In May, C. and I rode down to Malden, West Virginia to meet the makers of J.Q.Dickinson Salt. They're siblings from a long line of industrial salt makers in the Kanawha Valley, pumping up brine that can be traced to an ancient ocean. Listen to the story we put together for the Southern Foodways Alliance's Gravy podcast!
Old salt samples from the Dickinson's salt works. (Irina Zhorov)
Back in the spring, C. and I went to Vietnam for a few weeks. It happened to be the 40th anniversary of the Fall of Saigon, and it also happened to be the 61st anniversary of the Battle of Dien Bien Phu, when the Vietnamese defeated the French. Every city was swept and festooned with fresh propaganda and all the very many youths were out of school, so people were happy and partying. It was lovely. We went to Saigon, Hoi An, then we hiked to a giant cave close to the border with Laos, went to Hanoi, the island of Phu Quoc, and ate some more banh mis for good measure in Saigon before heading home again. Here's some photos.
In Hoi An.
Hoi An is known for its silk, but I preferred the cao lau noodles.
Hang En cave. I wish we had more time to explore the sleepy river town of Phong Nha, as well as some of the other caves in the area.
It looks like this. It is amazing.
Hanoi is vibrant. I just tingled the whole time we were there.
Public massage game is strong in Hanoi.
Egg lady.
There was a guy with a giant, wheeled karaoke setup that kept following us around this market.
Chicken Street. Honey brushed, grilled chicken on a stick with chili sauce and beer. In the middle of the street. It's the best.
Our last banh mis, right before leaving for the airport.
-iz.
Recently, I moved from Laramie, Wyoming to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. And switched jobs. And traveled some. It's been busy. Today I sat around my house all day in what seems like a while finishing this new website. It's 2015, I'm starting some things over. But I'm glad some things stay the same.
