I spent a lot of time in my home kitchen over the holidays. It was loose, stress-free, and entertaining. In our house, my wife cooks for family and I cook for company. I can’t remember if we had a lot of company this holiday season, or if I was just in the kitchen more thanContinue reading “The Two Ladies in My Kitchen”
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RSJ’s Top 10 of 2017
For the 18 years this column has been published, the final entry in December has been an end-of-the-year list of my top-10 favorite dining experiences throughout the past year. Compiling the list is one of my favorite things to do each year, as it forces me to go back and remember meals shared with familyContinue reading “RSJ’s Top 10 of 2017”
Ugly Food
MILAN— “Ugly foods taste better.” That was the thought that came to me this morning as I was walking in the square in front of this city’s majestic cathedral in search of an ATM. Once I found the ATM, I was going to walk to a pizza joint not too far from the Duomo thatContinue reading “Ugly Food”
The Plate Talks
VENICE— The first time I ever thought about visiting this city, I almost didn’t. I was in the middle of a lengthy tour through Europe with my wife, 14-year old daughter, and 10-year old son. We were spending 10 weeks in Italy and joining up with renowned watercolorist, Wyatt Waters, to work on a newContinue reading “The Plate Talks”
Fried Shrimp
Dining out in a nice restaurant is a treat. I feel blessed to work in an industry where people come to celebrate life’s special occasions— birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, retirements, and the like. To be even a small part of people’s lives during those times is an honor, and a responsibility that we never take lightly.Continue reading “Fried Shrimp”
Thanksgiving 2017
They say the older one gets; the faster time seems to move forward. I don’t know who “they” are, but “they” are spot on. It seems as if we were just bringing in the new year a few weeks ago and it’s almost Thanksgiving. For the 18 years I have written this column, there areContinue reading “Thanksgiving 2017”
On the Road
Wyatt Waters and I are in the middle of the busiest year we have ever experienced. During this this twelve month period, we will have led three tour groups through Tuscany, and will lead one upcoming group through Venice, Bologna, and Milan. We took a television crew to Italy and filmed eight episodes of theContinue reading “On the Road”
Wild American Shrimp
On an upcoming episode of our new television series, Palate to Palette with Robert St. John and Wyatt Waters, the artist and I learn how to catch shrimp with a third-generation shrimp boat captain on his rig. To find out how we did, you’ll have to tune in to Mississippi Public Broadcasting on an upcomingContinue reading “Wild American Shrimp”
The Ultimate Home Field Advantage
I don’t watch most televised sports during their regular seasons. I will watch basketball finals (college and pro), the World Series, and the bigger golf tournaments such as The Masters (final round). Football is different. I love football. I have no problem watching, even the most boring football game, at any level. I canContinue reading “The Ultimate Home Field Advantage”