The University of Chicago Press is selling its last editions of a facsimile book of Japanese fans with poems conserved in Prague’s National Gallery. There are 120 poems in all in this 180 page book in the waka form.
Details about the book and purchase price follow:
Reposted by Ruth Paget, author Eating DSoup with Chopsticks and Marrying France and developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games
University of Chicago Press books about creativity in times of chaos and turmoil look interesting.
Francophiles might be especially interested in the notebooks of Albert Camus, winner of the 1967 Nobel Prize in Literature. The notebooks have been translated into English.
Details on books and purchasing flow:
https://mail.google.com/mail/mu/mp/465/#cv/priority/%5Esmartlabel_promo/19d44887b6b026ba
Reposted by Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France and developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games
Hunan Chicken at Golden Star Restaurant in Salinas, California by Ruth Paget
Hunan chicken at Golden Star Restaurant in Salinas, California is not a secret menu item but almost. Basically, Hunan chicken is breaded and deep-fried chicken tenders. Then, the deep-fried tenders are coated in honey-soy sauce, which tastes like a barbecue sauce to me.
The Hunan aspect of this dish comes in with the Sichuan hot peppercorn sauce. Chinese cookbook writer Fuchsia Dunlop describes Sichuan hot peppercorns as numbing. This affect is diminished somewhat by the sweet honey sauce the fat in the bread coating in the Hunan chicken at Golden Star.
If you want the Vitamin C in the Sichuan hot peppercorns and the antioxidants without the chile pepper sting Hunan chicken might be for you. It has a pretty high calorie content, so dieters beware. For me, it is a once awhile treat.
For super healthy Hunanese Chinese food, check out Fuchsia Dunlop’s cookbook Revolutionary Chinese Cookbook: Recipes from Hunan Province. (Hunan is considered revolutionary, because Chairman Mao was born there.)
I have listed a link below to a recipe for Hunan chicken that is similar to what Golden Star offers by Nicki Borbishley:
https://www.kitchensanctuary.com/chinese-crispy-chicken-honey-garlic-sauce/
Barbecue lovers who would like to try something similar in Chinese food might enjoy the Hunan chicken at Golden Star Restaurant in Salinas, California.
By Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France and developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games
The following website on fine dining does a great job describing ingredients,?seasonings, and techniques used in China’s main regional cuisines - it’s great a mini work of cultural anthropology:
Reposted by Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Teen in China and developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games
Farmers’ Markets Agritourism in Salinas, California by Ruth Paget
Market town Salinas, California has 5 Farmers’ Markets where locals and regional visitors can do some agritourism centered on the purchase of organic produce and prepared regional food dishes from food trucks and market stalls.
These markets include:
*Northridge Mall Night Market at Northridge Mall
-Wednesdays
-4 pm to 9 pm
Features local food vendors, taco trucks, live music, and family-friendly activities like pony rides and bounce houses.
*Oldtown Salinas Farmers’ Market held one block from the Steinbeck Center on Main Street
-Saturdays
-9 am to 2 pm
*Alisal Certified Farmers’ Market
-Tuesdays
-11 am to 4 pm
Near WIC office. Accepts EBT/WIC
There are plenty of restaurants to do Taco Tuesday after marketing too including Taco Bell.
*Natividad Certified Farmers’ Market on Constitution Boulevard at Natividad Medical Center
-Wednesdays
- 10 am to 2:30 pm
Accepts EBT/WIC
*Salinas Valley Health Certified Farmers’ Market on Romie Lane
-Fridays
-11:30 am to 4 pm
Accepts EBT/WIC
*Outdoor Market at the Rodeo
-Fridays
-4 pm to 9 pm
Sells merchandise in addition to food. Music and entertainment provided
Soledad Farmers’ Market
Thursdays
4 pm to 8 pm
In the middle of ag country and wine country
*San Juan Bautista Farmers’ Market
- North of Salinas on Highway 101
-Sundays
-11 am to 3 pm
-Pezzini Farms - Castroville for Thursdays and Mondays when Salinas does not have a farmers’ market.
Open everyday, but if you want a country farmers’ market on a non-farmers’ market day in Salinas, Pezzini is open. They have lots of artichokes for sale.
The Giant Artichoke Restaurant in Castroville serves artichoke-centric meals and American cuisine for a market day in the country lunch.
Castroville also has fish available daily at Phil’s Fish Market - check website for details
These are market hours and dates as of March 30, 2026. Check websites to verify dates and times as we head into spring and summer.
Salinas reminds me of the English market town of Epping outside London that I visited on a trip to England. My blog about the town follows:
https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2018/08/touring-epping-london-suburb-uk-with.html?m=1
I am watching YouTube and TikTok videos by Luke Palladino and Giovanni Siracusa for ideas on how to use market purchases for Italian dishes.
Note: Several towns around Salinas also have farmers’ markets.
-Seaside has a market on Thursdays (4 pm to 8 pm) - this market has live music, produce, and hot food
-Marina has a market on Sundays (10 am to 2 pm) with some Asian food products.
-Carmel - Barnyard Shopping Center in Carmel has a Farmers’ Market on Tuesdays from 9 am to 1 pm.
