Weekly Column

An Atypical Tuscan Farewell (Or How Annagloria Saved the Day)

3:59a.m. Barberino Val d’Elsa, Tuscany— I am dead asleep in the small apartment below Villa il Santo. The pizza I had consumed hours earlier worked […]

Home Away From Home

BARBERRINO VAL D’ELSA, TUSCANY— My friend, collaborator, and business partner, Wyatt Waters, and I are working back in Italy this week leading a group of […]

Memories and the Greatest Trick Ever Played on Kids

Memories are the fuel that ignite and continually stoke this column. I have written in this space for over 20 years— approximately 1,000 words per […]

RSJ’s Thanksgiving Feast

Asparagus Casserole 1 Tbl Olive oil, light 2 Tbl Onion, minced 1 Tbl Shallot, minced 2 Tbl Celery, minced 1/2 tsp Salt 1/2 tsp Garlic, […]

Thanksgiving and The Five Fs

The primary and traditional American holidays are Christmas, New Year’s, Valentine’s, Easter, Fourth of July, Halloween, and Thanksgiving. I enjoy each of them for different […]

The Personality of Food

“Donuts are the funnest food.” That’s what my friend, co-collaborator, and business partner Wyatt Waters says. He’s right you know. I had never thought about […]

Dogs and Cars and Problems

There is a scene from my childhood that replays in my head often. It’s not of me crossing the goal line and scoring a winning […]

50 Shades of Foodservice

masochist | ˈmazəkəst, ˈmasəkəst | noun. (in general use) a person who enjoys an activity that appears to be painful or tedious: what kind of […]

How School Lunches Were Changed Forever

Several years ago, I was speaking to a group of high school students in the cafeteria of their school. On the surface, it looked like […]

The Wind-Up

NAPLES, ITALY— Wyatt Waters and I have just finished leading two tour groups through Rome, The Amalfi Coast, and Naples. In addition to filming season […]