For the past four months, I have been living in Cabo da Roca, Portugal, the furthermost western point in all of Europe. Cabo is a blustery, wild sort of place, romantic and isolated, where often the only sound is Joao the donkey, who brays like a melancholy foghorn every morning and evening. The house where …
This poem was found tacked up to the wall of the cafe this morning. It’s been a cold, long winter, and since the cafe can only serve takeaway pastries and coffees, I thought I’d share it. Mario de Andrade, the author of the poem, was a Brazilian novelist, essayist and musicologist, and one of my …
Everyone is trying to protect themselves from viruses. As people who know me know, I am an annoyingly firm follower of medical medium compliant foods, which means I try not to eat gluten, dairy, and most meats. For me, food isn’t something that just tastes good, it is medicine that can help us heal. So …
I love embracing the traditions and the foods of all the countries I have lived. In Austria, no Christmas is complete without baking small, bite-sized biscuits called Weihnachtskekse, or Christmas cookies. The most well known may be Lebkuchen, or gingerbread men, but my favorite are Vanillakipferl, the tiny almond cookies shaped like a crescent moon. …
Indulging in overeating is not a modern issue as demonstrated by the Venus of Willendorf figurine. If you are wondering why she is on my video, it’s because this tiny statue—she’s small enough to fit in the palm of your hand— plays a prominent part in my new book, Journeys. One of the oldest known …
