National Chili Month at the Café: The Art of Chili, a Collaboration

Welcome to National Chili Month at the cafe, one of our traditional autumn celebrations. This year I’m pleased to report another Eclectic Cafe collaboration with blogger and chili lover, Under Western Skies, an avid, and excellent, chili cook.

Our last collaboration was in 2019, when we created a Halloween chili menu and recipe.

Coordinating blog posts again was all great fun, and I thoroughly enjoyed my role as food stylist, photographer and recipe consultant for the 2021 UWS chili recipe –– with the tasting and eating part a highlight of the proceedings.

Another highlight was creating photos inspired by one of my favorite artists: Wayne Thiebaud, modern American master, innovator and teacher turns 101 on November 15. As he approaches this milestone, he’s still thriving, painting every day, and continuing to delight viewers and inspire new generations of artists.

Thiebaud is best known for his colorful paintings of pies, pastries and cakes, though his prodigious body of work includes other objects, people, and city and river landscapes. I’ve always loved his imaginative food paintings like the iconic cake slices below.

Wayne Thiebaud, Cake Slices, oil on canvas, copyright Wayne Thiebaud 1995.

Somehow in the midst of Covid world, I missed Mr. Thiebaud’s 100^th birthday. It was a joy to see news of his 101^st and take time to revisit his work. It also provided immediate inspiration: For the Under Western Skies chili shoot I decided to incorporate elements of his style into my food photography. In this case, composition and his distinctive bold shadows.  

Here is Under Western Skies’ flavorful, textural chili, garnished with fresh cilantro and radishes:

To go with the chili, I made a batch of corn muffins. These Thiebaud cupcakes provided a perfect model for working out my muffin photo below.

Wayne Thiebaud, Four Cupcakes, oil on paper, copyright Wayne Thiebaud 1971.

There wasn’t time to experiment for this shoot, but next I want to add to my food photography that thick, luxurious, icing-like texture characteristic of Thiebaud paintings.  

This ends the art of portraying chili. Now, head to Under Western Skies for the art of creating and cooking a spicy New Mexico-inspired chili.

We both hope you enjoy this confluence of food, photography and art.

Copyright M. Vincent 2021. All photos copyright M. Vincent 2021.

All Wayne Thibaud art copyright Wayne Thiebaud.

Hurry Up Please, It’s Time! For a Rich Chocolaty Quick Bread, That Is.

During the pandemic, we’ve been honing our yeast bread skills at the café –– from sandwich loaves to braided challah. It’s all been fascinating, but last weekend I was craving a fast, simple quick bread that could double as breakfast and dessert.

With some large, very ripe bananas at hand, I decided to go with banana bread and kick up the flavor and texture with dark cocoa and chopped pecans. The recipe turned out so well, I had to share it.

This bread is ultra chocolaty, moist and decadent. It’s also “healthyish,” as Bon Appetit magazine might say, with its attention to healthy ingredients.

Chocolate Pecan Banana Bread

Ingredients

¾ cup white whole wheat flour

½ cup unbleached all-purpose flour

½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1 ½ teaspoons baking soda

1 teaspoon baking powder

2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

¾ – 1 cup mashed, very ripe banana (about 2 medium-size bananas)

½ cup sugar

¼ cup olive oil

2 eggs

¼ cup reduced-fat coconut milk

½ tablespoon fresh lemon juice

1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract

¼ teaspoon almond extract

1/3 cup raw pecans, coarsely chopped

Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly oil or butter a 5 x 9-inch loaf pan. Add lemon juice to coconut milk and set aside.

2. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder, and cinnamon. Set aside.

3. In a small mixing bowl, combine the mashed banana, eggs, olive oil, sugar, coconut milk, and the vanilla and almond extracts. Beat with a mixer at medium speed until smooth.

4. Pour the liquid mixture into the dry ingredients and stir just until all the ingredients are blended. Add a bit more milk, if needed, to moisten flour mixture completely.

5. Fold the chopped pecans into the batter, and spoon batter into the prepared pan.

6. Bake until a pastry tester inserted in center of the bread comes out clean: 45 to 50 minutes. Note: This bread takes longer to bake than other quick breads I make – it took about 47 minutes in my oven. After 25 minutes, the tester came out gooey, and I tented the bread with foil to keep the top from browning too much as it continued baking.

