Author Archives: John Idstrom

About John Idstrom

My name is John Idstrom and I write Meezenplace, which is an intentional misspelling of the french cooking term Mise en Place. I am a non-indiginous, invasive species who lives and writes by the beaches of Monterey Bay. I used to think Meezenplace was about food, and maybe it was at some point. Now it's just stories I find that have food in them. Pull up and chair and join me for a meal.

Labor Day

She sitsShe sits on a folding chairShe sits on a folding chair in the sun next to a flatbed truck piled high with cornIt’s 92 in the shade but there is no shadeJust sunAnd a truckAnd corn on the cobParked … Continue reading

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Bean There/Done That

By popular demand (as in someone asked) I am sharing my recipe for black bean and corn salad.  This is a summertime staple, I make a batch a couple time a months in the warmer months, or when attending those … Continue reading

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John’s Not Authentic Pork Chili Verde

You asked for it, here it is. I love this in the autumn – tomatillos are in season and the salsa gives it a bright, clean flavor. Kick it up with as many jalepenos as you like. Please resist the … Continue reading

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Le Renard

I fed a fox.  She came up on my deck and sat on the lounge chair at night Hid my rubber sandals and knocked over plants I left her some cool water and kibble And she stayed awhile But the … Continue reading

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In the Soup

A few nights ago, I dreamed that I was fly-fishing for steelhead in a river of potato leek soup. It would be reasonable to conclude that said dream was the result of too much garlic in the spaghetti sauce, but … Continue reading

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Haute Dish: Green Bean Casserole

Originally posted on meezenplace:
Late last summer, I had my first chance to visit Brooklyn, which might well qualify as the current poster child for upscaling. Yuppies, having been shagged out of even the Lower East Side, have flocked to…

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Aioli All Wrong

Jerry:  Are you still master of your domain? Elaine:  I am queen of the castle!  Recent events in the kitchen left me head in hands, brow furrowed, my inner voice suggesting not-so-nice nostrums. I had ruined the homemade aioli, and … Continue reading

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The Krummholz Effect

My dad and I were tramping around the area of Dungeness Spit some years ago now, back when he could still tramp around. Dungeness Spit is a 5.5 mile-long comma of sand and driftwood on the top end of the … Continue reading

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Get What You Need

Originally posted on meezenplace:
What do you really need? The question came up this week when my friend Chef Gordon Naccarato posted a question on his award-winning Pacific Grill Blog (http://blog.pacificgrilltacoma.com/)  about sweet potato casserole with marshmallows:  Necessity or abomination? …

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Mr. Jones Goes on a Field Trip

Originally posted on meezenplace:
Something is happening and you don’t know what it is, do you, Mr. Jones? –Robert Zimmerman Hibbing, Minnesota I was feeling in need of some adventure the other day, so I grabbed my passport and shuffled…

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