# Secret Breakfast • Food Newsletter > Discover exclusive food insights, untold culinary stories, and innovative recipes every Wednesday. Join and enjoy the next big trends in cooking. Public Ghost content for AI and LLM tooling. This file includes a bounded export of public pages first, then recent public posts. Append `.md` to any post or page URL to get the content in Markdown (for example, `/example-post.md`). ## Pages ### About Secret Breakfast URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/about/ Last updated: 2025-02-03T16:49:36.000Z **Secret Breakfast** is the independent food newsletter edited by [Piero Macchioni](https://macchioni.cc/?ref=secretbreakfast.com). Every week it helps you find new recipes, essential readings, trivia, long reads, and fun about the world of cooking and food. In five years we have shared more than 5,000 recipes, hundreds of books, and countless hours of news, gluttony, and joy. We also wrote an ebook featuring 23 food talents: you [get it here, it's free](https://secretbreakfast.gumroad.com/l/2023-book?ref=secretbreakfast.com). Yes, we share the name with an [iconic ice-cream flavor](https://www.eater.com/2014/1/6/6304553/secret-breakfast-ice-cream-at-humphry-slocombe-in-san-francisco?ref=secretbreakfast.com) born in San Francisco by Jake Godby and Sean Vahey at [Humphry Slocombe](https://humphryslocombe.com/?ref=secretbreakfast.com). ✒︎ Write [here](mailto:say%5Fhi@secretbreakfast.com), we're open. --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/capture-2025-01-18-alle-23.39.20.jpg) ★★★★★ Recommended by Food&Wine US [**Best Food Newsletters to Subscribe To**](https://www.foodandwine.com/lifestyle/best-food-newsletters?ref=secretbreakfast.com) > This newsletter by Italian journalist Piero Macchioni features a mix of curated articles punctuated by his perspectives on the politics of food, along with history and trivia. --- Gastronomika [**The Newsletters Not To Be Missed on Food**](https://www.linkiesta.it/2022/03/migliori-newsletter-food-cibo-vino/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) > A melting pot that mixes the latest releases in bookstores to “The Best Quote” to “Random Acts of Hunger”, where Macchioni shares current news and curiosities, such as recipes, trends, and articles to read on food blogs and foreign magazines. --- ### Featured 🎧[Pan Podcast](https://podtail.com/de/podcast/pan-podcast/pan-intervista-piero-macchioni-vicedirettore-di-gr/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) by Beatrice Azzolina (E03 - Italian) 🎧[Curito Connects](https://podtail.com/podcast/curito-connects/storytelling-with-jamila-robinson/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) by Jenn (English - [right timestamp](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kuRPW7nbHRo&t=3135s&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 💌 [Sfoglia](https://sfoglia.substack.com/p/sfoglia-chiacchiera-con-piero-macchioni?ref=secretbreakfast.com) by Francesca Romana De Bernardino (Jun 29th, 2023 - Italian) Also seen on: *Dense Discovery, Reddit, and Yahoo!* ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/capture-2025-01-18-alle-23.41.01-1.jpg) Who's this? ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/02/capture-2025-02-03-alle-16.45.41-8bf230ca279d052b.jpg) ### Privacy Policy URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/privacy-policy/ Last updated: 2025-02-03T16:44:11.000Z # ## 1\. 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Last Updated: 15 Feb. 2025 --- ### Welcome to Secret Breakfast URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/welcome-to-secret-breakfast/ Last updated: 2025-02-24T12:02:50.000Z Welcome to the party and thanks for signing up! You’ve secured a place in the Secret Breakfast community, which comprises an incredible network of food passionates. Check your inbox every Wednesday for your weekly dose of ideas, stories, and recipes to inspire you and know better about food and cooking. \*\*\* **TECH STUFF.** Before you go, here’s a quick tip so that we don’t get routed to your spam or promo folder (we can’t get to you in there!). *Gmail app mobile readers* → Press the 3 dots at the top right corner of any Secret Breakfast email, and hit “Move to” then “Primary.” *Desktop Gmail readers*: Back out of email and drag this email from your "Promotions" tab to the "Primary" tab near the top left of your screen. *Apple Mail readers* → Tap our email address at the top of any Secret Breakfast message (next to "From:" on mobile) and click “Add to VIPs.” Everybody else → Reply to any email and we'll help you out. \*\*\* That’s all, see you on Wednesday morning and don’t forget to take a [cookie](https://secretbreakfast.com/ted-lasso-cookies-recipe/)! Piero ## Posts ### Something Fresh, Something Wet 🧊 URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/something-fresh-something-wet/ Last updated: 2026-07-08T11:31:41.000Z ### Welcome to Secret Breakfast / The best place to wrap your head around the idea that Summer is made for cooling dishes, jelly popsicles, and lonely mouths Hi there! All quiet here. Enjoy the issue! *Piero* --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/quote-transparent-1-1.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2026/07/bottura.png) ✹**Massimo Bottura**, [chef](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massimo%5FBottura?ref=secretbreakfast.com), nailed that. --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/book-transparent-1.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2026/07/9781784746681-jacket-large.webp) #### Hungry for hunger “Lonely mouth" refers to a Japanese expression. It means you feel like you want to eat something, but you don’t know what it is. A constant hunger that will never be sated. Well, we enter in the Nigella Lawson book-club wit this. A territory where, I'm quoting, "family dysfunction meets fine dining; a "novel about sisterhood, secrets and the things you can’t swallow down". Ok, it sounds good, a bit generic, but it's also our kind of stuff, isn't it? [****Lonely Mouth**](https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/480651/lonely-mouth-by-maley-jacqueline/9781784746681?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **by Jacqueline Maley** ****→ Shortplot:** 🍽️ 🫦 🧑🏻‍🍳 🥧 ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/White---22--1.png) ## Dining with the Alien ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2026/07/home-style-cooking-1.jpg) Photograph: Sacha Goldberger. **Invasion Day One. Dawn, 2018 (We are not Alone: Uncertain Archive show)* at [Les Rencontres de la Photographie - Arles 2026](https://www.rencontres-arles.com/fr?ref=secretbreakfast.com) (via [The Guardian](https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/gallery/2026/jul/07/best-of-arles-photography-festival-2026-in-pictures?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) Science fiction has spent a century imagining what aliens might eat once they land here. Guinea pigs swallowed whole. Cat food devoured like a delicacy. Human blood, taken straight, no glass required. But almost **none of these stories show an alien actually cooking**. No fire. No seasoning. No waiting for something to rest. Maybe that's the real gap, for me. **Not the fear of being eaten. The fear of being eaten without ceremony**, like fuel instead of food. What would change if a writer gave an alien species our instinct for ritual? Not hunger. Appetite. Anyway... ### A Random Top 10 about What Aliens Eat, According to Sci-Fi 1. [***V***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V%5F%281984%5FTV%5Fseries%29?ref=secretbreakfast.com). A guinea pig, swallowed alive in one gulp. The jaw unhinges like a snake's. Generational trauma guaranteed. 2. [***The Twilight Zone*, "To Serve Man"**](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/To%5FServe%5FMan%5F%28The%5FTwilight%5FZone%29?ref=secretbreakfast.com). Kind aliens hand humanity a book. Title: *To Serve Man*. Twist: it's a cookbook. 3. ***Star Trek***. Klingons eat [gagh](https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Gagh?ref=secretbreakfast.com). Live worms, served while still writhing. The more they move, the fresher they are. 4. ***The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy***. [The Ameglian Major Cow](https://hitchhikers.fandom.com/wiki/Ameglian%5FMajor%5FCow?ref=secretbreakfast.com) walks up to the table and introduces itself, explaining which parts of it taste best. It wants to be eaten. It insists. 5. ***Coneheads***. Beldar and family devour "mass quantities" of whatever's around. The finishing touch: rat poison, used as a table seasoning. 6. ***ALF***. Eighty-five years of obsession with one target: the family cat, Lucky. On Melmac, a cat isn't a pet. It's a menu item. 7. ***District 9***. The Prawns, alien refugees in Johannesburg, go into ecstasy over canned cat food. 8. ***The War of the Worlds* by H.G. Wells.** [The Martians](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martian%5F%28The%5FWar%5Fof%5Fthe%5FWorlds%29?ref=secretbreakfast.com) don't chew anything. They inject human blood straight into their own veins. The 1897 novel that invented alien food horror. 9. ***Doctor Who***. [The Adipose](https://www.doctorwho.tv/characters/adipose?ref=secretbreakfast.com) are literally made of collected human body fat. 10. [***Alien Nation***](https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alien%5FNation%5F%28film%5F1988%29?ref=secretbreakfast.com). The Newcomers get drunk on sour milk. The spoiled kind we'd throw out. To them, it's a fine whisky. *I think we could easily get to 100 examples, but I'll stop here.* --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/op-transparent-1.png) Juicy content from food creators ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2026/07/watermelon.jpg) [Watermelon Mint Salad](https://www.instagram.com/p/DZfmGGZtWBu/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) by Sine Siemkowicz --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/Hunger-1.png) ⚪️My yearly suggestion for summer Ajo Blanco, as in Almond White Gazpacho (★[recipe](https://www.seriouseats.com/ajo-blanco-spanish-bread-almond-cold-soup-recipe?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🍜Cold Korean Soy Noodles (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/p/DZu0NFZksj7?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🍋Japanese Shio Ice-Cold Lemon Noodles (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reels/DZf7dE4RQUz/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🇺🇸[The Best New Food and Restaurants in NYC](https://www.grubstreet.com/article/the-best-new-food-and-restaurants-in-nyc-in-2026.