7. Run a knife gently around the sides to loosen bread from pan, transfer it to a wire rack, and let it cool for an hour before slicing.  

Serve and savor!

We loved this bread with whipped cream cheese and orange marmalade for breakfast, and with fresh strawberries and tangerines for dessert. Let me know if you give it a try.

© Copyright M. Vincent 2021. Recipe and photos copyright M. Vincent 2021.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day! Let’s Bake.

St. Patrick’s Day greetings from the cafe kitchen. Like people all over the world, Irish or not, we always join this annual celebration of Ireland and its rich culture. Part of which, of course, is the food.  

Ages ago I found a quick, simple and delish recipe for classic Irish Soda Bread in The Joy of Cooking. I made some tweaks, loved the results, and it became a St. Patrick’s Day tradition. I’ll be making it again tonight and wanted to share it with you.

But what about those muffins in the banner? Irish muffins? Well, sometimes you just want to change things up, try a new spin on a traditional treat. Enter Irish Soda Bread Muffins, a happy find from the King Arthur Flour website: https://www.kingarthurbaking.com/recipes/irish-soda-bread-muffins-recipe. 

That green Irish fairy dust on my muffins above is matcha powered sugar. To make it, simply mix matcha tea with powdered sugar.

Here is my Irish Soda Bread recipe. It makes one small loaf as in the photo.

My Eclectic Cafe Quick Irish Soda Bread

Adapted from recipe in The Joy of Cooking

Ingredients

• 2 cups (125 grams) flour: 1 cup white whole wheat, 1 cup unbleached all-purpose
• ¾  teaspoon baking soda
• ½  teaspoon kosher salt (I use Diamond)
• 1 tablespoon cane sugar
• 6 tablespoons olive oil (or 3 tbsp olive oil + 3 tbsp chilled unsalted butter)
• ½ to 2/3 cup nondairy buttermilk (See Preparation below)
• 1/3 to ½ cup golden raisins – or other raisins you prefer (optional) 
• 1 tablespoon caraway seeds
• Turbinado sugar (large, coarse-textured cane sugar crystals) for sprinkling 

Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. I bake this bread on a pizza stone. If you choose that method, be sure to preheat the stone along with the oven. You can also use a greased bread pan or 8-inch cake pan.
2. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, salt and sugar.
3. Make the buttermilk by mixing nondairy milk (such as almond, cashew, coconut) with ½ tablespoon lemon juice or apple cider vinegar. Give mixture about 15 minutes to curdle and be ready to use.
4. Using a pastry cutter, a fork, or your fingers, cut the olive oil (or olive oil and butter) into the flour mixture until the texture is crumbly. (Kerry Gold unsalted Irish butter is my favorite for baking.)
5. Stir the raisins (if using) and caraway seeds into the flour mixture.
6. Gradually mix in the buttermilk. Use enough so that the mixture is moist, not dry. Use your hands to fold over a few times to make sure all ingredients are well-combined. No yeast-bread-type kneading required. (Lightly oiling your hands to fold and form the dough works better than flouring them.)
7. On a floured board or piece of parchment paper, form the dough into a round loaf. Cut a cross on top, letting it go over the sides so the dough won’t crack during baking. Brush the top with water or nondairy milk, and sprinkle with turbinado sugar for a nice crunchy crust.
8. Bake on middle rack of oven for approximately 40–50 minutes, or until the top is a rich golden brown. Be sure to check during baking, as time will vary with your oven.
9. This recipe makes a small loaf just right for our household of two. It’s most delish served warm. Cool briefly on a wire rack before cutting. Great with orange marmalade or that Kerry Gold butter.

Note: I didn’t find the precise recipe I adapted online, but this one with shortened directions comes closest to it: https://sites.google.com/site/jfhrecipes/home/recipes/joy-of-cooking-irish-soda-bread

The original is from The Joy of Cooking, 1964 edition, © The Bobbs-Merrill Company Inc., Irma S. Rombauer and Marion Rombauer Becker authors.

For those like me who didn’t get to bake earlier, these recipes –– especially the bread –– come together quickly, so you may still have time to get them in the oven.

If not, don’t wait until next St. Patrick’s day: The bread and muffins are great any time you crave the wonderful caraway flavor that distinguishes Irish soda bread.

Copyright M. Vincent 2021. All photos copyright M. Vincent.

