Sunday E-dition: Haggis Meets Hot Dog — A Tale of Culinary Crossroads
By Sasha Paulsen
Update: Pickett Fire Grows to 5,863 Acres, Containment Rises to 11%
CALISTOGA, Calif. — 8:08 p.m. Aug. 23, 2025 — The Pickett Fire east of Calistoga grew to 5,863 acres Saturday as containment increased to 11%, Cal Fire said. On Friday night, the blaze tested primary control lines with slope-driven runs and short-range spotting, but crews held it within contingency lines with support from night-flying helicopters and drone reconnaissance.
Crews focused Saturday on reinforcing the right flank near Friesen Drive and the right shoulder toward Ink Grade to prevent further spread, while strengthening the northern edge of the fire. Officials credited leadership with experience from the 2020 Glass Fire for guiding effective suppression efforts in rugged terrain.
Resources surged to 1,230 personnel, supported by 80 engines, 29 bulldozers, 23 water tenders, 35 hand crews and seven helicopters, along with multiple fixed-wing air tankers.
Evacuation orders expanded Saturday to include more zones on the fire’s eastern and northern edges, while warnings remained in effect for nearby areas. New road closures included James Creek Road and Aetna Springs Road.
Officials said the city of Calistoga remained on alert and continued to serve as a key staging area, with a Cal Fire command center at the Calistoga Fairgrounds. Drift smoke is expected to persist across Napa County through the weekend.
The cause of the fire remained under investigation.
More Pickett Fire Information Sources:
Correction: In the article below, we misstated the Welsh phrases and their translations. They should read “Y gwir yn erbyn y byd. A oes heddwch?” meaning “The truth against the world. Is there peace?” The article also incorrectly described Wigan as a village. It is a town.
Haggis Meets Hot Dog — A Tale of Culinary Crossroads
By Sasha Paulsen
NAPA VALLEY, Calif. — The Scottish-born author Margot Livesey was in Napa in July for the Napa Valley Writers Conference, and when I told her that my daughter had recently married a Scot, her reply was prompt: “She has good taste.”
I second this thought.
There are benefits to having a daughter who decides to learn Welsh, meets and marries a Scottish man, also studying Welsh, and settles in Wales: Your own world grows larger; you acquire not only a home in another country but a new family in Scotland. And you learn, not just about these countries but — from a new perspective — about your own.
Consider grocery stores. They are not high on many travelers’ itineraries, but whenever I travel, I try to find my way to a market. The castles and museums can tell you who a people were, but the corner grocery store tells you who they are now.
My new favorite son-in-law agrees with me on this. (He is also my only son-in-law, but no matter, this). On his first trip to California, Douglas wanted to see Yosemite, Alcatraz and Lombard Street, but he was also fascinated with Target and Trader Joe’s, neither of which exist in the United Kingdom. He loved exploring the oddities you find in service station shops, even peanut butter and jelly cappuccinos, as well as the local products in Napa’s more posh establishments. He filled a suitcase with discoveries to take back to Wales, not only extra toasty Cheez-Its and French vanilla creamer but also artichoke dip from Oakville Grocery and blueberry balsamic vinegar from Napastäk.
“My favorite, however, is haggis and tattie (potato) scone nachos because if I had to choose one dish to represent the marriage of a Scot, who has discovered nachos, to a Californian, who loves scones, it would be this one.” — Sasha Paulsen
He was particularly delighted by California’s 1,001 ways to dress a salad. In the United Kingdom, I have learned, if you order a salad, you are likely to get a plate of naked lettuce, and if you ask for salad dressing, you might have a choice of mayonnaise or salad creme, which looks suspiciously like mayonnaise — hence Douglas’ enthusiasm for everything from Kraft’s zesty Italian to homemade creations with Napastäk’s wonderful balsamic.
The United Kingdom, however, also has its own culinary adventures, for the most part, it seems, inspired by newcomers to their island. From a country long known for its mushy peas and boiled Brussels sprouts, Ariel and Douglas have sent me photos of classics reimagined: not just fish and chips, but curry and chips as well as baked-bean pizza, chicken tikka masala Yorkshire pudding and, for the stout of heart, marmite pizza.
