#225: a bite of nostalgia 🍲
Hello,
I’ve been a little all over the place of late, hence the lack of a newsletter for the past two weeks. Slowly, things are looking up, and the clouds seem to be passing. I’ll be in the mountains soon, and a sense of homecoming/hope is lingering.
But I’ve been a little lost, and missing ‘home home’ (Calcutta) and my Mum’s cooking, particularly her chilli garlic noodles. Speaking of food, this newsletter feels a little special because today, I’m going to make you read some delicious food poems, look at some drool-evoking art, and listen to some cooking music.
Poetry Corner
1. Baked Goods by Aimee Nezhukumatathil (Excerpt)
I want our summers
to always be like this—a kitchen wrecked
with love, a table overflowing with baked goods
warming the already warm air. After all the pots
are stacked, the goodies cooled, and all the counters
wiped clean—let us never be rescued from this mess.
Read the full poem here.
2. Indian Cooking by Moniza Alvi
The bottom of the pan was a palette–
paprika, cayenne, dhania
haldi, heaped like powder-paints.
Melted ghee made lakes, golden rivers.
The keema frying, my mother waited
for the fat to bubble to the surface.
Friends bought silver-leaf.
I dropped it on khir–
special rice pudding for parties.
I tasted the landscape, customs
of my father’s country–
its fever on biting a chilli.
3. A Recipe For a Day by Amos Russel Wells
Take a little dash of water cold,
And a little leaven of prayer,
And a little bit of morning gold
Dissolved in the morning air.
Add to your meal some merriment,
And a thought for kith and kin;
And then, as your prime ingredient,
A plenty of work throw in.
But spice it all with the essence of love
And a little whiff of play;
Let a wise old Book and a glance above
Complete the well-made day.
4. Da Capo by Jane Hirshfield
Take the used-up heart like a pebble
and throw it far out.
Soon there is nothing left.
Soon the last ripple exhausts itself
in the weeds.
Returning home, slice carrots, onions, celery.
Glaze them in oil before adding
the lentils, water, and herbs.
Then the roasted chestnuts, a little pepper, the salt.
Finish with goat cheese and parsley. Eat.
You may do this, I tell you, it is permitted.
Begin again the story of your life.
5. Chocolate Milk by Ron Padgett
Oh God! It’s great!
to have someone fix you
chocolate milk
and to appreciate their doing it!
Even as they stir it
in the kitchen
your mouth is going crazy
for the chocolate milk!
The wonderful chocolate milk!
Listening Room
Drinkify: Find out what you should drink, based on what music you listen to
Music to cook by. Such a wholesome playlist.
A Dinner Party Playlist: A dinner party playlist with something to whet everyone's appetite. My favorite from the playlist:
Food Lit
A Table For One (The Soup)
“Remembering people’s favourite dishes and taste preferences is how we convey that we care.” -Food of Love
Food x Art
That’s all for now. See you all next week from green and chilly Himachal Pradesh.
Dreaming of all the siddu and Maggi I’ll be eating. Mmm.
Wishing you sweet, soft dreams,
Rohini