Saturday, October 12, 2019

Texas Tommy's Wonderful Tornado

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Pictured above is Texas Tommy who sells a variety of stuffed hot dogs from a hole-in-the-wall place in Cape May, NJ. He is, as you can guess, an eccentric guy with a good sense of humor. The kind of fellow you meet now and then who makes you feel cheerful for the rest of the day.

He is also a culture hero. For Mr. Tommy has created an entirely new and completely wonderful fast food--the Tornado.There's one pictured below:


And it tastes even better than it looks! What Texas Tommy did was to repurpose a soft ice cream machine to serve hot mashed potatoes. To which he added cheese, chili, hot peppers, salsa, and sour cream. The Five Basic Food Groups of Deliciousness.

It's a meal, it's a self-indulgence, and if the Catholic Church ever notices it, it will probably be declared a sin. That's how good it is.

Only in Cape May. And now that the tourist season is over, only on weekends.


And "The North Wind Speaks" (part 12) . . .



 Is it a faithless lover?

(continued tomorrow)


And today's diagram . . . 


This is kind of a mess, but have patience. The plot moves from top to middle, where it says CRASH. I'm trying to work out the implications of Olympia giving birth. Of Olympia herself, I write: A face of unconcern. A single un-winking eye. Hair like flaming oil. Olympia must be aloof, scornful, uncaring. "If I die, then so much the worse for you who were inadequate protectors.

Of the crone Grimka I write: The  crone is a brick of certainty & worth [therefore] se is a haint. Which, in the actual fact, is a false syllogism

Swooping lines represent the crone (Grimka) and Fata Narcisse. Of Narcisse, I ask: Does she die or live? Which is a much less interesting question than the one The Iron Dragon's Mother ultimately answers.

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2 comments:

Peter D. Tillman said...

Texas Tommy's concoction looks . . . Interesting. I'd try one, were I ever in (on?) Cape May.

Should you ever find your way to Taos, NM, as we did last week, be sure to try the Frito Pie at Orlando's on the north side of town. I recommend the version with beef & Chile Caribe, light on the chile. And have a big glass of ice water at hand, along with a cold cerveza.

A local delicacy. I had my first many, many years ago, at the Woolworth's lunch counter on the Santa Fe plaza. They served it in the Frito bag, which some purists declare adds authenticity. But Orlando's version is far too big and juicy for that.

Finish up with one of their excellent bizcochitos -- the official State Cookie of New Mexico!

We both miss living in northern NM. Calif looks so brown and bare after the colorful fall in the mountains.

Michael Swanwick said...

I don't miss Vermont winters one bit. But, oh man, does it have beautiful autumns.