The hurry Stefan Balan __________ He puts the beef tip in his mouth. First the tonguebecomes aware of it, of its heat, of the gravy, notof the Worcestershire or the garlic or the touchof soy sauce, but of it as a whole, in bulk. It is tooin a hurry, too…

Flash in the Pan, Fry the Chicken, & First Holiday, Post-Divorce Colleen Harris __________ Flash in the Pan I sway in the kitchen betweencabinet and stove, catchingthe rhythm my father taught me. I sweep from drawer, to pan,to fridge and back. In the emptyspace over my shoulder I hear him,…

Christ & Lucifer Share Cacio e Pepe on Arthur Avenue Maureen Martinez __________ …seize it with both hands and make the most of it. – Al Capone There’s a notorious Italian restaurant on a corner of Arthur Avenue in the Bronx where an infamous mob boss was shot in the…

Our Day of the Dead & Vanilla Kipfel Steven Luria Ablon __________ Our Day of the Dead We bring bacon and peanut butter sandwiches,root beer floats, fried catfish. We bringwiener schnitzel, food that our dead loved. We bring photos of friends and family,my grandmother sitting on a benchon the boardwalk…

Cobbling Apples Kim Malinowski __________ Do not peel your apple.It is a waste of time.Some vitamins mightsurvive to taste. Slice neatly.Quarter then quarterthen quarter.Cut out the core.Spit over your righthip and throw saltover your left shoulder.Do not cut yourself.Blood enhances lovenot flavor. Measure the maple syrup.1/3 cup. Then pour a…

Pièce de Résistance Jane Blanchard __________ I wondered if this gatheringWould prove a bit too challenging,But so far it is going fine—Or well enough—for me and mine.Once soft or stiffer drinks are gone,The potluck supper can move on.Our host serves seasoned roasted lamb;Our hostess offers glazed baked ham.The slightly stressful…