Keith Richards liked this article by me so much, he signed a copy. It appeared in the Toronto Star in the summer of 1994 while the Rolling Stones were living in Toronto rehearsing for their Voodoo Lounge tour. (Update: I’ve recently perfected the ultimate version of Shepherd’s Pie that appears on the Recipes page of this site.)
Julia Child’s great-nephew Alex Prud’homme with his new book
Julia Child often said: “I was born hungry!” She had an appetite for life and sharing a love of good food was her consuming passion. She was North America’s first TV celebrity chef and her great-nephew Alex Prud’homme had a front-row seat.
My creamy old-fashioned potato salad uses pickle juice
This feature appeared in the Toronto Star in 1996. My favourite version is the first one.
“Potato salad: A cold or hot side dish made with potatoes, mayonnaise and seasonings. It became very popular in the second half of the nineteenth century and is a staple of both home and food-store kitchens.” — John Mariani: The Dictionary of American Food and Drink
The sold-out scene at the Isabel Bader Theatre in downtown Toronto on a recent dark and stormy night was akin to a Bob Dylan concert (firsthand experience) or a gathering to hear the Dalai Lama (only hearsay).
In this case, it was a packed house comprised of followers, fans, fellow foodies and a large contingent of up-and-coming chefs.
This recipe has truly changed my life. It comes from my friend Jan Van Stralen who grew up on a farm in south-west Ontario in a family of Dutch heritage. The latter explains the name of this trusty dish: Borenkol Stumpot.
