In the late 19th century the legendary French food writer Brillat-Savarin said: "You are what you eat." I say, "You are what you eat on." Think about it. A length of colorful oil-cloth is just the ticket for a picnic or barbecue. A fancy afternoon tea party calls for lace. Colorful whimsical tablecloths are a bright eye-opener at breakfast. But when a fine dining occasion … [Read more...] about Linen to Dine For
December January 2006 Issue
Jack From the Block
By Rosemary Rogers, Contributor
Kennedy was a rich man's son, a Harvard man. But when he campaigned in the Bronx, all they saw was one of their own. Back in 1960, when it seemed that the cute Irish guy might actually make it to the White House, my Irish immigrant parents were almost too superstitious to talk about the idea. Never big on assimilation, they still referred to Ireland as home, even though they … [Read more...] about Jack From the Block
A Chip Off the Old Block
This photo was taken in 1904 at my grandfather's stone cutting shop on State Street in West Philadelphia. From left to right are my father and my grandfather. My father, "Pop" Murphy, as you can see, started learning the family business as a very young boy. He went on to have his own small bricklaying business in Philadelphia. My brother and I both learned the trade from Pop … [Read more...] about A Chip Off the Old Block