Friday, January 19, 2024

Grocery store perfection, California travel tips, and the Wheel of Life.

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Hey there, it's Amanda
Wheel of Life Assessment
Hi All,
Hope 2024 is off to a blazing start for you. I don't do resolutions, which means I've been eating meat, guzzling coffee, and drinking more beer than ever! Instead, my husband and I do something called the Wheel of Life. You can read about it here or write to me (amanda@food52.com) and I will flood you with enthusiastic detail on the matter.
You can always write to me with feedback or food questions or whatever's on your mind. But what we'd really love for you to do is fill out this list of burning questions we have for you about Food52. We want to know what you're loving, what you're hating, and what you'd like to see from us.
Groundhog Day
You may remember that last holiday season my family drove up Rt. 1 on the California coast from Ojai to San Francisco, a trek that coincided with the atmospheric river. We saw nothing but a few seals and a blanket of fog that hugged the road.
This year, we decided to do it in reverse, all the way to Joshua Tree. Alas, Rt. 1 was closed for some of its prettiest portions, due to last year's weather and mudslides. California, you deny us your beauty! But we ate well. Some tips:
  • Palace Market (Point Reyes): This may be the world's best grocery store (after Kalustyan's in NYC and Sunshine Foods in St. Helena)—a place that carries both Oreos and Diaspora spices. Don't miss Monk Estate, down the street, for ceramics, books, and vintage jewelry; or Point Reyes Books, a cozy collection of new and used books.
  • Tacos La Potranca de Jalisco (King City): Great tacos, no frills.
  • Nella Kitchen & Bar (Los Olivos): The restaurant is set in a relaxed, roomy inn in the middle of wine country. Have one of their pinsas, essentially a pizza with a bubbly, focaccia-like dough.
  • The Dutchess (Ojai): Pastries and coffee by morning, Burmese and California cooking by evening. Put the chickpea fritters and crispy rice salad on your list!
Toum 1
Toum 2
At our last stop, in Joshua Tree, we had dinner at the home of a former Food52 team member. Coral Lee, who used to produce our podcasts, now lives in Yucca Valley with her partner Trevor and dachshund Karen. She made us roast chicken and potatoes with toum (a Lebanese garlic sauce); a blood orange salad by David Tanis; and olive oil cake served with Meyer Lemon ice cream from their new company Nice Dream Ices (sold at the Joshua Tree Farmers Market on Saturdays). A nice, dreamy end to our California adventure.
Now I'm back on the brrrr East Coast, Food52-ing! Don't forget to fill out our questionnaire–we're really eager to hear from you.
Amanda Hesser
Amanda Hesser
Founder & Executive Chair
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Weekend brunch recipes to make in your PJs.

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