Thanks, Rod! I just ordered Laurus thanks to your recommendation. Sounds fascinating. And I also just wrote a five-star review on Amazon for your splendid new book. It's been fun to get the back story behind it over the past years! It all came together beautifully in your new book, which I think is your best yet. Thank you for your wise counsel and fearless writing. The world needs it greatly.
The History of the Island. I read it when it first came out. I'm STILL digesting it. Vodolazkin made what I can only describe as an Orthodox Christian historical satire. It is profound - comical at times, and deeply penitent at others.
I would recommend "The Aviator," his follow-up. I have been less enthusiastic about his subsequent novels, though "History Of An Island" was very well reviewed. I didn't know what to make of it. BTW, I stayed with the Vodolazkins in St. Petersburg for a few days in 2019. What wonderful people, real Christians.
I don't have anything I have to do today. Looks like the biggest choice I have to make is whether to start re-reading "Laurus" or "Kristin Lavransdatter".
I've read only two, The Aviator and Brisbane. I liked the former a lot. The latter was a bit more of a challenge, as I found it fairly slow moving, but it was ultimately rewarding due to a rich and moving ending.
Re: Lutetophilia, I can recommend 'The Last Time I Saw Paris' by Paul Miller, an American's account of life in the City of Lights from the early 1920s to the Nazi conquest, his account of which will break your heart.
Next we come to carbon steel. Europe is a great place to find those and the USA. Lots of hand crafted pieces that are superb but for the more common stuff debuyer or Mauvel are the way to go.
For SS steel cookware I like All Clad. I prefer the D 3 series but there are higher end stuff. Made in also makes good stuff as does Mauvel. There are other brands that are good also bu those are the three I am familiar with.
If you want copper cookware be prepared to open you wallet. I have a few pieces. All mine are SS lined but tin and even silver lined are options. I have not got to explore this type cookware in depth so I don’t have recommendations from expense. In enameled cast iron you have Staub, Le Crueset, Lodge American line, and Made In. Take your pick. All are great but for a Dutch oven I prefer Staub
Being a Southern gal, my cast iron was passed down to me from my Granny, well seasoned and ready for service. The corn bread they make... Mmmm. In the South and probably the Midwest as well if you are looking for cast iron skillets, go to any decent sized" antique" mall. Be choosy obviously, no pitting or rust, but usually there will be a good selection in many sizes at rock bottom prices and again, already seasoned and ready for service. Plus, you give new life to an old, well made, and valuable thing. I love hunting up treasures at the antique mall. Just got a lovely old set of metal Christmas cookie and biscuit cutters rom the 60's. Last year I found a beautiful set of old brass and iron lion footed andirons with plenty of life left in them the same way. They make the hearth fire even more jolly.
Yes, I hunt for old culinary treasures. Let's face it, some stuff was simply made better many moons ago. We live not too far from the Lodge foundries in South Pittsburgh, TN so that is all the cast iron I own both bought and inherited. Some food simply must be cooked in cast iron. Hold heat so well. The crispiness of fried chicken and pork chops or the delightful crust on the corn bread, nothing like it. Now for soups and stews and cassoulet I do use Le Creuset but that is a different beast. And those last generations too. I got some as a bride long ago and they are still in weekly use.
Yes they would grind down the rough texture. Some expensive brands do that now. The rougher texture helps hold seasoning though. That is why I like the black lock. Seems to be a middle ground and lighter to boot.
Le Creuset enameled cast-iron is superb too, if money is no object. All of the benefits of cast iron, plus you can huck it in the dishwasher, and it's easier to clean as you don't have to worry about the seasoning, or rusting. Off-brand mimics can almost do as well initially, but their enamels are thinner and more brittle and so chip in short order, while the French original will still be in use with your great-grandchildren.
Le Creuset is amazing. I got multiple pieces from my wedding earlier this year. My unexpected favorites are the small cocottes (like tiny Dutch ovens) that I use to bake eggs in. And they are very affordable - at my local kitchenware shop they are something like $30 apiece.
Rod being isolated in Hungary, he probably doesn't know about the crisis in New Jersey over large swarms of drones of unknown origin. New Jersey is in an uproar. It is an Orson Welles situation.
My neo-prepper wife has an insta-pot for smaller canning projects. She loves it.
