The Longhouse Chronicles Food Writers Revival

Photos by Brian Samuelson www.briansamuelson.com

More than a week has passed since I came back from the Longhouse Food Writers Revival held in Rennselaerville in upstate New York and I’m still smiling. This meeting of old and new media was a most enlightening, refreshing, original and wonderfully satisfying event  Organized by the inimitable and highly efficient Molly O’Neill, former NY Times reporter, event planner,magician and her dedicated army of volunteers it was huge success in great part because everyone was taken into account and anyone who wanted to speak their piece was given the floor.  It was a weekend of camaraderie, sharing, and getting to know people as passionate as I am about food and culture.  Everyone told their story in the medium that they work in. I will write about this is a separate entry.

The program opened with                                                                                                                                       

Beverage of choice : Los Amantes Mezcal provided by Casa Mezcal

I was very fortunate in being the first presenter and to be interviewed by the gracious and intuitive Katherine Alford and it felt just right. I was so pleased and thrilled to be included. Of course, the conference was dedicated to the Oaxacan Diaspora that is growing in the area and, because of my book, The Food and Life of Oaxaca, many people associate me with this magical state. Lucky me !  And I even like the picture!

Because the logo for cook-n-scribble is a rooster , we had an intense rooster stew the first evening for dinner. I loved the corn/polenta  mush that floated in the middle.

But the real stars of the food were pigs cooked to perfection by Neftali Duran, a young, handsome  and talented  Oaxacan cook who bakes delicious bread for a living.  He made a fantastic  barbacoa in a pit built specially for him and tacos al pastor, that Molly insisted on calling”Pasteur.”