Sundry Thoughts

I went to a general store but they wouldn't let me buy anything specific  - Steven Wright

Welcome to today’s blog in which I wax rhapsodic about stores of Christmas Past.

It begins with a spool of thread and where to buy it. There used to be lots of choices. There were local stores dedicated to sundries. Department stores like Sibley’s in Rochester and Hengerer’s in Buffalo all had notions departments. National stores like Woolworth’s, and, to a lesser degree Penney’s were known for sundries. Now we are left monoliths like JoAnn’s and the Evil Empire from Arkansas.

Name Recognition

I have heard nothing but good about this cookbook by Fred Thompson. The word of mouth in the Food world has been nothing but positive. It is appearing on best of 2012 lists, in good company things like Thomas Keller, Bruce Aidells, Ruhlman/Polcyn and Jacques Pepin. William Grimes of the NY Times included it in his list, describing the author: he has a missionary’s fervor for the sides and vegetables that he calls, in his introduction, "the apex of Southern cooking.”

It is an American region deserving of more attention, and an oft overlooked aspect of the dining experience. In short, a book I'd enjoy.

But I am not just a cook, I am a policy wonk and a political junkie, and my first thought was of Watergate lawyer, Movie and TV actor, US Senator, presidential candidate, Fox News analyst and reverse mortgage shill Fred Thompson.

I can't be the only one who had to check.  Unfortunate, no?