June Charcuterie
Nearly impossible to believe, but June is over! Time is relative! Here is an assortment of tidbits and delights from the month.
Eve! What is this? No long-form book review this month? Are you reading?! Fear not, dear reader. I am reading (of course), and I am working on something exciting for next week. I hope you will enjoy it as much as I’ve enjoyed putting it together, but you’re going to have to wait seven more tiny little days. Only seven! Six, if you don’t count today.
For today, we will be closing out the month with a little charcuterie. June has felt long this year, owing to its five Fridays. We love a five Friday month. I’ve traveled four out of those five weekends (including the one starting today) which always throws me off a bit, but I’ve read a lot, kept my ear to the ground, seen some sights, and, of course, I’ve fed myself well. If there’s one thing I must be, it’s fed and watered. Here’s what I fed and watered myself with this month:
Reads:
ꕤ This list of summer books from LitHub. I like it because unlike most summer reading lists, it’s not full of stereotypical “beach reads!” Instead they are books that capture the essence of summer, whether they’d be fun to read on the beach or not. Many of these titles piqued my interest, but here are the two that are not only on my TBR, but also literally sitting on my bookshelf waiting to be read:
Three Summers by Margarita Liberaki
To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf
ꕤ My second book related reading recommendation this month has got to be one of the coolest things I’ve ever seen. It is particularly delightful to me, as it provides a mechanism for scratching the itch that Travels with Charley produced, and I don’t have to abandon my life (which I love) to drive across the country and back with my somewhat neurotic dachshund, Boots, who is not fond of leaving my family’s Charlottesville farm if it can be at all avoided. A huge relief.
I’m talking about 1,001 Novels: A Library of America. The project’s creator, Susan Straight, decided to geographically place 1,001 novels on an actual map. Not just by state, though—she goes down to neighborhood. You can explore each of the 11 regions of the U.S. (as determined by Susan) and click through titles—some classics some not.
ꕤ This article in Elle about Meg White of the White Stripes. I remember when my parents would play the The White Stripes in the car—De Stijl, if I’m not mistaken—but aside from that, I haven't really spent much time thinking about or listening to their music.
That didn’t stop me from enjoying this article. It’s an interesting perspective on the ways in which we make ourselves so available to each other these days. In the case of someone famous like Meg White, that availability expands to the whole world, but on a smaller scale, it’s the pressure we all feel to respond to text messages and emails. I’m not encouraging anyone (especially not the people I talk to on a regular basis) to go radio silence à la Meg White, but I can acknowledge that the pressure is unpleasant. What would it mean to just say no? To tap out on the 24/7 availability?
This article also inspired me to listen to The White Stripes on a run, and it was a treat. I just played De Stijl top to bottom, and that was my soundtrack. “Hello Operator” transported me to the back seat of our old Volvo station wagon.
ꕤ A fun article about an NYC bar with a lot of soul. I loved the interview-ish format of this one. If you haven't been to Long Island Bar, you should go!
ꕤ My new Fagioli: The Bean Cuisine of Italy Cookbook (per the recommendation of
). I have not yet made any recipes out of this book, otherwise it would be in the “Tastes” section below. I did however read through it (skim perhaps?) as soon as it arrived at my doorstep, and there are so many good recipes. I must warn, there are no pictures because it’s a revised and expanded reprint. I’m a bean girl now.Sounds:
ꕤ Aside from The White Stripes while running, I’ve also been listening to Nude Party. I went to one of their shows at the Music Hall of Williamsburg, and it was an amazing time. They put on a fun ass show. My favorite songs at the moment are “Ride On” and “Nashville Record Co.” (which was better live but still good not live too).
ꕤ Review Revue, my funny little improv podcast. This is kind of a rogue recommendation, but one thing about me is that I don’t really like listening to informative podcasts. I’m not an auditory learner, and when five life changing habits that I need to adopt right away or I’ll die are thrown at me in the course of 45 minutes, it gives me anxiety. If you’re like me, in one or both of those regards, and you like comedy podcasts, this is a good one. It makes me want to take an improv class.
