ONE. ETERNITY. LATER.
I hope you read that in the exaggerated French accent from the narrator of SpongeBob. Cos that’s what I intended.
Last Newsletter (so long ago, oops) was laden with observations and learnings from my foray into, and growing enthusiasm for, yeasted doughs. I’m happy to report that my enthusiasm has not waned and I am still running my micro bakery simulation whenever I can, though life doesn’t always allow because I’m an “adult” with “responsibilities”.
I’ve been in a bit of a cycle of wanting to write this newsletter and then inevitably pushing it aside for ~other things~. What those ~other things~ are, I can’t quite remember. It got to the point where I found myself questioning whether the internet needed another newsletter, more content, more food-related thoughts and fodder – coupled with the feelings of impending doom (which, somehow feels, er, not dramatic/exaggerated). Year 3 of living in a pandemic, too much languishing (imagine arms flailing trying to capture all of this). But here I am because you can’t take yourself too seriously and how good is it to share (most of the time, anyway)? Plus, I must confess.. I started writing this post many months ago so some of the lists may have a May 2022 feel to it, and the latter may feel more September 2022 (welcome to Virgo season to all who celebrate).
OK, so this is my clumsy attempt to get back into sharing – first off, sharing the things that have kept my brain and hands busy in the in-between times. This is a compilation of all the good things people are creating and sharing whilst I’ve been doing ~other things~, the newsletter equivalent of an Instagram ‘photo dump’, so that next time we catch up, we can recapture some of that hyperactive, energiser bunny energy I seemed to have in earlier posts (who is she?).
Hello and thank you for being here.
Things to read on the internet:
For a weekly deep dive into baking, the queen, Nicola Lamb at Kitchen Projects. Her lemon ricotta and butter cake was a favourite amongst work colleagues, and 10/10 have made it, and will continue to make it again. I have tried, in earnest, to keep up with all the projects, but the wheels came off after project 23, the spring onion babka. On occasion, I have dipped in to give a KP+ project a go, the bonus newsletter for paid subscribers that I think is worth investing in because Nicola is so generous across both free and paid (and sometimes you just want to give credit where credit is due).
Sonya Gee, ABC Everyday editor and fellow recipe collector, has a wonderful monthly newsletter, To All The Recipes I’ve Loved Before where she shares all her favourite internet recipes over the past month. Sometimes I think she is my recipe twin as she cooks and admires so many things I’ve cooked and bookmarked during the month. I always find something fun to click on through her monthly musings. She invited me to contribute my favourite internet recipe in her January edition too!
Rebecca May Johnson has given Dinner Document (old blog) a new platform over on Substack. I love that her entries come in both written and audio form. I have been stalking my local bookstores for her first book, Small Fires, but I may have to concede and order it online.
Ella Risbridger’s You Get in Love and Then You Die is a place for all her writing where there doesn’t seem to be another suitable platform or place. Her second cooking/memoir, A Year of Miracles, is a book I’ve been savouring page by page. If you haven’t experienced the joy that is Midnight Chicken (her first book) then I hope you have the chance real soon.
Soy Sauce, Sugar, Mirin is a delightful read, and is the title for the book and the newsletter from Harvard Wang, someone whom I enjoy having an occasional yarn with, and genuinely enjoy reading his take on life and food. We even had a yarn about being fake/real (food) writers.
Things to listen to:
Lee Tran Lam’s Crunch Time Patreon and podcast is a weekly dive into everything Lee Tran has been reading, writing and eating. The accompanying newsletter comes with links referenced throughout her podcast - a lot of great treasures including Gastro Obscura articles I’ve glanced over or a notification of a new Lecker podcast. 10/10, do recommend.
The BBC have a couple of fun shows across their podcast offering(?) that I look forward to including BBC radio’s The Food Programme and BBC World Service’s Food Chain.
David Chang and Chris Ying’s streams of consciousness via The Dave Chang Show is a seemingly endless source of content. Much to Dave’s dismay, season 2 of Recipe Club exists and is available for your food entertainment needs.
BBC Radio 4’s You’re Dead To Me is for anyone and everyone who loves history and maybe didn’t have the opportunity to go deep-diving during school/college. This is edutainment(?) comedy podcast that makes learning and absorbing history lessons lighthearted and fun.
Sophie Hansen and Germaine Leece have released season 2 of their brilliant podcast and Substack, Something to Eat and Something to Read, and I’ve been heavily influenced. I feel like I’m ahead this season with the reading list (see book recs in the section below) – and adding to my to-read list as I listen along. I highly recommend this to anyone who craves literature that contains food references and accompanying recipes. A well-curated and thoughtful podcast that I look forward to.
Actual physical books to read (aka collect):
My Nana, Maryse, gifted me Lessons In Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus, and I flew through it. Nana described it as a lot of fun, and I couldn’t agree more. I can’t believe this is Bonnie’s first book too.
The Man Who Died Twice by Richard Osman – so fun, especially if you enjoyed the first book in The Thursday Murder Club series. Who doesn’t want to be solving murder mysteries with their retirement village friends?
Raised by Wolves by Jess Ho is described as “is a fierce, funny and razor-sharp coming of age story” – and you’ll get exactly that. I love Jess’ ferocity and am keen to catch up on their earlier writing after finishing their book.
Tin Man and Still Life from Sarah Winman (both recommendations from Season 1 of Something to Eat and Something to Read) – I adored both books and Still Life lives inside my head and my heart to this day. I echo the sentiment that reviewers left on Goodreads and was devastated that this book ended (though I try to avoid the review section so it doesn’t influence going into and coming out of a book world). I love how much warmth and generosity Sarah Winman injects into the friendships she writes about in her books.
I’m currently sitting at 19 out of 25 books read for my 2022 Goodreads reading challenge. I figured if I’m not writing, I could be reading – a good excuse for my absence, no?
I’m currently reading Mr Wigg by Inga Simpson – a thoughtful recommendation from my thoughtful partner. Sophie and Germaine, if you’re reading this – I think this would make for a good book prescription.
Shows to watch:
I’m on The Bear bandwagon – my heart was beating a million miles an hour as I binged through the entire season in one sitting (oops, lol) and though my experience in hospitality was nowhere near as intense, I couldn’t help but romanticise and wish myself back in a commercial kitchen. And yes, of course, I googled where to get my hands on The Jacket.
A friend and colleague recommended Only Murders In The Building after hearing me enthusiastically recount how much I enjoyed The Man Who Died Twice. This show stars Martin Short, Steve Martin and Selena Gomez who start a real-crime podcast following a murder in their NYC apartment building. For fans of The Thursday Murder Club (and anyone with a Disney+ streaming account which you may as well get to watch The Bear).
That’s it from me! Wish me luck as I try and get back to some kind of writing regularity. See you soon. I hope, fingers crossed, burn some Palo Santo, good vibes only. How chaotic is this send-off? What did you expect?
So good to see you back in my inbox, Diem! Look forward to the next one