On a recent trip to visit Douglas’ family in Glasgow, they made a stop in the English town of Wigan so Ariel could try the town’s specialty, Wigan kebabs, which is a traditional British savory pie served inside a roll. I am not sure where the kebab part comes in, but Ariel said it was quite tasty.
Global fusion or gastro fiction? Test your world food IQ with this culinary vocabulary challenge. Answer at the bottom of the page.
Scotland, however, beats the English in culinary originality. Haggis, the famous savory pudding, traditionally made of minced sheep's pluck (heart, liver and lungs), onion, oatmeal, suet, spices and salt, all boiled in an animal's stomach — is turning up in dishes such as haggis pakora, an inventive variation on the South Asian fritters. Mexican cuisine is also making its mark, hence — I am not making this up — haggis and black pudding “breakfast smash tacos,” which are topped with mini potato scones, a fried egg and whiskey cream sauce.
My favorite, however, is haggis and tattie (potato) scone nachos because if I had to choose one dish to represent the marriage of a Scot, who has discovered nachos, to a Californian, who loves scones, it would be this one.
Inevitably, the world growing smaller, intersecting and blending, can provide some unsettling results. One English version of nachos, for example, is made with SpaghettiOs, and toast triangles are substituted for tortilla chips. Still, for the most part, it’s good to remember that as the world mingles, it grows more interesting and, indeed, more fun.
When Ariel, on a trip through England to pay homage to Jane Austen, Shakespeare and the Brontes, decided to venture across the bridge from England to another country, Wales, she discovered, via its bilingual street signs, the ancient language that the stalwart Welsh held onto, despite English efforts to quash it, along with the spirited Welsh identity. As she began returning to Wales to study their language, people in the United States kept asking, “Isn’t this an odd thing to do?” “What’s the point?” “Where will this lead?”
She didn’t know — neither did I — that in a dorm kitchen at the University of Aberystwyth she would meet a Scottish man who also loves languages and food and is now her partner in exploring new worlds. Maybe it’s a reminder that following your heart can work in unexpected ways.
What I find encouraging is that Douglas has faith in Americans, strange mashups that we are. He and Ariel did DNA tests, and whereas his came back showing he was basically Scottish and Irish, Ariel’s showed 57 varieties, everything from Danish to Native American with (yes!) a dash of Welsh, as well as Cornish, Scottish, French, Sephardic Jew, Italian and even DNA from the Channel Islands. Language nuts both of them, they had been studying Scottish Gaelic with plans to learn Basque and medieval Icelandic. Now, Douglas said, his goal is to learn every language in Ariel’s DNA list.
He enlarged on this theme on a spontaneous road trip we made from Napa to LA to see Ariel’s brother, Sam. Back home, he pointed out, people would be aghast at the idea of hopping into the car to drive for seven hours for a brief visit. In fact, it took us several hours longer than usual so he could investigate the stops on Interstate 5, including Andersen’s Pea Soup with its Danish windmill in the middle of the California desert and service stations whose shops yielded such things as a Philly cheesesteak hot dog from one of those scary grills, where it might have been rotating for several years. (This, he admitted, was not so great.) My son, the cardiologist, was slightly worried that he would try a fried cheesecake, but Douglas assured him that back home they favor salmon and salads, now that he has learned how to make vinaigrette.
The first immigrants to the United States, Douglas pointed out, were risk-takers; the more cautious stayed at home. Notwithstanding the truth that these early adventurers had landed in someone else’s country, the collective result is, as he views it, a people who are endlessly varied, generous, daring, somewhat crazy but dauntlessly optimistic. It is good to know, in these dark and difficult times, that someone from an older country that has endured its own dark times thinks we will endure.
So Ariel has made a new home in Wales, where people are continually amazed that she likes the weather and wonder how she could choose their country over California. And she, Douglas maintains, has brought with her a needed dose of American optimism — “Believe me, year-round rain is a wonderful thing” — as well as the idea of roasting broccoli instead of boiling it.
