Issue #001: The Spread

Tomato perfume, the Great Exhaustion, and a cigarette comeback

Welcome!!

to the first edition of The Weekly Spread, a name that evokes not only delectable images of food like butter slathered on bread, but also the magazine pages I devoured as a child that enticed me to pursue a career in fashion, then media, and to create content in general. Those publications informed so much of who I grew to become as an adult, and to this day there’s nothing I love more than a good editorial spread or curated collection of recommendations and reads that tell a story. It brings me so much joy to compile all the little gems I’m enjoying into this newsletter in hopes that someone else will enjoy them too. In this edition you’ll find my new favorite savory cocktail from a West Village staple restaurant, the best (really good) articles I read this week, and lots of food - not just the kind you eat. After many years of sharing my life and self on the internet, this finally feels like the right thing for me to be pouring myself into. Thank you for being here on the ground floor, and for accepting the ramblings of a girl who never learned to keep her opinions to herself.

What I’m Reading:

This week I finished two books, DNFed one, and started a fourth. I’ll give full reviews in my July reading wrap up, but here’s a glimpse for now. Oddly I read two sci fi books this week - this seems to be a rising star category for me. She’s a sci fi girl! Sometimes!

You’re Safe Here | Leslie Stephens | Sci Fi / Speculative Fiction | Finished

The Martian | Andy Weir | Sci Fi | Finished

The Coin | Yasmin Zaher | Lit Fic | DNFed (don’t take it personally!!)

Chain Gang All-Stars | Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah | Started

In case you missed it, here are my May and June reading wrap ups.

What I’m Eyeing:

I’m aiming to use better discretion in my purchasing, so I’ll share precious few items here that have really caught my eye - mostly so that you can dissuade or persuade me accordingly.

The vibes are immaculate

Slice Society Perfume | Snif | $65

I have historically been a staunch perfume loyalist - first Cashmere Glow by Bath and Body Works (get on my level) and then Coffee Break by Replica - but I have been itching for some seasonal variety lately. I’m conflicted because I love the recognition factor of wearing one specific scent for a long time, the way my friends say “you smell like you” when they hug me after we’ve spent a long time apart. But I think it may be time to broaden my horizons. I’ve heard only good things about this one from Snif which has notes of BLACK CURRANT • BASIL • TOMATO SAUCE ACCORD • IRIS • CRUST ACCORD • SANDALWOOD.

Speaking of tomatoes… I know we’re rejecting the idea of making everything an “aesthetic” right now, but tomato girl summer still really appeals to me. For my nail appointment this weekend, I really want to channel some fresh tomatoey vibes. My best friend asked me “What made you go: ‘Yes, I’ll have the tomato nails pls’ ?” to which I have no response. I simply feel called to them.

Martini Earrings | Lankris | $82

In the vein of food inspired items, can’t you just see these in my ears, martini in hand? I had already saved them for purchase consideration at a later date when a friend sent me the link, so clearly it’s meant to be.

What I’m Clicking:

I’ve been working hard to reduce my social media doomscrolling these days, which means I’m reading more articles and consuming more intentional content - which I LOVE. These are the things that caught my attention this week.

The Fak Jacket

Like probably everyone reading this, we’ve been working our way through the new season of The Bear, which more prominently features the Fak brothers than previous seasons. They’re lovable and endearing as they provide much needed comic relief, so it was no surprise when I saw that J Crew was selling some of the merch that they wear in the show. I was even less surprised when I saw that the jacket tops out at an XXL (the Vulture article incorrectly says 2X - these are different things!! XXL is smaller), which means that likely the Fak brothers themselves couldn’t even wear the collab that they inspired.

Separate but related, so many people had mentioned the Gap x Doen collab to me when it came out as something they thought I’d like - and I would! If they made it in my size. So many cool collabs, so little consideration going into the size range conversation at these companies.

