Provincetown Library at Sundown.

Provincetown Library at sundown. Nothing whatsoever to do with food, I just loved the way the light looked on the newly restored steeple.

Well, it is near Mojo's, which has great fried clams, so there's the tie in...

Our Annual Chili Cook Off

Last Sunday I spent the afternoon at my club's annual chili cook off. We had ten different community organizations enter. The chili's ranged from two vegetarian ones to a classic beanless cubed beef. (No Chili Colorado though, which surprised me.)

One of the more interesting ones was called “cosmic consciousness." It was made by the guru from our friendly neighborhood Gay Tantric Ashram. (This is in Los Angeles, remember.) It had a curry overtone and slight lingering ginger undertones. I know it sounds weird, but it was delicious!

I think that what struck me the most was how tremendously varied people's palates are.

There was general agreement as to which were the best, a wide range of opinion on the middle ranges, and nearly universal agreement on the worst.

There was one that I spat out, fearing dire consequences if I swallowed it. (I spat as discreetly as I could, since I was judging the chili's.) That particular chili had the distinct aroma of an open sewer line. (Other judges described it as tasting like vomit, and smelling of a bus station restroom.)

On counting the ballots for “crowd favorite” I was stunned to find two ballots cast for the aforementioned vile chili.

Apparently, there really is no accounting for taste.

The Breakfast I wish I was Having....

Ok - into each life some drab meals must fall. Today I'm in an airport motel with my breakfast choices limited to two vending machines. A bag of cheez-its and a root beer was on the breakfast menu today.

At least I can dream about this one from two weeks ago. A poached egg on top of Parmesan dusted stone ground yellow grits, a few spears of asparagus and a pat of butter.

Sure beats the cheez-its.

Quinessential Diner Burger @ Rhonda's Diner in East Providence

Ryan and I visited his friend Michael in Providence, and he took us to his Aunt's Diner, called Rhonda's in East Providence. This lurid looking photo is of the burger and fries - which were GREAT. (for some reason the lights in the diner frizzed out the white balance on my cellphone camera, creating this lurid photo.) The burger was perfectly cooked, and came with very good fries.

Cynthia's Beet Salad

Today Ryan and I had lunch with my brother Adam and his wife Cynthia. She made this delicious composed salad, with beets and grapefruit. it was inspired by one they had in a restaurant in Chestnut Hill in Philadelphia. It tasted every bit as good as it looks!