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Is Calvin Trillin Behind the Green Cart Program?
Filed under: Headline Shooter Tagged: A. J. Liebling, books, Calvin Trillin, Carl Rose, cartoons, David Remnick, E.B. White, food, Leo Carey
Probably not, but the proposed New York initiative to sell fresh fruits and veggies through vending carts in poorer neighborhoods does sound like a step toward the ideal Trillin imagined at the end of his not-online rhapsody on Singaporean street food: a movable market full of delicious, unmysterious (except in the good way) eats for all New Yorkers. But let’s not put the cart before the hors d’oeuvres. On a more serious note, will the carts take food stamps?
WARNING: FAMILY MEMBERS, PLEASE STOP READING HERE. SERIOUSLY. I MEAN IT. ALSO RESTAURATEUR [YES, THAT WORD IS SPELLED CORRECTLY] FRIENDS. YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE.
This seems like a swell place to mention that the new anthology Secret Ingredients: The New Yorker Book of Food and Drink, edited by David Remnick (with help from young man of books Leo Carey) and just out from Random House, is a pip, exceeding even my expectations, and you know that’s saying something, right?
In fact, with sheepish apologies to A. J. Liebling, I can report that the book is in fact better than food. Come on, have some excerpts. Then go back for seconds—the book will last months and months and people will steal it from your house when they stay over. Although it’s pretty heavy and it might make their luggage suspiciously bulky.
Fun fact: The anthology’s working title was I Say the Hell With It. I objected to the change when I learned of it, but now I think the final title is properly celebratory of culinary pleasures familiar and foreign; our young leafy-green-loathing friend has a dismissive attitude less fitting for such a world-embracing, gleefully descriptive cornucopia. More New Yorker-themed book gift suggestions to follow; add your own in the comments!
About us
Hello! We're a small band of media enthusiasts, culture addicts, and journalists based in New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles. Emdashes, formerly a New Yorker fan site, is our collection of conversations—mostly civilized—about magazines, movies, politics, design, punctuation, and other things that stir us.
You'd like to know more about the writers and artists and what our column titles mean? We live to serve!
We welcome tips, questions, comments, and corrections, and are always on the lookout for ardent, obsessive new contributors. Click here to email us.
We host occasional book giveaways. Publishers, please email us for our postal address.
Tell me more
Dashes, some say, “are particularly useful in a sentence that is long and complex.” Emdashes—like an em dash itself—provides a thoughtful pause amid the hubbub.
Emdashes, founded in 2004, is written and drawn by Emily Gordon, Martin Schneider, Pollux, Jonathan Taylor, and Benjamin Chambers, as well as occasional guest contributors. All posts before October 2008 are by Emily Gordon.
The site was designed by House of Pretty with illustrations by Jesse R. Ewing.
Additional drawings are by Carolita Johnson and Pollux (author of our web comic, "The Wavy Rule"). The Emdashes pencil logo is by Jennifer Hadley, based on a 1943 Dorothy Gray ad.
Other writing by Emily Gordon
- Writing on theater: reviews (for Time Out Chicago; imperfect but workable search results)
- Profile: Valerie Casey, Designers Accord founder, is spearheading the design of sustainability (for SXSW World)
- Feature: Rea Irvin: visionary art director, bon vivant, New Yorker founding father (for Print)
- Slide show: the Coney Island Mermaid Parade (for NYCgo.com)
- Feature: Muslim immigration iconography in the Netherlands, and an interview with Ayaan Hirsi Ali (for Print)
- Review: King's Gambit: A Son, a Father, and the World's Most Dangerous Game by Paul Hoffman (for Newsday)
- Homage: Celebrating lindy-hop legend Frankie Manning (for NYCgo.com)
- Inquiry: Does a New Republic redesign mean a change of tune? (for Print)
- Interview: James Surowiecki on what's next for the wisdom of crowds (for Assignment Zero)
- Interviews: four up-and-coming designers under 30 (for Print)
- Profile: novelist and dance critic Laura Jacobs (for Newsday)
Blogroll highlights
- Box Office Boffo
- World of Pollux
- Jonathan Taylor
- Carolita Johnson
- Songs for blogroll lovers (more links)
- Follow us on Twitter
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- Get a t-shirt at the Emdashes store
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