Food in Fashion + Advertising

This article is everything, EVERYTHING to me. As you can clearly tell, I’m fully on the food as aesthetics bandwagon. But why is everything so food centric these days? Elizabeth Goodspeed breaks down this phenomenon, citing recent viral moments like the Staud Sardine bag, the Loewe tomato situation, the Vacation whipped cream sunscreen and the prevalence of culinary content in media (we’ve circled back to The Bear!). I spoke about the connection between food and status in my post about food in fiction, and this article agrees that “what we eat says a lot about our identity”, our lived experiences, our inherited privileges. I would go so far as to say that in times of general economic downturn, what’s in your grocery cart is more telling than anything else could be.

“In an article about “seafood kitsch”, writer Bettina Makalintal further suggests that sporting a $275 seafood tower dress flaunts both your ability to indulge in expensive (and not particularly timeless) designer clothing and also signals a palate accustomed to oysters. This highlights not only the wearer’s taste but a lifestyle with ample time off, given that the style and composition of these garments often feels more designed for a sunny patio than a cubicle.”

You absolutely have to read the article, but I’ll leave you with this last impeccable quote from Goodspeed (there are just too many good ones and I have too many thoughts) reminiscent of my thoughts again in my food in fiction post regarding how women are judged based on their appetite, and how the nature of that judgement is dictated by their body type.

“When it comes to societal perceptions of luxury and health, it seems you can benefit from an association with food, so long as you embody a form of beauty that ironically distances itself from the act of eating. Moreover, the limited sizing options provided by luxury brands already exclude a significant portion of the population, reinforcing exclusivity based on body size; you can buy a shirt that has spaghetti on it, but they only sell sizes 0 through 8. After all this time, we’re back to desiring food instead of eating it.”

The Great Exhaustion

This post is a fantastic read about the WGSN report on “The Great Exhaustion” and how brands will attempt to appeal to consumers when we all become so burnt out and spread thin that we turn away from our phones, from advertising in general, and towards ourselves and each other in an effort to regain our focus and sanity. I think this prediction is spot on, and as someone who works in digital advertising I am intrigued to see how the industry will adapt.

The Second Coming of Cigarettes

To be clear I’m not encouraging this by any means, but there’s no denying the significant uptick we’ve been seeing in cigarette smoking lately in both pop culture (it really all comes back to The Bear) + real life. The moment it seemed we had successfully eradicated the idea that smoking is cool, we hit a major regression. I found this Substack post by Alanna Duffield to be very illuminating, especially this speculation on correlation with another cultural regression we’ve already discussed today:

“The drug Ozempic has surrounded us with shrinking celebrities, fewer larger bodies on runways, and a general feeling that thinness equals cultural currency again. There’s a well-known link between cigarette smoking and suppressed appetite, so could the increased desire to be thin be linked to the increased amount of cigarette smokers we’re seeing?”.

What I’m Obsessed With:

This section will be an amalgamation of products, rituals, and more - anything that I’m just really into.

Fishwife anchovies from Mast Market on the Upper West Side and a resulting delicious pasta

Pasta Accoutrements

Pastas are my most cooked meal by a long shot, so I like to find ways to keep them interesting and delicious. Lately I have been repeatedly making a breadcrumb topping for my pastas - I toast up garlic in olive oil until it’s golden, then add panko breadcrumbs and toss until they’re crispy, and finish off with a little lemon zest at the end. You can sprinkle this on your pasta with some grated parmesan and it just elevates the taste and texture. I originally started doing this when I made this pasta last year- add red pepper flakes if you’re feeling spicy. I store it in a container in my fridge for the week to use intermittently (definitely don’t take food storage/safety tips from me though).

In addition to my crispy breadcrumb goodness, I have recently discovered the magic that is anchovies in pasta sauce. Did you know they dissolve!? I had no clue. So when you add them into a sauce, they just melt in and add a complex layer of flavor without leaving anything icky behind. I love the Fishwife ones for the cute branding, but the grocery store has plain Jane anchovies for a third of the price that work just as well. Make this Bon Appetit pasta- you won’t regret it.

Linen Spray

I recently had houseguests, and while I was preparing for their arrival I suddenly panicked that my pillows may smell like the anchovy pasta I had been making - so I bought this linen spray in the Amber Cashmere scent. I have no idea what’s in it nor do I care, but it smells GOOD. Like, really good. Combined with my preferred butter-soft cotton jersey sheets and a freshly made bed, I feel like I’m sleeping in a hotel every night.

