Welcome to this edition of Dimanche (That Means Sunday), a roundup of things that caught my eye this past week.

I had a busy week followed by one of the best weekends I’ve enjoyed on record. On Saturday, I drove out to Potosi, Missouri to attend a Home Grown Farm Tour and Fête for Feast Magazine. I enjoyed exploring the country and getting to know the farmers and chefs who live and work in the region.

Something I noticed when I was talking to farmers, chefs, and even locals was the pride they take in their home. Most of the people I talked to are involved with agriculture and they work hard to produce vegetables, fruit, and livestock.

One farmer, David Ybarra of Forshana Farm, said something that really resonated with me. He told me last night at a farm field dinner that we’ve gotten too far away from community, and that it’s important to use food, namely local food, to bring people together. I couldn’t agree more.

It’s such a simple thing but so satisfying to see a community rally together around food. It’s something to think about as I keep covering Midwest food and meet more farmers and artisans who are working to make local products.

Without further ado, here is Dimanche:

I can’t stop thinking about a story I read earlier this week about an Indian tribe struggling to gain recognition from the federal government. The Lumbee tribe in North Carolina wants government benefits but doesn’t get them because they’re not recognized as Native American. This article in The Washington Post documents their ordeal and the uphill battle they face in trying to get lawmakers to grant them benefits.

I’m loving this interactive map of France. Campus France released it recently. You can hover over different regions of the country and see the main cities and a little information about them. Honestly, it’s nothing I didn’t know already but I miss France and so staring at a map makes me feel a little better.

Have you ever heard of amezaiku? I hadn’t until earlier this week when I saw this story in The New York Times. It highlights a centuries-old Japanese confectionary art that involves making delicate shapes out of extremely hot sugar syrup. It’s crazy to think that only a few people still know how to do this in Japan.

As I mentioned before, I spent a little time in Washington County, Missouri yesterday. One of my favorite destinations was the Old Village Mercantile in Caledonia, a small town near Potosi. My inner child went CRAZY. Yours would too if you saw this place, which is filled with every kind of candy you can imagine and ice cream.

I think I need to take another trip to Québec soon. I just read about Île d’Orléans, a small island near Québec City that’s supposed to be a food lover’s dream. Since I was just in Canada a few months ago, I might hold off on the trip for now. But after reading about the island’s food and fresh produce in this AFAR story, I probably won’t stay away for long.

Speaking of good food, I tried Frankly Sausages for the first time this week and I was blown away. I got an all-beef frank with grain mustard, smoky catsup, and relish from the food truck outside work and it was honestly the best thing I ate all week. I wanted to eat another frank after I finished the first one.

Last but certainly not least, I’m so glad I got to attend the Home Grown Farm Tour yesterday. The highlight was the field dinner at the end, which took place on Edg Clif Farms and Vineyard’s beautiful property in Potosi. The meal was made almost entirely with local ingredients. Stay tuned for my Feast Magazine story with more details about the tour.

Enjoy your week! Here’s a song to get you started.