And I am getting ready to go back to Wales to see what new and interesting things are to be discovered in towns like Swyddffynnon and LLanfihangel-y-Creuddyn. I have learned from Ariel a new sentence, “Y Gwir yn erbyn y byd. A oes heddwch? ” I cannot yet pronounce it in a way that a Welsh person might recognize, but I believe it means: “The truth against the world. Is there peace?”
P.S. Margot Livesey’s newest novel, “The Road to Belhaven,” set on a Scottish farm in the 1800s, is another journey worth taking.
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Sasha Paulsen is a journalist and novelist who lives in Napa.
Today’s Polls:
Poem of the Day
“An Old Woman of the Roads”
by Padraic Colum
O, to have a little house!
To own the hearth and stool and all!
The heaped up sods against the fire,
The pile of turf against the wall!
To have a clock with weights and chains
And pendulum swinging up and down!
A dresser filled with shining delph,
Speckled and white and blue and brown!
I could be busy all the day
Clearing and sweeping hearth and floor,
And fixing on their shelf again
My white and blue and speckled store!
I could be quiet there at night
Beside the fire and by myself,
Sure of a bed and loth to leave
The ticking clock and the shining delph!
Och! but I'm weary of mist and dark,
And roads where there's never a house nor bush,
And tired I am of bog and road,
And the crying wind and the lonesome hush!
And I am praying to God on high,
And I am praying Him night and day,
For a little house - a house of my own
Out of the wind's and the rain's way.
About the author: Padraic Colum (1881–1972) was an Irish poet, novelist and dramatist, and an important figure of the Irish Literary Revival. Closely associated with the Abbey Theatre, he collaborated with literary luminaries such as W.B. Yeats and Lady Gregory. Colum emigrated to the United States in 1914, where he continued to write prolifically, gaining distinction in poetry, fiction and especially children’s literature.
“An Old Woman of the Roads,” first published in Colum’s 1907 collection “Wild Earth” is among his best-known lyric poems. Written in a simple, lyrical style inspired by folk ballads and oral traditions, it reflects a profound longing for home and belonging — central themes in Irish poetry of the early 20th century. Though voiced from the perspective of an itinerant woman, the poem speaks broadly to universal human yearnings for rootedness, comfort and identity.
Are you a poet, or do you have a favorite piece of verse you'd like to share? Napa Valley Features invites you to submit your poems for consideration in this series. Email your submissions to napavalleyfeatures@gmail.com with the subject line: "Poem of the Day Submission." Selected poets will receive a one-year paid subscription to Napa Valley Features (a $60 value). We can’t wait to hear from you.
Today’s Caption Contest
Pick your favorite caption or add your own in the comments below.
Possible Captions:
“Time to face my roots.”
“Every journey begins with a single nut.”
“Inheritance can be a tall order.”
“My, how you’ve grown since I last saw you.”
“When your family tree is a literal tree.”
Last week’s contest results
In “Kathleen Scavone on Nature, Nurture and a Life of Discovery,” the winning caption was “All right, who drifted out of orbit again?” with 40% of the votes.
“First on the agenda: Pluto, stop raising your hand.”
“All right, who drifted out of orbit again?”
“I know we’re all under a lot of gravitational pull right now.”
“If this turns into another flat-Earth debate, I’m out.”
“Let’s be honest — we just spin in circles until the sun stops talking.”
Last Week
Tim Carl examined the disconnect between hotel growth and job creation in Napa County in "Under the Hood: More Rooms Have Equaled Fewer Jobs in Napa County." Despite a 7.6% increase in hotel rooms since 2019, the county lost 200 leisure and hospitality jobs versus nearly 500 in restaurants and bars. The article outlined how larger, more efficient resorts with internalized services have reduced demand for independent businesses and local employment. Carl contrasted the recent decline with the prior decade’s trend, when job growth kept pace with room expansion. The data suggest a structural shift in how tourism affects Napa’s economy.