Four Seasons at the Port

Last week – on Twelfth Night, a day we Shakespeare lovers always observe – we took one of our favorite urban walks at the Port of Los Angeles. After a bout of puffer coat and gloves weather, it was good to be out on a mild winter evening with beautiful light. Also, refreshing to leave behind for a while the disturbing U.S. political events of the day.  

I’d just finished reading Anthony Doerr’s fine memoir, Four Seasons in Rome, which catalyzed the realization that here we were in our fourth season of Covid-19 LA. Living in another fascinating city, but unlike Doerr in Rome, restricted by the pandemic from freely exploring its attractions, or even escaping to the natural world of our coastal environment with its fabulous beaches, trails and walks by the ocean.

As the months went by and Covid cases burgeoned, our radius shrank: Parks, trails and beaches closed, and when they reopened, crowds returned, many people failing to wear masks or observe social distancing. We stopped taking many of our usual walks and hikes, and the port became our primary getaway –– a reliable, sparsely frequented safe haven of solitude and space.

Even before Covid, we regularly walked there, forging various interesting routes, enjoying the colorful industrial landscape and constant hum of maritime activity. Fortunately, we like finding new things in familiar places, and our regular rambles at the port during the pandemic have not disappointed.

There’s so much to explore and photograph in our vast harbor landscape. Here is a mini tour of the routes we’ve taken through the changing seasons of the pandemic.

We’ll start with this peaceful, tree-lined city park with its spacious promenade, the scene of our Twelfth Night walk last week. It’s one of those quiet retreats you find in every city; once inside its leafy seclusion, you scarcely notice the busy thoroughfare that runs right next to it.

We’ve walked here so many times in the past year that we’re among the regulars who recognize each other despite the masks and exchange a friendly greeting, a few words, a wave, in Covid camaraderie.

Keep going past the shady benches, stone chess tables and a now dormant fountain, where children jump and squeal in the spray during a normal summer. On your left, you’ll come to the City of LA fireboat station, where you can sometimes catch sight of that big sophisticated boat at rest. You might even hear a loudspeaker staff alert that fresh cookies are available in the station kitchen.

Our final stop on this route is the small pier just past the fireboat station, dwarfed by a massive container ship in the photo below. Notice the people, similarly dwarfed, getting a very close-up look at the ship.

The pier offers great views of sea and sky, the port’s extensive shipping operations and the fascinating movement of maritime traffic.

Moored nearby are the tugboats that maneuver the giant cargo ships entering and leaving the port. Behind the tugs (below) is the 1,500-foot-long Vincent Thomas suspension bridge that crosses Los Angeles Harbor.

From this small pier with big views, you can see historic Warehouse No. 1, completed in 1917. Its distinctive tower, with a welcome greeting in many languages, is visible from miles away. The landmark building and its environs are the next route on our tour.

As the port’s only bonded warehouse, Warehouse No. 1 played a crucial role in LA’s entry into international trade. It’s a striking old structure with its many balconies, lion gargoyles and layers of grunge.

Here is a close-up of one of the lion gargoyles on the side of the warehouse in the photo above.

I like industrial landscapes and find art in them, so I always enjoy walking in this area and photographing interesting buildings and details. On one of our 2020 rambles, this sculptural outdoor warehouse equipment and its textural setting, like the gargoyles, appealed to me.

Walking this familiar route through three seasons of the coronavirus pandemic has not been without its elements of surprise. In spring, we encountered these companion flags, torn and battered, flying in the wind. They struck a chord as an apt symbol for a country in the midst of a deadly worldwide pandemic. With the rise of Covid cases and deaths, and our socio-political turmoil, the symbolism still feels apt.

On another spring walk, I found this bright explosion of California poppies at the curb of a drab industrial building. A cheering burst of color on an overcast day.

One summer afternoon, a whimsical “art installation” appeared on our route.

Who knows what we’ll find in this fourth season?

Copyright M. Vincent 2021

Port of Los Angeles tugboats at golden hour photo and Warehouse No. 1 photo copyright Brad Nixon 2021. Used with kind permission.

All other photographs copyright M. Vincent 2019-2021.

Still Cooking at the Cafe

Happy New Year to all. We’re still cooking here at the café, happy to leave behind a year that has been so devastating around the world.

Political turmoil, natural disasters, the struggle for justice –– and through it all, a pandemic disrupting our lives in numerous personal ways and making even simple things challenging.

