Victor Hugo’s “Les Misérables” was published in 1862. The Siege of Paris occurred from 1870 – 1871. This painting is dated 1875. Les Misérables the musical premiered in 1980 in Paris. I had a little fun trying put them all…
food
In Service to Chocolate – A Poem
French King Louis Philippe I (1773–1850) commissioned this ornate service for his Queen Marie-Amélie (1782–1866). It was manufactured in 1836, six years after the Second French (July) Revolution (when Charles X was ousted, and Louis Philippe was proclaimed king). And…
Sweetmeats – A Poem
In earlier centuries, “sweetmeats” was a broad term encompassing a variety of sweets including cakes, puddings, candied fruit and seeds, and preserves. Samuel Pepys, in his 17th century diary, spent a nice amount of time visiting people and eating their…
Black Beans, Grapefruit & Chicken Salad
I went looking for new ways to add legumes into the diet without exploding, and came across the combination of black beans and grapefruit. I was skeptical at first. But then I winged a recipe, and have been converted! This…
Eating By The Sea
Why do we so love to eat by the sea? This video merges the beauty of the sea with the delicious joy of seaside dining.
In Celebration of Noodles
We eat first with our eyes, and the noodle has to be one of the most visually edible foods! Grab your chopsticks or fork and join us in a mouthwatering and super relaxing celebration of October 6 – National Noodle…
Nightcap – A Poem
There’s something cheeky about this trompe l’oeil painting, that seems to suggest someone’s raided the pantry for a little nightcap. From the Art Institute Chicago description: “In Just Dessert, the exotic clashes with the quotidian—Maraschino liqueur, half a coconut, and Smyrna figs…
A Cosey Corner – A Poem
What’s interesting about this painting is that it’s a blend of the English, and the American. The Met tells us that American Frank Millet (1846-1912) lived in the Cotswolds for a time, and his home was a transatlantic centre for…
The Kitchen Servants – A Poem
There’s more going on in this painting than at first appears. From The Met description: “Sorgh inflects a domestic scene with the art of still life. Two maids clean fish and peel vegetables in the foreground, surrounded by gleaming brass…
The Fair – A Poem
The Fair Drums.Dance.Monkey.Paris dreamsIn evening haze.He offers Eve a ripened pearand couples everywhere turn to each other and kiss. ©elsp 2025 If you’re interested in the form of the poem, it’s a Fib. More on Fibonacci poetry here. More of…
A Roman Feast – A Poem
My first prompt for “A Roman Feast” was the image at the very bottom of the page of a Roman serving vessel. I began to imagine what was actually served in it – which led to peacock, snails and dormice….
Moist Meatballs – Princes not Paupers
So, you know the story of Prince and the Pauper? They swapped places for a day. Well, minced/ground meat, (which some might consider the pauper of meats), should be treated like a prince on meatball days. Why? Because moist meatballs…
