Matthew Rowley
@mbrowley.bsky.social
Write | Lift | Travel | James Beard finalist | Past Southern Foodways Alliance board | Contributing editor, Oxford Companion to Spirits & Cocktails | 🏡 San Diego | Typos no extra charge.
Pinned
Campari Soda. It’s only 20 proof which, as far as I’m concerned, is practically alcohol-free.
As so many things are, it’s better without ice.
As so many things are, it’s better without ice.
Dinner for two earlier this week—with two happy hour drinks apiece—over $200 with a tip.
When y’all visit and ask me where to eat in San Diego, know that I mostly cook at home because of prices in even just ok places (tho Colima’s does a solid vaquero burrito with chorizo and carne asada for <$12).
When y’all visit and ask me where to eat in San Diego, know that I mostly cook at home because of prices in even just ok places (tho Colima’s does a solid vaquero burrito with chorizo and carne asada for <$12).
February 14, 2026 at 12:37 AM
Dinner for two earlier this week—with two happy hour drinks apiece—over $200 with a tip.
When y’all visit and ask me where to eat in San Diego, know that I mostly cook at home because of prices in even just ok places (tho Colima’s does a solid vaquero burrito with chorizo and carne asada for <$12).
When y’all visit and ask me where to eat in San Diego, know that I mostly cook at home because of prices in even just ok places (tho Colima’s does a solid vaquero burrito with chorizo and carne asada for <$12).
Cincinnati oysters? Pickled pig's feet.
Cincinnati quail=pork or bacon. And salt pork? Why, that’s Cincinnati chicken or turkey.
I’m curious. What other foods with place names are not, in fact, that food? Rocky Mountain oysters, frinstance. Bombay duck. Jerusalem artichoke.
Cincinnati quail=pork or bacon. And salt pork? Why, that’s Cincinnati chicken or turkey.
I’m curious. What other foods with place names are not, in fact, that food? Rocky Mountain oysters, frinstance. Bombay duck. Jerusalem artichoke.
February 13, 2026 at 7:20 PM
Cincinnati oysters? Pickled pig's feet.
Cincinnati quail=pork or bacon. And salt pork? Why, that’s Cincinnati chicken or turkey.
I’m curious. What other foods with place names are not, in fact, that food? Rocky Mountain oysters, frinstance. Bombay duck. Jerusalem artichoke.
Cincinnati quail=pork or bacon. And salt pork? Why, that’s Cincinnati chicken or turkey.
I’m curious. What other foods with place names are not, in fact, that food? Rocky Mountain oysters, frinstance. Bombay duck. Jerusalem artichoke.
Popp swung by the house to sharpen a few old blades. San Diego mobile knife sharpening and barber shop tools. Left behind a small envelope with a card, candy, and…a bandage. For all the razor sharp danger now hereabouts.
I’d not seen proper small business guerrilla marketing in ages. Well done.
I’d not seen proper small business guerrilla marketing in ages. Well done.
February 13, 2026 at 5:18 PM
Popp swung by the house to sharpen a few old blades. San Diego mobile knife sharpening and barber shop tools. Left behind a small envelope with a card, candy, and…a bandage. For all the razor sharp danger now hereabouts.
I’d not seen proper small business guerrilla marketing in ages. Well done.
I’d not seen proper small business guerrilla marketing in ages. Well done.
1-800-COME-ON-NOW
February 13, 2026 at 4:38 PM
1-800-COME-ON-NOW
Too many food writers get hyper-specific, down to the last punctilious second, of how long eggs are cooked yet fail to clarify whether these times are for room temperature eggs or refrigerated.
Hat tip to Tim Anderson who shows in Ramen Forever both temps across time AND with different sized eggs.
Hat tip to Tim Anderson who shows in Ramen Forever both temps across time AND with different sized eggs.
February 12, 2026 at 4:24 PM
Too many food writers get hyper-specific, down to the last punctilious second, of how long eggs are cooked yet fail to clarify whether these times are for room temperature eggs or refrigerated.
Hat tip to Tim Anderson who shows in Ramen Forever both temps across time AND with different sized eggs.
Hat tip to Tim Anderson who shows in Ramen Forever both temps across time AND with different sized eggs.
Treasure found while gardening
vol 13 no 6.
vol 13 no 6.
February 12, 2026 at 3:00 PM
Treasure found while gardening
vol 13 no 6.
vol 13 no 6.
Bacon hangers.
You know. For hanging bacon.
You know. For hanging bacon.
February 11, 2026 at 5:01 PM
Bacon hangers.
You know. For hanging bacon.
You know. For hanging bacon.
