UChicago Receives $50 million to recruit AI Faculty reposted by Ruth Paget

The University of Chicago has received $50 million dollars to fund 20 faculty positions devoted to Artificial Intelligence Research and Teaching.

Rika and Joe Mansueto have donated $50 million dollars to the University of Chicago as part of a $200 million dollar initiative to fund Artificial Intelligence Reeearch at the University of Chicago.

Details about this gift and philanthropic initiative follow:

https://news.uchicago.edu/story/50-million-gift-advance-uchicago-research-and-support-faculty-ai?utm_medium=04.02email&utm_source=UChicagoNews&mkt_tok=MjUwLUNRSC05MzYAAAGg7m99cWIx-qg6nCsT0DDin0qR-siBFK-tdtXvRmkCaz6HqCwVZ75KH9l0zfUw_XlYEgeGK8Zy8I4_87c0T61P4XbRchIE1YIQob1wM7lAKSAkKus

Reposted by Ruth Paget, author of Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France and developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games

UChicago raises $12 Million on its Giving Day reposted by Ruth Paget

The University of Chicago raised $12 million and then some on its giving day.

Details on the amount raised follow:

https://mail.google.com/mail/mu/mp/465/#cv/priority/%5Esmartlabel_personal/19d4b7f0a2939a2e

Reposted by Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France and developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games

Book of Japanese Fans with Poems Facsimile Edition sold by UChicago Press reposted by Ruth Paget

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:

 https://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/distributed/B/bo19135745.html?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=A%20Book%20of%20Fans&utm_campaign=2026%20SALE%20low%20stock

Reposted by Ruth Paget, author Eating DSoup with Chopsticks and Marrying France and developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games

UChicago Press - Creativity in.Chaos Books reposted by Ruth Paget

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 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

China’s 8 Main Regional Cuisines reposted by Ruth Paget

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:

https://www.finedininglovers.com/explore/articles/8-regional-chinese-cuisines-explained-depth#:~:text=The%20principles%20of%20Chinese%20cuisines,to%20distinguish%20regional%20Chinese%20cuisines.

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

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 

*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 

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 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: Seaside has a market on Thursdays (3 pm to 7 pm) and Marina has a market on Sundays (10 am to 2 pm) with some Asian food products.

Happy Marketing!

By Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France and developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games