Monday Memos // 74

Listening:

"For You" by Elephant Parade.

"Sleep Till They Die" by La Luz.

(Courtesy deejay DQ)

Reading:

Shameless self promotion — This Cinnamon Raisin Bread Did More for My Love Life Than Tinder.

That tousled hair really does make one feel a certain way — Timothée Chalamet Made Me Do It.

Comfort Foods for Discomfiting Times — Chicken Pot Pie "Make one the size of a baby elephant, crawl inside, and shelter in place until science makes a comeback."

By Olivia de Recat via the New Yorker

I love this image. I ate several slices post photo shoot. (photo by Alex Lau and styling by Emily Eisen)

Craving:

This week was a serious carbohydrate extravaganza. I ate so many of the most delicious things. 

On Wednesday, there was a catered work lunch by Gordon Savory and The Good Batch bakery. I ate half of a roasted chicken caesar sandwich (roasted chicken, caesar dressing, parmesan, bread crumbs, aioli, seeded polenta bread), half of a warm burrata sandwich (burrata, roasted winter squash, parmesan, basil, pickled chili, toasted sourdough focaccia), some sweet and sour Brussel sprouts, and some seasonal farro salad. Wow. It was all delightful. Plus, I sampled the Chocolate Impossible Cookie (almond flour, gluten-free flour, cocoa powder, loaded with dark chocolate chips and chunks), the Sophisticate Cookie (oats, currants, pistachios and dark chocolate), and an oat strudel jam bar. I stopped myself from sampling the array of cookie ice cream sandwiches, but I know I'll have to go visit both shops in the future. 

I also got to experience the sheer joy and option overload of Café Altro Paradiso’s second-annual Bake Sale to Benefit Planned Parenthood. From what I can recall from the pastry blackout: a savory ricotta onion scone from Reynard Restaurant, an apple galette from Poppy's, one of Alison Roman's salty chocolate chunk shortbread cookies, a fudgy coconut brownie from the Smile, a walnut raisin sourdough loaf from Sullivan Street Bakery, a fig and smoked white chocolate oatmeal cookie from Otway, a peanut butter and jelly and a chocolate chip cardamon cookie from I don't remember, a sweet potato sourdough roll from Hemlock, a corn cookie from City House Nashville, and wow wow wow. Are you disturbed or jealous or both?

The decor of Cafe Altro Paradiso is lovely and I want to go back for a meal. I saw Dorie Greenspan there. It was baker foodie heaven. (image via Nick Solares)

Wearing:

My favorite things I wore this week: a cropped paisley button up, tan Sven clogs, red ankle boots with gold studs, sparkle socks, a denim jacket and my X and O earrings. Golden sparkles is a good theme.

I now want all the Carhartt Work In Progress clothes, particularly the teal and rose and dusty blue jackets and pants.

Watching:

Movies: A Quiet Place. Terrifying, endearing, and captivating. John Krasinski should feel proud. "a nerve-shredder. It’s a movie designed to make you an active participant in a game of tension, not just a passive observer in an unfolding horror." — R.E.

Also watched 6 Balloons. "Over the course of one night, a woman drives across Los Angeles with her brother, who is addicted to heroin, in search of a detox center." It had so many people I admire and enjoy on screen (Abbi Jacobson, Dave Franco, Jane Kaczmarek), but I didn't love it. It felt like it was missing something.

TV: Watched Barry. Satisfied and entertained, though not the same anticipatory nature as other HBO hits like Westworld or Insecure. 

Saw two more episodes of The Characters on Netflix starring John Early and Kate Berlant. Riveting and emotional and embarrassing aka HIGHLY recommend. It's fun to see how various comedians take the open-ended constraint of 30 minutes to do and play whatever they want. 

“Vicky With A V.” Also, fact: John Early officiated Amy Schumer’s wedding as Vicky. (image via Netflix)

Treasuring:

Writing words: I felt so excited to put out some personal words for Bon Appetit's Healthyish aside from simply writing about sales and gadgets. My coworkers had really nice things to say. I feel like I am inching toward getting good at this. Now I just need to get back to more journaling too — though I think that is roughly what this has become. 

My continual thought: WWDSD? David Sedaris in his Raleigh, North Carolina apartment in 1980. (Photo by Jeffrey Jenkins via the New Yorker)

Monday Memos // 38

Listening:

"Rican Beach" by Hurray For the Riff Raff. (Found this via Kate Miss and her always enviable music mixes.)

"Mississippi" by The Cactus Blossoms. (Heard this on a new Twin Peaks episode.)

"Moses of the South" by Colour Revolt. (Discovered this through a favorite music recommender.)

