Tom Keirstead
@tomkeirstead.bsky.social
Torontonian, historian of medieval Japan. Posts about cats, cooking, umami, gardening, and gin making. Sushi, too
The promised Plum pudding. With a hard sauce (it was supposed to be a sherry sauce, but I only had sherry brandy. I figure that thats close enough). I made another that I’ll keep (and feed with brandy) to have at Christmas
November 16, 2025 at 12:35 AM
The promised Plum pudding. With a hard sauce (it was supposed to be a sherry sauce, but I only had sherry brandy. I figure that thats close enough). I made another that I’ll keep (and feed with brandy) to have at Christmas
My vegetarian suet arrived today. Time to think about plum pudding!
November 12, 2025 at 9:06 PM
My vegetarian suet arrived today. Time to think about plum pudding!
The bulb planter with Tilley hat. R.I.P Alex Tilley, inventor of the goofiest hat in the world.
November 8, 2025 at 10:12 PM
The bulb planter with Tilley hat. R.I.P Alex Tilley, inventor of the goofiest hat in the world.
A film crew has taken over a block of College St nearby and lined it with vintage cars. They’ve even erected a couple of phone booths. Any Torontonians around who know what’s going on?
October 9, 2025 at 12:30 AM
A film crew has taken over a block of College St nearby and lined it with vintage cars. They’ve even erected a couple of phone booths. Any Torontonians around who know what’s going on?
A film crew has taken over a block nearby and lined it with vintage cars. They’ve even erected a couple of phone booths. Any Torontonians around who know what’s going on?
October 8, 2025 at 11:26 PM
A film crew has taken over a block nearby and lined it with vintage cars. They’ve even erected a couple of phone booths. Any Torontonians around who know what’s going on?
It’s getting to be that season! Full moon and spider, Toronto, Ontario.
October 6, 2025 at 1:11 AM
It’s getting to be that season! Full moon and spider, Toronto, Ontario.
Good morning from Toronto. The days are getting shorter, but for now at least they’re starting off well
September 21, 2025 at 11:31 AM
Good morning from Toronto. The days are getting shorter, but for now at least they’re starting off well
The hotly contested Somerville bike path mayoral contest has been decided. The new mayor is Minerva, whose one-word platform apparently appealed to voters. I voted for mela, the scaredy cat.
September 17, 2025 at 10:32 PM
The hotly contested Somerville bike path mayoral contest has been decided. The new mayor is Minerva, whose one-word platform apparently appealed to voters. I voted for mela, the scaredy cat.
The race for cat mayor of the Somerville (MA) bike path is heating up. There are even some non-cat interlopers
August 28, 2025 at 9:08 PM
The race for cat mayor of the Somerville (MA) bike path is heating up. There are even some non-cat interlopers
A galette to make the most of this summer’s excellent peaches!
August 17, 2025 at 11:35 PM
A galette to make the most of this summer’s excellent peaches!
Can this be comfortable? I suppose that’s a silly question for a cat. (An early or very late) Happy Caturday!
July 30, 2025 at 10:51 PM
Can this be comfortable? I suppose that’s a silly question for a cat. (An early or very late) Happy Caturday!
Celebrating the season! A redcurrant and raspberry fool, with fruit from the local farmers market.
July 15, 2025 at 11:38 PM
Celebrating the season! A redcurrant and raspberry fool, with fruit from the local farmers market.
And here’s the finished product—just in time for the cocktail hour
July 11, 2025 at 9:40 PM
And here’s the finished product—just in time for the cocktail hour
A gin for Canada Day! With spruce tips, Labrador tea, as well as the usual ingredients. Should have had a Saskatoon berry, too, but I had to settle for a Canadian cranberry instead. Of course this meant that I spent most of the afternoon gin drip from the still. It is as exciting as it sounds.
July 2, 2025 at 1:11 AM
A gin for Canada Day! With spruce tips, Labrador tea, as well as the usual ingredients. Should have had a Saskatoon berry, too, but I had to settle for a Canadian cranberry instead. Of course this meant that I spent most of the afternoon gin drip from the still. It is as exciting as it sounds.
I’m sure that something like this is what Trump really wanted. Coming soon to the Kennedy center? Pyongyang, 2013.
June 15, 2025 at 12:19 AM
I’m sure that something like this is what Trump really wanted. Coming soon to the Kennedy center? Pyongyang, 2013.
Here’s some similarly old tanks, from the guys who know how to put on a military parade. Pyongyang, 2013
June 15, 2025 at 12:08 AM
Here’s some similarly old tanks, from the guys who know how to put on a military parade. Pyongyang, 2013
From the York mystery plays being performed at the University of Toronto today (they’ll be on until midnight so there’s time to catch a play—or thirty). Gabriel telling Joseph to head to Bethlehem, and Herod ordering the slaughter of the innocents. The overly long red tie seems a nice touch.
June 7, 2025 at 4:50 PM
From the York mystery plays being performed at the University of Toronto today (they’ll be on until midnight so there’s time to catch a play—or thirty). Gabriel telling Joseph to head to Bethlehem, and Herod ordering the slaughter of the innocents. The overly long red tie seems a nice touch.
A dinner for spring! An asparagus frittata with fiddleheads and rhubarb-strawberry galettes for dessert.
May 30, 2025 at 11:53 PM
A dinner for spring! An asparagus frittata with fiddleheads and rhubarb-strawberry galettes for dessert.
In the very very tiring month of may—Mr Bean doesn’t even notice that his head’s falling off
May 30, 2025 at 11:50 PM
In the very very tiring month of may—Mr Bean doesn’t even notice that his head’s falling off
How to warm up when it feels like -10 (Celsius) outside. All it takes is a glitter ball and a step stool.
April 8, 2025 at 10:19 PM
How to warm up when it feels like -10 (Celsius) outside. All it takes is a glitter ball and a step stool.
Celebrating Spring in Toronto! By burying the crocuses, which have just begun to blossom, in icy mush.
April 2, 2025 at 10:10 PM
Celebrating Spring in Toronto! By burying the crocuses, which have just begun to blossom, in icy mush.
Tonight’s dinner: nabeyaki udon, to break in my new donabe
March 9, 2025 at 1:00 AM
Tonight’s dinner: nabeyaki udon, to break in my new donabe
O Canada. From yesterday’s Globe and Mail.
February 22, 2025 at 2:23 PM
O Canada. From yesterday’s Globe and Mail.
An open wardrobe door needs a cat to investigate
February 11, 2025 at 3:56 AM
An open wardrobe door needs a cat to investigate