A Taste Of Honey

A few years ago, a music magazine made a list of the food references in Van Morrison songs. It included barmbracks, Wagon Wheels and Snowballs. Plus mussels, potted herrings, pastie supers, Paris buns and lemonade. I think it also included jelly roll and moonshine whiskey. And all the tea in China.

But there's no more appetizing reference than 'Tupelo Honey', the title track from his 1971 album. Dusty Springfield recorded a very lovely version of the song, but the Van rendition is probably tops. I could try to explain the beautiful import of the song, but you might be better served by looking up the relevant section of the Greil Marcus book, 'Listening To Van Morrison'.

Anyway, I was in London recently and a business acquaintance took me to a restaurant on Parkway, London. It was a pleasant gaff, perhaps not the greatest ever, but it was called 'Tupelo Honey' and therefore I was perfectly satisfied.