April & May Delights
Rolling the glorious spring months together
Hello dear readers, can you believe it is nearly June? April and May felt like warm sand slipping through my fingers. Desperate to savour the energy that comes with more sunlight, I bit off more than I could chew. I have taken on a laundry list of home improvements that have dominated my time and focus. In addition to painting the whole apartment, redesigning the layout, and swapping furniture on Facebook Marketplace, I have also been gloriously busy in the garden. We have a substantial roof terrace where I have been learning by trial and error over the past few years. This year, I invested in new containers and tried to design a plan that will serve as a template for years to come. The miracle of a garden is such a thrill; it’s hard to describe the elevation from watching a bleeding heart emerge from the ground and blossom over the course of weeks. As the snap peas climb the trellis, I patiently wait for the first tomatoes to ripen. The optimism of spring seduces us into planting seeds with a vision of hope for a fruitful summer. After a month of planting seeds, I am back with a round-up of things that have tickled my senses this spring.
See (& read)
Ione Skye's “Say Anything”
is a fully addictive memoir that offers a fascinating peek into the world of a borderline nepo baby. When I first started kissing boys, I kept a list of their names in my diary. Unlike mine, Ione’s would list Keanu Reeves, Flea, John Cusack & Anthony Kiedis. Set in Hollywood during the 1980s and 1990s, you’re given a front-row seat into the early careers and lives of actors, models, and musicians as they embark on their rise to fame. Despite the glamour, you also witness the emotionally jarring consequences of finding love a little too soon. If you fancy a sneak peek, I enjoyed Ione’s interview on How Long Gone.
8½ at Film Forum
I have been overwhelmed by decisions lately, from choosing paint colors to planning a vacation. The number of decisions I make for work sometimes takes over my personal life, leaving me in limbo. My husband sympathized with my affliction and suggested we see Fellini’s 8½, currently on view at Film Forum on 35mm film from the original camera negative. The film follows a director as he dodges a barrage of inquiries about his new film. I was particularly taken by the park scenes where they sat on these comically large curved benches with scooping backs that (I assume) provide shade.
Sniff
Tart Vinegar
I have been trying to practice three dry days a week. In place of wine, I enjoy a simple mocktail composed of vinegar and seltzer. This justifies my rather indulgent collection of artisanal vinegars. I recently finished a bottle of Tart’s Golden, and I am now on to a bottle of her True Romance. $30 for a bottle of vinegar may sound steep, but when you think of it as a bottle of wine that can last 2 weeks, then, according to girl math, it is actually a sound investment.
La Soeur Cadette Bourgogne Blanc
The best way to reward my run of dry days is to stop by Dandelion Wine for their weekly Thursday tasting. The more I participate in the tastings, the more empowered I feel to select a great bottle. I also find learning about small producers and how they innovate in a historic region fascinating. One standout bottle that grabbed me is La Soeur Cadette Bourgogne Blanc. I seldom order or opt for a Chardonnay, but I am always delighted to find one that offers a little tart citrus instead of the pervasive butter and oak.
Feel
The Beard of the Iris
I can’t pick favorites from the flower kingdom, but an Iris makes it in the top 10. Among the best flowers to pet, the beard of an Iris is up there.
Taste
For anyone living in Hardiness Zones 4–7, spring is mostly an illusion, one we fake by buying tulips at the bodega, wearing the jacket that works for two weeks a year and using frozen peas (and liking it! Frozen peas are great). -Allison Roman
As Allison Roman recently noted, we have hit the season of craving farm-fresh produce, but the actual number of veggies in season is quite limited. Ottolenghi’s recipe celebrates the arrival of fresh basil but leans on frozen peas to scratch the irresistible itch for fresh summer pasta salads. I have been using Brami’s Curly Macaroni for a little protein boost. The addition of lupini bean flour does not compromise the texture; in fact, I think it might even enhance the bite for me.
Achilles Heel’s Spring Menu
It had been some time since we dined at Greenpoint’s local gem, Achilles Heel. After a long day of painting my ceiling, we snagged a last-minute reservation for dinner. The spring menu was perfectly dialed in, famous for only a few dishes on offer; each one was a perfect 10. A celebration of spring ingredients, including butter beans with ramp pesto, snap pea Panzanella, and the most decadent flourless chocolate cake, topped with an amaro whipped cream.
Nama Chocolate Matcha
Just the other day, we had a friend over for dinner only hours after landing from Japan. Our friend spoiled us with special treats, including this chocolate matcha. The texture is soft like fudge, but the sweetness is just enough to round out the concentrated taste of floral matcha.
Listen
On the days when spring sinks into a cloudy lull, I have been listening to Fiona Apple’s 1999 Album, When the Pawn… It’s a nostalgic slap of teenage angst; at this age, I find it’s become a novel area of the heart to tap back into.
Thank you for stopping by and for your patience while I chip away at my home improvements. Please stay tuned for my upcoming travel guides for Lisbon, the Algarve, and Bucks County. If you haven’t already tap the subscribe button 🤍