In July of last year, we made a 1-day trip to the remote, mountainous village of Lahij in Azerbaijan. There, my friend Billura’s  mom Dostukhanim made this absolutely mind-blowing firni, Azerbaijani rice pudding. She decorated each serving with cinnamon patterns, turning each plate into a piece of art. I had to take a picture. The recipe for firni is available in my cookbook, “Pomegranates & Saffron.”

Welcome, August! And good-bye, July! Time for a new round of cool links from various sources, so hi there, July Links to Reads! Top 10 links I enjoyed reading.

* In Mexico City, trash is recycled both to curb the local waste disposal problem and help the poor get food in return.

* Unlike Japanese sashimi, Korean sashimi prizes live fish “swimming in restaurant tanks often just moments before it arrives at your table.” Where does that fish come from and how does it end on the plates of LA’s Korean sashimi lovers? Let’s find out.

* According to a study mentioned in National Geographic, “84 percent of Americans throw away food based on the date stamped on packages.” Why? And what does “sell by” label really mean?

*  The Republic of Georgia is famous for its wines. Learn about the country’s centuries-old winemaking tradition and the diversity of wines across the country.
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