Matthew Rowley
@mbrowley.bsky.social
Write | Lift | Travel | James Beard finalist | Past Southern Foodways Alliance board | Contributing editor, Oxford Companion to Spirits & Cocktails | 🏡 San Diego | Typos no extra charge.
Remember, as king cake season begins next week, to enjoy responsibly.
January 2, 2026 at 2:16 PM
Remember, as king cake season begins next week, to enjoy responsibly.
New year, new m—hang on. I got a call.
January 1, 2026 at 10:13 PM
New year, new m—hang on. I got a call.
Me, a Hofrat, when there’s Tafelspitz on the Speisekarte:
January 1, 2026 at 9:55 PM
Me, a Hofrat, when there’s Tafelspitz on the Speisekarte:
Bowls first warmed with boiling water from the kettle, then emptied, dried, and dosed with a creamy lump crab soup (Velouté de Crabe Marguerite) laced with a touch of Willett rye whiskey. Not pictured: thick slices of buttered, toasted batard.
January 1, 2026 at 2:45 PM
Bowls first warmed with boiling water from the kettle, then emptied, dried, and dosed with a creamy lump crab soup (Velouté de Crabe Marguerite) laced with a touch of Willett rye whiskey. Not pictured: thick slices of buttered, toasted batard.
Start typing a reminder to soak black eyed peas for the new year.”S-o-a-k…”
My phone: “Say no more. I know precisely where this is going. I got you, fam. It’s amazing, the two of us, the way we get along. We always finish each other’s sentences. Seamless integration of organic and machine.”
My phone: “Say no more. I know precisely where this is going. I got you, fam. It’s amazing, the two of us, the way we get along. We always finish each other’s sentences. Seamless integration of organic and machine.”
December 31, 2025 at 3:52 PM
Start typing a reminder to soak black eyed peas for the new year.”S-o-a-k…”
My phone: “Say no more. I know precisely where this is going. I got you, fam. It’s amazing, the two of us, the way we get along. We always finish each other’s sentences. Seamless integration of organic and machine.”
My phone: “Say no more. I know precisely where this is going. I got you, fam. It’s amazing, the two of us, the way we get along. We always finish each other’s sentences. Seamless integration of organic and machine.”
Hot whiskey, lemon, cloves, and sugar in a well-worn Mello Joy mug.
It’s almost worth the sore throat that brought me here. If you need me, I’ll be at home, wrapped in wool and flannel, not speaking today—which, in truth, suits me just fine.
It’s almost worth the sore throat that brought me here. If you need me, I’ll be at home, wrapped in wool and flannel, not speaking today—which, in truth, suits me just fine.
December 30, 2025 at 8:26 PM
Hot whiskey, lemon, cloves, and sugar in a well-worn Mello Joy mug.
It’s almost worth the sore throat that brought me here. If you need me, I’ll be at home, wrapped in wool and flannel, not speaking today—which, in truth, suits me just fine.
It’s almost worth the sore throat that brought me here. If you need me, I’ll be at home, wrapped in wool and flannel, not speaking today—which, in truth, suits me just fine.
Picked up a new print in Oaxaca from Galería Tëmenk (C. de Manuel Bravo N° 301). Did a quick condition report and have taken it in for framing. I’d been on the hunt for a short and wide woodcut print (alligator maybe?) for a blank wall, but liked this one. Title: Luis.
Maybe later, alligator.
Maybe later, alligator.
December 30, 2025 at 6:14 PM
Picked up a new print in Oaxaca from Galería Tëmenk (C. de Manuel Bravo N° 301). Did a quick condition report and have taken it in for framing. I’d been on the hunt for a short and wide woodcut print (alligator maybe?) for a blank wall, but liked this one. Title: Luis.
Maybe later, alligator.
Maybe later, alligator.
Drove this loaner all week. Smooth—as expected from BMW. But mostly video screen controls. I do not like this trend. My first car was a 1972 Beetle, a machine of gears, levers, and knobs I had to strong-arm into turns. Ima stick with my old car; my muscles know the feel of it almost better than I do
December 27, 2025 at 11:20 PM
Drove this loaner all week. Smooth—as expected from BMW. But mostly video screen controls. I do not like this trend. My first car was a 1972 Beetle, a machine of gears, levers, and knobs I had to strong-arm into turns. Ima stick with my old car; my muscles know the feel of it almost better than I do
Truffling a few more eggs for Saturday’s breakfast: œufs brouillés à la truffe.