At 64, I've become lazy in my Christmas buying. Gift cards are so easy to buy. My oldest son is a big reader so I bought him a Barnes and Noble gift card. My second son loves to hunt and fish so I bought him a gift certificate to the Sportman's Warehouse. I bought gift cards of different varieties for the rest. My wife wants a bike so I will buy her the best I can afford. Top of the line bikes are so damned expensive.
Oh, I know all right. You forget that I'm in a US media headspace. I've just been waiting on some clarity before I say anything. I plan to lead with the story tomorrow morning.
I thought I saw one the night before yesterday in the skies above my neighborhood here in California (the San Francisco Bay Area). It had four lights. But it also seemed to have port and starboard lights. I thought it just be one of those big military cargo jets out of Travis Air Force Base (just 20 miles away) but it seemed to move slow and strange not in a way I would expect to see a plane move in the sky. I don't know. Maybe I was just tired. Whatever it is I don't think it's intergalactic. I think it's domestic, and government and classified.
I went to gift cards some years back. In fact that's on my agenda for today: after church (or before if I leave early) stop and get gift cards for the kin folk I'll be seeing on Christmas.
Cute Facebook funny this morning: An alligator flying overhead drone-like, captioned, "Meanwhile, in Florida...".
Salted Carmel dark chocolate squares by fine chocolatiers. I'm partial to Lindt and Ghirardelli. A really good set of cutting knives (Cuisinarts are quite good I'm finding and each knife has it's own molded plastic cover). Cafe Bustello expresso grind coffee. Hmm, I've been ruined for coffee by that brand.
What is better than the first cup of coffee in the morning?
This is the best chocolate I've ever had. In the Brussels store the girls wear black parochial school type jumpers over white blouses and put on white gloves to get what's in the display case.
One of my go-to gifts is some kind of wine or spirit. For wines, I have recently been enjoying more Portuguese Vinho Verde, which is a crowd-pleaser with a little touch of effervescence. I have also been pleased with a Bulgarian Pinot Noir called Cote d'Danube. Both widely available in the U.S. and are mercifully very affordable.
Because of my travels in central and south-eastern Europe, I have grown to appreciate fruit brandy (Hungarian palinka, Balkan rakija, slivovitz, etc.). German himbeergeist (literally raspberry spirit/ghost) is a really delightful raspberry fruit brandy (https://spiritsreview.com/reviews/schladerer-himbeergeist/). This is good stuff, so you will want to sip it, not use it for a cocktail or (God forbid!) take it as a shot.
I can't do shots anymore. Even when I go to Chicago, I will sip my shot of Malort if I order a handshake.
If you like fruit brandy and occasionally visit Chicago, check out Rhine Hall Distillery and Tasting Room, just off Damen & Fulton in the West Town neighborhood. It's ran by a father-daughter duo. He was first exposed to home distilling while playing semi-pro hockey in Austria. After making his fortune elsewhere, he opened this as a retirement job.
Just listened to your conversation with the two chaps from Dual Citizens on youtube. Very thoughtful questions (and answers!): one of the most interesting Living in Wonder discussions I've heard. I'm in Australia, and I had never heard of this channel before, so thanks for introducing it!
I got my wife a Saddleback briefcase when she started practicing law years ago. "Durable" is an inadequate adjective to describe it. "Impregnable" is perhaps better. It is a beast of a case. Not tried their wallets, but the Fort Belvedere wallets sold by Gentlemen's Gazette are incredibly good and durable once you break them in.
On the subject of men's goods, I would also suggest a PROPER shaving kit - either a double-edged safety razor, or a straight razor. These razors are far better for your skin than modern cartridge razors (which can cause ingrown hairs from cutting too close, as they often cut the whiskers below the skin), with the added perk of not being associated with the woke crap of Gillette or Harry's. If you use a good tallow shaving soap, and a good pre-shaving oil, your skin will thank you (and the women will enjoy the fragrance). Be warned, learning to shave with a straight razor takes time, and the initial cost outlay can be high for a good razor. But if you care for it and strop it properly, maybe get it professionally rehoned every few years, you'll never need another damned cartridge razor (I certainly won't go back). You cannot pack a straight razor in carry on either, so having a DE safety as a backup is advised if you travel a lot by air.
