I call her Victoria

A memory from the USA I have decided to publish after all:

As I was walking around 14th street, home from working at the spice market at Chelsea Market I worked at briefly, I spotted this beheaded beauty laying at a street florist's feet, and asked him if I could have it. Of course, he said sheepishly, and I walked off with what I consider to be one of the great wonders of the world. I snip whatever is left of the stem, ideally to maximize water flow to the rose head, and position thoughtfully in water to flourish and bloom to what you see below. Not quite as fragrant as its white friend, the red rose's delicate fragrance is mirrored by the velveteen petals that compose its intricate design. Intricate. That is also her fragrance, the red rose, that is her beauty, a dance in the world of fragrance, with whirling notes to delight the palate. That is why I call her Victoria, an exquisite beauty, elegantly and serendipitously breathtaking in her every detail. And as always, I cherished her in my grandmother's Limoges petite vase until she had no more beauty to share with me.





Grandmas vasette did not make it to Israel with me.

A Wink Later

Shabbat in Israel is for meals like this. Lavish little salads, and some not so little ones (Ill let you decide which is which), eaten slowly at my leisure as I watch Gordon Ramsey bring order, symphony and finally beauty to restaurants in my backyard, back home in NJ. From 5 o'clock (which is around the time I ate) upwards we have chive yogurt, soaked almonds, multi-rice (whole red and brown) with Rashad, chives and scallions and avocado on the side, lettuce hearts, heirloom cucumber (its white!), and a slice of my spelt and wheat sourdough, ketchup with schug, fire roasted eggplants with chives from Supersol (its stupendous, just needs a bit more fresh lemon juice), Acram's homemade hummus which was a gift for bringing him the last of the heirloom guavas we had for a short stint at work, a Persian omelet, and some homemade suri olives that my roommate gave me. Such an ornate meal, so tired of eating them alone.