Somewhere between dreaming about being married and having kids, and getting married and having kids, cooking went from passion to hassle. At the end of my work day, after driving carpool, overseeing homework, getting the kids to and from their extracurricular activities, and so on, the last thing I felt like doing was making magic in the kitchen. My family, however, looked forward to — make that, demanded — dinner. The first question they inevitably asked when they got home was “What’s for dinner?”
To help light my culinary pilot light and put some of the fun back into cooking, I started looking for inspiration at the tag sales and other secondhand merchandise venues I frequent from time to time — estate sales, garage sales, thrift stores, flea markets, auctions, and ebay. I’ve found some wonderful, wacky, and truly weird items over the years. I hope you will enjoy the memories and meals that my treasured finds have inspired, and that you too, may find culinary inspiration in other people’s stuff.
Occasionally, I also post about food-related finds in Houston, visits to “retro” Houston restaurants (ones that have been in business 35 years or more), legal adventures, and travel highlights.
For questions or comments, or just to share what inspires you in the kitchen, email me at tagsaletastes@hotmail.com. I love hearing from readers!
— Nancy
Hello Sharlene. Glad you found my blog. I don’t have the gnome anymore, and don’t know who made it. I tried googling, and based on the oversized hands and long fingers, my best guess is Bombay Company. Mark Roberts also makes similar elves, but the faces are too different from the one I had. If you figure it out, let me know!
Hello Nancy!
I throughly enjoyed reading one of your post. I love your sense of humor! What lead me to your post…was your gnome in your home! Yes! That’s right! I have two that I purchased years earlier and I am yet to find out who makes them. I’d enjoy seeing if more are available. Mine didn’t have a tag with a brand name so I turned the picture over to a Google search and found your photos. Enjoy hearing from you. Happy Cooking! Sharlene
I just love that you posted that blog. It so beautifully showcased the day and I really hope you will come on more of them. I wish I could write as eloquently. It is hard for me to explain to people how awesome, unique, and inspirational these tours are, not just for the food & the chefs, but my guests as well. I have enjoyed each one so much.
Love it!