About Us

Once upon a time, in a mythical antebellum kingdom called Alabama, a young maiden of fair parentage and gentle spirit, aspiring to broaden her intellectual—and financial—horizons, embarked upon a journey to the Land of Earthquakes, an Eldorado of the highest degree, to ingratiate herself into the Royal Court of Academia.  Upon arriving at the court, she was pleased to find the King of Critical Theory and Cultural Studies was more than willing to  admit her into his fold, and she happily joined his cohorts.  But alas!  The maiden found herself locked in an ivory tower that, although tastefully and comfortably appointed, offered little in the way of flights of fancy or captivating company.  The maiden knew not what to do, for she found her King agreeable enough, and knew of no other patron who could complete her life.

Then one day, as she chatted amiably with other members of the court, whose discussions, by decree of the King were limited mostly to deconstruction and Marxist theory, the maiden overheard a conversation between the Princes of New Historicism and Applied Linguistics.  They kept using terms she’d never heard of, not even in the most sinister of discources centering on The Diaspora.  The Prince of New Historicism kept talking about Bok Choy and Pea Shoots, while the Prince of Applied Linguistics babbled on about layered tortes and Tarte Tatins.  Although she had no clue what they were talking about, the maiden felt her pulse quicken, her cheeks flush, and knew she had to discern what the Princes had been talking about.

It seems that the Princes had been engaged in acts of treason, as they had been talking about another Royal Court, the Court of Food, which knew no limits in its empire, upon which the sun never set.  The Royal Court of Food was selective only in one category:  One had to live to eat, not eat to live.

The maiden knew she had to gain entrance to this court, and that in doing so, she had to risk the Royal Court of Academia’s ex-communication.  But the passion that had grown in her heart knew no quieting, no satisfaction outside of finding the patron of her dreams.  And after long searching, and the scorching of many expensive dishes, the maiden found the Royal Court of Food and quickly made herself an indispensable member.  Although she enjoyed the attention of many princes, from Haute Cuisine to California Fusion, she fell madly in love with the Prince of Desserts, and determined she had to make him her patron.  She worked day and night to impress the Prince, first journeying among the people and plying her trade, dazzling and amazing folk near and far.  Upon perfecting her trade and returning to the court, she fed the Prince of desserts her trademark confection, The Big O, and he fell madly and deeply in love with her. The Prince became the maiden’s patron, and showered her with balloon whisks, apple corers, cookie sheets and KitchenAids.