Critiques, cravings and conundrums from the Madison food and dining scene
Small DishesOctober 2011
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10/31/11TONY
Posted at 08:21 AM | Permalink | Comments: 0 |
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10/19/11Adventures in Good Eating
That was the name of Duncan Hines’ restaurant guide in 1950s. He was the Tim and Nina Zagat of his day and the leading authority on dining out. Today, most people only recognize his name as that of a popular cake mix. Fame as a restaurant critic is fleeting and taste in food fickle.
Just like what we eat, much has changed about the restaurant business in the last 50 years. For one thing, “adventure” and “good eating” are rarely associated with each other anymore. The success of chains like McDonald’s and Kentucky Fried Chicken were built on uniformity and no surprises. Now, a restaurant adventure has become a pejorative. Even... Posted at 10:55 AM | Permalink | Comments: 3 |
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10/05/11Counter Culture
It seems way too early to be thinking about Christmas, but it’s difficult not to, going to Target and Costco and seeing all the holiday glitter already on display. Like many, thinking about Christmas takes me back to when I was a little kid, because that’s when it was the most alive and real. Then shopping was an adventure, special from the start because I wore my best clothes even though it wasn’t Sunday. It was an essential ingredient in the anticipation of Christmas that never came fast enough. I still remember the thrill of squandering the $20 fortune that Aunt Bertie Louise gave me each year—much better than the Savings Bond I got on my birthday. I especially miss going to the five and dime, stores like S. S. Kresge and F. W.... Posted at 01:02 PM | Permalink | Comments: 0 |
I found my interest in writing by accident. My training and first job was as a graphic designer. Unemployed, the only employment I could find in advertising at that time was as a copywriter. Somehow, I convinced Richard Newman & Associates to hire me. Later I learned they were desperate. Madison has been my home off and on since 1957 (nonstop for the past 31 years). I write about food, which I love. – Dan Curd
