Ham is undoubtedly one of the most universally beloved of meats, at least in those parts of the world where it's not prohibited.

Country ham is baked whole, usually with a glaze, sometimes studded with cloves, and served as the centerpiece of Christmas and Easter feasts.

Chan Marshall has one of the most haunting, wrenching voices of any current singer, male or female.

If you've got cockles, those nickel-size, heart-shaped mollusks, and you want to get fancy, steam them, then toss the meat in finely ground cornmeal.

I think there's a part of my brain where food, language, and memory all intersect, and it's really powerful. I think I'm not alone in this.

David Levi is a teacher as well as a chef, and, like most teachers, he loves to talk.