We’ve all been through so much, and still the pandemic continues and surges, with many months predicted to go. We’ll still have to persevere, practice patience and resilience, and be vigilant in taking the precautions that stop the virus from spreading.

Yet arriving at this new year is still a celebration. A fresh start always brings inspiration and energy, and we can take hope in the progress we’ve made in the midst of crisis.

On today’s cafe menu: lentils, a food eaten in several countries on New Year’s Day, or the eve before, to bring good luck in the new year.

As we head into 2021, who couldn’t use a bit of luck in their efforts? Wherever you are, I imagine some lucky New Year’s food was on your table too. Our red lentils above are flavored with curry, lime juice and coconut milk, served over brown rice, and topped with a chopped fresh spinach salad. What was on your menu?

Fight on, Covid warriors. With perseverance and a little luck, we’ll get through this together. Wishing you good health, good food, and good fortune this year.

Copyright M. Vincent 2021. All photos copyright M. Vincent.

The Sweet Fruits of Summer

The glorious summer fruit season is well underway in California, and here at the café we’re celebrating the abundance of sweet, juicy and colorful stone fruits arriving in our markets. Fresh local berries too.

As you know if you’ve visited my blog before, beautiful seasonal fruit is one of my favorite things to photograph (and eat!) — like these autumn-winter persimmons and fall farmers market finds. 

Paired with a complementary container, it also makes a simple centerpiece to add a special touch to your table. My photos in this post pair summer fruit with mid-century modern and other ceramics my partner and I have collected.  

Rainier Cherries

Washington state is the premier growing region for the lovely-to-look-at Rainier cherries above, their shiny yellow faces blushing with hues of rosy red and pink.

Given its pale color, I was surprised to learn that this cherry is a hybrid of two sweet, red varieties — the familiar Oregon Bing and the Canadian Van. Developed at Washington State University in 1952, it’s named, as you might have guessed, for Mount Rainier, the state’s iconic volcanic peak.

While the sturdier, more plentiful Bings with their sweet, rich crunch are one of summer’s great treats, I always look forward to the arrival of the delicate, creamy Washington Rainiers. Both have been delicious this year. Get the Rainiers while you can: the growing season lasts from June through August.

Apricots

According to University of California–Davis agriculture researchers, the apricot originated in China and was extensively cultivated in the Mediterranean before it was brought to North America.

Its initial introduction in Virginia was unsuccessful, but when Spanish missionaries brought the apricot to California in the late 1700s, its cultivation in North America took off.  California now leads the U.S. in apricot production, growing about 95 percent of the fruit. 

I found the delectable ripe apricots below in late June at our local Sprout’s market. I loved the rich orange tones on their velvety skin and couldn’t wait to photograph them in this Italian pottery bowl with its complementary blues and corresponding oranges and ambers.

The bowl is one of my favorite pieces, for its design and its association. It comes from Deruta, a medieval hill town and historic majolica pottery center in Italy’s Umbria region, and always reminds me of the day my partner and I spent exploring the town and its famed ceramics.

We loved talking to people, learning about the antique and modern hand-painted pottery, and — smitten by what we saw — searching for a piece to take home. We came away with a set of these bowls, modern with a traditional design, which we use constantly.

Nectarines

Because nectarines are similar to peaches, but noticeably different in taste and texture, I always thought they were a separate fruit, perhaps a hybrid. Writing this post I discovered that a nectarine is actually a peach without the fuzz.

The two fruits are genetically the same, with just one recessive gene responsible for the nectarine’s smooth, fuzz-free skin. 

Our local stores have had a bounty of both types of nectarine, the tart-and-sweet yellow variety and the sweeter, low-acid white, pictured in the photos below. 

The ultra-bright reds of these beautiful fruits really popped against streamlined black and white and black-on-black backgrounds. I think the mid-century modern designers of the ceramics in the photos would approve. 

Russel Wright (1904-1976) designed the white ceramics. The long, black, oval bowl is by Ben Seibel (1918-1985). For several years, my partner and I enjoyed collecting their vintage dinnerware, and it’s always in service here at the cafe.  I love using these stylish retro pieces in my food photography.

In the final photo is the Russel Wright sake bottle. The cherry bowl in the photo at the top is a creamer from his Paden City pottery line.