Oh, FFS. Every time it rains, our San Diego Wi-Fi goes down.
I had been researching Ohio/Pennsylvania city chicken (aka mock chicken or Kansas City chicken) online this morning. Now, nothing loads—up or down. If only there were something else to read here, like in olden times.
I had been researching Ohio/Pennsylvania city chicken (aka mock chicken or Kansas City chicken) online this morning. Now, nothing loads—up or down. If only there were something else to read here, like in olden times.
February 11, 2026 at 3:32 PM
Oh, FFS. Every time it rains, our San Diego Wi-Fi goes down.
I had been researching Ohio/Pennsylvania city chicken (aka mock chicken or Kansas City chicken) online this morning. Now, nothing loads—up or down. If only there were something else to read here, like in olden times.
I had been researching Ohio/Pennsylvania city chicken (aka mock chicken or Kansas City chicken) online this morning. Now, nothing loads—up or down. If only there were something else to read here, like in olden times.
The musical fruit.
February 10, 2026 at 6:40 PM
The musical fruit.
Two ripe limes.
From tacos to G&Ts and ceviche to curd, we are accustomed to the flavor of underripe green limes, mostly because they ship easily and are not easily mistaken for lemons.
But this is the good stuff right here, just off the tree. Yellow, juicy, aromatic.
From tacos to G&Ts and ceviche to curd, we are accustomed to the flavor of underripe green limes, mostly because they ship easily and are not easily mistaken for lemons.
But this is the good stuff right here, just off the tree. Yellow, juicy, aromatic.
February 10, 2026 at 6:11 PM
Two ripe limes.
From tacos to G&Ts and ceviche to curd, we are accustomed to the flavor of underripe green limes, mostly because they ship easily and are not easily mistaken for lemons.
But this is the good stuff right here, just off the tree. Yellow, juicy, aromatic.
From tacos to G&Ts and ceviche to curd, we are accustomed to the flavor of underripe green limes, mostly because they ship easily and are not easily mistaken for lemons.
But this is the good stuff right here, just off the tree. Yellow, juicy, aromatic.
Got propofol (aka Milk of Amnesia) for a procedure yesterday. Out of it all day after. Still me, but…altered, slow witted. “Michael Jackson was like THIS every day?” I asked pain doc husband. “Jackson had other things going on, but yeah: don’t drive, don’t make important decisions after propofol.”
an older woman sitting on a bed with her hand on her chest and says " what 's my birthday "
ALT: an older woman sitting on a bed with her hand on her chest and says " what 's my birthday "
media.tenor.com
February 10, 2026 at 3:29 PM
Got propofol (aka Milk of Amnesia) for a procedure yesterday. Out of it all day after. Still me, but…altered, slow witted. “Michael Jackson was like THIS every day?” I asked pain doc husband. “Jackson had other things going on, but yeah: don’t drive, don’t make important decisions after propofol.”
Look, when I say to butter the dish, I mean
Butter
The
Dish
Butter
The
Dish
February 10, 2026 at 4:30 AM
Look, when I say to butter the dish, I mean
Butter
The
Dish
Butter
The
Dish
With 3,000+ cookbooks, I can tailor them as waiting-room reading during doctor appointments. Ice breakers. Seeing the Iranian MD? Bring new Persian cookbook. The MD/PhD? Something academic from a university press. They all fall for it 100% of the time.
This morning? I’m going in for a colonoscopy.
This morning? I’m going in for a colonoscopy.
February 9, 2026 at 4:18 PM
With 3,000+ cookbooks, I can tailor them as waiting-room reading during doctor appointments. Ice breakers. Seeing the Iranian MD? Bring new Persian cookbook. The MD/PhD? Something academic from a university press. They all fall for it 100% of the time.
This morning? I’m going in for a colonoscopy.
This morning? I’m going in for a colonoscopy.
Surprised at how much I enjoy 8-12 minute yard/garden cleanup videos. Skirmishes against entropy.
But one this morning was little more than a spruce-up, light raking and polite edging. No, no. Show me the yards of hoarder agoraphobics, parents long. I want catastrophic landscape reckonings.
But one this morning was little more than a spruce-up, light raking and polite edging. No, no. Show me the yards of hoarder agoraphobics, parents long. I want catastrophic landscape reckonings.
February 7, 2026 at 4:36 PM
Surprised at how much I enjoy 8-12 minute yard/garden cleanup videos. Skirmishes against entropy.
But one this morning was little more than a spruce-up, light raking and polite edging. No, no. Show me the yards of hoarder agoraphobics, parents long. I want catastrophic landscape reckonings.
