Notes from Manhattan: Film & Food

FILM Marriage Story (Netflix and theaters) This is a painful, and at times excruciating, excavation of a marriage unraveling.  As the film opens, it’s clear that there will be no grand reconciliation.  Instead Charlie and Nicole initially intend to handle their divorce themselves amicably, but, perhaps inevitably, the tensions and the disagreements lead them each to consult and …

Tidy Tidbits: Cheese & More

PROVISIONING—Cheese and More I grew up eating good cheese, not expensive cheese, but good New York State sharp cheddar.  In our household, there was no such thing as American cheese, a misnomer if there ever was one.  In that era in upstate New York, Black Diamond cheddar from Canada was the height of sophistication and an occasional …

Cruising: Dining on board

SHIPBOARD DINING Anyone who knows me and the Chief Penguin well, knows that we are foodies.  As in the case of Caesar, this army travels on its stomach.  One of the delights of cruising with Crystal is the quality and variety of the food. And it is truly excellent!  You can get almost anything you’d possibly want to …

Rome: Last Meals et al

OBSERVATIONS: A few reflections on how Rome struck me on this visit. More young people seen smoking on the street including high school students.  A mix of cigarettes and vaping devices. More pedestrian-only zones which make Rome quieter and even more pleasant for walking from piazza to piazza. Other than getting into and out of the …