SaltShaker

 How was my weekend? Meh. The mehness of it is indescribable. Just one big, fat meh. If you are an old-media kind of reader, “meh” won’t mean a whole lot to you. The word has appeared in the national press three times in the past year. If you gain new vocabulary from conversation, it is [...]

 Sun, sea, wine and red meat every day. Scientists say a village in Sardinia holds the key to long life.”
- Robert Hardman, UK Daily Mail
Buenos Aires - While I’m gathering my thoughts and notes on Supreme Director Posadas, I thought I’d fill in the time with a little diversion….
A “giara” is a plateau, the [...]

I believe the nicest and sweetest days are not those on which anything very splendid or wonderful or exciting happens, but just those that bring simple little pleasures, following one another softly, like pearls off a string.”
- from Anne of Avonlea by Lucy Maud Montgomery
Buenos Aires - Some days you just want simple comfort food. [...]

 Amaranthus, collectively known as amaranth or pigweed, is a cosmopolitan genus of herbs. Approximately 60 species are presently recognized, with inflorescences and foliage ranging from purple and red to gold. Members of this genus share many characteristics and uses with members of the closely related genus Celosia. Although several species are often considered weeds, people [...]

 In the ’90s we began to blossom and feel proud of ourselves, of our architecture, our designs, our cultural heritage - and our food. The secret ingredient to this whole revolution was believing in what you have. Loving it.”
- Gastón Acurio, Peruvian chef
Buenos Aires - Sipán should not be confused with Saipan, the largest island [...]

 One day in the year 1900 a man dashed into a small New Haven luncheonette and asked for a quick meal that he could eat on the run. Louis Lassen, the establishment’s owner, hurriedly sandwiched a broiled beef patty between two slices of bread and sent the customer on his way, so the story goes, [...]

 …we now live in the second robber baron era. One of the things that happens in such times is that the wealthy and powerful get to construct huge building and homes. Yet, however we may feel about the 19th century power hoggers, we are still attracted to the architecture and structures they were rich enough [...]

 Mind you, that’s not to say presentation is everything. At the end of the day, it really doesn’t matter how nice your coffee machine is. What counts is the quality of the service that you offer.”
- Peter Bolton-King, chief executive of the National Association of Estate Agents
Buenos Aires - I turn to my Roget’s Thesaurus… [...]