What I’m Eating:

ON THE TOWN: I caught up with a friend this week over a delicious meal at Cafe Cluny. I first heard of this spot from an old toxic boss who frequented the restaurant, so I always avoided it (her). I have to hand it to her though - the restaurant exceeded my expectations. Cafe Cluny’s reputation as a celeb hotspot also proved to be true as we dined across from a famous late night show host, which is much better than a bad boss sighting.

Aaaanyway, the highlight of the meal for me was their Filthy Martini, which I’ve been dying to try. It’s made with garlic infused vodka, tomato water, and a dash of tabasco which gives it a really satisfying kick. Think of it as Bloody Mary’s really chic older sister. The tuna tartare, pasta, and sticky toffee pudding were all A++. As a bonus, they hand out very cute matchbooks.

IN THE HOUSE: Cooking for one person is deceivingly difficult, and can result in quite a lot of food waste if I’m not careful. I’ve determined that having just two dinner ideas per week is enough for me. The ingredients listed are usually enough for me to make multiple batches, which means I actually use everything I buy. This week I made two hits back to back, and then back to back again. Here are the recipes I referenced this week (I like to look, consider, and then freestyle).

Steak with a pan sauce + horseradish mashed potatoes

Salmon with a Boursin sauce + steamed broccoli + rice - this is GOOD. And good leftovers.

I have also been committed to being a smoothie girly as of late. I’ve been making this copycat recipe for Sophia Richie Grange’s cherry Erewhon smoothie.

What I’m Watching:

I can’t say I’m a purveyor of culture when it comes to television- I’m usually watching what everyone else is watching, or what everyone else watched like 5 years ago. But I do love to talk about what I’m watching, so if anyone of you are fellow fans of these franchises, you know where to find me for a chat.

Below Deck | Peacock

I accidentally became a Below Deck loyalist over Memorial Day weekend when my best friend and I recovered from her annual pool party by watching a full season of Below Deck Med, immobile on the couch for literally 12+ hours. I have been hooked ever since. I’ve seen both seasons of Down Under and am now on season 6 of regular BD (maybe the best season I’ve seen yet?). Someone please tell me you have watched and that you would like to discuss.

Criminal Minds Evolution | Paramount +

I am a *huge* Criminal Minds fan - I’ve probably seen all 15 seasons of the regular series 5 times or more. I love this reboot, which feels so true to the original but with some updated twists that just work. I truly believe the BAU are my close personal friends and I will always love them.

Dexter | Netflix

When I recently finished the regular Criminal Minds, I no longer had a gripping and unsettling show to casually watch that I have to turn off by 8PM in order to sleep soundly without getting up 4 times to check that I locked the doors. This left a void that only Dexter could fill. This series is one of my favorites of all time, so I figured a rewatch was in order (even though I just watched last year I believe). And, in contrast to general public opinion, I didn’t hate the ending AND I loved the reboot.

Hacks | Max

My partner and I have watched all the seasons of Hacks together, and we both genuinely enjoyed the most recent season- it might be the best one yet. I have to say that the finale really managed to surprise me and has me anxiously awaiting another season. We tend to veer away from comedic shows, so it’s a testament to this show that we love it (and the characters) so much. The only other comedy show we love is The Other Two - SO good.

I have been watching some other things but… this seems like enough to share before it gets embarrassing (also, paying for all theses streaming services makes my head spin - when can we bring back cable?? You know a mass streaming service consolidation is coming).

Okay!

This is where I’ll leave you for the week. I’d love to know what you’re eating, watching, eyeing, clicking - please drop it all in the comments! In the future, I think it would be fun to have a community section in this newsletter where I can share some of the best crowdsourced answers from you (this is me optimistically thinking the number of you reading this is going to continue to grow). Do me a favor if you got this far - let me know in the comments which section you enjoyed reading the most. You can expect each week’s Spread at the same time, same place, coming to your inbox every Friday morning. Talk soon!

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