In difficult times it’s more important than ever to appreciate the beauty in our world and elemental human pleasures, like the delightful fruits of summer. Enjoy the season and make it special for yourself and those you love. ♥

---

Fruit information in this post was sourced from:

University of California–Davis, Fruit and Nut Research and Information Center, http://fruitsandnuts.ucdavis.edu/

Specialty Produce, https://www.specialtyproduce.com/

Licensable, high-resolution versions of photographs in this post, and select images from other My Eclectic Café posts are available on Shutterstock.com. Click here to view my Vince360 Shutterstock photo portfolio. You can also find my photos on Adobe and Dreamstime.

Copyright M. Vincent 2020. All photos copyright M. Vincent 2020.

 

Fourth of July Dogs on Parade

As Covid-19 cases resurge across the U.S., our Independence Day celebrations will be constrained, and numerous traditional events — fireworks, fun runs, festivals, parades — have been canceled, including a favorite local institution, the dog parade.

Let’s revisit one of these fun events held in our California neighborhood. My partner and I are fond of dogs, though we don’t have one, and what photographer could resist a chance to shoot cute canines in patriotic costume on a bright July morning in the park?

We quickly spotted the parade queen: a petite Hollywood star in stylish hat and sunglasses, relaxing in her elaborately decorated carriage. Here she is taking a beauty nap before the show gets underway.

With the costumes and accessories some dogs were sporting, I wondered: Do they enjoy any of this? Or, do they just gamely soldier through it to humor their beloved humans?

The queen’s owner assured me when I walked up to chat that the little star loved to dress up, caper around the house and elicit cheers for her performance.

Observing the scene, I found it plausible that dogs might enjoy these dress-up performances. They were certainly getting lots of attention from children, photographers and other parade goers, as well as their devoted families.

Some even seemed to be playing to the crowd: The parade queen sprang from her nap refreshed and sparkling when the event began, and here she is rolling along like a star engaging with an adoring audience.

Imagine discerning dogs choosing their outfits, being groomed, arrayed, and checking the results in the mirror as the household cat trots by with a snicker heading for secret, solitary adventures.

The popular bulldog below outdid the parade queen for fancy attire in a dress with varied patterns, textures and decorative details. She even managed to keep those flags attached and intact.

Next is the gregarious chihuahua I call “Ms. Congeniality.” She strolled the crowd before the event with her ruffled skirt rippling behind her, meeting, greeting and shaking hands. Was her stylish costume made by the bulldog’s designer? Look at the design details. Those two were the most elaborately dressed dogs we saw.

Other dogs chose the minimalist route, such as these two rocking some glamorous neckwear and a “less is more” attitude.

All were very civilized and fun to watch and photograph. I hope their photos and stories have provided some holiday humor and cheer.

Wishing all my readers and their canine companions a peaceful, refreshing and hopeful weekend.

Copyright M. Vincent 2020. All photos copyright M. Vincent 2018-2020.

What’s Cooking at the Cafe?

Cooking in the time of the coronavirus is about the spirit as much as the body. In the best of times, making and enjoying good food is one of the joys and comforts of life. In the worst of times, the pleasure, diversion, and comfort it brings are more important than ever.

It’s not surprising then, that people everywhere are spending more time in the kitchen since Covid-19 has transformed our world and “stay at home, save lives” measures have gone into effect.

In this post, I’ll share some of the food we’ve been making at My Eclectic Café.

A Baking Renaissance?

Let’s start with that loaf of whole wheat bread above, which I baked earlier this week.

It appears that Covid-19 may have given rise to a home-bread-baking renaissance. Flour has disappeared from market shelves in many places, per reports we’ve heard, and we’ve seen scant supplies in our own area. When we decided to bake bread a week ago, all of our local stores were out of yeast.

Fortunately, the cafe always has a stash of flour, and kind friends in Washington state mailed us yeast from their own pantry and local market to keep bread in our oven as the pandemic continues.

I made the bread above from a simple King Arthur Flour (KAF) recipe, easy to follow for even novice bakers. You can find it on the KAF website here.

While I’ve baked bread before, I was trying this recipe for the first time and would use it again. I had the KAF white whole wheat flour specified, chose the molasses option for a darker loaf, and left out the dried milk.

The bread was moist and flavorful, with a chewy, well-browned crust, made great toast, and stayed fresh for days. It was great with the vegetable soup below.

I’ve baked with several types of KAF flour for years and recommend it. Their website is a valuable source of tips, recipes, and informative articles and reviews for beginning to experienced bakers.