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com) in 2026 so far 🍗DIY Chicken Jalfrezi that packs two of your 5-a-day and a solid vitamin C hit (★[recipe](https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/chicken-jalfrezi?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🥗I agree with this: [fast food's newest rival isn't another burger chain, it's the grocery store](https://www.businessinsider.com/fast-food-chains-face-growing-competition-from-grocery-stores-2026-7?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 😎[6 Ideas for a No-Stress Summer Dinner Party](https://food52.com/story/6-ideas-for-a-no-stress-summer-dinner-party?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🧳[Traveling through grocery stores](https://www.thelabmagofficial.com/the-way-to-travel-is-through-the-grocery-stores/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) is fine for me 🍧Fizzy Cherry Coke Jelly Pops (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/p/DZ-YKQOCZww/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🧊[Cold packs on your wrists](https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/ice-packs-on-wrists-to-cool-down-hack-37562603?ref=secretbreakfast.com) and f\*\*k off the heatwaves 👽Monkfish steamed liver and the benefits of [ordering the weirdest thing](https://www.ugraindia.com/the-best-thing-on-the-menu-is-the-one-youve-never-tried-a-lesson-from-an-osaka-izakaya/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) on the menu ☕️Vietnamese Coffee Popsicles (★[recipe](https://food52.com/recipes/72574-vietnamese-coffee-popsicles?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/White---19-.png) ### [The Hidden Rules of Fine Dining](https://daily.jstor.org/the-hidden-rules-of-fine-dining/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Laura Clawson / JSTOR Daily** Restaurant critics reward technique, creativity, and authenticity unevenly across cuisines, and that unevenness ends up deciding which food traditions get prestige, and higher prices. [](https://www.foodandwine.com/good-guys-spritz-recipes-11724234?tag=travel&hid=b65c06b8bb54449e12b2324cde45cf069f804769&did=17544041-20250504&utm%5Fcampaign=faw-top10%5Fnewsletter&utm%5Fsource=faw&utm%5Fmedium=email&utm%5Fcontent=050425&lctg=b65c06b8bb54449e12b2324cde45cf069f804769&lr%5Finput=969bf86e4d337bb74ec41d7fc4fcb4cbce448adc9ea58fc46f58a8b14ca494da) --- 🔥 Last week's most clicked link was about [Tinto de Verano](https://oohlalaitsvegan.com/tinto-de-verano/?ref=secretbreakfast.com). And that's all for today. --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2026/07/sorry-1-1.jpg) [The Bear](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The%5FBear%5F%28TV%5Fseries%29?ref=secretbreakfast.com), final season, S05\. It was not a 100% "Tomatometer fresh" show, it ends like an average Bradley Cooper's cooking drama, but episode 7 worked something on me anyway. ### ¡Madrid!¡Madrid!¡Madrid! 🇪🇸 URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/madrid-madrid-madrid/ Last updated: 2026-07-01T15:54:12.000Z ### Welcome to Secret Breakfast / The best place to try eating and cooking like a Spaniard, happy, fatty, and sodden in olive oil. Hi there! I spent 48+ hours in Madrid, Spain. Two days that started with a fried squid sandwich and ended with a *café con hielo*, the works. Except the early flight made me skip the grilled sardines. This issue is made of some of those happy hours. A few dumb photos I shot. Some book insights. The recipes of almost everything I ate in that beautiful city. I hope it won't read as a boring monograph. I'd love for a bit of that pleasure to stick with you, the same pleasure we always bring back after visiting Spain and its splendid, ravenous people. *Piero* --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/quote-transparent-1-1.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2026/07/spain.png) **✹George Orwell** *.* Was he wrong? Can I say that while serving this quote over the juicy image of the orgasmic Tortilla de patata by [Casa Dani](https://www.casadani.es/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)? --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/book-transparent-1.png) ## One Spanish *abuela* to rule them all ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2026/07/book-1-1.jpeg) A small installation of [¿Y qué comemos mañana?](https://tabletimes.es/TT-P002-y-que-comemos-manana-es?ref=secretbreakfast.com) at Cabeza de Chorlito, by - I believe - the artist Frédérique Bangerter. Friday evening. After eight hours in the hotel working, I go out to finally see Madrid. I spot a kind of specialty coffee place. I should look for something less standard, but I dive in anyway, drawn by the name: [El Gordito](https://www.instagram.com/elgorditocantina?ref=secretbreakfast.com), "the little fat guy". It charms me. A bit of karma, too. I drink my coffee. Promoted. Then I take a side street. A few steps later I end up in a tiny bookshop specialized in photography and independent publishing, with another great name: [Cabeza de Chorlito](https://www.cabezadechorlito.net/?ref=secretbreakfast.com), literally "plover head," a Spanish idiom for a scatterbrain (check their [catalog](https://www.cabezadechorlito.net/categoria/cabeza-de-chorlito/?ref=secretbreakfast.com), it's pretty rad) Inside there's a small room with three mini exhibitions. One catches me: an elderly woman photographed while cooking. The woman is Fina, about to turn 85\. The book documents her weekend cooking sessions, and it weaves her recipes with memories of migration, postwar life, and scarcity, alongside images of everyday beauty. I grab the book in a flash, plus something else. And I move on. I have to say, I recommend it. Authentic, well made, and it holds a handful of recipes built on plenty of oil, layered frying, and sincere love. Only later would I find out that the book's launch had Fina herself, the real grandmother, [cooking live](https://www.instagram.com/p/DYU9pSEqQk3/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) in the [shop window](https://www.instagram.com/p/DYW9EXcjGQi?ref=secretbreakfast.com). I hope I'm not doing anyone wrong by posting here three recipes from Fina's book, photographed from the copy I bought. I loved them a lot. And I also discovered Tabletimes, [this Spanish publisher specialized in food books](https://tabletimes.es/editorial?ref=secretbreakfast.com), you should check them out. ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2026/07/cro-2-1-1.png) [**¿Y qué comemos mañana?**](https://tabletimes.es/TT-P002-y-que-comemos-manana-es?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Editorial Tabletimes. Historias y recetas de Josefina Barbero Jiménez. Fotografías de Andrés Ramírez Ruiz** **→ Shortplot:** 🇪🇸 👵🏼 🍅 🍳 --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/op-transparent-1.png) Juicy content from food creators ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2026/07/coc.jpeg) Cocido madrileño at Lhardy Some like extreme sports. Some are adrenaline junks. Some go to Madrid when its 38°C during the day, then have dinner in one of the oldest food institution and order the [Cocido](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cocido%5Fmadrile%C3%B1o?ref=secretbreakfast.com), the typical stew of Madrid (I'm not sharing any recipe with you because it works only there). *What is that?* - Soup with angel hair noodles, - Brunete chickpea from farm (a lot of chickpeas), - cabbage and carrot from Carabaña, - potato from Granja de los Monjes, - chorizo sausage from León, - black pudding from Valle de Arán, - truffled sausage from the mountains of Madrid, - Iberian bacon, - Galician beef shin, - Galician cow marrow, - Iberian ham from Huelva, - crispy Iberian ear with Lhardy brava sauce, - Iberian rib from Sierra of Villuercas All of this is accompanied by: - garden tomatoes - a small selection of homemade pickles of radishes, red onion and piparra peppers. For finishing - [Soufflé Lhardy](https://www.instagram.com/p/DWi9BgWCOno/?img%5Findex=5&ref=secretbreakfast.com) (flambé with rum, why ask?) The secret ingredient for surviving: - 330 ml of Coke when you get back home ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2026/07/chu.jpeg) Churros from [Chocolatería de San Ginés](https://chocolateriasangines.com/?ref=secretbreakfast.com), a classic, even if a little too greasy for my taste. But Hot chocolate is super (★[recipe](https://quieropostre.com/en/churros-recipe?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/Hunger-1.png) 🍹*Tinto de Verano* is the best answer to the question: this summer it's friggin' hot, but what can I do with this opened bottle of average wine? (★[recipe](https://oohlalaitsvegan.com/tinto-de-verano/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🦑Sailors and inland traders brought squid up from the coast, then people from Madrid fried and scattered them on a sandwich that should not exist, but it's there (★[recipe](https://spanishsabores.com/fried-calamari-sandwich-recipe/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🍅*Tostada con Tomate* is the most Mediterranean breakfast looking like an Italian appetizer, I had an excellent one [here](https://www.instagram.com/perropavlov?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🥧*Merlitiones* are super-sweet mini pies, very good with strong coffee, had mine in [this pastry shop](https://pastelerialamallorquina.es/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) that makes them very irregular, then mostly looking like "true" (★[recipe](https://invitadoinvierno.com/receta-merlitones/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/White---19-.png) ### [Your Guide to Madrid](https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2026/travel/madrid-spain-guide.html?unlocked%5Farticle%5Fcode=1.uVA.dto-.BX%5FKjjy879T3&smid=url-share&ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Andrew Ferren / The New York Times** Madrid is on the rise. It has overtaken Miami as Latin America's unofficial offshore capital. This guide covers what you need for your first trip to Madrid and beyond. Essential charms remain: the Prado, the Reina Sofía, Plaza Mayor. New directions are worth exploring too: Mexican cuisine, a growing artists' quarter. Madrid grew as neighborhoods drifted into one another, giving it an offbeat beauty and a patchwork of architecture that hints at each barrio's character. --- 🔥 Last week's most clicked link was [The Dinner System That Eliminated The Mental Load of Meal Planning](https://jennysbeet.substack.com/p/the-system-that-eliminated-the-mental?ref=secretbreakfast.com). And that's all for today. --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2026/07/grazie-1.jpeg) ### Summer Buns and Supermarket Bans 🟡🟦 URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/summer-buns-and-supermarket-bans/ Last updated: 2026-06-24T11:13:00.000Z ### Welcome to Secret Breakfast / The best place to start complaining because I can’t believe I’ve been banned from my own supermarket (okay, I’m not the owner, but you get the point) Hi there! What is a newsletter if not a digital space to fill with one's own frustrations? So today, you'll have to hear this story. A few days ago I walked into a supermarket where I spend hundreds of euros a month (sometimes, a week). I was carrying a shoulder bag with my work laptop inside. The security guard stopped me at the entrance and asked me to leave it in one of those transparent plastic lockers near the door. I said no. I walked away. The obvious reading: shrinkage is so bad that stores now treat every customer as a suspect. Cameras, gates, anti-theft tags. None of it works anymore, so **now it's the bag's fault.