Ebisu-Nankin No Nimono. Does just the sound of it make you feel all warm and happy? No? Maybe you prefer a little Kansawanian Jibu-ni, fortified with duck breast? Or perhaps you are more of a holiday traditionalist and are perfectly happy with Soba?

Christmas is right around the corner. The worldwide demand for comfort foods is reaching its seasonal zenith. The foods and traditions of Christmas are like the ghosts of Christmas past, they are so familiar, so comforting, yet somehow tinged with just a bit of regret. Which makes me wonder, is there is room for a broader interpretation?

So, personally, I can’t wait to not put up my tree this year. My house is going look so beautiful and festive without any colored lights dripping from the eaves. That egg-nog can just stay on the dairy shelves at Vons. And who needs mistletoe as an excuse to kiss the one you love?