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Author Archives: Chris Galvin
‘Tis Always the Season for Shortbread Cookies
In my family, Christmas just isn’t Christmas without shortbread cookies. Both my parents loved cooking and baking, but my father and I usually made the shortbreads, creaming pounds of butter, combining it with icing sugar, cornstarch and flour, and forming … Continue reading
Posted in Cooking, Food, Recipes
Tagged baking, Christmas, Faye Levy, flavourings, lavender, Shaker recipes, shortbread cookies
5 Comments
Cookbook review: Istanbul and Beyond
Istanbul and Beyond: Exploring the Diverse Cuisines of Turkey Robin Eckhardt, with photography by David Hagerman Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, $35 (352p) ISBN: 978-0-544-44431-7 *Note and disclaimer: When I originally posted this review, I somehow managed to leave the disclaimer out when I … Continue reading
Posted in Book reviews, Books, Cookbooks, Cooking, Food, Recipes
Tagged David Hagerman, Istanbul and Beyond, Robyn Eckhardt, Turkey, Turkish Food
18 Comments
P is for Preserves and my Favourite Vietnamese Chilli Paste
Viet cuisine is known for its fresh ingredients. At my mother-in-law’s table, greenery abounds, the fish and shrimp come from my sister-in-law’s family pond, and Mother buys fresh meat daily at the Đông Ba Market. Canned, bottled, and dry ingredients … Continue reading
Posted in A to Z, Cooking, Food, Recipes, Viet Nam
Tagged chilli paste, Huế, preserves, tương ớt, Vietnamese food
5 Comments
Writing Day
Turbulent. Overwhelming. That’s what this year has been, on the grand scale and in my own day-to-day life. With little time to write in 2017, I chose to concentrate on query packages for my memoir manuscript. Submissions-wise, I sent out … Continue reading
Posted in News, Publications, Writing
Tagged essays, my (small press) writing day, rob mclennan, writing
1 Comment
Writers Reading Writers
Imagine you’ve recently discovered an internet radio show where the host, a stuffed bear, pairs literary readings with music. (He might also pair readings with the occasional nip of whisky.) Imagine the show is called Mr. Bear’s Violet Hour Saloon, … Continue reading
Posted in Literary Events, Readings, Viet Nam, Writing
Tagged Asian Cha, Boston Free Radio, Flood Season, Georgia Bellas, Mr. Bear's Violet Hour Saloon
1 Comment
X is for Xửng…Mè Xửng
In the Việt kitchen, the letter X is tasty. I considered writing about xào, stir-frying, or xoài, mango, or perhaps xôi, sticky rice. Then my in-laws sent a huge package of goodies from Huế. Among the many local specialties were … Continue reading
N is for Nghệ / Turmeric
“After women give birth,” my Vietnamese mother-in-law explained, “they get coldness. Turmeric heats the body and protects against colds or flu. Also,” she said, “turmeric makes the skin soft and beautiful again. Any woman who just had a baby should apply a turmeric … Continue reading
Posted in A to Z, Cooking, Food, Viet Nam
Tagged Andrea Nguyen, Eating Asia, Kim Fay, Leela Punyaratabandhu, Nicole Routhier, She Simmers, Turmeric
9 Comments
Photo set: Canada, Việt Nam
Between 4:30 and 6:30 a.m., the streets of Huế abound with people walking, jogging and excercising. When in Việt Nam, I’m often outside by 5 for a walk with my mother-in-law. . . When I took this photo of a group … Continue reading
Posted in News, Photography, Photos, Publications, Viet Nam
Tagged Asian Cha, Canada, Huế
5 Comments
Runner-up in Briarpatch Magazine’s Writing in the Margins Contest!
I’m pleased to announce that my personal essay Bombshell has been chosen as runner-up for the 2015 creative nonfiction prize in Briarpatch’s fifth annual writing contest. Thank you to Leanne Betasamosake Simpson, who judged the creative nonfiction entries. Bombshell faced … Continue reading
V is for Vả Figs
We tend to think of Vietnamese cuisine as a single entity, but really it’s made up of many regional dishes and ingredients. The cooking of Huế features a variety of such foods, and a variety of locally grown fig is one … Continue reading