The first time I looked at Conviviality Near the Inn, all I saw were the peasants, dancing and hawking wares. The second time I looked, the more to me it seemed the castle (or church) dominated half the painting, not…
food
Boy with a Basket of Fruit – A Poem
One of the joys of this food/art/poem project of mine is imagining life outside the painting, which leads me to research. Information on child labour in the US here. A little look at historic tin toys here. And it’s not…
Old Partner – A Poem
Why choose to paint a broken down old kettle? According to Artvee.com, John Frederick Peto was a trompe l’oeil specialist, and painted objects at their actual size. This old kettle painting is only 12.7 x 20.3 cm (5 x 8…
Oysters – A Poem
Human consumption of oysters dates back to prehistoric times. The oyster then moves through a period of delicacy in Ancient Rome, back to being poor people’s food in Medieval Europe, a boom period during the 19th century, and back to…
Two Bunches of Grapes for Wine Lovers – A Poem
For those who like a glass of wine, becoming a vigneron is a rose-tinted-glasses dream. I don’t know if that’s what Andrew John Henry Way was thinking when he painted Two Bunches of Grapes, but it’s certainly what I thought…
A Peach, Seville – A Poem
George Henry Hall decided to become an artist at the age of 16, and eight years later, proceeds from the sales of his paintings enabled him to go on the first of many trips to Europe. While he loved the…
Master of the House – A Poem
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…
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…
