You have probably seen the word aioli on a menu and just assumed it was a creamy mayonnaise with some extra flavoring. Not much to it, just that “fancy” sauce that comes alongside truffle fries right? Nope, that’s where you’re mistaken! It’s not your fault though, in the US a lot of aioli is honestly just flavored mayo with a glorified name. That doesn’t stop people from saying they hate mayo but then shovel aioli down their throats…

We lost a legend in Akira Toriyama. His body of work on the anime landscape had a significant impact that the genre is still feeling to this day. His most famous creation was the Dragon Ball series, which you could argue helped anime become more mainstream in the United States. The show Dragon Ball Z in particular was a major part of my childhood. I still remember running to the TV after school to catch up on the latest episodes.

This week’s publication of Understated focuses on the life of Alice Clement, the first woman detective in the history of the Chicago PD, possibly even the United States. You’ll notice a theme in this week’s issue, and to be frank, we do not know very much about Alice Clement beyond the following: She was known as the “female Sherlock Holmes” and is most famous for how she solved The Dulcimer Murder.

Disclaimer: This is brought to you by Singapore Hospice Council. When I was in my 20s, I saw tributes to a schoolmate all over Facebook one day. She had passed away, after grappling with cancer for years. This was not something I expected. Because even as I caught glimpses of her battle on social media, she seemed like she was in good spirits. The shaved head. Her frail, bony frame. No matter how many tubes they inserted into her, no matter how many injections she endured, she did so smiling.

I just returned from Napa Valley and Sonoma County. This year I thought it appropriate to propose an All-American Thanksgiving Wine Pairing list to accompany your feast. I recommend wines from California, Oregon, and Texas that hold up to the spicy flavors of side dishes. I propose wines that do not overwhelm your palate with heavy tannins which would detract from the wonderful food flavors. See my Top 9 Wine Pairing Guidelines below for further pairing tips.