Stuff a whole winter truffle in a sealable container along with as many eggs as fill fit. Seal it. The porous shells allow the truffle’s aroma to permeate the eggs overnight. Bain marie w plenty of butter.
Stuff a whole winter truffle in a sealable container along with as many eggs as fill fit. Seal it. The porous shells allow the truffle’s aroma to permeate the eggs overnight. Bain marie w plenty of butter.
December 27, 2025 at 6:06 AM
Truffling a few more eggs for Saturday’s breakfast: œufs brouillés à la truffe.
Stuff a whole winter truffle in a sealable container along with as many eggs as fill fit. Seal it. The porous shells allow the truffle’s aroma to permeate the eggs overnight. Bain marie w plenty of butter.
Stuff a whole winter truffle in a sealable container along with as many eggs as fill fit. Seal it. The porous shells allow the truffle’s aroma to permeate the eggs overnight. Bain marie w plenty of butter.
I have to be careful when reading esoteric food nerd material, because I will decide “I need that” when, in fact, I do not need that.
December 27, 2025 at 12:05 AM
I have to be careful when reading esoteric food nerd material, because I will decide “I need that” when, in fact, I do not need that.
Benton’s bacon with toasted bâtard. Eggs truffled overnight in their shells, then slowly cooked with ungodly amounts of butter in a bain marie (yeah, ok, a mixing bowl set over a stock pot). More truffles shaven atop.
I do not go to the gym to get ripped; I go so I can eat like this.
I do not go to the gym to get ripped; I go so I can eat like this.
December 26, 2025 at 6:11 PM
Benton’s bacon with toasted bâtard. Eggs truffled overnight in their shells, then slowly cooked with ungodly amounts of butter in a bain marie (yeah, ok, a mixing bowl set over a stock pot). More truffles shaven atop.
I do not go to the gym to get ripped; I go so I can eat like this.
I do not go to the gym to get ripped; I go so I can eat like this.
Kakushi from my childhood: butcher’s twine cut from a roast after cooking were saturated with fat, salt, and roasty, toasty goodness. My mom knew to save them for me (little pig that I was) to munch on.
Did an 8-bone pork roast last night. Did not chew the twine. But hard to shake the memory.
Did an 8-bone pork roast last night. Did not chew the twine. But hard to shake the memory.
December 26, 2025 at 3:56 PM
Kakushi from my childhood: butcher’s twine cut from a roast after cooking were saturated with fat, salt, and roasty, toasty goodness. My mom knew to save them for me (little pig that I was) to munch on.
Did an 8-bone pork roast last night. Did not chew the twine. But hard to shake the memory.
Did an 8-bone pork roast last night. Did not chew the twine. But hard to shake the memory.
A small wedge – the tiniest slice, really – of calamansi pie to wind down the night. Calamansi from the garden and cream whipped just enough to hold its shape. Almost.
December 26, 2025 at 3:24 AM
A small wedge – the tiniest slice, really – of calamansi pie to wind down the night. Calamansi from the garden and cream whipped just enough to hold its shape. Almost.
Bienvenidos / Cerrado
Schrödinger’s vaquero.
Schrödinger’s vaquero.
December 25, 2025 at 5:14 PM
Bienvenidos / Cerrado
Schrödinger’s vaquero.
Schrödinger’s vaquero.
Paused an Instagram reel and it looks like Nigella has finally simply snapped at all the cooking.
December 24, 2025 at 5:15 PM
Paused an Instagram reel and it looks like Nigella has finally simply snapped at all the cooking.
Oh mama, I'm just having fun
On the stage in my heels
It's where I belong
On the stage in my heels
It's where I belong
December 24, 2025 at 4:59 PM
Oh mama, I'm just having fun
On the stage in my heels
It's where I belong
On the stage in my heels
It's where I belong
We’ve two lime trees. One is in the open and yields a decent crop of heavy, fat limes. The other stands in front of a west-facing garden wall basking in reflected heat through the day. Buckets of fruit.