ꕤ This is technically from the end of May, but I’m going to include it anyway because I want to. The series finale of Succession aired, and I finally admitted to myself that I was never going to watch it and thus did not care if it was spoiled for me. I blissfully made my lover give me a play by play of how it ended as the sounds of Lexy and Henry watching said finale drifted through the wall into my bedroom. “What’s happening now?” And he had to tell me what was happening in the scene from the sound alone.
I immediately became a Succession viewer, without ever having watched an episode. “TOM?!! Really? Tom?!” I hollered. “That’s so classic Shiv,” with an eye roll, “it’s in her name after all.” My pretending made us giggle, and continued to positively tickle me as I began participating in conversations about a TV show I never watched, not even once.
This is not about Succession though, it’s about a game I’ve played before but forgot about until the moment described above. I was in the gardens at Versailles with a group of college friends, and we laid down in the grass, and my friend Paige started to describe a group of tourists on Segways. I was laying down facing the other direction, so I couldn't see what she could see. I was so comfortable, I didn’t want to move, but I wanted to see the tourists on Segways. So…I made Paige describe them to me. “What are they doing now?” I never once turned around to look, but I can picture the group in my mind still, all from hearing them described. It’s like a sensory deprivation exercise, and it’s good for the imagination.
Sights:
ꕤ Bad luck spots. This should be illegal? Washington Square Park was a minefield, and I think the patrons of Via Carota were unfairly targeted because several circles appeared right where the line forms at 4:45pm every day. If you were in Manhattan and accidentally stepped on one of these at any point in the past month, I hereby declare your bad luck null and void. You may be entitled to additional compensation.
I heard that the guy who draws these circles did it so that he could take videos of people trying to avoid the spots. I guess that’s funny? Humans don’t want bad luck, haha? I wasn’t amused. You can’t mess with the universe like that—and at the expense of innocent people.
ꕤ This little lamp that I think I want. It’s so beautiful and cute. I haven’t pulled the trigger yet…should I?
ꕤ This video about Portugal’s tinned fish industry, which I discovered through
. In addition to being a bean girl, and a clam girl, I am considering becoming a tinned fish girl. I can definitely attest that the tinned fish in Portugal is delicious. This video was quick, light, educational and strangely soothing, like a segment from CBS Sunday Morning. I poked around on Monocle a bit after watching, and they have lots of similar videos about different things—like a glimpse inside the world’s largest costume company.ꕤ My nephew, Westley, who is literally perfect in every way. I just sit on my phone and look at pictures of him. Please enjoy this small selection.
Tastes:
ꕤ Bean and Bean Salad™
Green beans, blanched)
White beans
Shallot or green onions, sliced thin
Basil, julienned
Lots of garlic, sliced thin, sautéed in oil with red pepper flakes (not too much oil though because it’s all going straight into the salad)
Juice of a whole lemon
Parm, shaved or shredded
Fennel optional, must be sliced on mandoline if used
Throw it all together in a bowl and serve cold or room temp. YUM. Great leftover too.
ꕤ Eggs on Arugula for breakfast. I’ve just been eating my eggs on a big plate of arugula for breakfast instead of on toast. I did it the first time because I ran out of toast, but then I liked it. It’s almost like a salad, and salad for breakfast feels weird, but then again, I’ve always been a proponent of eating whatever you want at whatever time of the day you want it. Try it out.
ꕤ A truly delicious sardine special at Via Carota (where I was targeted by the bad luck spots while waiting in line). I don’t know if it’s still being offered. If it’s not, I’m so sorry you missed it. It was one of the best things I’ve maybe ever eaten. I wish I had a picture of it.
Feelings:
ꕤ A little overwhelmed, honestly! It’s weird and even slightly stressful being away from home almost every weekend. Summer is just like that, I guess. I’m making a conscious effort to rest in a place of gratitude that I get to spend time with friends and family and do fun things, even if it does knock me out of my routine a little bit.
ꕤ In love. I met my lover one year ago today. Happy anniversary, Spencer <3
What’s something you read, heard, saw, tasted or felt this month? Share!
Love you.
I have been eating a delicious sweet Italian chicken sausage I discovered in the grocery store which mysteriously transported me directly back to a sausage dish my dad used to make! Can’t stop buying it! Also salad with fennel in it! I am a fennel girl!!!!!!!