki Stern and Anne Sundberg, is really fun, and a great glimpse into what it takes to make it. I’m going with, loving Joan Rivers.

The Best Sauce for Tomato Season

Summer is coming. I’ve harvested a juicy tomato from the garden so far, though it’s still too early to find a crop of ripe, flavorful heirlooms in the store. Since the season is short, once they start appearing, I gorge myself. One of the simplest and most delicious pasta sauces is made using only slow-roasted tomatoes (which I then toss with Parmegiano Reggiano). This recipe is SO easy, and I prepare a big batch to freeze and savor in the tomato-void of winter.   Continue reading »

Arrivederci Roma

On my last day in Italy, I’m soaking in the romantic ambience and fantastic food. Our spacious apartment near the Piazza Navona, is a few blocks away from an outdoor food market, and the carts are loaded with spring vegetables, olives and cheese. There’s no more room in my luggage, otherwise, I’d take this hunk of Reggiano along for the ride home. Continue reading »

5 Food Highlights from Rome (so far)

On this trip to Italy, I haven’t had to research where to eat, thanks to Mol, a friend and most able food guide. She’s a world traveler, currently based in Rome with her husband, and has exquisite and inquisitive taste. Mol knows all the best local eateries for pasta, pizza, gelato, cappuccino. What a vacation!   Continue reading »

Fudgy, Chewy, Cakey Brownies

This is the recipe I turn to when I’m looking for a crowd-pleasing dessert that’s super easy to make. It’s from a really good, basic cookbook, The Perfect Recipe by Pam Anderson. The hardest part, and this is true for most baking, is knowing when to pull the pan from the oven. As a general baking rule, I always start testing for doneness at least 5 or 10 minutes before the recipe suggests.

Image from Handmade Font, a design company with the coolest fonts, based in Estonia.

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