As with people, even just a little margin can make a world of difference.
As with people, even just a little margin can make a world of difference.
December 24, 2025 at 2:38 PM
We’ve two lime trees. One is in the open and yields a decent crop of heavy, fat limes. The other stands in front of a west-facing garden wall basking in reflected heat through the day. Buckets of fruit.
As with people, even just a little margin can make a world of difference.
As with people, even just a little margin can make a world of difference.
“What happened,” my husband began as he pointed to a flat, empty bag on the kitchen counter, “to all the pretzels?”
Come on, man.
You know what happened.
Come on, man.
You know what happened.
December 23, 2025 at 5:06 PM
“What happened,” my husband began as he pointed to a flat, empty bag on the kitchen counter, “to all the pretzels?”
Come on, man.
You know what happened.
Come on, man.
You know what happened.
Sometimes you eat for pleasure, sometimes for fuel. And sometimes, you eat oddments to make space in the fridge before holidays.
I will be taking no questions at this time about my leftover pizza and baked beans dinner.
I will be taking no questions at this time about my leftover pizza and baked beans dinner.
December 22, 2025 at 5:59 PM
Sometimes you eat for pleasure, sometimes for fuel. And sometimes, you eat oddments to make space in the fridge before holidays.
I will be taking no questions at this time about my leftover pizza and baked beans dinner.
I will be taking no questions at this time about my leftover pizza and baked beans dinner.
We have a Brazilian pepper tree that straddles a property line. Shades out solar panels, invasive, is awful for allergies.
Privacy obsessed neighbors are adamant that it remain. So the red line is for the tree guy: take it back to the property line. Don’t care that it’ll look like half a lollipop.
Privacy obsessed neighbors are adamant that it remain. So the red line is for the tree guy: take it back to the property line. Don’t care that it’ll look like half a lollipop.
December 22, 2025 at 3:30 PM
We have a Brazilian pepper tree that straddles a property line. Shades out solar panels, invasive, is awful for allergies.
Privacy obsessed neighbors are adamant that it remain. So the red line is for the tree guy: take it back to the property line. Don’t care that it’ll look like half a lollipop.
Privacy obsessed neighbors are adamant that it remain. So the red line is for the tree guy: take it back to the property line. Don’t care that it’ll look like half a lollipop.
My car is in the shop, but the loaner has this nifty little whiskey pouch in the boot.
December 21, 2025 at 7:00 PM
My car is in the shop, but the loaner has this nifty little whiskey pouch in the boot.
Li hing gummy bears from Aloha Kitchen by Alana Kysar (2019): a pound of gummy bears enwettened with warm water in a colander then tossed with red li hing powder (in function, a sort of distant Hawaiian cousin to Mexican chamoy).
December 21, 2025 at 6:56 PM
Li hing gummy bears from Aloha Kitchen by Alana Kysar (2019): a pound of gummy bears enwettened with warm water in a colander then tossed with red li hing powder (in function, a sort of distant Hawaiian cousin to Mexican chamoy).
Splash of Cognac in the wrong glass.
December 21, 2025 at 2:32 AM
Splash of Cognac in the wrong glass.
Happy hour. Flannel, denim, Red Wing boots (the Iron Rangers, all broken in). V. manly.
Poured a Cognac into a jigger just now and let out a soft, involuntary moan.
Cognac is so preposterously good.
Poured a Cognac into a jigger just now and let out a soft, involuntary moan.
Cognac is so preposterously good.
December 21, 2025 at 1:11 AM
Happy hour. Flannel, denim, Red Wing boots (the Iron Rangers, all broken in). V. manly.
Poured a Cognac into a jigger just now and let out a soft, involuntary moan.
Cognac is so preposterously good.
Poured a Cognac into a jigger just now and let out a soft, involuntary moan.
Cognac is so preposterously good.
“Luckily I have kids…”
Five stars!
I can only hope for such a glowing review.
Five stars!
I can only hope for such a glowing review.
December 20, 2025 at 1:00 AM
“Luckily I have kids…”
Five stars!
I can only hope for such a glowing review.
Five stars!
I can only hope for such a glowing review.