The Monday Digest, June 2025
What happened last month on the newsletter, what’s to come, links to articles I enjoyed + choose your downloadable photo
This is the extra newsletter you get every first Monday of the month to sum up what I published the previous month and to tell you what you can expect on this one.
As a reminder, here’s what you will find on My Cup of Tea:
The Monday Digest: The first Monday of every month you’ll get a summary of what I sent out the previous month, a sneak peak of what you’ll get the current month and a curated list of latest food articles as well as personal notes.
Every Thursday: a new newsletter on the following topics (a different one each week):
1 seasonal recipe inspired by my Catalan heritage.
1 educational piece on food photography.
1 in-depth article about the history and uses of a dish or ingredient (mostly focused on New England).
1 personal essay/travel guide/chronicle.
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Exclusive Q&A, Photo Feedback + Downloadable Photo: Every 3rd Monday of the month an exclusive chat will be available for paid subscribers dedicated to answer any questions and to send a photo for me to critique so you know how to improve your skills! Paid subscribers will also get a high resolution downloadable photo to be used as a screensaver or as a print + extra perks!
May’s summary
Last month’s recipe was a Catalan classic stew that combines mar i montanya: Mandonguilles amd sèpia: Catalan meatball and cuttlefish stew
Last month’s piece on photography was a new edition on this series, exploring the incredible world of color theory: Tips for Taking Better Photos: Master the Color Wheel
The food history piece was an exploration of native edible plants of Massachusetts as I went on a foraging trip: Wild Plants of Massachusetts, Foraging in Spring
The last newsletter of May was a travel and food chronicle depicting my experience dining in Noma, the many times named “best restaurant in the world” that is closing up this year forever: A Weekend in Copenhaguen and an Evening in Noma
What’s to come this June
Thursday the 5th: This month’s recipe is a Catalan and Valencian favorite and it’s not a paella, but cooked in one!: Fideuà amb all i oli: A crispy pasta seafood delight with the most quintessential Catalan dip
Thursday the 12th: In this month’s piece on photography, I’ll show you how to create a home set-up to take fantastic photos even if your kitchen is not Pinterest-worthy: How to Create A Fit-All Home Photography Studio
Monday the 16th: Exclusive Q&A for paid subscribers in the chat. You can also send out a photo you want feedback from! And you’ll receive the chosen downloadable photo (see below).
Thursday the 19th: This month’s food history piece will be focused on a local staple, and I’ll be exploring its history and variety of dishes: The Clam in New England
Thursday the 26th: The last newsletter of the month will be a photo-journal in which I’ll show you the process of converting a guest bedroom of our new house into my dream photography studio: Making Home: Dream Studio Makeover
Food News
Fancy Newbury Street Spot Has Allegedly Been Underpaying Over 60 Employees — For Years - (Erika Adams) Eater Boston
How Much Should An Oyster Cost? - (Amy McCarthy) Eater
Disney Taught Me How to Write About Food - (Jordan Michelman) Taste
The Expansive, Absurdist Canvas of Tiramisu - (Vrinda Jagota) Taste
Newsletters I loved
The Making of Myths About Sugar - (
) Bayou Saint News) SusanalityStarting over -- here's what my family brought from Vietnam 50 years ago - (
) Pass the Fish SauceThe Paradox of the Restaurant Cookbook - (
) VittlesFood Blogger Charges Influencer with Plagiarized Recipes - (
) Dianne Jacob’s Newsletter) Lama ObeidCould the UK run out of food? - (
) Consuming Matters by Harry WallopCurry's Journey to the Land of the Rising Sun - (
) Forgotten FootprintsThe Story of Cauliflower Döner - (
) New WorlderThe Pistachio Effect: Aspiration, Indulgence and Edible Economics - (
) The Yorkshire GourmetWhen Does a Dish Stop Being a Dish? - (
) Tap Is Fine!Gastropolitics: Does "Fusion" Ever Become "Cultural Appropriation”? - (
) The Other Gourmand) From the Desk of Alicia Kennedy) The Unplugged Traveler) EDIBLE LIVING by Sarah CopelandPersonal Notes
Since moving to the new house at the end of April we have been adapting to it. Curiosly, even if this one has more square footage than the past apartment, we still have things in boxes as we are lacking essential storage. So we have been dealing with one shelf at a time, trying to make the situation a bit more practical.
In terms of designing different spaces, we decided I should start with my home office, that will also be my photography studio. You’ll be able to read about it in the last newsletter of June, and I hope you like it as it took a lot out of me! I have tried a DIY painting technique on the walls and have designed a full closet space to store all my props and books. I thought Memorial Day’s long weekend would be enough to do it all, but I barely finished painting during those 3 days!
This is the first time I have a dedicated space to take photos — I’ve always had to manage in the living room or the kitchen. That’s why I thought I could tell you all my techniques to make it work even if you don’t have a perfect space, because you don’t need a great kitchen or studio to create beautiful recipe photos! Don’t miss the photography newsletter this month! (June 12th).
Choose which photo you want next for downloading
Choose which photo you’d like to download next. They are shots I’ve taken recently that represent the vibrancy of the season. You have different options to choose from in case you want to print it or have it as a backdrop!
You’ll receive the most voted image in the chat during Office Hours on Monday the 16th if you are a paid subscriber.
I can't decide between photo 1 and 4. They are very vibrant!