The Monday Digest, November 2024
What happened last month on the newsletter, what’s to come and links to articles I enjoyed
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, 1 educational piece on food photography, 1 in-depth essay about the history and uses of a dish or ingredient (mostly focused on New England), 1 personal essay/travel guide/chronicle.
October’s summary
Last month we started with an extra article with inspiration for the upcoming social gatherings, explaining how to make it as tasty as picture-perfect: A Perfect Fall Cheese Platter
The recipe was a Catalan classic honouring a seasonal ingredient, that’s a favourite of mine: Fricandó: Catalan braised beef with mushrooms
Last month’s piece on photography was a new issue on a popular series: Tips for taking better photos: Know Your Angles
Last month’s food history piece was on an essential of the season. I delved into its production and history after visiting a local farm: Cranberry Sauce
I finished October right on Halloween shedding new light on the world-renowned city: Salem Beyond its Witches
What’s to come this November
Thursday the 7th: This month’s recipe is a Catalan festive dish that may be an alternative for your Thanksgiving if you want a change: Pollastre Rostit amb Prunes i Pinyons: Catalan braised chicken with prunes and pine nuts
Thursday the 14th: This month’s piece on photography will be the second issue on a very popular series: My Favorite Photo Props and Where to Find Them: Backdrops
Thursday the 21st: The piece on food history for November will be focused on a New England Thanksgiving classic that is not very well known outside of here, but it has a long history and you may even want to try it this year!: Indian Pudding
Thursday the 28h: I’ll finish the month on Thanksgiving day with a personal essay: On Celebrating Thanksgiving as a Non-American
Food News
What Makes Wisconsin Cheddar So Vibrantly Orange - (Eater Video and Jaya Saxena) Eater
IT’S TIME TO BUILD MORE NATIVE RESTAURANTS - (Sean Sherman and Mecca Bos) Eater
3 Warming Dishes for Crisp Fall Days - (Carolina Gelen) The New York Times
19 Indie Food and Drink Mags That Can Take All Our Money - (Jessica Carbone) Saveur
The Great Pouchification of American Food - (Cathy Erway) Taste
Substacks I loved
Melissa Hemsley's secret address book of gems, plus a treasured recipe for chowder - (
) KB’s Joyous ThingsHow to do better napkin math: A framework for units and measures in agriculture - (
) top soilCharcuterie Dispatch #1: Sobrasada - (
) The Charcuterie Project ) EDIBLE LIVING by Sarah CopelandMy Best Thanksgiving Tips, Part 1, Part 2, Part 3 - (
) QuaintrelleBake Off is Back - (
) Great Bakes by Martin SorgeNormalize Half Orders & Half Pours - (
) Tap Is Fine! ) New WorlderThe Critic - (
) New Worlder ) BAYOU SAINT NEWSDiscovering Scarperia: The Art of Blades and Tradition - (
) Letters from TuscanyItalians Are Teaching Me About Rest - (
) CHANGING THE CHANNER WITH KRISTEN POWERS ) Journeys Beyond Borders with Caroline EdenThe best fall fruit you've never heard of - (Caroline Saunders and Gabriella Vigoreaux) PALE BLUE TART
The surprising origins of Thanksgiving in Canada - (
) ZanepostWhen Food Doesn’t Taste Like Home - (Doha Kahlout) Vittles
Grocery Update #27: How To Read A Grocery Store. - (
) The Checkout Grocery UpdatePersonal Notes
The peak of fall develops in October here in New England and it’s spectacular. I remember once hiking up a hill with some family members in Catalonia to get to a view point from where we could admire the fall leaves and their different colors. We had to drive outside our city, go inland and walk for about an hour. Here in the Boston area you only need to look out your window to witness such spectacle. It’s truly magnificent.
At the beginning of the month I also had a photoshoot for a client who has grocery stores here in Massachusetts and it was fantastic to be able to photograph all the beautiful produce. A true fall harvest.
But unfortunately the month didn’t end up on such positive notes. Last Wednesday I woke up to the news of a catastrophic inundation in Valencia, Spain. Even though the meteorological agency had been announcing a strong DANA and declaring red alert, most citizens were not informed until it was too late. I immediately messaged friends in the area to make sure they were all alright. Curiously in Valencia city it almost didn’t rain at all, while 5 minutes away from there it was hell. Writer Jorge Guitián summarised my feelings perfectly in his latest piece.
Today I called my mum as soon as I woke up as it seems the storm has been moving north, where my family lives. She told me it has been raining a lot but that they are all ok, and no flooding so far.
And here in the United States, an ocean away, a catastrophic phenomena may happen as well. A very human one. I hope not, and that everyone who can vote, does, and at the end, common sense floats over the mud.
Thank you for including me in this compelling lineup, Elisabet! What a pleasant and flattering surprise! 🤗
Thank you for the mention!