Stuff we consumed #01
Things we ate, read, or otherwise took in that brought us joy
Bluets, Maggie Nelson
Elaneer Payasam at Semma
open this wall, Berlioz
Javits Center green roof
Tomatoes
Bluets, Maggie Nelson
A meditation on the color blue. Nelson interweaves personal narrative and philosophy into a series of 240 vignettes that explore love, loss, and longing. Using blue as a central theme of examination, she blends poetry and essay to craft an intimate reflection on art and the human experience.
I read this in mostly one sitting laying on a bench in Greenwich Park, the following passage striking inspiration for this email:
220. Imagine someone saying, “Our fundamental situation is joyful.” Now imagine believing it.
221. Or forget belief: imagine feeling, even if for a moment that it were true
Bluets, Maggie Nelson at Greenwich Park, London. Early July 2024
Elaneer Payasam at Semma
I always have mixed experiences eating Indian food outside of the house. My parents are fantastic cooks, so most of the time I’m met with slight displeasure and resonant confidence that “mom could’ve made it better” whenever I eat at a South Asian restaurant.
Semma was probably one of the few times where I felt like I was eating at home (highest praise). Chef Kumar’s food was unapologetic. It didn’t yield an inch to “be more inviting” to palates unaccustomed to South Indian cuisine. And in doing so, brings an authentic, enriching experience that helps actually showcase the food we grew up eating.
I dream about this elaneer payasam, which is a chilled dessert made from tender coconut and topped with fried cashews and raisins.
Elaneer payasam at Semma in New York. Mid July 2024
open this wall, Berlioz
Berlioz is a pretty fantastic jazz-house artist who just debuted his album open this wall. He does a great job of pushing the boundaries of jazz and blues while still being comforting and palatable for older-school jazz lovers. jocelyn’s dance our favorite.
Javits Center green roof
The Javits Center used to be one of the most bird-unfriendly buildings in New York, responsible for a large share of the 230K bird collision deaths a year.
Since 2014, they’ve built out a ~7 acre green roof that’s a wildlife sanctuary for dozens of bird species. They also have a 1 acre farm that grows over 50 crops, an orchard, shade garden, rainwater irrigation system, and an apiary that collects ~100 lbs of honey a year.
It’s pretty cool to be standing on a farm on top of a skyscraper. You can tour their green roof here!
Javits Center green roof, New York. Early May 2024
Tomatoes
I have a friend who eats tomatoes like apples. I’ve eaten a lot of Roma tomatoes, which are…fine, so I never understood it.
But good tomatoes, the ~heirloom varieties~ that you find at the farmers market, are fantastic. Sliced thin with a bit of salt, olive oil and basil and I found heaven.
Yellow heirloom and peach carpaccio with basil vinaigrette. New York, Late May 2024
We’re not the only one who feel this way…Pablo Neruda wrote a poem about it
The street
filled with tomatoes,
midday,
summer,
light is
halved
like
a
tomato,
its juice
runs
through the streets.
