Half-Pleasures

Snow. We hate snow in Washington because nobody knows how to drive in it, nor do homeowners understand they are expected to shovel it. Snow buries us in a soft avalanche and we can't move, more or less. It is only good for making the windows of coffeeshops picturesque while people sip their hot chocolate (and in many establishments around here the hot chocolates are made very well, the milk well-heated and an integral bubbling part of the whole) and they play on their laptops, or read Murakami, or complain they will never be able to rent out their two-bedroom condos for a fee sufficient to cover the mortgage; therefore, they will only watch their properties decline in value, and they will never move, ever.

Stew. I made beef stew today (thanks again, Julia Child) to celebrate the winter. In the spirit of the winter, I didn't attempt to add any fresh herbs, just pepper and an oignon pique. Once reduced sufficiently, the sauce was poignant enough to make the potatoes and root vegetables intense and satisfying.