Celebrity Chefs, USA

Good Day Sunday Stampers, and welcome to the J edition of our second A-Z round!

I know the title may be misleading, but this is indeed a J-related post since out of the 5 people featured here, 3 of them bear a name that starts with J so, here we go :)

On September 26th, the USPS issued 5 stamps honoring five chefs who are said to have revolutionized the nation’s understanding of food. By integrating international ingredients and recipes with American cooking techniques and influence, these chefs introduced new foods and flavors to the American culture.

The chefs featured here are:

Joyce Chen - (1917–1994) is one of America’s most well-known promoters of Chinese food. From her landmark restaurant in the Boston area to her cookbooks and trailblazing PBS television show, Chen invited newcomers to sample unfamiliar dishes in ways that firmly established Chinese cuisine in the United States.

James Beard - (1903–1985) laid the groundwork for the food revolution that has put America at the forefront of global gastronomy. He was a pioneer foodie, host of the first food program on the fledgling medium of television in 1946, the first to suspect that classic American culinary traditions might cohere into a national cuisine, and an early champion of local products and markets. Beard nurtured a generation of American chefs and cookbook authors who have changed the way we eat.

Julia Child - (1912–2004), demystified French cuisine for a U.S. audience. Through her extremely popular television shows and cookbooks, Child showed us that we could make even complicated dishes in our very own kitchens, doing so with a joie de vivre that made her the public face of American cooking for more than 40 years.

Edna Lewis - (1916–2006) - Known as “the Grande Dame of Southern Cooking,” Edna found wisdom in the customs and patterns of her rural Virginia childhood. By bringing such quintessential dishes as shrimp and grits or roast chicken to the plates of fine restaurants, Lewis convinced her fellow Americans to take a second look at Southern cooking while also serving as one of the first voices to reemphasize the importance of fresh, seasonal ingredients.

Felipe Rojas-Lombardi - (1946–1991) Renowned for his creativity and culinary adventurousness,, Felipe is widely credited with introducing the Spanish small-plate tapas concept to American restaurants while raising the profile of Caribbean and South American cuisine.

*** information taken from the USPS website.

As a foodie, I have to say I find these stamps really interesting since I especially like trying out interesting and unusual foods (as long as it is not something alive or is meat, with some exceptions). I especially have a soft spot for desserts (my FB friends know what I am talking about :D)

Can't say I have a favourite cuisine, but for sure I love Chinese, Italian, Turkish and Mexican stuff.

How about you? Any favourite cuisine or food? :)

For more J-stamps, visit today's edition of Sunday Stamps :)

Horoscope, Bosnia and Herzegovina

After a lovey half-day trip out in the nature, back home to spend a cozy evening and do my contribution for today's Sunday stamps... and before I get down to the stamps, just wanted to show you these pictures from today's trip, in case you need an idea for your next travel destination ;)

(you can read a bit more here: Kozjak Lake)

and now to why you are actually here, and that is stamps.
Now even though I am one of those people who do not believe in horoscopes, I find it that sometimes stamps related to astrology are quite nice actually, just like this fantastic issue from BiH, which I decided to share with you today, issued on 26th January 2004, in a set of, well of course, 12 stamps.

Regarding my relationship to astrology... it has not always been that way. In fact, when I was little I was actually hooked on it, to an extent probably not considered healthy for a 12 year old, but I guess I got that from my aunt, since I spent a lot of time back then with her and my grandparents and she was all into these chakras and third eyes and all those astral and paranormal stuff, while I was regularly buying and reading astrology related magazines. Looking back at it, not a wise way to spend money, but I can find something of this kind about each period of my life... cos of course at the time being, it doesn't look unwise at all :))

So according to these stamps, my element is FIRE and my planet is The SUN (well I do enjoy sitting outside in the sunshine, when it is not too hot, preferably in silence).
Body area: spine, back, heart (ok, if this means that I would be suffering from back pains, then I give you credit for this one).
Colors: gold, orchard (if there is something I absolutely dislike, are things made of gold)
And it says I am: assertive, confident, social, expressive, leader, courageous, competitive, creative, emotional, adventurous, determined, dedicated, energetic, preserving and adaptable (that is 5 out of 15 right :D)
And the negative stuff: arrogant, egotistical, bossy, temperamental, very jealous and possessive, extravagant and insensitive (I don't dare be judgmental on this one, I'll let others do their assessment :P)

Anyways, reading a horoscope can always be fun at least and have a good joke coming out of it. Do you believe in horoscopes? Do you find it true what is said about you?

For more H entries, visit today's edition of Sunday Stamps.

Native Glowworms, New Zealand

Well, before anything I would like to wish Happy Easter to everyone celebrating it today (Here in Macedonia we shall have Easter next week, in accordance with the Orthodox Calendar...)

But instead of Easter stamps, today we shall follow the regular alphabet and so far we have reached the letter G in the second round, which brings me to this New Zealandian issue of Glowworms.

Due to the colours, it is probably a bit difficult to distinguish, what's what, but what we have here first is the FDC, and later you can see the Presentation Pack for this issue.

Despite what the name suggests, glowworms aren’t true worms - they’re the larval stage of the fungus gnat. The fungus gnat can glow at all stages of its life (except in the egg stage), but it’s during the larval stage that it shines the brightest. The famous blue-green ‘glow’ is a chemical reaction created in what is the glowworm equivalent of the human kidney. The total life cycle of the fungus gnat takes around 11 months, with the glowworm stage being the longest in the life cycle, averaging around nine months. The New Zealand native glowworm is scientifically known as Arachnocampa luminosa, and although it is most spectacular when seen in caves, it’s common outside caves too, favouring damp, warm conditions with a good supply of food.

The four stamps in the collection feature glowworms from locations across New Zealand – including Ruakuri Cave in Waitomo and within the presentation pack one can read detailed information regarding the life cycle, as well as information regarding each of the glowworms' caves featured.

- 80 c -Mangawhitikau Cave, described by Sir David Attenborough as “astonishing”, is famous for its extensive display of glowworms. Tours depart from the Spellbound office located in the Waitomo Caves village and artificial lights are kept out during the tours so the glowworms can be viewed in their full glory.

- $1.40 - Nikau Cave is located in Waikaretu, a sheep and cattle farming area approximately 90 minutes' drive southwest of Auckland. This delightful tourist cave was known to Māori and early settlers. Privately owned, the cave has no paths, handrails or lights. Tourists take torches and clamber up a streambed beneath stalactites, shawls and delicate straws.

 - $2.00 - Ruakurī was the ‘wildest’ of the early Waitomo tourist caves – with hidden waterfalls, ‘a ghost walk’, galleries and decorated chambers. It was named for the wild dogs (kurī) that lived in the cave entrance, which was used by Māori long before Europeans arrived.

 - $2.50 - The Waipū Caves are in a scenic reserve about 10 kilometres inland from the little boutique village of Waipū. They were first used as tourist caves in the 1870s, a decade before Waitomo Caves, when tourists were transported by horse and buggy.

Unfortunately, the actual glowing cannot be seen on the stamps here (but the actual stamps do glow in the dark after being exposed to light), but if you ever have or have had the chance to visit one of these caves, do share the experience :)

For more G stamps, follow this link :)