January 7, 2021

In case anyone missed what’s been going on in the world, Norway’s Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway broke her tailbone on a holiday ski trip. Just keeping you all informed on the important stuff.

Really, that’s as lighthearted as I can be about yesterday’s disturbing news. While watching everything unfold, I kept thinking, “I wonder what the rest of the world thinks of us right now?” The US doesn’t exist in a global vacuum, after all. So I asked some of my friends and family in other countries to share their own perspectives on things.

It just occurred to me that most of this week’s “mentions” are food-related. (Not that anyone’s stress-eating or anything!)

1.

I really miss bars. And yesterday would have been a perfect instance for tucking into my favorite local to lose myself in the white noise of music and background banter, while having my own conversations with staff and other regulars—and probably some new faces, too. (Faces! I miss those, also!) That’s what inevitably happens, and as this recent Grub Street piece points out, it’s those social interactions, however on-the-surface, that are just as beneficial to our emotional and psychological well-being as the deeper ones.

2.

For an hour or two, I really thought I had ingeniously come up with a marvelous new way to enjoy tahini: whipped and spreadable on just about everything. Then, the internet told me otherwise. Still! Whip it, and whip it good. I’d also suggest trying this recipe without adding any garlic, for a less-bracing breakfast alternative: smeared on toast with a drizzle of honey and some coarse salt.

3.

Sometimes I wonder what it would be like if my mom and I had a podcast, in which we invited famous musicians and friends over for supper and conversation. Then I remember that a) my mom doesn’t really cook; b) no one’s really coming around these days thanks to Covid, especially not any of our famous friends; and c) Jessie Ware and her mum Lennie are already way ahead of us. And I’m thrilled because it means there’s a whole slew of past episodes to get through. Favorites so far: Dolly Parton, which made me grin from ear to ear, and Kylie Minogue, who’s kind of a sweet goof!

4.

Lately, skin products with strong, perfume-like scents have been on the decline in favor of more natural-smelling options, even if those aromas aren’t always the most pleasant. (The psychology, however circular, being that those stinky products must be really great for your skin, otherwise why would any brand bother selling something so foul-smelling to begin with.) This new addition to my medicine cabinet, an all-natural, probiotic-rich overnight moisturizer, however, contains a delicate blend of neroli, lavender and rose oils, and it’s easily one of the best products I’ve ever smelled. EVER.

5.

Lest anyone think the brand was jumping on the millennial-pink bandwagon, Del Monte says it’s been working on this rosy-fleshed pineapple for over 16 years. Maybe they were just waiting for pink to become a thing?

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