Did Maui Poke the Big Fish?

He did and he didn’t. According to the legend, Maui, demigod and a hero of Hawaiian folklore, had been mercilessly teased by his older brothers for being a poor fisherman. He kept  begging them to take him fishing, but they steadily refused. In one version of the legend, he hid in their canoe and revealed…

Fight with Moishe and Mahi Mahi

I had a fight with my motorcycle whose name is Moishe (Moses the Liberator). We had a difference of opinions: Moishe was intent on going forward, while I was determined to back him up into his proper parking spot. For those of you, Beautiful People, who don’t know, motorcycles do not have a reverse gear;…

The Real Treasure of the Caribbean: Haiti, Part 1. Baked Fish.

May is the National Haitian Heritage Month. To honor my Haitian students, I am repeating this three-part series, culminating on May 18, the Haitian Flag Day. I love my Haitian students. Make no mistake – I love all my students, and I reveal in having “the United Nations” environment in my classroom. However, students who…

Pesach on the Boat

Misconceptions abound regarding all Jewish holidays, yet none so widespread as those concerning Pesach (Passover). Some think that Pesach is a two-day holiday, while anyone who has been to Israel is certain that it is only one day. Others believe that it actually consists of two holidays, two days each, with a few days in…

The New Boat and the Old Recipe

Our great adventure took a lot longer than intended; instead of a few days, we had spent almost two months driving to Key Largo and back, occasionally staying in hotels overnight, until we finally brought our new boat home. She is not brand new, but new for us, as our old boat had been gobbled…

Fishy Mystery

I have a three-volume set of Confucius teachings. Years ago, when we were all young and passionate, and tended to argue earth-shattering issues till wee hours of the morning, with guitars and Georgian wines (that’s a country, not a state), sometimes, when an argument hit a dead-end and voices got hoarse, one of us would…

Fast Fish Almondine

This is a fast dish, but a long story, going back to ancient Rome. You think that almondine means “made with almonds,” and you are right. But google it, and you’see a different word – amandine. Google that, and it means – surprise! – made with almonds. Scroll down a little, and the Urban Dictionary tells you that…

Fireworks and Fish

Happy, healthy, and safe 2021, Beautiful People! Before all the festivities on Ocean Drive started (and ended up being cancelled anyway), we had escaped to our favorite Sunset Cove Resort on Key Largo. We have visited this place for years when we used to sail there, anchor the boat, and come ashore for a day…

Scumbria Goes Oriental

Scomber Scombus, or Scumbria (accent on the first syllable), as we call it in Odessa, is “the true mackerel” (Integrated Taxonomic Information System, 2012), and this is not an Odessa story. Odessa stories come in four categories: Mostly true Creatively true Legend with some names thrown in Wild fantasy Take category 1, for instance. The…

Say CHEESE for Shavuos!

Contrary to all other Jewish holidays, when we prepare festive meals that include both fish and meat, signifying rejoicing in His benevolence that grants us abundance, traditional Shavuos table is laden with dairy dishes, from blintzes to cheesecakes, and anything milky delicious you can think of.  One of the reasons for this unique menu is…

Tweaked Green Papaya Salad and Carol’s Naughty Corner

South Florida is a crazy patchwork of little cities, towns, and villages, each boasting tropical flavor and colorful history. However, only one bears an official title City Beautiful, the City of Coral Gables. One of the seven cities in the United States influenced by the City Beautiful North American architectural movement which promoted “beautification and…

The Real Treasure of the Caribbean: Haiti, Part 1. Baked Fish.

I love my Haitian students. Make no mistake – I love all my students, and I reveal in having “the United Nations” environment in my classroom. However, students who come from this tiny, much-suffered, but proud little country have a special place in my heart. No matter the topic of conversation, if there is even…