Kathleen Scavone reflected on a lifetime shaped by the natural world in "Nature and Nurture." Drawing on her Southern California childhood and decades as a teacher, Scavone described formative experiences with ocean life, space exploration and archaeological discovery that fostered her passion for science and education. She recounted her work with NASA’s Solar System Ambassadors program, classroom experiments involving moon rocks and space-flown seeds, and field studies in Lake County’s natural and historic landscapes. Her story highlighted how curiosity about nature inspired generations of students and continues to inform her writing and daily life.
Tim Carl reported on the ceremonial launch of Schramsberg’s 2025 harvest in "Sabering the Grapes — Schramsberg Marks a Milestone in Napa’s 2025 Harvest." The event featured the sabering of a sparkling wine bottle, a tradition adapted from Napoleonic times to bless the first bins of grapes. Hugh Davies, his family and longtime winery staff marked the moment on Diamond Mountain, celebrating continuity, teamwork and a promising cool-season harvest. The article highlighted Schramsberg’s deep roots, the evolving Napa wine market, and the winery’s ongoing focus on acidity and quality. The harvest began with optimism, reverence and a spray of foam
“Rupert” by Kathleen Scavone Kellie Kennedy and Charlotte Hajer examined how political uncertainty and funding cuts have intensified emotional challenges for students in "Keeping the Doors Open: Why Emotional Safety at School Matters More Than Ever." They described how marginalized youth often carry fear and instability into the classroom, especially in the face of shifting immigration policies and economic hardship. The authors noted that Mentis has reduced its school-based services by nearly 50% this year, increasing pressure on already overburdened school staff. They outlined low-cost, practical steps educators can take to create emotionally safe environments, such as affirming student identities and providing space for emotional check-ins. The article stressed the responsibility adults have to preserve school spaces of refuge and belonging.
Dan Berger explored shifts in wine style and consumer education in "Fine Wine’s Mediocratization." He argued that many California wines have strayed from their classic European models, favoring higher alcohol, sweetness and simplicity to appeal to a broad market. Using sauvignon blanc as a case study, Berger detailed how domestic examples often lack the grape’s traditional herbal character and aging potential, in contrast to wines from regions such as France’s Loire Valley. He contended that declining wine education and marketing pressures have fueled this trend, weakening the definition and accessibility of true fine wine.
Cindy Watter introduced readers to longtime UC Master Gardener Penny Pawl in "Make New Friends as a Master Gardener." Watter reflected on joining the program and unexpectedly finding community, with Pawl standing out for her passion for composting, propagation and pollinators. Pawl, who became a Master Gardener in 1997, has contributed extensively through workshops, writing and hands-on education, especially in sustainable practices. Her Napa garden is a hub of activity, from bonsai and butterfly habitats to a propagation hothouse. The piece also highlighted upcoming Master Gardener events and encouraged applications for the class of 2026.
Kathleen Scavone explored seasonal plant life and Indigenous knowledge in "On Nature, Nurture and a Life of Discovery." She profiled California native species—including wild roses, buckeye, tarweed and poison oak—highlighting their ecological roles, traditional uses by Indigenous communities and as early signs of autumn. Scavone explained how rose hips and tarweed seeds provided food and medicine, while buckeye seeds required extensive preparation due to their toxicity. The article also noted how these plants support pollinators, birds and wildlife, even those such as poison oak that humans avoid. Her observations illustrated fall’s quiet arrival through native flora in Napa County.
Answer + Explanation
B. Cullen Skink
Created in the Scottish town of Cullen, Cullen skink is a thick soup usually made with fragrant smoked haddock or another smoked fish, potatoes, onions and a creamy broth. It resembles an American chowder or French bisque but is smokier and heartier than either.
A, D and E are pure culinary fiction (for now).
C sounds plausible, but isn’t a known menu item in the United Kingdom.
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Delightful story, Sasha. Thank you! Congrats on having a new country and culture to explore. As a Grandma whose only grandchildren live in Brooklyn, NY, I've loved getting to know the East Coast during my visits to them. The only downside to this is that you won't be on call to visit or babysit your Grandkids at random times, should Ariel and Douglas decide to have children. In any case, start saving up those frequent flyer miles!
We are in a very small town in a very small county in California and we recently have a restaurant which serves Cubaños and offers humus and falafel. That is a big deal here! No special spices or sauces to be found!