This is the time of year when every office has a pot luck, it seems. It's a nice opportunity to relax together and share food and recipes and reminisce about people we haven't seen in a long time (like Batty and Ann).

Here in Los Angeles we are the crossroads of the world, in language and in food. Just today we had Portuguese food, Filipino sweets, Italian pasta, Polish pastries and root beer floats for our impromptu office lunch. I don't know what started it, but somebody brought something to share in the morning and by the time the lunch hour rolled around we had a regular feast.

Tomorrow is our traditional potluck. I'll bring chicken baked the way my Swedish great-grandmother used to make it and German pfeffernusse cookies. Anita will contribute something Mexican and delicious (tamales, I hope). One clerk will bring greens and sweet potato pie. And I'm sure other stuff will show up.

Oh, yes, and I'm baking bread tonight, too.