But one this morning was little more than a spruce-up, light raking and polite edging. No, no. Show me the yards of hoarder agoraphobics, parents long. I want catastrophic landscape reckonings.
Lunchtime fridge clean-out:
Cold boiled carrots and fresh snap peas tossed with soft butter, white miso, sesame oil, salt and pepper, and strewn with white sesame. Roast off at 400°F for about 15 minutes.
Trying to be better about not buying more food than I can use and using what I buy.
Cold boiled carrots and fresh snap peas tossed with soft butter, white miso, sesame oil, salt and pepper, and strewn with white sesame. Roast off at 400°F for about 15 minutes.
Trying to be better about not buying more food than I can use and using what I buy.
February 6, 2026 at 7:14 PM
Lunchtime fridge clean-out:
Cold boiled carrots and fresh snap peas tossed with soft butter, white miso, sesame oil, salt and pepper, and strewn with white sesame. Roast off at 400°F for about 15 minutes.
Trying to be better about not buying more food than I can use and using what I buy.
Cold boiled carrots and fresh snap peas tossed with soft butter, white miso, sesame oil, salt and pepper, and strewn with white sesame. Roast off at 400°F for about 15 minutes.
Trying to be better about not buying more food than I can use and using what I buy.
Ugh. Why am I, who has eaten nothing but pretzels and beef jerky today, so thirsty?
February 5, 2026 at 10:26 PM
Ugh. Why am I, who has eaten nothing but pretzels and beef jerky today, so thirsty?
The last laugh.
Husband is appalled that I am open to the idea of being enzymatically reduced to a veterinarian-style bio slurry (after death, natch), but now I’m contemplating an urn for the bone remains to disturb him even further.
Husband is appalled that I am open to the idea of being enzymatically reduced to a veterinarian-style bio slurry (after death, natch), but now I’m contemplating an urn for the bone remains to disturb him even further.
Anyways get a tentacle pot to help you through these trying times i guess
February 5, 2026 at 10:03 PM
The last laugh.
Husband is appalled that I am open to the idea of being enzymatically reduced to a veterinarian-style bio slurry (after death, natch), but now I’m contemplating an urn for the bone remains to disturb him even further.
Husband is appalled that I am open to the idea of being enzymatically reduced to a veterinarian-style bio slurry (after death, natch), but now I’m contemplating an urn for the bone remains to disturb him even further.
Oh, well in that case
I’m the Querelle of lawnmowers.
I’m the Alice B. Toklas of air fryers.
I’m the Mr. Darcy of synthpop,
And the Lord Byron of olives.
Kneel before the Ozymandias of
Roombas.
I am the Flowers for Algernon,
And the Morley Safer of MDMA.
I am, fam, the Mrs Dalloway of group chats
I’m the Querelle of lawnmowers.
I’m the Alice B. Toklas of air fryers.
I’m the Mr. Darcy of synthpop,
And the Lord Byron of olives.
Kneel before the Ozymandias of
Roombas.
I am the Flowers for Algernon,
And the Morley Safer of MDMA.
I am, fam, the Mrs Dalloway of group chats
February 5, 2026 at 5:00 AM
Oh, well in that case
I’m the Querelle of lawnmowers.
I’m the Alice B. Toklas of air fryers.
I’m the Mr. Darcy of synthpop,
And the Lord Byron of olives.
Kneel before the Ozymandias of
Roombas.
I am the Flowers for Algernon,
And the Morley Safer of MDMA.
I am, fam, the Mrs Dalloway of group chats
I’m the Querelle of lawnmowers.
I’m the Alice B. Toklas of air fryers.
I’m the Mr. Darcy of synthpop,
And the Lord Byron of olives.
Kneel before the Ozymandias of
Roombas.
I am the Flowers for Algernon,
And the Morley Safer of MDMA.
I am, fam, the Mrs Dalloway of group chats
Bean weather. Robinson Ransbottom Pottery drip-glaze bean pot. My mom has a lot of RRP ceramics, but this one I scored at a San Diego thrift store for $3 (she taught me how to trawl for—and recognize—deals). Perfect condition. No chips, cracks, or crazing. 1960s maybe. Factory now closed.
February 4, 2026 at 5:51 PM
Bean weather. Robinson Ransbottom Pottery drip-glaze bean pot. My mom has a lot of RRP ceramics, but this one I scored at a San Diego thrift store for $3 (she taught me how to trawl for—and recognize—deals). Perfect condition. No chips, cracks, or crazing. 1960s maybe. Factory now closed.