My wife has you to thank for her initial discovery of Mariage Frères tea, and you can only imagine how thrilled she is to discover it available via mail order.
I loved Kristin Lavransdatter and I ended up reading The Wild Orchid and The Burning Bush (which is the sequel to Wild Orchid), and St Catherine of Siena.
Barbour jackets are water repellent. They work in rainy cold climes.
Mariages Freres: I love the Blanc et Rose (white tea with rose petals), subtle and comforting. The muslin sachets that Mariages Freres uses are wonderful.
For people who enjoy cooking, like me, nothing beats a Le Creuset or a Staub.
Well, that is certainly true. I could have gone on twice as long in this list. Wish I had said enameled cookware. If you are buying a wedding gift for a newly marrying couple, chances are that if they're young (under 40), they don't have the slightest clue how great and useful an enameled casserole cooker will be to them once they discover cooking. I had to buy one replacement item when I moved to Hungary, for my kitchen in this rental: an enameled cast iron covered casserole cooker. It's too heavy to pack for an airplane ride, so if I ever repatriate, some lucky Magyar cook friend is going to inherit it.
You wear William Morris ties?! God bless you, good sir! My ex-wife gave me a William Morris tie she bought at the gift shop at the Metropolitan Museum in New York on our first Christmas together. It has been and remains my favorite tie, despite everything.
Down here in Florida almost no one wears ties now, unless the occasion is super formal and calls for a full suit. I have a bunch of brightly colored ties (yes, I went in for that fad in its day) languishing in my closet. I've gotten more use out of my winter sweaters (we had a days-long cold snap this month).
I recommend lobotomy tools so you don’t have to put up with society.
Send us a list of your Top Ten albums. That'll be the next best thing, dude. ;D
Fine, Rod, I’ll derail everything:
1 Def Leppard - Hysteria
2 Savatage - Streets
3 Def Leppard - Adrenalize
4 Megadeth- Peace Sells
5 Iron Maiden - Seventh Son of a Seventh Son
6 Thin Lizzy - Johnny the Fox
7 Aerosmith - Get Your Wings
8 Whitesnake - 1987
9 Metallica - …And Justice For All
10 Marillion - Clutching at Straws
Yep, like I said.
Don’t be lame.
That time I asked Siri to show me an example of lameness, and she gave me the cover of Whitesnake's album. I'm just sayin', Fadda...
Did you sleep through the entire 80s? I’m gonna mail you a Whitesnake LP.
Rod wins with Siri's contribution.
For me, either books or wine/spirits always will do.
Fudge is also good.
It is Instapundit but Instant Pot . . . still and all, by any name a great kitchen appliance.
Thanks, Rod! I just ordered Laurus thanks to your recommendation. Sounds fascinating. And I also just wrote a five-star review on Amazon for your splendid new book. It's been fun to get the back story behind it over the past years! It all came together beautifully in your new book, which I think is your best yet. Thank you for your wise counsel and fearless writing. The world needs it greatly.
THANK YOU!
*Laurus* is wonderful. I've still gotta read Vodolazkin's other novels, though—haven't been sure what to check out next.
The History of the Island. I read it when it first came out. I'm STILL digesting it. Vodolazkin made what I can only describe as an Orthodox Christian historical satire. It is profound - comical at times, and deeply penitent at others.
I've also read "The Aviator". Much to think about re time, memory, love. Ripping good story - low key but a page-turner.
Dana
I would recommend "The Aviator," his follow-up. I have been less enthusiastic about his subsequent novels, though "History Of An Island" was very well reviewed. I didn't know what to make of it. BTW, I stayed with the Vodolazkins in St. Petersburg for a few days in 2019. What wonderful people, real Christians.
I don't have anything I have to do today. Looks like the biggest choice I have to make is whether to start re-reading "Laurus" or "Kristin Lavransdatter".
The movie "Sacred Alaska" is available online for rental or purchase: https://sacredalaska.vhx.tv/?fbclid=PAY2xjawHJ32hleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABpgvs3i-QGLnGf8r0QWAmo3s6HIjjBmgx4yFuN43rmeMQDjL5j2TEdBhamA_aem_5cUMes8prOJuRfph8hk_FA
I'll be checking that out later today.