-Mid-Valley Farmers’ Markets (Carmel Valley) - Sundays - 10 am to 3 pm
-Pacific Grove - Farmers’ Market - Mondays - 3 pm to 6 pm
-Monterey Farmers’ Market - Del Monte Shopping Center lots of parking - Fridays - 8 am to 12 pm
-King City Farmers’ Market - Wednesdays - 4 pm to 7 pm
Check market websites as hours may differ in spring and summer.
Happy Marketing!
By Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France and developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games
A Sampling of French Armchair Travel and Culture Games Created by Ruth Paget
Saintoge: The La Rochelle France Touring Game
https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2025/11/saintoge-la-rochelle-france-touring.html?m=1
Majorelle: The Lorraine France Touring Game
https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2025/05/majorelle.html?m=1
Ausone: The Bordeaux Region Touring Game
https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2018/07/ausone-bordeaux-region-touring-game.html?m=1
Guigone de Salins: The Burgundy Touring Game
https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2018/10/guigone-de-salins-burgundy-touring-game.html?m=1
Jean Vrolicq: The French Basque Country Travel Gale
https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2018/08/jean-vrolicq-french-basque-country.html?m=1
Dukes of Brittany (France) Touring Game
https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2019/01/dukes-of-brittany-touring-game-created.html?m=1
Bocuse: The Lyon France Touring Game
https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2018/08/paul-bocuse-lyon-france-touring-game.html?m=1
Eugenie Grandet: The French Anjou Region Touring
https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2018/08/eurgenie-grandet-anjou-france-touring.html?m=1
Vauban: An Analytical Sills Development Game
https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2018/03/vauban-role-playing-game-about-louis.html?m=1
Power Shopper Paris
https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2018/08/power-shopper-paris-french-luxury.html?m=1
Barbizon - Fontainebleau Art and Culture Workshop
Day 1
https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2018/05/rallye-french-barbizon-painting-school.html?m=1
Day 2
https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2018/05/rallye-music-food-and-drink-for-french.html?m=1
Day 3
https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2018/05/rallye-french-barbizon-school-of.html?m=1
Day 4
https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2018/05/rallye-barbizon-school-of-painting.html?m=1
Honnencourt: The French Cathedrals Game
https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2018/05/honnencourt-french-cathedrals-game.html?m=1
Moissac: The French Romanesque Art Game
https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2019/11/moissac-french-romanesque-art-travel.html?m=1
3-Country Buying Tour
https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2018/10/3-country-buying-tour-france.html?m=1
Schweitzer: The Alsatian Civilization Game
Part 1
https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2018/12/albert-schweitzer-alsatian-civilization.html?m=1
Part 2
https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2018/12/schweitzer-game-french-alsatian-food.html?m=1
Part 3
https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2018/12/albert-schweitzer-game-part-3-created.html?m=1
Part 4
https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2018/12/albert-schweitzer-game-part-4-urban.html?m=1
Bartholdi: The Alsatian Beer Trail Game
https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2018/08/frederic-bartholdi-alsatian-beer-buying.html?m=1
Becassine: The French Beach Resort Game
https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2018/08/becassine-french-beach-vacation-sales.html?m=1
City Neighborhoods: The Lyon and Strasbourg, France Urban Design Game (Requires French reading fluency to play)
https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2018/05/cities-and-neighborhoods-game-lyons-and.html?m=1
La Perouse the Explorer Game for Carmel, California
https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2018/04/la-perouse-explorer-historical-fashion.html?m=1
La Perouse the Explorer Cruise Idea for Carmel, California
https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2018/09/la-perouse-explorer-cruise-idea.html?m=1
Sphinx: Napoleon in Paris Game
https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2018/06/napoleon-sites-in-paris-list-by-savvy.html?m=1
Coubertin: Founder of the Modern Olympics Game
https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2018/12/baron-pierre-de-coubertin-founder-of.html?m=1
Created by Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France and developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games
European Beer and Lemonade Drinks Tradition by Ruth Paget
I first discovered European beer and lemonade drinks when I drank a French panaché at the St.-Nom-de-la-Bretèche Golf Club outside Paris, France.
I had organized a golf outing for several of the Japanese clients of the firm where I worked. I do not play golf, but I have learned to keep score for many sports after being part of a junior bowling league in Royal Oak, Michigan at the Yorba Linda Lanes.
This early bowling experience taught me how sports can promote food and beverage sales in local communities. I was very interested in the beer and lemonade combination and so were the Japanese, avid golf players.
In the 1990s, panaché became available in canned versions in Paris and rivaled Orangina for television advertising ads. I might not have started the trend, but I was there and certainly drank my share of French beer and lemonade when I lived in Paris.
I discovered that Germany also has beer and lemonade drink called radler (or radlermass) when I lived in Stuttgart, Germany. Germans mostly make radler with lemonade, but will sometimes add grapefruit and/or oranges to the citrus mix.
Back in California, I wondered if the English also have a beer and lemonade tradition. I looked through the internet responses and saw several websites describing a shandy, a beer and lemonade drink that can also be made with carbonated lemonade.
Recipes for these drinks call for 50% beer (Pilsner or ale) to 50% lemonade.
My preference among the three is German radler, because you can add many kinds of citrus to the citrus ade and avoid food waste.
All three beer and lemonade drinks – panaché, radler, and shandy – are easy to prepare summer drinks perfect for a barbecue.
By Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France and developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games