** Maybe the real shift isn't about theft at all. Supermarkets that once served a predictable middle-class clientele now attract a much wider range of customers. Prices converged. Aisles mixed. Security couldn't keep up. **So it defaulted to a single rule for everyone.** No profiling. No judgment. Just: no bags. Or: no bags for me, in that very moment. Equal treatment, sure. In the worst possible sense. Which leaves the real question: when did retail hospitality flip? When did the customer become 80% the variable to be managed and 20% the asset to be kept? *Piero* PS: In short, I wrote to the customer service, and they replied that there was no need to prevent me from entering the supermarket. PPS: The "Supermarket Karma" entered in my life so bad I'm completely in love with this manga, [*Smoking Behind the Supermarket with You*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smoking%5FBehind%5Fthe%5FSupermarket%5Fwith%5FYou?ref=secretbreakfast.com). --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/quote-transparent-1-1.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2026/06/alberto.png) ✹**Alberto San Juan**, as Genaro in the super-fun comedy [*La Cena - The Dinner*](https://letterboxd.com/film/the-dinner-2025/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) (Spain, 2025). Ok, maybe it's just normal-fun, and it contains fascists, and mustaches, and one hell of a naked soldier, but watching that made one bad day a little better. --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/book-transparent-1.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2026/06/servi.jpg) #### Greasy fingers and tasty memories A Madrid photographer has spent a decade collecting the printed paper napkins of Spain's old-school bars. Wafer-thin, useless at cleaning anything, they carry tiny logos, illustrations, boasts about roasted lamb. Felipe Hernandez turned 600 of them into a book, and somehow that's exactly the right thing to do with them. [****Servilletas: Spanish Napkins**](https://ojosdebuey.es/products/servilletas?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **by Felipe Hernández** ****→ Shortplot: 🇪🇸 🤧 🍽️ 🥘** ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/White---22--1.png) ## The Contentious Issue of Food Photos in Menus ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2026/06/2022_08_22_129136_1661134388._large.jpg) There's a podcast I follow where one of the hosts, totally hopeless in the kitchen, has been fighting a quiet battle in favor of photo menus at restaurants. His scale goes from the bare minimum (the flash-lit snapshots at Chinese takeouts) to the gold standard (the *sampuru*, those eerily perfect plastic food replicas displayed outside Japanese restaurants). [When he brought up this idea to a Masterchef judge](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qYA4fd3pMEM&ref=secretbreakfast.com), the chef almost assumed he was joking. Then he realized he wasn't. But think about it. Years of Instagram, food reels, glossy recipe videos... haven't they already rewired us? We skip cookbooks with no photos. We distrust a written recipe that doesn't come with a well-lit step-by-step reel. **The image hasn't just won. It's been running the game for a while.** In everyday dining, the host is right. Before we even book a table, we check the restaurant's Instagram hoping to preview the plates. The menu photo is already there, it's just not on the menu. Fine dining is the last holdout. Photos on the tasting menu would be, to most chefs, an act of barbarism. **The final taboo.** But taboos have a way of falling. Even the ones that feel untouchable. --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/op-transparent-1.png) Juicy content from food creators ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2026/06/wat_cleanup.jpg) [Sicilian Watermelon Pudding](https://www.instagram.com/reels/DZzvWMful6x/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) by Crowded Kitchen (I hate it looks like a watermelon, but it's me, I'm broken) --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/Hunger-1.png) ☝️*Which Kardashian family member are you?* and the other 14 [Controversial Dinner Party Questions That Are Actually Fun](https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/fun-dinner-party-questions-37344070?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🍑Summer Fruit Buns (★[recipe](https://babeczka.zuzka.pl/en/2012/07/drozdzowki-z-budyniem-i-owocami/?ref=secretbreakfast.com))💡This one seems effective: [the Dinner System That Eliminated The Mental Load of Meal Planning](https://jennysbeet.substack.com/p/the-system-that-eliminated-the-mental?ref=secretbreakfast.com) ⛽️They say [your next great meal may be at a gas station](https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/why-your-next-great-meal-may-be-at-a-gas-station/ar-AA24WOxI?ref=secretbreakfast.com) (I hope not) 🍪1-2-3 is the perfect formula for baking cookies (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/p/DZuVYwbEh%5F7/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🍜Time for some cold soy and chicken 50-30 noodles (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reels/DZfd2W4t1aD/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) ☕️A frothy maple syrup loaded coffe for your summer (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reels/DZfd2W4t1aD/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🌼If you don't like turmeric in cooking, you can use it for [painting](https://www.instagram.com/reels/DYSlxiixlHE/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🫖[8 Teas](https://www.instagram.com/p/DZ5AexulL%5FB/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) to taste the world 🐻Everything you need to know about [the final season of *The Bear*](https://www.express.co.uk/showbiz/tv-radio/2220036/the-bear-season-5-release-date-finale-disney-plus?ref=secretbreakfast.com), on Friday ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/White---19-.png) ### ### ['Why Can't You Eat When You Have a Crush?'](https://www.vittlesmagazine.com/p/why-cant-you-eat-when-you-have-a?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Sharanya Deepak / Vittles** Ok, first: I can. Second, I have to stop linking this stuff, but Vittles' essays are so good lately (you could chip in, btw). Take this one: a personal essay about appetite and romantic restraint - how desire and hunger mirror each other, and what it means to finally eat when you decide to stop shrinking. Beautifully written. One of those pieces that stays. [](https://www.foodandwine.com/good-guys-spritz-recipes-11724234?tag=travel&hid=b65c06b8bb54449e12b2324cde45cf069f804769&did=17544041-20250504&utm%5Fcampaign=faw-top10%5Fnewsletter&utm%5Fsource=faw&utm%5Fmedium=email&utm%5Fcontent=050425&lctg=b65c06b8bb54449e12b2324cde45cf069f804769&lr%5Finput=969bf86e4d337bb74ec41d7fc4fcb4cbce448adc9ea58fc46f58a8b14ca494da) --- ### [John Early Thinks Internet Food Is Weird](https://www.bonappetit.com/story/john-early-maddies-secret?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Sam Stone, Elizabeth Renstrom / Bon Appétit** The comedian dissects what he calls the odd eroticism of online food content, on the occasion of his dark comedy *Maddie's Secret* ([trailer](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IjfX8l5XrF8&ref=secretbreakfast.com)). Worth reading for anyone who's ever felt vaguely uncomfortable watching a close-up of butter melting. --- 🔥 Last week's most clicked link was the [Macau Ice-Cream Shop](https://www.instagram.com/p/DYbP3ztsX0O/?ref=secretbreakfast.com). And that's all for today. --- ### World Cup Treats and Lady Gaga's Oreos ⚽️ URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/world-cup-treats-and-lady-gagas-oreos/ Last updated: 2026-06-17T12:14:49.000Z ### Welcome to Secret Breakfast / The best place to start eating expensive junk food while watching football matches, dreaming about some sexy named drinks Hi there! I just noticed there's not much cooking in this issue, but many peculiar things. Hope you'll find the time to enjoy some. Have the best week. *Piero* --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/quote-transparent-1-1.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2026/06/slutty.png) ✹**Slutty Cheff**, in [*Slutty Cheff Tells Lena Dunham How She Went From Shitposter to Bestseller*](https://www.interviewmagazine.com/food/slutty-cheff-tells-lena-dunham-how-she-went-from-shitposter-to-bestseller?ref=secretbreakfast.com). --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/book-transparent-1.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2026/06/kay.jpg) #### **The Ultimate Guide to Baking Great Cakes (No Eggs, Milk, or Flour Required)* One of life’s little joys these days is clicking on a recipe link, landing on a Substack, and finding that the ingredients, measurements, and instructions aren’t locked behind a paywall (free market, creator economy—love it or hate it). That said, I recently fell head over heels for these ****Gluten-Free Carrot Cake Cheesecake Bars** ([★ recipe](%E2%98%85recipe)). The best part? The recipe was free. So, as a thank-you to Kat, I’m passing it on to you—and while I’m at it, I’ll mention she has an amazing baking cookbook out. Is it too hot to bake right now? Never. And let’s be honest: you probably don’t have enough gluten-free, lactose-free, **and* egg-free recipes in your repertoire, do you? [****The Elements of Baking: Making Any Recipe Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, Egg-Free or Vegan**](https://theloopywhisk.com/elements-of-baking-cookbook/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **by Katarina Cermelj** ****→ Shortplot:** 🥧 🍞 🍪 🍕 ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/White---22--1.png) ## The Most Expensive Food Joints Right Now ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2026/06/2fe16730-fbc7-4ebb-9a10-dceefe01e568.webp) Seven dollars for mineral water. A burger and fries at $24 in Houston. Chicken with bang bang sauce at $22 in Seattle (★[recipe](https://www.thekitchn.com/bang-bang-chicken-recipe-review-23782859?ref=secretbreakfast.com)), plus $13.49 if you want a pretzel. In Monterrey, Mexico, chicharron that sells for $4 on the street goes for $11.25 inside the stadium. Loaded pulled pork nachos in Boston: $13.38\. Canada's national treasure, poutine: $17.75, same price as fried pickles. Popcorn, a modest $11.75 (for ongoing pictures, go [here](https://x.com/FootyScran?