I've read only two, The Aviator and Brisbane. I liked the former a lot. The latter was a bit more of a challenge, as I found it fairly slow moving, but it was ultimately rewarding due to a rich and moving ending.
I read Laurus a few years back. You'll love it.
Re: Lutetophilia, I can recommend 'The Last Time I Saw Paris' by Paul Miller, an American's account of life in the City of Lights from the early 1920s to the Nazi conquest, his account of which will break your heart.
The song was sung by many but perhaps most famously by Kate Smith.
I know you like to cook as do I and I love cookware. Cast iron is my hands down go to choice for most things. The Lodge black lock is hands down the best bang for you buck. https://www.amazon.com/Lodge-Blacklock-Triple-Seasoned-Skillet/dp/B0B8F2NCD3/ref=sr_1_5?crid=3TWGAOQ28P5GA&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.9shoHwbynQMPHKIV-MbNaLXg_ZL_SblsSg49Bx6hVypVjhHgHwX3be8lJNikqHiDScU5MW7eCxiF0TM_OupizNAvMwRtlCoqfVF5qe4NHJqpEGcitLTPL-DcBJJljMxEb0jTGxlUwmcsit0oaS8XEBfwlVPvFtthTptUsbzjCcPst4i5heQBE9hqTNOYehPbyparNmidiRwqxpP935Prqp0muzeHyGqw5KuGFnTynqZadJTMUvnGYRDmaA2IAmEKGU__6hE0KIPaLmILN359EldU2Eyd9ZFsQHqV6w5uLcjlx6iTJCeG3vuA-mFnuE7cNRBpwRd_7lngFCZ5jqy347zr7hdIEC-Cnw3-iRcn70lIod7SopS9VC8O0iC1dd8zdOSS7oR84fLKbj9B_Dz8iE0gGroUFp-sMUd1z77T7oigHOWuUk4tjvEpgjTsKJel.aODutcWtx2UAuX8ZJ55lv72Ug_UQedXpTc4AycqCuOc&dib_tag=se&keywords=lodge+blacklock+cast+iron+skillet&qid=1734214816&sprefix=Lodge+black%2Caps%2C147&sr=8-5. If money is no option get the Smithy. They are hand made in Charleston South Carolina
Next we come to carbon steel. Europe is a great place to find those and the USA. Lots of hand crafted pieces that are superb but for the more common stuff debuyer or Mauvel are the way to go.
For SS steel cookware I like All Clad. I prefer the D 3 series but there are higher end stuff. Made in also makes good stuff as does Mauvel. There are other brands that are good also bu those are the three I am familiar with.
If you want copper cookware be prepared to open you wallet. I have a few pieces. All mine are SS lined but tin and even silver lined are options. I have not got to explore this type cookware in depth so I don’t have recommendations from expense. In enameled cast iron you have Staub, Le Crueset, Lodge American line, and Made In. Take your pick. All are great but for a Dutch oven I prefer Staub
I don't recommend the Lodge enameled cast iron, just based on experience. They chip and flake easily, and one mistake can ruin an entire pan.
This is their new made in the US line. Higher quality. The old stuff was made in China
Glad they brought it home. Will check it out. Thanks!
Staub... does one have to wipe it often?
It has a dark enameled interior. It hides discoloration better
Agree. Gotta have that black cast iron for SOME things. I don't cook everything in it.
Being a Southern gal, my cast iron was passed down to me from my Granny, well seasoned and ready for service. The corn bread they make... Mmmm. In the South and probably the Midwest as well if you are looking for cast iron skillets, go to any decent sized" antique" mall. Be choosy obviously, no pitting or rust, but usually there will be a good selection in many sizes at rock bottom prices and again, already seasoned and ready for service. Plus, you give new life to an old, well made, and valuable thing. I love hunting up treasures at the antique mall. Just got a lovely old set of metal Christmas cookie and biscuit cutters rom the 60's. Last year I found a beautiful set of old brass and iron lion footed andirons with plenty of life left in them the same way. They make the hearth fire even more jolly.
I love antique cast iron. I have three Wagners, one Griswald, and one Single notch Lodge.
