Party Like it’s 5783!
Last Sunday evening, Jews all over the world celebrated the start of the year 5783. We began the holiday meal dipping apples in honey to symbolize our wish for a sweet year. Our family went with a mix of traditional classics with a few modern twists: warm home-made bread, gefilte fish (mixed reviews), vegetable matzo ball soup,…
Read MoreI’m Done Being Called a Downer
Hey I’m back! I’m sitting in the kitchen with my laptop, noshing on homegrown pears as I reflect on the summer of 2022. The highs were exquisite and the lows were pretty damn dark. If you want me to photoshop this newsletter, it is not going to happen. I promised to keep it real. I struggle with the concept of fate.…
Read MoreThree Summer Game-changers
1. Outdoor showers – My grandfather used to say “The best thing about this meal was the porch!” Sort of a backhanded compliment but he was that kind of guy. Just as the same dish tastes better outside, an outdoor shower beats the indoor by a long shot. In summer, outside is king. Showering outside – a space where the private domain…
Read MoreWorst-kept Secret
On a dark night in Tokyo, we were on a mission to find Ben Fiddich. The address was right but there was no sign. Had it closed since our friend had been there? We entered a sketchy elevator to the 9th floor, climbed a rickety outdoor staircase and walked through the wooden door to the place. The…
Read MoreIs It Time to Jump Ship?
Considering the circumstances, do you feel the best you could possibly be feeling? Every day while locked in hotel quarantine, an Australian government social worker called me and posed that question. I thought it was a clever way to ask and it gave me pause to really think about how I was doing. When I answered yes, I meant…
Read More