Fresh Fruit and Vegetables Central

Healthy eating is always a priority at My Eclectic Café, with a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables at the center of our cooking. Since the Covid-19 crisis, we’ve been amplifying that focus. It’s a good time to be vegetarian: When other foods have been swept off the shelves, we’ve found the produce section of our stores well-stocked.

Before our Southern California weather hit 90 degrees this week, we enjoyed this spicy, colorful mixed vegetable soup: cauliflower, carrots, zucchini, Napa cabbage and corn with brown rice and Penzey’s southwest seasoning (a mix of spices and herbs with the heat of ancho, cayenne and chipotle peppers).

Such fresh, homemade soups have been a lunchtime staple — comfort food with the benefit of numerous vitamins and nutrients for staying well and keeping the immune system strong.

Salads, made with diverse vegetables or fruits, nuts, and selected proteins, have also been on our daily menu.

If you’re shopping much less often, as we are, to limit potential exposure to the virus, heads of radicchio and Napa (Chinese) cabbage are both versatile, long-lasting salad ingredients. They also go well together in a salad. Napa cabbage leaves are much more tender than those of red or green cabbage. They also have a mild, slightly sweet flavor that contrasts nicely with the bitey radicchio.

Open the cafe refrigerator, and you’ll find it brimming with citrus fruit. We’ve eaten tons of it in the past few months, as I fought to get over a mean bout of bronchitis and the Covid-19 pandemic burgeoned.

Grapefruit, tangerines, oranges, lemons. Rich in Vitamin C and other nutrients, they’re a constant ingredient in our fruit bowls, salads and other dishes, as well as a favorite refreshing snack. I use the juice and zest to add “oomph” to my cooking and baking, especially lemon juice, which brightens any dish. The cafe is blessed to have a prolific and treasured Meyer lemon tree in the backyard.

What’s for Dessert?

While we love dessert at the cafe, we usually keep it light and simple: fresh fruit and a piece of very dark chocolate, or that chocolate with a cup of green tea or breakfast coffee. (Yes, it’s perfectly acceptable to have dessert at breakfast — especially now, when we all need some uplifting treats to sweeten the day.)

Endangered Species’ wonderfully smooth bittersweet chocolate (low sugar, 88% percent cocoa) is a favorite, always on our menu. In addition to making excellent chocolate, the company supports conservation efforts for endangered species and habitats.

I’ve been baking mostly breakfast muffins lately and dreaming of making other pastry, but I did try a new cookie recipe that’s definitely a keeper: cardamom-walnut crescents from The New York Times.  My co-confiné agrees.

I love nut cookies, and these are delicious: light and not too sweet, with a great texture. The recipe is adaptable and doesn’t take long to make. My adaptations: raw pecans in the absence of walnuts, olive oil in place of some of the butter, cinnamon instead of cardamom, and a light dusting of powdered sugar when completely cooled. I look forward to trying them with walnuts and cardamom too.

More baking to come at the cafe. I’m craving those anise-almond biscotti above, remembering happy pan meino and coffee breakfasts in Milan, pondering a fruit galette …

Your  Turn

It’s a good time to try new recipes, enjoy comforting old favorites, and set a cheering table. What have you been making?

Copyright M. Vincent 2020. All photos copyright M. Vincent 2020.

Licensable, high-resolution versions of some photographs in this post, and select images from other My Eclectic Café posts are available on Shutterstock.com. Click here to view my Vince360 Shutterstock photo portfolio.

U.S. Naval Hospital Ship Mercy Arrives at the Port of LA

U.S. Naval Hospital Ship Mercy arrived at the Port of Los Angeles this past weekend, bringing welcome aid to our city in its fight against the coronavirus. It was a moving experience to be there on site as the massive ship appeared and to watch it sailing through the channel to its berth (where it appears above).

With COVID-19 cases rapidly rising in California, and substantial impact projected for LA, our governor requested Mercy’s immediate deployment to help ensure that we have the medical facilities and assets needed here.

Mercy’s purpose is to alleviate the burden on LA-area hospitals as COVID-19 cases accelerate. It will handle other critical care cases, allowing our local hospitals to focus their resources on COVID-19 patients.

Chasing Mercy

My partner tracked Mercy’s schedule, and we planned to get to the port early to see the ship arrive. It was a perfect early spring day — mild, clear and sunny — and getting outdoors for a cheering event was a refreshing break from the fraught, quarantined life. The world seemed almost normal, except for the virtually empty Friday morning streets.

