What will happen next?

Epicurious think they know. They are willing to tell you in their Epi-Log

Being at home, yours or someone else’s, is going to start looking good in these scary financial times. I’m hoping for a rebirth of the social instincts that I’ve been watching subside and die. When it costs $50 for a couple to go to a movie and leave the kids with a babysitter, it’s time to think hard about what else to do with $50. I would entertain four or more people with it, and hope to be invited back.

If trying to entertain– yourselves or guests– for less money, stay tuned here. I am planning some articles on how to serve food so that it looks luxurious even if it is very simple. I went to a meeting Sunday of the IACP (International Association of Culinary Professionals) where an old friend asked me why I never write about this. The truth is I never thought of it. I thought everybody served things up in their own style and knew what that style was. Said she, “Yeah, well you worked as a designer for 30 years and not everybody did.”

That’s true, and at one time when I had a huge house with an entire room as a pantry I had a lot of special dishes and trays and assorted fun things. Now I haven’t any more than anyone else and no room to keep it if I did have it again. So, starting from the basics, I will write about what to do with the food you cook when it’s ready! There are over 300 recipes already on this blog, and at least 10,000 other food blogs, so you shouldn’t be short on ideas.

I am sure that menu planning will creep in here because how can you know what to put on the table if you don’t know what you’re eating? How to be confident about your choices while saving money might come up. Anyone might have a reason for saving money right now. We are all unsure of what is happening, we all might want to take advantage of low prices to buy into a seriously down-valued stock market, or if there’s some credit card debt it’s a good time to get rid of it.

The last big recession is remembered as a time of lighthearted movies, beautiful and graceful clothes and women, and as complete a veneer of civility and generosity as was possible to provide. I think we should learn from that time and do our very best to be good to each other. There’s nothing wrong with looking good while we do it, too.