Short essays and notes on food, history, and the kitchen.
Where ideas live before they cool into a book.
- Food HistoryMay 20, 2026 · Food History · 5 min
Kombu Trade and Kyoto: How a 500-km Sea Route Built a Cuisine
Kyoto is more than 500 kilometers from any place where kombu grows. Yet the city's cuisine — kaiseki, obanzai, the seasonal Buddhist temple food — is built on kombu at a depth that surpasses even coastal cities. The reason is the kitamae-bune, a 200-year merchant shipping route that ran Hokkaido seaweed down the Sea of Japan into the heart of Honshu.
- Recipe NoteMay 20, 2026 · Recipes · 4 min
Kuri Gohan
Kuri Gohan is a Japanese rice dish made with seasonal chestnuts, showcasing the technique of cooking rice with flavor-enhancing ingredients.
- Recipe NoteMay 20, 2026 · Recipes · 4 min
Lemon Curd
Lemon curd is a thick, tangy sauce made from lemon juice, sugar, eggs, and butter, used in various desserts like tarts and pastries.
- Recipe NoteMay 20, 2026 · Recipes · 4 min
Lentilles Vinaigrette
Lentilles Vinaigrette is a French side dish featuring cooked lentils mixed with a tangy vinaigrette, highlighting emulsification and flavor balance.
- Recipe NoteMay 20, 2026 · Recipes · 5 min
Miso Butter
Miso Butter blends the savory depth of miso with rich butter, creating a versatile condiment for diverse dishes.
- Recipe NoteMay 20, 2026 · Recipes · 5 min
Mushroom Polenta
Mushroom Polenta combines creamy cornmeal with sautéed mushrooms, focusing on umami extraction and texture layering for a rich Italian main dish.
- Food HistoryMay 20, 2026 · Food History · 4 min
The Origins of Beer: How a Fermented Mash Predates Civilization
Pottery residues from Jiahu in China and ritual vessels at Göbekli Tepe in Turkey put fermented grain drinks at around 7,000–9,000 BCE — older than writing, older than the wheel, and possibly older than settled agriculture itself.
- Recipe NoteMay 20, 2026 · Recipes · 4 min
Pavlova
Pavlova is a meringue dessert with a crisp exterior and soft interior, topped with whipped cream and fresh fruit.
- Food HistoryMay 20, 2026 · Food History · 4 min
Pepper and Empire: How a Berry From Kerala Built and Drained Europe
Pliny the Elder complained that pepper was draining Roman gold to India. Alaric the Visigoth demanded three thousand pounds of it as part of his ransom of Rome in 408 CE. Vasco da Gama opened the Indian Ocean for it in 1498. The cheap mill on your kitchen counter is a relic of one of history's hungriest trade routes.
- Recipe NoteMay 20, 2026 · Recipes · 4 min
Pickled Red Onion
Pickled red onions are a condiment made by soaking sliced onions in a vinegar solution, enhancing dishes with acidity and flavor.
- Recipe NoteMay 20, 2026 · Recipes · 4 min
Pissaladière
Pissaladière is a savory tart from Nice, featuring sweet caramelized onions, olives, and anchovies on a flaky pastry crust.
- Recipe NoteMay 20, 2026 · Recipes · 4 min
Poisson Sauce Vierge
Poisson Sauce Vierge consists of cooked fish served with a sauce made from emulsified olive oil, lemon juice, and infused herbs.
- Recipe NoteMay 20, 2026 · Recipes · 4 min
Quinoa Buddha Bowl
A Quinoa Buddha Bowl combines cooked quinoa, assorted vegetables, and protein, providing a balanced meal with varied textures and flavors.
- Recipe NoteMay 20, 2026 · Recipes · 6 min
Roasted Sweet Potato with Tahini
Delicious roasted sweet potatoes drizzled with creamy tahini make a stunning side dish.
- Recipe NoteMay 20, 2026 · Recipes · 4 min
Sake Nanban-zuke
Sake Nanban-zuke is a Japanese home dish of crisp fried salmon briefly marinated in a sweet-tart vinegar sauce. Refrigerate and eat within 2–3 days.
- Recipe NoteMay 20, 2026 · Recipes · 3 min
Sticky Toffee Pudding
Indulge in a classic British dessert with this rich and warm Sticky Toffee Pudding, featuring a luscious caramel sauce and sweet dates.
- Recipe NoteMay 20, 2026 · Recipes · 4 min
Stuffed Peppers
Stuffed peppers filled with a mixture of grains, protein, and spices, then roasted until tender. This dish showcases stuffing and flavor balancing techniques.
- Recipe NoteMay 20, 2026 · Recipes · 3 min
Zucchini Fritters
Zucchini fritters made by grating zucchini, removing moisture, mixing with flour and eggs, then frying until golden brown.
- Recipe NoteMay 19, 2026 · Recipes · 3 min
Asparagus Vinaigrette
Asparagus Vinaigrette is a sauce made by emulsifying cooked asparagus with vinegar, oil, and seasonings to achieve acidity and flavor balance.
- Recipe NoteMay 19, 2026 · Recipes · 3 min
Bagna Cauda
Bagna Cauda is an Italian dip made from garlic, anchovies, and olive oil, served warm with fresh vegetables for dipping.