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) The takeaway writes itself: World Cup stadium food is expensive. But I won't moralize about vendor margins or the economics of captive audiences, because that's not really the point. Nor will I tell you that, when I was young, stadiums were the ultimate "bring your own sandwich" places. Well, I just did it, because we live in the era where home food is forbidden in public places like arenas. Matches like these come with expensive tickets, flights, hotels, and yes, a $4 chicharron that somehow costs $11.25\. People know this "[shambolic](https://www.newsweek.com/world-cup-2026-fifa-fans-food-beer-prices-12069349?ref=secretbreakfast.com)" thing going in. They pay anyway, not because they've lost their minds, but because they've already decided this is a memory worth making. That's the counterintuitive truth about premium experiences: price stops being a measure of value and becomes part of the ritual. Nobody remembers what the nachos cost. They remember who they were with. PS: quick link for [the best World Cup 2026 recipes](https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/news-trends/best-world-cup-recipes?ref=secretbreakfast.com), if you happen to be somewhere else and be hungry. --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/op-transparent-1.png) Juicy content from food creators ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2026/06/shanxi.jpg) [Shanxi Oat Noodles and Lamb Bang Bang](https://www.instagram.com/p/DZpE%5F4PPK7f/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) by Mimi Wong (OMG, I love this) --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/Hunger-1.png) 🍹The Watermelon Sgroppino, the Lusty Nail (wtf?) and other Unmissable Summer Drinks (★[recipes](https://punchdrink.com/articles/best-summer-cocktail-recipes-2026/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🌳Pack a Picnic: Lidey Heuck's Guide to Eating Outdoors (★[recipes](https://food52.com/story/pack-a-picnic?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) ⏲️Yotam Ottolenghi's New Kitchen Design ([one](https://www.instagram.com/p/DZDB4UJiJUz/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) and [two](https://www.instagram.com/p/DZSRrbSmKiX/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🌶️ Illustrated [Chili Peppers of the World](https://www.notesfromtheroad.com/desertmexico/chili-peppers.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🫙 The Newest [EU Breakfast Directives](https://transition-pathways.europa.eu/agri-food/policies/breakfast-directives?ref=secretbreakfast.com) on your honey, jam, and fruit juice 🍨Take a look at this [old ice-cream parlor](https://www.instagram.com/p/DYbP3ztsX0O/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) in Macau🍦Kikkoman sauce, Illy coffee, McVities... Fashion designer [Anya Hindmarch](https://food52.com/story/ice-cream-project-by-anya-hindmarch?ref=secretbreakfast.com) turns British household brands into ice cream flavors 🚀[Cooking from Space](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izQ4FvVT57M&ref=secretbreakfast.com) with José Andrés 🥇The Full List of [James Beard Awards 2026 Restaurant and Chef Winners](https://www.eater.com/restaurant-news/967899/james-beard-awards-2026-restaurant-chef-winners?ref=secretbreakfast.com) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/White---19-.png) #### [Serving Biscuits in God's Kitchen](https://www.vittlesmagazine.com/p/serving-biscuits-in-gods-kitchen?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Anonymous / Vittles** An anonymous piece on running the refreshment table at London AA meetings. Food as ritual, as small act of care in a room full of fragility. Illustration by Sing Yun Lee. [](https://www.foodandwine.com/good-guys-spritz-recipes-11724234?tag=travel&hid=b65c06b8bb54449e12b2324cde45cf069f804769&did=17544041-20250504&utm%5Fcampaign=faw-top10%5Fnewsletter&utm%5Fsource=faw&utm%5Fmedium=email&utm%5Fcontent=050425&lctg=b65c06b8bb54449e12b2324cde45cf069f804769&lr%5Finput=969bf86e4d337bb74ec41d7fc4fcb4cbce448adc9ea58fc46f58a8b14ca494da) --- #### [Stop Eating Lady Gaga's Oreos](https://www.experimental-history.com/p/stop-eating-lady-gagas-oreos?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Adam Mastroianni / Experimental History** Pearl Jam refused to make music videos for five years. Now Iggy Pop sells insurance and the Chromatica Oreos flew off the shelves. Mastroianni traces how selling out lost its stigma, and argues it's because we swapped class envy for fame envy. We used to see ourselves as temporarily embarrassed millionaires. Now we see ourselves as temporarily unknown celebrities. --- 🔥 Last week's most clicked link was: [restaurant critics on 14 ways to order the perfect meal](https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2026/jun/04/always-have-starter-be-wary-specials-restaurant-critics-14-ways-order-perfect-meal?ref=secretbreakfast.com). And that's all for today. --- ### Libertines and Fancy Dips 🎨 URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/libertines-and-fancy-dips/ Last updated: 2026-06-10T12:41:50.000Z ### Welcome to Secret Breakfast / The best place to start living the best life among idlers and resters, bakers and guitarfish, because no journey is always better than the destination Hi there! I've read many interesting ideas recently. If you're in, here are two cues. [**The Difference Between Rest and Idleness**](https://idle.news/blog/on-the-difference-between-rest-and-idleness/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)**.** The wellness industry can sell *rest* because rest promises a return: buy the app, the retreat, the mattress, and you'll perform better. *Idleness* can't be sold. It refuses the premise. No return, no product, no pitch. You can sell a meditation app that reframes staring at rain as cortisol reduction, but the moment you buy that framing, you're not idle anymore. Secret Breakfast is on the *idle* side, I think. [**We Have Entered the Age of Presence**](https://maried.substack.com/p/back-to-life?ref=secretbreakfast.com)**.** We've optimized everything and now we're paying facilitators to help us feel alive in saunas and scream in groups. The search for presence has become its own industry, which is exactly the problem the idleness essay (👆🏻) warned about. Now, before you join a screaming club, let's talk about food. *Piero* --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/quote-transparent-1-1.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2026/06/eggers.png) ✹**Dave Eggers**, [*Contrapposto*](https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/768682/contrapposto-by-dave-eggers/?ref=secretbreakfast.com). A book about Midwestern kid, a golden-eyed girl, and a lifelong obsession with making art that actually means something. I just took the libertines quote as a reminder. --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/book-transparent-1.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2026/06/bakes.jpg) #### BakeBakeBake [Martin Sorge](https://www.instagram.com/martinsorge/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) won **The Great American Baking Show*. He started by setting the microwave on fire. This book is the long way back from that. Over 100 recipes, sweet and savory, anchored in the American Midwest and his German family roots. Not a technique manual: Sorge tells you how to swap in rye flour or rescue a pavlova without turning every note into a lecture. The standouts are the reworked classics: Malted Cinnamon Rolls, Creamsicle Cake, Chicago Dog Focaccia. And the Sweet Corn Milk Bread, which is really just a lesson in not overthinking a good ingredient. [****Great Bakes: Modern Classic Recipes from the Midwest**](https://www.agatepublishing.com/9781572843677/great-bakes/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **by Martin Sorge** ****→ Shortplot:** 🎂 🌽 🌭 🥧 ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/White---22--1.png) ## It's Not the Journey. Ask Your Soufflé ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2026/06/alison-pang-VKsZn10EC7E-unsplash-1.jpg) Photo by [Alison Pang](https://unsplash.com/@alisonpang?utm%5Fsource=unsplash&utm%5Fmedium=referral&utm%5Fcontent=creditCopyText) on [Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/photos/white-ceramic-bowl-on-brown-wooden-table-VKsZn10EC7E?utm%5Fsource=unsplash&utm%5Fmedium=referral&utm%5Fcontent=creditCopyText) (ok, also a ★[good lemony recipe](https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1015594-lemon-souffle?unlocked%5Farticle%5Fcode=1.pFA.%5FDjK.jgU8S8cPGKf3&smid=share-url&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) If I had a penny for every time someone said **"it's the journey, not the destination"**, I could probably afford to skip the journey entirely and just fly first class. And honestly, how do you argue with it? In our linear vision of existence, *the journey is life, the end is death*. Better to live than to die, right? Or think about food: it's the meal that matters, the sequence of courses, the slow unfolding of flavors. Not the burnt espresso that arrives at the very end. And yet, every summer, most of us face the same old dilemma: what matters more, the destination or the way you get there? The place you want to see, or the roads you'll cross to reach it? We all nod in agreement. The roads, obviously. The encounters, the surprises, the wrong turns that turn out right. The journey. **But what if this were an illusion?** Consider the kitchen. A broth simmered for six hours doesn't taste of the journey. It tastes of the arrival. The Maillard reaction that transforms a raw surface into a crust doesn't care about the process. It cares about the exact moment of contact, the precise temperature, the outcome. A soufflé is not a meditation on heat. It's a result. Either it rises or it doesn't. Ask any chef worth their salt: you can have the most mindful, artisanal, slow-food process in the world. If the plate is wrong - a Metallica fan would say - *nothing else matters*. I've been rewatching *Shōgun* these days. The series is set in feudal Japan, where poetry is not decoration but strategy. In one episode, Mariko, a noblewoman navigating an impossible fate, offers a small poem: "Flowers are only flowers because they fall". It stops me every time. Flowers are flowers not because they bloom, but because they fall. **The destination defines the thing. The ending gives it meaning.