That changed when we arrived at our chosen viewing point. Nowhere to park and a crowd that made social distancing impossible. Not surprising. Fortunately we know the area well, and a short drive away, it was mostly quiet. It was easy to preserve my space, though I did have to shoot photos through a chain-link fence.

Here is a photo of U.S. Coast Guard ship “Halibut,” which led Mercy through the channel.

Halibut is a Marine Protector Class patrol boat based in Marina del Rey, California. One of its functions is port security. Because it’s based so close to LA, the Halibut is known in the Coast Guard as “the Hollywood cutter” and is often used to represent the Coast Guard in broadcasts, television shows and movies.

Shortly after the Halibut passed by, Mercy sailed into view — a monumental presence 854 feet long and 106 feet wide.

My partner got the best shot of the ship as it made its way to its berth in an area normally occupied by giant cruise ships.  You can get a sense of its magnitude from his photo below.

Usually, we see one or two tugboats pushing or pulling the cruise ships into place. Four tugboats were present to assist the smaller, but less maneuverable Mercy.

As Mercy continued its journey, we headed home — or so we thought — following its path up the channel. Approaching the cruise-ship terminal, traffic was markedly different from what we’d experienced earlier that morning.

We assumed the “No entrance” sign flashing ahead meant no public ingress to Mercy’s docking area, but fortuitously, the turnoff to the cruise ship terminal was open, and we swung in, found immediate parking, and joined the band of people heading across the street to welcome Mercy.

Celebrating a Historic Moment

Mercy’s berth was just a short walk away. As we approached the ship, we found a lively scene with a variety of people gathered, from members of the community like us, some with school-age children in tow, to professional newspeople and photographers.

Law enforcement and military circulated among the gathering. Everyone was courteous and tried to observe a reasonable amount of social distance.

A row of photographers hugged the fence in front of Mercy, tripods set up, intently focused. Others snapped away on their cell phones, waved at the Mercy team members on deck or just stood back to observe the scene and enjoy the bright, fresh morning.

In the midst of the action, a newswoman and her cameraman prepared for filming.

A bicyclist pedaling back and forth waving a large American flag exemplified the mood of quiet celebration I felt as we all converged to witness this moment in history.

At this distressing time, Mercy’s arrival brings solace, cheer, and the hope that comes from additional readiness in the coronavirus fight. That is a mercy indeed.

Thank you to all who made Mercy’s rapid deployment to Los Angeles happen, from Governor Newsom to the U.S. Navy’s Military Sealift Command and everyone who worked to prepare the ship for this mission. Best wishes to the Mercy medical team and staff as they assume their life-saving duties.

Mercy’s Capabilities

Stationed in San Diego when not on active duty, Mercy has 1,000 hospital beds, 12 operating rooms and nearly 1,300 medical staff and crew on board.

You can see inside the USNS Mercy, view its additional facilities and learn some of its history here.

Local Stories Welcomed

What state or local COVID-19 preparedness/relief actions are happening in your community? Please share your news from around the world as we navigate this difficult time together.

Copyright M. Vincent 2020.

Mercy docking at its berth at the Port of LA and Mercy sailing into the port, copyright Brad Nixon 2020, used with kind permission. Etymology lovers, see his related post here. 

All other photos copyright M. Vincent 2020.

Food/Photography Friday: Photography from Hell

What to do when you feel like hell? Dream up a fun photography project and get shooting. That was my answer this week to the battering illness blues. My uplifting escape.

I’ve been fighting a mean case of bronchitis, with those coughing fits that crack like gunshots and feel like glass shattering in your chest. Recovery requires rest, but it’s not my strong point. I needed action, and doing art always takes me to a happier place.

Shooting Rabbits

With spring and Easter on the way, what better models than some playful rabbits? Here are some photos from my shoot:

Hip-hop rabbits on pink background

Hip-hop rabbits on blue background

Rabbits with a loving greeting

No rabbits were harmed to create these photos.  Have a happy, healthy weekend!

Copyright M. Vincent 2020. All photos copyright M. Vincent 2020.

You can find licensable, high resolution versions of the photographs in this post at https://www.shutterstock.com/g/Vince360/sets/259568063. Or, click here to view my Vince360 Shutterstock photo portfolio.