Losing, Lost, Finding, Found Kerry Beth Neville Ireland The compass originates in China during the Han Dynasty (2nd c BC-1st c AD), and was called a “south-governor,” used not for navigation but fortune telling. How have the stars aligned for me? In his 1088 AD “Dream...
Tacos Arabes Huda Al-Marashi USA In the late 1990s, my husband and I moved to Guadalajara, Mexico as he was attending the local medical school. In our early twenties, California-raised children of Iraqi immigrants, we were both curious and delighted when we heard...
The Essence of Bourdain Madhushree Ghosh USA In the aftermath of a catastrophe, such as a suicide, it is so much easier to be reminiscent and melancholy. We wallow in the why and why not, talk about the day of, and the day after. Where an entire society shares the...
Bitter Melon in Oregon Elizabeth Enslin USA A tropical to subtropical vine, bitter melon (Momordica charantia) is one of the more challenging plants I attempt in our short growing season in northeastern Oregon. Early June storms often threaten as I poke the seeds into...
Adventures in the French Digestive Tract Peter Wortsman USA “Tell me what you eat, and I will tell you who you are.” – Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin The cliché is that the French are obsessed with sex. But I would argue that if the French, and Parisians in...
Bola Nuts Ola Nubi England Illustrated by Sophia Khan USA The sun was hot on the back of my neck. Hunger stretched and yawned like an expectant embryo needing nourishment in my belly. I unwrapped the plantain from the newspaper, the smell teased my nostrils. Boli...
Eaten: When the Cock Crows Eleni Gage USA Illustrated by Kelly Whitcombe England “You shouldn’t have done it,” whispered the willowy brunette standing across from me. She was staring at the book she held in her hands, not even able to look me in the eye. Guilt washed...
Eaten: The Taste of Healing Martina Clark USA Illustrated by KLARXY Croatia At the age of 28, in 1992, I was told I had HIV and maybe “a good five years” to live. By the time the autumn of 2008 rolled around, I’d outlived my use-by date three times over, and then...
Eaten: Burrata in Chinatown Valerie Piro USA Illustrated by Marta Munoz UK From my seat at the kitchen table, I watched my mother pick up a bright red pepper from her baking sheet, its skin shrivelled and scorched in several places after being roasted in the oven for...
Eaten: Never Say Never Joelle Renstrom USA Illustrated by Margarita Miranova Russia Over 1,200 years ago, disgruntled Norse Viking sailed northward and started a new society, complete with a parliament, on an island they called Snæland, “land of snow.” Just as they...
Eaten: Cool enough Leslie Hsu Oh USA Illustrated by Sophia Khan USA Roll. Pinch. Smash. Roll. All in one swift smooth motion, a chef rolled dough into cylinders, pinched off equally-sized chunks, smashed each with the palm of his hand, then used a thin rolling pin to...
Eaten: Jesus, Uno, Kimchi Pizza Cecilia Hae-Jin Lee USA Illustrated by Klarxy Croatia It was the start of a three-day Memorial Day weekend. I stood there leaning on the counter, watching my folks’ forest green Lincoln Continental pull out of the parking lot in...
Eaten: Food for the inner child Marie Baleo France Illustrated by Marta Munoz UK My first meaningful encounter with food took place on the French Riviera in the summer of 1991. I don’t remember it, but the story has been told to me countless times. It happened as I, a...
Eaten: Blue cheese blues Ishay Govender-Ypma South Africa Illustrated by Allen Shaw Germany My brother and I waited until we knew we were alone, and darted into the little pantry. The old fridge hummed and hissed and gurgled as the ice-water compartment jiggled its...
