Dat Candy: What I'm looking forward to this year.


Dear Food52 Community, I always love the beginning of the year at Food52 because it means we’ve survived the mad holiday crush, and can now dream up new ideas and get going on them!

A few such ideas that are in motion:

Each month, we’ll be leaning into one topic and giving you everything you need to explore on your own—whether that’s through recipes, techniques, culture stories, cookware, or how-to videos. February’s topic? Soup. Plus, don't miss our January guide dedicated to all things baking.
And to go with all the soup recipes, our latest collection of handmade soup bowls just dropped.
We posted a role for a Community Editor, dedicated to all of you, who will be running our recipe contests, heading up our Holiday Swap, collaborating with you on our Five Two products, and much more. Know someone great? Send ‘em our way.
We’re working with Eat the Culture again this year to honor Black History Month with a virtual potluck featuring Black food creators.
Our Food Editor Emily Ziemski just launched a new recipe column called Plus One, highlighting dishes with small-but-mighty additions—like the sauce in Brown Butter-Maple Romesco With Charred Scallions.
We’re heads down planning the next collection of Dansk products, which will debut in November (we hope). Hint: involves cast iron and candles.

A follow-up from my last note:

I asked you for ebike recommendations and wanted to report back on your top two picks – in case you, too, are in the market for one.
Gazelle Bikes \| Justine said: “It’s an excellent city commuting bike. It’s so smooth and comfortable that even in terrible weather, I still find myself choosing to bike!” Specialized Bikes

What I’m reading and listening to:

Essays One by Lydia Davis, which is all about writing. I’ve spent much of my career as a writer, but have never read a book on writing. Whoops! Cleopatra by Stacy Schiff on audiobook.

Product our team is obsessed with:

Scyavuru’s Sicilian Salty Pistachio Spread (cue the ricotta toast). Seb, our buyer who found it, uses it to make a pistachio cappuccino!

I didn’t make any resolutions for 2023, so I’m keeping a metaphor firmly in mind.

Over the holidays, we drove Route 1 from Santa Barbara to San Francisco during the first atmospheric river in California’s recent series. At one point in the journey, this large tree had just fallen across the road. As we slowed to a stop, a man hopped out of the white pickup truck in front of us, dug around in the back, and emerged with a chainsaw. Then this Good Samaritan went and cut off enough branches for our two cars to pass. There have been lots of trees in the road these past few years—let’s use what tools we’ve got to clear paths for each other and move forward.

Did I mention I’ll be writing you more often? See you again in 2 weeks! Yours, in path clearing,

Amanda Hesser Co-Founder & Co-CEO

Friday, February 10, 2023