The Last Gourmet Supper

[Bob T]

* THE LAST GOURMET SUPPER, AND, HAPPY THANKSGIVING FROM A THIRSTER IN TIFLIS, GEORGIA (THE OTHER ONE)

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Greetings to Thirsters Worldwide:

And to American Thirsters, Happy Thanksgiving!

The author of this ThirsterGram is a linguist, translator, Russianist, interculturalist, writer, editor, and administrator has who spent the past five years working happily as Research Chief for a magazine of more a million in monthly circulation. The magazine was established 69 years ago, and through the years became, I believe, a part of American culture. Last month suddenly, to the total surprise of its entire editorial staff, the business persons who control the magazine decided that it was no longer financial viable. So, they closed it. The November issue became its last. For those who knew the magazine and loved working there, it was a crushing blow.

That magazine was “Gourmet.” Needless to say, there are many who think the decision to close it was a financial mistake, and hundreds of thousands who lament the magazine’s passing.

The author of this essay Thirster from New York Marisa Textor, who goes by the nom de plume of Marisa Robertson-Textor, in honor of her mother, Lora Robertson.

Here, Marisa is greeting us from a reconnaissance trip to Tbilisi (Tiflis), the capital of the Republic of Georgia, a land of scenic beauty, historical interest, good food and wine, political and ethnic complexity, and much else of interest. This report will give you some idea of Marisa’s complex feelings at a pivotal moment like this. It comes wrapped in the best of Thanksgiving good wishes.

Thanks, Marisa, and enjoy Georgia!

Best,
Bob
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From: Marisa Robertson-Textor [mailto:marisinka@gmail.com]
Sent: Tuesday, November 24, 2009 2:11 AM
Subject: The Last Gourmet Supper

Hello everyone,

Greetings from Tbilisi, where I'm hoping to learn how to make tsatsivi on Thanksgiving Day.

The below article, just published by The Faster Times, is very dear to me. It's my own personal love letter to Gourmet, as well as a culinary Bildungsroman of sorts. And it was both one of the easiest and one of the most difficult things I've ever written. I hope you'll enjoy it:

http://thefastertimes.com/food/2009/...ourmet-supper/

Best,
Marisa