by Phil Houseal | Nov 23, 2022 | All Articles, Education, Food, History, Philosophy
Nov 23, 2022–As you sit down to your Thanksgiving Day meal, I am confident you will observe the list of manners to be followed “At Table:” Promptness when meals are announced When to sit; position; fidgeting Waiting one’s turn When to begin to eat How to eat and drink...
by Phil Houseal | May 18, 2022 | All Articles, Food, History, Philosophy
May 18, 2022–We all like to count the ways we are “too busy.” “There are not enough hours in the day.” “I just don’t have time.” “I wish I could, but…” So I decided to actually time how long it took me to do each of my myriad regular daily tasks. The impetus...
by Phil Houseal | May 4, 2022 | All Articles, Food, History, Philosophy
May 4, 2022–When I was a paperboy, every Christmas customers would give me a treat as I collected for their weekly delivery. This surprised me at first, because at age 11 I was unfamiliar with the concept of tipping for service. I couldn’t believe my good fortune. I...
by Phil Houseal | Sep 29, 2021 | All Articles, Food, History, Philosophy
Sept 29, 2021–In the panoply of sentient life on earth, it wasn’t that long ago that we didn’t have candy bars. Or ice cream. Or sodas or pop-tarts. Breakfast cereals. Hamburgers. French fries. Coffee didn’t come to Europe until the 1500s. That means even...
by Phil Houseal | Sep 3, 2021 | All Articles, Food, History, People of the Hill Country, Philosophy
9/8/2021–As I grow in wisdom, one thing I understand better is my Grandpa’s fascination with Archway Cookies. Archway Homestyle Cookies were a Midwest grocery store staple in the 1980s. These cookies stood out from the sleeves of hard, cookie-cutter type cookies then...
by Phil Houseal | Sep 1, 2021 | All Articles, Events, Food, Philosophy, Venue
Sept 1, 2021–One powerful and unexpected aspect of the world’s return to events, fairs, and festivals is the resurrection of the sense of smell. Corn dogs, cotton candy, grilled hunks of sausage on a stick, baked breads, and the most evocative olfactory profile of all...