Yes, I hunt for old culinary treasures. Let's face it, some stuff was simply made better many moons ago. We live not too far from the Lodge foundries in South Pittsburgh, TN so that is all the cast iron I own both bought and inherited. Some food simply must be cooked in cast iron. Hold heat so well. The crispiness of fried chicken and pork chops or the delightful crust on the corn bread, nothing like it. Now for soups and stews and cassoulet I do use Le Creuset but that is a different beast. And those last generations too. I got some as a bride long ago and they are still in weekly use.
Yes they would grind down the rough texture. Some expensive brands do that now. The rougher texture helps hold seasoning though. That is why I like the black lock. Seems to be a middle ground and lighter to boot.
Le Creuset enameled cast-iron is superb too, if money is no object. All of the benefits of cast iron, plus you can huck it in the dishwasher, and it's easier to clean as you don't have to worry about the seasoning, or rusting. Off-brand mimics can almost do as well initially, but their enamels are thinner and more brittle and so chip in short order, while the French original will still be in use with your great-grandchildren.
I don’t have a Le crueset anything but how I wish I do have one of their skillets
Le Creuset is amazing. I got multiple pieces from my wedding earlier this year. My unexpected favorites are the small cocottes (like tiny Dutch ovens) that I use to bake eggs in. And they are very affordable - at my local kitchenware shop they are something like $30 apiece.
Congratulations on your wedding!
Now you're talking. They also make the best (ceramic) lasagne pan.
I’ve been meaning to try the Smithy brand and wondered if if was worth the hype, so thank you for the rec!
A Barbour is an awesome and well-appreciated gift. But it needs to be waxed every other year, or every year if exposed to a lot of weather.
Yeah, I'm trying to figure out how to get mine re-waxed in Hungary.
Rod being isolated in Hungary, he probably doesn't know about the crisis in New Jersey over large swarms of drones of unknown origin. New Jersey is in an uproar. It is an Orson Welles situation.
My neo-prepper wife has an insta-pot for smaller canning projects. She loves it.
At 64, I've become lazy in my Christmas buying. Gift cards are so easy to buy. My oldest son is a big reader so I bought him a Barnes and Noble gift card. My second son loves to hunt and fish so I bought him a gift certificate to the Sportman's Warehouse. I bought gift cards of different varieties for the rest. My wife wants a bike so I will buy her the best I can afford. Top of the line bikes are so damned expensive.
Oh, I know all right. You forget that I'm in a US media headspace. I've just been waiting on some clarity before I say anything. I plan to lead with the story tomorrow morning.
I thought I saw one the night before yesterday in the skies above my neighborhood here in California (the San Francisco Bay Area). It had four lights. But it also seemed to have port and starboard lights. I thought it just be one of those big military cargo jets out of Travis Air Force Base (just 20 miles away) but it seemed to move slow and strange not in a way I would expect to see a plane move in the sky. I don't know. Maybe I was just tired. Whatever it is I don't think it's intergalactic. I think it's domestic, and government and classified.
Some say it's the Iranians and some say it's the Chinese. As far as I know, it could be a bunch of kids playing games with their Christmas drones.
I went to gift cards some years back. In fact that's on my agenda for today: after church (or before if I leave early) stop and get gift cards for the kin folk I'll be seeing on Christmas.
Cute Facebook funny this morning: An alligator flying overhead drone-like, captioned, "Meanwhile, in Florida...".
Salted Carmel dark chocolate squares by fine chocolatiers. I'm partial to Lindt and Ghirardelli. A really good set of cutting knives (Cuisinarts are quite good I'm finding and each knife has it's own molded plastic cover). Cafe Bustello expresso grind coffee. Hmm, I've been ruined for coffee by that brand.
What is better than the first cup of coffee in the morning?
This is the best chocolate I've ever had. In the Brussels store the girls wear black parochial school type jumpers over white blouses and put on white gloves to get what's in the display case.
https://eu.marcolini.com/en/
Thanks. I'll try some.
One of my go-to gifts is some kind of wine or spirit. For wines, I have recently been enjoying more Portuguese Vinho Verde, which is a crowd-pleaser with a little touch of effervescence. I have also been pleased with a Bulgarian Pinot Noir called Cote d'Danube. Both widely available in the U.S. and are mercifully very affordable.
