30 Comments
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Kathy Martens's avatar

"Five bites later you’re thinking what other animal’s face can I eat?" Made my day.

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Tommy Swerdlow's avatar

you got good ears. glad someone enjoyed that

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Tommy Swerdlow's avatar

actually, it's just called Mrs. Rosenthal

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Holly Starley's avatar

Well, damn, Tommy. Now I’m hungry.

And you hit it square on the nose - the strawberries and maters from the grocery store are indeed the idea of the thing.

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Tommy Swerdlow's avatar

Yup. maters that matters are rare

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Martin Mc Carthy's avatar

What has happened to my grumpy old friend? Usually you write in two shades of grey with a very identifiable and descriptive flair. Now suddenly, it's happy Tommy doing what you call : "A sweet duet with what has turned out to be a highly bearable reality." And why? Simply because it's summer time in LA, and the farmer's market is stacking all kinds of delicious things that the chef in you will transform into one of lives greatest pleasures - a good meal. Wow!

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Tommy Swerdlow's avatar

I'm a joy boy at heart MM

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Pattie Lee Pierce's avatar

I love Giannini & your words. My mouth is literally watering. Your words, food and prep are singularly sensational. Thank you Tommy.

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Tommy Swerdlow's avatar

Pattie Lee, Pattie Lee Pattie Lee Pattie Lee Pattie Lee Pattie Lee

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Patris's avatar

I swear, sometimes you just delight me.

(Ok I admit the I swear here is too cute but I’m feeling fine this morning too)

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Tommy Swerdlow's avatar

i like joy and then justifying joy -- are we related? giving you kick gives me one

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Patris's avatar

🙏🙌🏼

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Renee Missel's avatar

OMG, stop it, stop it. It's 11 am reading this and i'm ready for that pasta you photographed.

I'm a blueberry person. Daily, all year. And strawberries and melons and oranges and tomatoes.

Mediterranean anything. But not stuffed grape leaves. Juicy posting.

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Tommy Swerdlow's avatar

anti grape leaf. I gotta send you a picture of the wild blueberries that my friend sent me from Canada where she lives in New Brunswick. It's incredible. The blueberry barrens

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Renee Missel's avatar

Blueberries are the fruit of Canada.

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Anna Schott's avatar

I love your food writing and love the farmers market. Did i mention i live next door to one here? I like how people get dressed up for the Sunday market like church.

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Tommy Swerdlow's avatar

I think I knew you lived close to one. I still gotta watch that gypsy movie. I've been a slacker and I apologize. and glad you dig the food writing

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Josephine Spilka's avatar

ancient satisfaction, all about the fat! love the food porn and I'd like a dinner invitation...

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Tommy Swerdlow's avatar

it is all about the fat and Josephine, you're invited. Let me know when you're in Los Angeles.

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Josephine Spilka's avatar

sweet, I will!

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Lisa Cooper's avatar

Strawberries are in the rose family. Macerate them with a pinch of sugar and a few drops of rosewater and don't tell anybody. Let them suss it out..if they can.

Like lil base note flavor bombs all over the damn place.

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Tommy Swerdlow's avatar

Love that. i'm going to give it a try and report unfortunately there won't be any good strawberries for a while, but maybe I'll try it with some less than stellar.

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Lisa Cooper's avatar

Even less than stellar, humble berries do shine this way. You may yet luck out with some late season beauties.

Conversely, there is something profound in waiting until the next season to try. Things to look forward to are so very under rated these days.

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Eric Trules's avatar

I think Giannini misses Wertmuller😩

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Tommy Swerdlow's avatar

Oh does he!

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Tommy Swerdlow's avatar

Yeah -- you know the song Me and Mrs. Rosenthal by Brian wright ?

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Kyle11strand@gmail.com's avatar

There is something about gastro-prose and narco-poetry that really hits a different spot for me.

Anthony Bourdain in particular really made me happy, i love that guy and i miss him, but I still have you. Thank you. Thanks for reminding me that I live on the face of the moon where it is impossible to get good produce, great meat but not a real strawberry for a thousand miles.

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Kelly L's avatar

Your food writing is just too good!! Love it.

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Eleanor Anstruther's avatar

I need to come to dinner.

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