There are many reasons to sing the praises of fermentation. Sandor Katz kicks off his wonderful Wild Fermentation by stressing the fact that fermented foods are “alive with flavor and nutrition” and tend to pack a pungent punch that we find very appealing. He then proceeds to list some of our favorite foods: “…stinky aged … Continue reading The Pickles of Nara
Strawberries, Edouard Manet, ca. 1882 No, this is not about that can! It’s about that cylindrical metal container, so familiar to beer lovers. The first beer can made its commercial debut about a hundred years ago, 1933 to be precise. One wonders whether there will be any events to commemorate this. A number of years … Continue reading The Can
Readers who have been following this series know that the entries are focused on the “Wine of Moldova” event that was held at Tokyo’s elegant Meiji Kinenkan late in 2025. Ah, yes, it was Japan’s capital city, but after I took a couple of sips of Balti, I was transported back to the summer of … Continue reading Wine of Moldova: Barza Alba’s Balti, Part 4
From the pictures included with this entry, readers can see that the Wine of Moldova night was quite an event. It was also an opportunity for those present to taste an indigenous varietal wine of Moldova called “Feteasca Neagră.” When Moldova was part of the Soviet Union, this grape nearly disappeared from Moldovan vineyards, but … Continue reading Wine of Moldova: Kazayak’s Sens Feteasca Neagră, Part 3
One of the most famous wineries in Moldova is the one mentioned in the subtitle of this entry, famous, not only for its fine wines, but also for its unique and seemingly—I haven’t participated yet—fun events, which largely focus on their cellar. “Cellar?” you ask? Yes, that’s right. I know, winery events are usually confined … Continue reading Wine of Moldova: Mileștii Mici, Part 2
I was lucky enough to have a high-school history teacher—only one mind you—who not only taught his subject very well but also had the good sense to insist that students purchase a historical atlas of Europe. Just flipping through the pages from antiquity to the present, one could readily see how some geopolitical entities—kingdoms, principalities … Continue reading Wine of Moldova: November 4, 2025, Part 1
I have drunk makgeolli many times in Seoul, often at one establishment in the Myeong-dong district. The place specializes in what may be informally called the homemade variety. I have never had better outside Korea. In Japan, which constitutes a sizable market for the drink, good makgeolli can be found, but it is a little … Continue reading SOON: Maybe Soon in Your Glass