Because of my travels in central and south-eastern Europe, I have grown to appreciate fruit brandy (Hungarian palinka, Balkan rakija, slivovitz, etc.). German himbeergeist (literally raspberry spirit/ghost) is a really delightful raspberry fruit brandy (https://spiritsreview.com/reviews/schladerer-himbeergeist/). This is good stuff, so you will want to sip it, not use it for a cocktail or (God forbid!) take it as a shot.
I can't do shots anymore. Even when I go to Chicago, I will sip my shot of Malort if I order a handshake.
If you like fruit brandy and occasionally visit Chicago, check out Rhine Hall Distillery and Tasting Room, just off Damen & Fulton in the West Town neighborhood. It's ran by a father-daughter duo. He was first exposed to home distilling while playing semi-pro hockey in Austria. After making his fortune elsewhere, he opened this as a retirement job.
I’ll have to check that out! I usually hang out in that part of the city.
I second S. Undset’s “Kristin Lavransdattar” also her “Master of Hestviken.” They are unforgettable and quite re-readable.
Just listened to your conversation with the two chaps from Dual Citizens on youtube. Very thoughtful questions (and answers!): one of the most interesting Living in Wonder discussions I've heard. I'm in Australia, and I had never heard of this channel before, so thanks for introducing it!
I got my wife a Saddleback briefcase when she started practicing law years ago. "Durable" is an inadequate adjective to describe it. "Impregnable" is perhaps better. It is a beast of a case. Not tried their wallets, but the Fort Belvedere wallets sold by Gentlemen's Gazette are incredibly good and durable once you break them in.
https://shop.gentlemansgazette.com/collections/leather-wallets
On the subject of men's goods, I would also suggest a PROPER shaving kit - either a double-edged safety razor, or a straight razor. These razors are far better for your skin than modern cartridge razors (which can cause ingrown hairs from cutting too close, as they often cut the whiskers below the skin), with the added perk of not being associated with the woke crap of Gillette or Harry's. If you use a good tallow shaving soap, and a good pre-shaving oil, your skin will thank you (and the women will enjoy the fragrance). Be warned, learning to shave with a straight razor takes time, and the initial cost outlay can be high for a good razor. But if you care for it and strop it properly, maybe get it professionally rehoned every few years, you'll never need another damned cartridge razor (I certainly won't go back). You cannot pack a straight razor in carry on either, so having a DE safety as a backup is advised if you travel a lot by air.
https://thesuperiorshave.com
https://www.razoremporium.com
My wife has you to thank for her initial discovery of Mariage Frères tea, and you can only imagine how thrilled she is to discover it available via mail order.
I'm here to serve, guv'nor.
I loved Kristin Lavransdatter and I ended up reading The Wild Orchid and The Burning Bush (which is the sequel to Wild Orchid), and St Catherine of Siena.
Barbour jackets are water repellent. They work in rainy cold climes.
Mariages Freres: I love the Blanc et Rose (white tea with rose petals), subtle and comforting. The muslin sachets that Mariages Freres uses are wonderful.
For people who enjoy cooking, like me, nothing beats a Le Creuset or a Staub.
Well, that is certainly true. I could have gone on twice as long in this list. Wish I had said enameled cookware. If you are buying a wedding gift for a newly marrying couple, chances are that if they're young (under 40), they don't have the slightest clue how great and useful an enameled casserole cooker will be to them once they discover cooking. I had to buy one replacement item when I moved to Hungary, for my kitchen in this rental: an enameled cast iron covered casserole cooker. It's too heavy to pack for an airplane ride, so if I ever repatriate, some lucky Magyar cook friend is going to inherit it.
If I ever stop wearing William Morris ties, I’ll consider a pocket square—it really shows off the design more.
You wear William Morris ties?! God bless you, good sir! My ex-wife gave me a William Morris tie she bought at the gift shop at the Metropolitan Museum in New York on our first Christmas together. It has been and remains my favorite tie, despite everything.
Down here in Florida almost no one wears ties now, unless the occasion is super formal and calls for a full suit. I have a bunch of brightly colored ties (yes, I went in for that fad in its day) languishing in my closet. I've gotten more use out of my winter sweaters (we had a days-long cold snap this month).
I have the yellow one with blue florets. It wouldn't be that one, would it? That and an Italian tie from Brooks are my favorites.