** **The beauty is in the ending. The destination is everything.** So this summer, when you're stuck in traffic on the highway, kids screaming in the back seat, the GPS recalculating for the third time: maybe the journey isn't the point after all. Maybe the point is arriving somewhere that makes all of that worth it. Have a good holiday. Whatever road you take to get there. --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/op-transparent-1.png) Juicy content from food creators ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2026/06/tebleau.jpg) [Tableau Paris Dip](https://www.instagram.com/p/DYcjrVXMhXf/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) (terrific page, check it out) --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/Hunger-1.png) 🍋rozen Lemon Spaghetti! (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/p/DZUgWZRi%5Fd-/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🎖️ [Snail farming, a fish named Guitarfish](https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/jun/08/ghana-endangered-guitarfish-sharks-rays-fins-conservation-snail-farming?ref=secretbreakfast.com) and the challenge of protecting a critically endangered ancient species 🥢A Damn Good Way to Bake Snacks with One Chopstick (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/p/DZFScbytET7/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🍽️ [14 Ways to Order the Perfect Meal](https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2026/jun/04/always-have-starter-be-wary-specials-restaurant-critics-14-ways-order-perfect-meal?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🔴 The Best Beetroot Recipes (★[recipes](https://www.gourmettraveller.com.au/recipe-collections/beetroot-recipes-16336/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🫙 Crusts, Seeds and Savòr (★[recipe](https://foodforsoul.it/recipe/crusts-seeds-and-savor/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) ⛪️[What Would Jesus Drink?](https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/jun/04/jesus-christian-energy-drink?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🇬🇧[What your favorite London restaurant says about you matrix](https://www.instagram.com/p/DZU2T3yISCf/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🍒Cherrie Bedtime Dessert (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/p/DZVJQlQKUs%5F/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🍲The Summer Fish Broth You Must Try: Sinigang Na Hipon (★[recipe](https://www.foodandwine.com/sinigang-na-hipon-11986031?hid=b65c06b8bb54449e12b2324cde45cf069f804769&did=24063983-20260609&lctg=b65c06b8bb54449e12b2324cde45cf069f804769&lr%5Finput=969bf86e4d337bb74ec41d7fc4fcb4cbce448adc9ea58fc46f58a8b14ca494da&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/White---19-.png) #### [I Fed the People Building the Metaverse](https://yeastconfections.substack.com/p/i-fed-the-people-building-the-metaverse?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Titty Boobowitz** A cook reflects on what it means to feed the people building virtual worlds, at Meta. On AI, male ego, and the moment she stopped believing technology was magic. Kudos to the pen name of the author. --- #### [Pickiness Tastes Like Trauma](https://www.oaklandreviewofbooks.org/picky-book-review/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Amy Brown / Oakland Review of Books** How American children became the fussiest eaters in history. An essay connecting selective eating, trauma, and the privilege of not dying. --- 🔥 Last week's most clicked link was about [The Viral Dot Cake](https://www.instagram.com/reels/DYslEKBsfc8/?ref=secretbreakfast.com). And that's all for today. --- ### Bear Fat Caramel and Dot Cake Extravaganza 🐻 URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/bear-fat-caramel-and-dot-cake-extravaganza/ Last updated: 2026-06-03T11:51:19.000Z ### Welcome to Secret Breakfast / The best place to start eating queer cold noodles, food from demolished cities, and viral cupped calories ### Hi there! I don't have much to say. The other day I bought something like 3,000 [shiso](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shiso?ref=secretbreakfast.com) seeds, planning to grow them on a piece of land in the countryside. Except I wasn't there long enough to see them sprout. The same thing - maybe it happens to you too - happens with other things in life. You start something but you don't really know if it will bear fruit, if you'll be around when it does, or if you'll just end up with a bad result because you didn't follow the instructions closely enough (guilty!). But within limits, there's something good about letting yourself take a leap. And hoping that, despite everything, maybe there's a surprise waiting in a future you haven't met yet. Right? *Piero* --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/quote-transparent-1-1.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2026/06/asako.png) ✹**Yuzuki Asako**, [*Butter*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Butter%5F%28novel%29?ref=secretbreakfast.com). If you've lost that, it's a good novel. Food and feminism, murder and Japan. What else do you need? --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/book-transparent-1.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2026/06/fiesta-1.jpg) #### Fiesta! Fiesta! Fiesta! This one is a recipe book born from a collaboration between nine Barcelona kitchens and Shanghai fashion brand Short Sentence, made for the launch of their summer capsule collection. Three chapters (The Classics, A New Take, From the Sea) move through Catalan staples and Mediterranean riffs, all built to cook at home. Each recipe comes with an off-menu conversation between the editor and the chef, local and international, trained and self-taught, talking about what keeps them cooking. The kind of superfluous object you didn't know you needed until it was already in your hands. [****Fiesta: a collection of Spanish Recipes**](https://www.offmenumag.com/shop/fiesta-a-collection-of-spanish-recipes-off-menu-short-sentence?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **(Off-Menu x Short Sentence)** ****→ Shortplot:** 🇪🇸 🐟 🥘 🍷 ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/White---22--1.png) ## Lemon, chicken and nostalgia ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2026/06/chick.webp) This one's from the anime, but you get the idea I spent the last few days lost inside [*Kowloon Generic Romance*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kowloon%5FGeneric%5FRomance?ref=secretbreakfast.com) by Jun Mayuzuki. The story unfolds in a kind of "miniature mega-city": crumbling tower blocks stacked and pressed against each other, no space between. It was somewhere around volume 5 that I started wondering if a place like that had ever really existed. Mea culpa. [Kowloon did exist, just outside Hong Kong](https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/gallery/2024/nov/19/inside-kowloon-walled-city-in-pictures?ref=secretbreakfast.com). At its peak in 1990, it housed around 50,000 people in 2.7 hectares, making it the most densely populated place on Earth. Demolition began in March 1993 and was completed in April 1994\. In the manga (there's also an anime and a live action) food matters a lot. Certain flavors matter. Nostalgia is basically a main character. Why am I telling you this? First, because it's a beautiful story. Second, because it will make you want Hong Kong-style Lemon Chicken (★[recipe](https://howtocook.jp/language/en/sklxwhseupu-en/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)). Third, because if you smoke, it will make you want to try the watermelon-and-cigarette pairing. Please don't smoke, though. This week went like this. *Kowloon Generic Romance.* Wow. --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/op-transparent-1.png) Juicy content from food creators ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2026/06/tomato.jpg) [Tiny Tomato Galettes](https://www.instagram.com/p/DZGZu32lgzi/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) by @emmarj16 @tinaccorrea --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/Hunger-1.png) 🗺️ [Dua Lipa](https://x.com/googlemaps/status/2059999711789031532?ref=secretbreakfast.com)'s favorite spots 🎂 So, this dumb [Dot Cake went viral](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DYslEKBsfc8/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) (★ lemony [recipe](https://themodernnonna.com/viral-dot-cake/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🐟 [Grinded anchovies into your burger](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DY7sMpPBXHq/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🥒 15-min miso pickle (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/p/DYS-gRfAVls/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🫧 [Black seaweed caviar, quick](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DXPRyJxg5Su/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🍕 [38 best restaurants in Rome](https://www.eater.com/maps/best-restaurants-rome-italy?ref=secretbreakfast.com), 99% approved by a random local (me) 🫘 [Dense bean salad](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/02/dining/dense-bean-salad.html?unlocked%5Farticle%5Fcode=1.nVA.i1nv.QBWNT-aEU7TG&smid=url-share&ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🍷 Comrades, [Stalin's Georgian wine collection up for auction](https://www.independent.co.uk/bulletin/news/georgia-stalin-wine-auction-school-b2985933.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🍉 Watermelon and lime in tajin sugar (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/p/DZBLLNVkaZD/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🍜 It's Pride Month, have some Queer cold noodles (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/p/DZDkhSxEiq3/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🍅 Tiny tomato galette (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/p/DZGZu32lgzi/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🐻 Roar, [Bear fat caramel](https://www.instagram.com/p/DZCm-JrCFNA/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) \- chill, you don't need a bear 🌿 150 kcal summer rolls (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DZF%5FyDVpMIM/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🧈 Translate in your language these 5 savory biscuits (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DYe6BEloH3S/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) ⚫️Like dots? Like music? Like masked people? Maybe you'll love [Angine de Poitrine's newest album](https://www.youtube.com/@AnginePoitrine/videos?ref=secretbreakfast.com), everybody is talking about it ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/White---19-.png) [](https://www.foodandwine.com/good-guys-spritz-recipes-11724234?tag=travel&hid=b65c06b8bb54449e12b2324cde45cf069f804769&did=17544041-20250504&utm%5Fcampaign=faw-top10%5Fnewsletter&utm%5Fsource=faw&utm%5Fmedium=email&utm%5Fcontent=050425&lctg=b65c06b8bb54449e12b2324cde45cf069f804769&lr%5Finput=969bf86e4d337bb74ec41d7fc4fcb4cbce448adc9ea58fc46f58a8b14ca494da) ### [One Night at the "Most Interesting Dinner Party in the World"](https://www.bonappetit.com/story/explorers-club-annual-dinner?