Reading:

The Writing Process. This is perfect. 

I want to see the movie "The Big Sick." Here's a story behind the story.

I want to read this children's book: "What Are We Even Doing With Our Lives?: The Most Honest Children's Book of All Time." 

From "What Are We Even Doing With Our Lives?" (via amazon)

Craving:

Chocolate chip studded stuff. 

Last week I made mixed nut butter chocolate chip cookies (adapted from this recipe) and chocolate chip banana bread bites. In total, I think I ate 26 of the 30 baked goods. Delicious, and actually fairly nutritious. I need to go make more; I'm thinking chocolate chip zucchini something.

I love chocolate chip cookies, truly. (image via acozykitchen)

Wearing:

I put on many things last week I've never worn or only worn on occasion. It was nice. Refresh!

Top picks: a shiny skirt, an off-the-shoulder striped dress, and thick canvas tank top. 

Cher is always in my thoughts when it comes to dressing. (image via paramount pictures)

Watching:

Dave Chappelle's Netflix special "The Age of Spin." Brilliant.

"The Wedding Singer." Killer soundtrack and terribly wonderful outfits. 

Julia Gulia. (image via the movie review)

Wanting:

"Salad for President: A Cookbook Inspired by Artists." By Julia Sherman.

The creator of the immensely popular Salad for President blog presents a visually rich collection of more than 75 salad recipes, with contributions and interviews by artists/creative professionals like William Wegman, Tauba Auerbach, Laurie Anderson, and Alice Waters.

This book looks beautiful and delicious. I want to be like Julia Sherman.

You had me at Heirloom Tomatoes with Crunchy Polenta Croutons. (via amazon)

Monday Memos // 32

(Mondays have been bustling lately. Last week, in particular, I started this draft, thought I'd finish it up in the late afternoon, and then showed up at my own surprise party! It was the most encouraging experience and my heart swells just thinking about it.)

Listening:

My listening lately is like two sides of one coin. The breakup anthems of Dave Longstreth and Amber Coffman. 

"Keep Your Name" by Dirty Projectors. 

"All to Myself" by Amber Coffman.

Plus, I've been putting on Chet Baker often. It soothes me. 

Reading:

"Scratch: Writers, Money, and the Art of Making a Living." Edited by Manjula Martin.

I was wandering Manhattan today when the sky opened up. But it was an ideal moment, because I rounded the corner and there was The Strand! Eighteen miles of books kept me out of the bit of rain.

I picked up some really fabulous postcards and then stumbled on this book. Perfect timing. I hope it gives me a little insight or inspiration or at least a few laughs. 

Can you tell I'm having an existential panic about what to do with my life? (Image by Maddie Edgar via Slate)

Craving:

Vegetables and sweets!

This is pretty much my lifelong craving and pattern of eating. I want delicious veggie-laden dishes and then I want chocolate cake and chocolate chip cookies and then I want some kind of greenery and then I want some treats again. 

Let's just go through a smattering of favorite items this week: 

A savory crepe filled with herb roasted mushrooms, spinach, walnuts, cashew cheese and topped with tahini basil sauce; a kale caesar salad with shitake bacon, avocado, almond parm and maple-wheat croutons (omg those sweet and salty croutons!); and some roasted garlicky broccoli. 

By Chloe was really fun and delicious. Plus, the location is home to some Beat poet memories. (image by Krista Schlueter via The New York Times)

As for the sweets: A slice of key lime pie with coconut crust; a massive piece of chocolate cake with white frosting (buttercream? cream cheese? heaven?); and a tiny little brownie stuffed blondie that I could've had several more of. 

Thiebaud paints my dreams. ("Pies, Pies, Pies" by Wayne Thiebaud.)

Wearing:

Nothing and everything.

I spent the beginning of last week in 90 degree Florida weather. I was sweating through tees and avoiding sleeves. So it was small pieces of clothing or breezy shirts and dresses. 

The end of the week brought me to New York, where it was 60 degrees, then 50 degrees, plus many moments of intense wind and downpours. I'm in my snowboarding jacket or my pink faux fur, plus undershirts and socks. I'm going through an array of dressing. 

Pro tips. (Cartoon by Liza Donnelly.)

Watching:

"The Handmaid's Tale."

I was counting down for this and as someone who really loves the book, I was a little nervous for the tv interpretation. Alas, it's beautiful and harsh and well done! Elisabeth Moss is divine and I cannot wait to keep watching. 

The colors are superb. (image via Hulu)

Wanting:

All of my favorite people to exist in the same city or at least an hour commute away. Or a teleportation device. 

Look how great and glittery teleportation is. (via Star Trek)