Louis Szathmáry, a 20th-century Chicago chef born in Hungary, signed so many of his own books (many, I imagine, bought by diners at his restaurant, The Bakery) that I’ve often mused collectors might find unsigned copies more valuable.
Sigh.
The reason that recent signed books are not very valuable is because in America, there are more people trying to make a profit on signatures than there are people who appreciate them.
Someday, if you keep it in perfect condition, your newly signed book will be worth... the jacket price.
The reason that recent signed books are not very valuable is because in America, there are more people trying to make a profit on signatures than there are people who appreciate them.
Someday, if you keep it in perfect condition, your newly signed book will be worth... the jacket price.
February 4, 2026 at 4:09 PM
Louis Szathmáry, a 20th-century Chicago chef born in Hungary, signed so many of his own books (many, I imagine, bought by diners at his restaurant, The Bakery) that I’ve often mused collectors might find unsigned copies more valuable.
Heads up drinks historians. If your favorite cocktail/distilling conference has been going light on history panels lately, there are other professional venues to tell your stories.
The call for proposals for #AHA27 is open until February 15, 2026. Our 2027 annual meeting will take place on January 7–10, 2027, in New Orleans. The Program Committee welcomes and encourages all historians to submit proposals. 🗃️
Call for Proposals - AHA
The AHA's annual meeting is the largest yearly gathering of historians in the United States. All historians are welcome and encouraged to submit proposals. The AHA also invites historically focused pr...
www.historians.org
February 3, 2026 at 7:21 PM
Heads up drinks historians. If your favorite cocktail/distilling conference has been going light on history panels lately, there are other professional venues to tell your stories.
I’ve been thumbing through @frogandtoadbot.bsky.social’s posts and, I swear, individually and in aggregate, they read like the Bill and Frank episode of The Last of Us.
If there are Frog and Toad audiobooks voiced by anyone other than Nick Offerman, I don’t want to hear about it.
If there are Frog and Toad audiobooks voiced by anyone other than Nick Offerman, I don’t want to hear about it.
Toad sat on the edge of his bed. “Blah,” said Toad. “I feel down in the dumps.”
“Why?” asked Frog.
“I am thinking about tomorrow,” said Toad.
“Why?” asked Frog.
“I am thinking about tomorrow,” said Toad.
February 3, 2026 at 2:45 PM
I’ve been thumbing through @frogandtoadbot.bsky.social’s posts and, I swear, individually and in aggregate, they read like the Bill and Frank episode of The Last of Us.
If there are Frog and Toad audiobooks voiced by anyone other than Nick Offerman, I don’t want to hear about it.
If there are Frog and Toad audiobooks voiced by anyone other than Nick Offerman, I don’t want to hear about it.
Contractor next door mentioned he’s a fan of a show about moonshine. I asked what he thought of it and admitted—casually—that I know a thing or two about wildcat whiskey.
That’s when the penny dropped. Hard. Suddenly he had questions. Technical ones. If only there were some book I could recommend.
That’s when the penny dropped. Hard. Suddenly he had questions. Technical ones. If only there were some book I could recommend.
February 2, 2026 at 11:46 PM
Contractor next door mentioned he’s a fan of a show about moonshine. I asked what he thought of it and admitted—casually—that I know a thing or two about wildcat whiskey.
That’s when the penny dropped. Hard. Suddenly he had questions. Technical ones. If only there were some book I could recommend.
That’s when the penny dropped. Hard. Suddenly he had questions. Technical ones. If only there were some book I could recommend.
Garden day. Am spent, sweaty, filthy. Last task: prune the fig trees—meant to be dormant, meant to be hack-back-hard time. No dice. Every single MF one of them already starting new growth.
What say ye, fig growers? Prune and hope for the best or acknowledge that I’ve missed my window this winter?
What say ye, fig growers? Prune and hope for the best or acknowledge that I’ve missed my window this winter?
February 2, 2026 at 9:53 PM
Garden day. Am spent, sweaty, filthy. Last task: prune the fig trees—meant to be dormant, meant to be hack-back-hard time. No dice. Every single MF one of them already starting new growth.
What say ye, fig growers? Prune and hope for the best or acknowledge that I’ve missed my window this winter?
What say ye, fig growers? Prune and hope for the best or acknowledge that I’ve missed my window this winter?
Campari Soda. It’s only 20 proof which, as far as I’m concerned, is practically alcohol-free.
As so many things are, it’s better without ice.
As so many things are, it’s better without ice.
February 2, 2026 at 7:53 PM
Campari Soda. It’s only 20 proof which, as far as I’m concerned, is practically alcohol-free.
As so many things are, it’s better without ice.
As so many things are, it’s better without ice.