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Sam Stone / Bon Appétit** An inside look at the Explorer's Club Annual Dinner, the most exclusive and bizarre feast in the world. A ritual where adventure, taxidermy, and extreme food collide. --- 🔥 Last week's most clicked link was [The Best Housewarming Gifts](https://www.eater.com/24372860/best-housewarming-gifts?ref=secretbreakfast.com) by Eater. And that's all for today. --- ### Tea Bricks and Lazy Sushi 🧱 URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/tea-bricks-and-heretical-pasta/ Last updated: 2026-05-27T11:31:16.000Z ### Welcome to Secret Breakfast / The best place to slurp coffee noodles, cook heretical pasta, and learn that to be scheduled is to be loved Hi there! Interesting idea by Tanya, I've found around: [To be scheduled is to be loved](https://www.instagram.com/p/DYVIYtSE7ul?ref=secretbreakfast.com). As in: > To be scheduled is to be considered amid the logistical chaos of adult life. > It means someone looked at an overcommitted week full of workouts, > errands, social obligations, unread texts and the general rigmarole of existing, and still decided to make room for you. I suppose that is devotion. Personally, the idea of someone managing MY time has always felt... wrong. And yet this one stayed with me. Maybe I've been looking at it from the wrong angle. Or maybe not. Still thinking. *Piero* --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/quote-transparent-1-1.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2026/05/pope.png) ✹Pope Leo XIV's first encyclical, [*Magnifica humanitas: On Safeguarding the Human Person in the Time of Artificial Intelligence*](https://www.vatican.va/content/leo-xiv/en/encyclicals/documents/20260515-magnifica-humanitas.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com). That quote just fits a food newsletter. Limits are part of cooking: seasonality, the missing ingredient, the technique that doesn't quite work. That's exactly where something real gets made. But consider this: the encyclical is full of sharp insights on humanity and its relationship with technology and AI. I haven't read it all yet, but Leo XIV already sounds like the kind of freedom-minded, anti-system thinker I tend to like. See him like an antagonist professor, not just a religious figure. --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/book-transparent-1.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2026/05/Giulia-1.jpg) #### Extraordinary veg Giulias's follow-up to her first - five stars for me - **Cucina Povera* carries the same premise: Italian home cooking is mostly about vegetables, and Italians are quietly excellent at them. Eggplant Parmesan, Panzanella, Caponata, Braised Artichokes, Fennel Gratin. Simple things done right. Her [website](https://julskitchen.com/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) is a gold mine of excellent recipes you should already know. Remember: Italian cooking, where the ingredients do most of the work, but you must be smart enough to not to spoil them. [****Vegetables the Italian Way: Turning Simple and Fresh into Extraordinary**](https://en.julskitchen.com/cookbooks/vegetables-the-italian-way?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **by Giulia Scarpaleggia, photos Tommaso Galli** ****→ Shortplot:** 🍅 🥬 🍆 🍞 **Disclaimer: I did receive a complimentary copy from the US by the publisher Artisan (which is a little absurd given that Giulia is cooking a few hundred kilometers from where I'm writing this).* ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/White---22--1.png) ## Tea as a Brick ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2026/05/2020-puer-sheng-pu-ancient-tree-stone-pressed-cake-606097.webp) The thing I bought that surprised me I had no idea brick tea was a thing until a post showed up on my feed on the Fediverse (via [Chris Trottier](https://atomicpoet.org/@atomicpoet/posts/B6Ut195R1ArKpoBgcy?ref=secretbreakfast.com)). Pressed into dense cakes or bricks, [Pu'er](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pu'er%5Ftea?ref=secretbreakfast.com) comes from ancient trees in Yunnan, southern China, and has been traded along the Tea Horse Road for centuries — compact enough to carry, valuable enough to use as currency. What makes it unlike any other tea is time. **Raw Pu'er, called *sheng***, is left to age and ferment slowly, growing more complex year by year, the way a good wine does. The other kind, ***shou*, is artificially fermented to speed the process:** earthier, softer, some say "less interesting". You brew it in a *gaiwan*, a small lidded cup that lets you control every steeping second by second, and you drink it in rounds, not in one long mug. I happened to have a tea-specialized shop a few minutes from home. I walked in, asked questions, and walked out with a [2020 Lunan Sheng Pu'er](https://easternleaves.com/products/2020-puer-sheng-pu-ancient-tree-brick-100gr?ref=secretbreakfast.com): stone-pressed, ancient trees, 100 grams for around $50\. *(Yes, I know. It's a lot, but you use 3 grams per brew, and one brew can be renewed about 8-10 times; plus the paper package is super-cool)* You can spend less on younger leaves, but you'd be buying a different experience. What I got in the cup was nothing like what I expected. Floral, peachy, mineral, shifting with each infusion. Less like tea, more like a tasting. Closer to opening a bottle of Chablis than to anything that happens at 5pm. If you are even mildly curious about tea, this is where to start a new journey. --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/op-transparent-1.png) Juicy content from food creators ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2026/05/jelly.jpg) [Jelly coffee noodles](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DYKUnbkgF7u/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) by Andrew & Serena --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/Hunger-1.png) 👯 The Bathtub, The Jacuzzi, The Beach Bonfire are among [the 5 kind of friends you need](https://www.instagram.com/p/DYgG4IWjJRX?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🍝 [Heretical Pasta](https://www.jefftk.com/p/heretical-pasta?ref=secretbreakfast.com), a different way to assemble it 🍜 Sobameshi Yakisoba and fried rice in one pan(★[recipe](https://www.chopstickchronicles.com/sobameshi/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🥗 Best Ina Garten Potato Salad Recipes (★[recipes](https://storeboughtisfineblog.wpcomstaging.com/2026/05/20/best-ina-garten-potato-salad-recipes-a-complete-ranking/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🍵 [Pink Tea With Baking Soda](https://social.emucafe.org/naferrell/pink-tea-with-baking-soda-05-26-26/?ref=secretbreakfast.com), Kashmiri style 🧅Biryani butter (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reels/DXb4lhbBEmN/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🥜 Peanut butter ganache (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reels/DYpS60lsGQb/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🥯Edible bread bouquet (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reels/DYP9CnOAdIk/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🍡Passion fruit mochi (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reels/DYKUnbkgF7u/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🍣 A Gross - but tasty - Lazy sushi (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reels/DYy74MzR7ua/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🥣 Vegan Ranch Dressing (★[recipe](https://nathanupchurch.com/blog/vegan-ranch-dressing/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🎁 [The 37 Best Housewarming Gifts for Food Lovers](https://www.eater.com/24372860/best-housewarming-gifts?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🎧 Need some [bar white noise](https://cafe.pauwee.com/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🇰🇷The CNN Korean food show you could love: [K-Everything](https://edition.cnn.com/world/k-everything?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🎼[*Chef Eats Last*](https://insitze.com/chef-eats-last-single-official-liner-notes/?ref=secretbreakfast.com), a single by Alex ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/White---19-.png) ### [FoodTok has replaced traditional restaurant reviews. Are we forgetting how to really describe food?](https://slate.com/life/2026/05/tiktok-food-restaurant-reviewers-keith-lee.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Maggie Hennessy / Slate** Food criticism has flattened into "fire" and "bussin". Slate looks at what gets lost when food language stops describing and becomes pure reaction. Does a shared vocabulary for talking about food still exist, or are we reinventing it every time? --- 🔥 Last week's most clicked link was [how to wrap onigiri](https://www.instagram.com/reels/DXPOfv6joHi/?ref=secretbreakfast.com). And that's all for today. --- GEEKY TIP OF THE DAY Each issue also lands on the fediverse at [@newsletter@secretbreakfast.com](https://secretbreakfast.com/) (more about that, [here](https://secretbreakfast.com/follow-secret-breakfast-fediverse/)). If you don't know what the fediverse is: think of it as a social network no one owns, where you can follow accounts on completely different platforms. No algorithm, just people. You should try, it's liberating. ### The other secret way to follow Secret Breakfast URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/follow-secret-breakfast-fediverse/ Last updated: 2026-05-21T16:00:00.000Z ### Use the fediverse, the most beautiful part of the internet many don't know yet. --- There's a way to follow this newsletter that most of you don't know exists. It doesn't require a new inbox. It doesn't require another subscription. And it puts you in control of what you read, for once. It's called the fediverse. And you already understand it. Think about email for a second. You have a Gmail address. Your friend uses iCloud. Your colleague is on a company server somewhere in Frankfurt. Different services, different apps, different providers. And yet, you write to each other without thinking about it. Nobody asks: "are you on Gmail too?" You just send the email. The fediverse works the same way. ## A network of networks The fediverse is a collection of social platforms that can talk to each other. Mastodon, Pixelfed, Flipboard, PeerTube: they all speak the same underlying language, called ActivityPub. Your account lives on one platform. Someone else's lives on another. You follow each other anyway. Just like email. The address looks a bit different: instead of `name@service.com` you get `@name@service.com`. Two @ signs. The first part is your username, the second is where your account lives. ## Why it matters Every social network you've used in the last fifteen years was built on the same assumption: you come here, you stay here, and we own the relationship. Twitter decided what you saw. Facebook decided who you could reach. Instagram decided whether a post was worth showing. The platform was the product, and you were inside it. The fediverse breaks that assumption. Your account is yours. If the platform you chose closes down or turns hostile, you move elsewhere. Your followers come with you. The content stays yours. > No algorithm deciding your reach. No company selling your attention. ## It's not perfect The fediverse is decentralized, which means it's also a little rough around the edges. Onboarding is less smooth. Features vary by platform. Choosing a server when you sign up feels unnecessarily complicated at first. But these are early-internet problems, not fundamental ones. The protocol works. The community is real. The content is good. And unlike every social network that promised to be different, the fediverse's independence isn't a feature they can take away. It's the architecture. ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2026/05/Untitled-design--1-.png) ## How to follow Secret Breakfast this way Mastodon is the simplest entry point. Go to [joinmastodon.org](https://joinmastodon.org/?ref=secretbreakfast.com), pick a server, sign up in five minutes. Then search for `@newsletter@secretbreakfast.com` and follow it. Each new issue lands directly in your feed. No extra inbox. No algorithm in the way. I built this because I wanted to give you a way to read that nobody owns. If you've been here for a while, it's worth trying. It feels like the internet used to feel, before everything became a platform. --- *Secret Breakfast is a weekly newsletter on food, cooking, and the culture around eating. You can now follow it for free via this* [*website*](https://secretbreakfast.com/)*, by email, on the* [*fediverse*](https://secretbreakfast.com/follow-secret-breakfast-fediverse/) *(at @newsletter@secretbreakfast.com) and via* [*RSS*](https://secretbreakfast.com/rss/)*.* ### Tomato-maniacs and Watermelon Rind Candies 🍉 URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/tomato-maniacs-and-watermelon-rind-candies/ Last updated: 2026-05-20T12:42:43.000Z ### Welcome to Secret Breakfast / The best place to see CEOs as noodle slurpers, racists as cello players, and Japanese as pizza makers Hi there! Who forgot today was publishing day? Damn, I did. *Piero* --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/quote-transparent-1-1.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2026/05/felicity.png) ✹**Felicity Cloake**, *One More Croissant for the Road*, but she's actually out with a new novel [*The Underdog*](https://harpercollins.co.uk/products/the-underdog-felicity-cloake?ref=secretbreakfast.com). Main ingredients: food and dogs. --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/book-transparent-1.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2026/05/9780520409149.jpg) #### ****Tomayto, tomahto** One reason this book is here: tomatoes are largely the vegetable I use more. 70% of the times the ones I buy are not so great but they're like a passepartout in the Mediterranean cooking. What I did not know that [this ordinary ingredient became a symbol of collective complaint](https://foreignpolicy.com/2025/11/07/egypt-tomato-price-food-agriculture-culinary-history?ref=secretbreakfast.com) everywhere, and in Egypt. But why complain, now? Let's try some tomato jam (★[recipe](https://cookingwithgaul.com/2024/12/30/sweet-tomato-jam/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)), a Tasbikassoulet, as in French stew Egyptian technique (★[recipe](https://cookingwithgaul.com/2023/02/27/tasbikassoulet/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)), a refreshing lentil soup (★[recipe](https://cookingwithgaul.com/2025/09/21/turn-up-the-tomato-a-lentil-soup-for-cooler-days/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) or some Circassian Chicken with Walnut Sauce (★[recipe](https://cookingwithgaul.com/2016/02/24/sharkasiyya-circassian-chicken-with-walnut-sauce/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)). [****Nile Nightshade. An Egyptian Culinary History of the Tomato**](https://www.annygaul.com/nilenightshade?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **by Anny Gaul** ****→ Shortplot:** 💦 🍅 🇪🇬 🥫 ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/White---22--1.png) ## When in Beijing, skip Trump, find your noodles ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2026/05/jensen-1.jpg) One of the lords of the earth right now, Jen-Hsun "Jensen" Huang, the man who runs NVIDIA, was caught on camera doing something quietly spectacular. While Donald Trump was visiting China for the kind of ceremonial pomp that no one really enjoys, [Huang slipped away to eat a bowl of zhajiangmian](https://apnews.com/article/jensen-huang-food-tour-beijing-7f45e7f09ce6ec17f8bd83afd600f1dc?ref=secretbreakfast.com) (★[recipe](https://thewoksoflife.com/beijing-fried-sauce-noodles-zha-jiang-mian/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)). NVIDIA matters in the world of AI the way an oil company mattered in the 1970s. Its GPUs are the engines that train large language models: without them, there's no ChatGPT, no Claude, no image generators, no autonomous driving systems worth the name. Huang didn't build a chip company. He built the infrastructure on which modern intelligence runs. [The restaurant](https://guide.michelin.com/en/beijing-municipality/beijing/restaurant/no-69-fangzhuanchang-zhajiangmian?ref=secretbreakfast.com) was packed. So Huang ended up outside, on the street, slurping his fermented bean paste noodles in front of cameras and smartphones pointed straight at him. Now, do I believe this wasn't a PR move? Of course not. It was absolutely a PR move. But it was a *good* PR move, which is rarer than it sounds. And there's a detail that I actually respect: the man handled his chopsticks. Anyone who's attacked a bowl of zhajiangmian knows the sauce has no mercy. I would have destroyed that leather jacket in the first 13 seconds. --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/op-transparent-1.png) Juicy content from food creators ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2026/05/candies.jpg) [Cherry jelly candies](https://www.instagram.com/reels/DYe7gigItL4/?ref=secretbreakfast.com), inspired by Japanese kohakutou by De La Rosée --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/Hunger-1.png) 🍕Surprise, [the best pizza in NYC](https://nypost.com/2026/05/12/lifestyle/nycs-best-pizza-is-at-pizza-studio-tamaki/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) is at a new Japanese restaurant 🇮🇷A Spring-Inspired Tachin with Peas & Greens (★[recipe](https://ariellenir.substack.com/p/a-spring-inspired-tachin-with-peas?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🥯I tried to get a recipe from [this article](https://www.eastlondonlines.co.uk/2020/05/brick-lanes-beigel-bake-reveals-recipe-for-iconic-bagels-for-stay-at-home-bakers/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) about my favorite London Bagel Shop (spoiler: bagel were very good, but zero resemblance to the original) 🎩When Ryan Gosling was proud of [using ice in the blender and make his hummus creamier](https://x.com/bluntemly/status/2056524241680453840?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🍣Sushi Muffins, love them or hate them (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reels/DXXi6yTDZLn/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🍙Five ways to wrap onigiri (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reels/DXPOfv6joHi/?ref=secretbreakfast.com), sort of) 🍉Watermelon Rind Candies (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reels/DXPOfv6joHi/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🥓WTF, Anti-Muslim Scottish-Korean cellist Ryan Williams [played with bacon on his shoulders](https://www.weareresonate.com/2026/05/hung-like-a-chipmunk-balls-to-fight-islam-scottish-korean-wears-bacon-to-play-cello-at-unite-the-kingdom-rally/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/White---19-.png) ### [The feed is fake](https://www.msn.com/en-us/music/news/the-feed-is-fake/ar-AA23gAsO?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Lane Brown / The New York Magazine (via MSN)** Most of what trends in food online follows the same logic described in this article. A clipping campaign costs one dollar per thousand views. The algorithm reads the spike as genuine interest. Real people start cooking the same dish. The kohakutou, the butter boards, the Dubai chocolate, the "authentic" grandma recipe with 40 million views... you have no way of knowing if anyone actually discovered them, or if someone manufactured the discovery. Your feed doesn't show you what people are eating. It shows you what someone paid to make look like what people are eating. [](https://www.foodandwine.com/good-guys-spritz-recipes-11724234?tag=travel&hid=b65c06b8bb54449e12b2324cde45cf069f804769&did=17544041-20250504&utm%5Fcampaign=faw-top10%5Fnewsletter&utm%5Fsource=faw&utm%5Fmedium=email&utm%5Fcontent=050425&lctg=b65c06b8bb54449e12b2324cde45cf069f804769&lr%5Finput=969bf86e4d337bb74ec41d7fc4fcb4cbce448adc9ea58fc46f58a8b14ca494da) --- 🔥 Last week's most clicked link was [52 writers and the sandwich of their lives](https://www.theguardian.com/food/2026/may/10/52-writers-on-the-best-sandwich-of-their-life?ref=secretbreakfast.com). And that's all for today. --- ### Snack Tins and Lifesaving Panini 🥜 URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/snack-tins-and-lifesaving-panini/ Last updated: 2026-05-13T12:14:55.000Z ### Welcome to Secret Breakfast / The best place to start cooking punk spaghetti, while freezing pickles and talking to yourself in your favorite fast-food Hi there! I'm having a supermarket 100% fake Greek salad while sending this. At least the company is good. Enjoy your week more than me! *Piero* --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/quote-transparent-1-1.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2026/05/Ana-Huang--King-of-Gluttony.png) ✹**Ana Huang**, with this [*King of Gluttony*](https://anahuang.com/books/king-of-gluttony/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) (book 6 of a saga I'm not familiar with) she's #3 in *The New York Times* bestseller's list. But you find this quote here because I often don't set knives on the table when I think what I've cooked doesn't need one. Apparently, it saves my life too. --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/book-transparent-1.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2026/05/obs-1.jpg) #### The Best is Yet to Come Reading this cookbook felt like when I started learning English and couldn't tell an American accent from one from Cambridge. Everything sounds like cooking, but the results are worlds apart. Now I get that same feeling watching Ella Quittner compare twenty versions of the same scrambled egg. **Obsessed with the Best* is what happens when someone refuses to stop asking why. Quittner traveled from Alabama to Tokyo to figure out the single right answer for biscuits, meatballs, roast chicken. The book delivers 24 head-to-head method tests and 100 recipes built on that research. It also reads like a essay collection, with reported pieces on people who share her particular flavor of obsession. [****Obsessed with the Best**](https://www.harpercollins.com/products/obsessed-with-the-best-ella-quittner?variant=43735901372450&ref=secretbreakfast.com) **by Ella Quittner** ****→ Shortplot:** ⚖️ 🍪 🙀 🥞 ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/White---22--1.png) ## Welcome to the Haunted House ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2026/05/brad.jpg) The whole scene from **Burnt* is [here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCXIyygYb90&ref=secretbreakfast.com) In [one of my favorite films](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2503944/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) — widely panned by critics — Bradley Cooper plays a troubled chef who conducts a job interview with a talented cook at a London Burger King (it was clearly a product placement, but stay with me). When she asks why there, he says: **«This place is easy, accessible, cheap, it's easy to find and they don't kick you out if you talk to yourself, which for me is crucial».** In a book published in Italy, a brilliant and underrated writer named [Tommaso Labranca](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tommaso%5FLabranca?ref=secretbreakfast.com) dedicated the acknowledgments of his novel *Haiducii* to the regulars of a McDonald's restaurant in Milan — low income migrant people from dozens of different countries — where he had written most of the manuscript. Now, also in Italy (forgive the navel-gazing, but I think this lands closer to home than it seems), the writer Claudia Durastanti has published an essay on exactly this in the excellent magazine [*L'Integrale*](https://www.lintegralerivista.it/titoli/capitale/?ref=secretbreakfast.com), published by [Iperborea](https://iperborea.com/?ref=secretbreakfast.com). Her argument: **as cities get devoured by the hunger for authenticity and good food becomes a luxury, the people left behind find shelter in the very places that supposedly represent everything wrong with how we eat. Fast food chains.** Or, I'd add, terrible bars. What Durastanti calls "haunted houses", as in... places you go not for the food, but to get cheap comfort you for a while. Honestly? I think about this almost every day. Which probably says something about me. Or about the city I live in. Does it happen where you live too? **P.S.** Two small ideas worth sitting with: some cities have started turning fast food spaces into hybrid community hubs, cheap food, free wifi, no judgment on how long you stay. And some chefs and restaurateurs are quietly pricing one or two dishes for the neighborhood, not the algorithm. Neither fixes the system. Both are a start. --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/op-transparent-1.png) Juicy content from food creators ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2026/05/monet.jpg) [Monet Style Baking](https://www.instagram.com/p/DXntg1HEVXk/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/Hunger-1.png) 🥪 [52 Writers on the Best Sandwich of Their Life](https://www.theguardian.com/food/2026/may/10/52-writers-on-the-best-sandwich-of-their-life?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🥫 [Oh my God I love the snack tin](https://www.instagram.com/p/DYP%5FZT3CF-J/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🥧Yuzu-miso glazed asparagus tart with feta (★[recipe](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvqTXNKnkgw&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🛒 [America's Hottest New Club Is The Grocery Store.](https://www.saveur.com/culture/grocery-stores-nightlife/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) What? 🥒 [Freeze your pickle](https://www.instagram.com/p/DYKMkeloMFf/?ref=secretbreakfast.com), someone had to say it 🧊Since you're there: try some [Fruit Ice-Maxxing](https://www.instagram.com/p/DYARXybil4l/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) (and, please, stop using the expression *maxxing*) 🫖Earl-Grey Syrup (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reels/DXfcRu4uWLx/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🌊 Try this Mediterranean summer, fig and yogurt cake (★[recipe](https://www.vogue.com/article/melanie-masarin-cookbook-interview?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🍞 The sexiest rolls are these [Bread Packs](https://x.com/BiancoDavinci/status/2052053411764281549?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🎬 [Inside Grand Abandoned Cinemas](https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/gallery/2026/may/11/fade-to-black-inside-us-abandoned-cinemas-movie-theaters?ref=secretbreakfast.com) ⏲️Inside [The Midcentury Kitchen](https://tracydurnell.com/2025/03/18/read-the-midcentury-kitchen/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🎸 *The Punkest Food Picture of the Day*: Italian band [Skiantos at Bologna Rock, 1979](https://x.com/klara%5Fsjo/status/2053885133321613618?ref=secretbreakfast.com) set up a full kitchen on stage, cooked spaghetti, ate it, left. No music performed ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/White---19-.png) ### [What I Learned When I Became Food](https://www.saveur.com/culture/becoming-food/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Jess Mayhugh / Saveur** For years she wrote about food. Then she had a baby, and food wrote back. A tender, unsettling essay about the moment a cook becomes the ingredient. --- 🔥 Last week's most clicked link was [The Met Gala Full Menu](https://food.ndtv.com/news/full-menu-of-met-gala-2026-a-garden-inspired-dinner-that-turned-food-into-art-11450824?ref=secretbreakfast.com). And that's all for today. *Disclosure: I received a copy of L'Integrale for editorial review. I also contributed to the magazine a few years back.* --- ### Mother's Day Brunch and Cherry Rose Compote 🌹 URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/mothers-day-brunch-and-cherry-rose-compote/ Last updated: 2026-05-06T11:31:39.000Z ### Welcome to Secret Breakfast / The best place to start making notebooks from fish skin, Gorgonzola croquettes, and bake a witchy focaccia Hi there! Last weekend I had some free time — and instead of hunting links for this newsletter I fell into a rabbit hole: self-hosting. A way to reduce platform dependency and reclaim some privacy. Also a way to waste a lot of time. What can I say? [A project will save you](https://rojospinks.substack.com/p/a-project-will-save-you?ref=secretbreakfast.com). *Piero* --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/quote-transparent-1-1.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2026/05/decolonial.png) ✹**Decolonial Thoughts**, found here: [*Food as a Weapon*](https://www.instagram.com/p/DXzqk37mcYe/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) (Guerilla mood: activated). --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/White---22--1.png) ## Cook solo, remove pressure ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2026/05/eduard-galitsky-VFGrtfjmuJ8-unsplash--1-.jpg) Photo by [Eduard Galitsky](https://unsplash.com/@echogolf?utm%5Fsource=unsplash&utm%5Fmedium=referral&utm%5Fcontent=creditCopyText) on [Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/photos/a-person-cooking-food-in-a-wooden-stall-VFGrtfjmuJ8?utm%5Fsource=unsplash&utm%5Fmedium=referral&utm%5Fcontent=creditCopyText) Start with yourself on the stove: cooking solo is an act of self-care, not solitude. **«When you cook just for yourself alone you remove pressure, you remove performance anxiety and you can concentrate unselfconsciously on the process itself»**, says Nigella Lawson on [FT](https://www.ft.com/content/93114bcc-a37a-49b4-8d5e-be38707dfca9?ref=secretbreakfast.com) *(paywalled, but free with registration)*. The kitchen goddess flips the familiar idea of the kitchen as a stage and makes a case for the quiet thrill of feeding only yourself. Without the pressure to please, cooking becomes learning, experimentation, and pleasure: you can make mistakes unseen, trust your own palate, and savor small, low-effort dishes that suit your private cravings. Like an anchovy-and-butter pasta: tweak anchovies, lemon, herbs and nuts however you like (★[recipe](https://cookingwithnigella.com/2022/01/11/pasta-with-anchovy-sauce/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)). «This is the joy of it all: **you’re released from the need for consistency or obedience**; and this is exactly how cooking feels less like work and more like play». --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/op-transparent-1.png) Juicy content from food creators ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2026/05/focaccia.jpg) Witchy Focaccia by [Anastassija Rosenthal](https://www.instagram.com/p/DXpr6ztDBjv/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/Hunger-1.png) 🫑Woo, [What was for Dinner at the 2026 Met Gala](https://food.ndtv.com/news/full-menu-of-met-gala-2026-a-garden-inspired-dinner-that-turned-food-into-art-11450824?ref=secretbreakfast.com)? + [A funny backstage](https://www.interviewmagazine.com/fashion/met-gala-2026-inside-mark-hotel-tyla-lisa-jennie-cardi-b-doechii?ref=secretbreakfast.com)🥫Hey, we have [an unexpected *The Bear* episode](https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-news/the-bear-surprise-prequel-jon-bernthal-ebon-moss-bachrach-1235558051/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) with Mickey and cousin Richie 🔪Oh, we have [some footage](https://a24films.com/films/tony?ref=secretbreakfast.com) of *Tony*, the young Anthony Bourdain movie 🧀 Yeah, Gorgonzola Croquettes and Quince Ketchup (★[recipe](https://www.gourmettraveller.com.au/recipe/chefs-recipes/gorgonzola-croquettes-and-quince-ketchup-16080/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🌴Wow, soak dates in coffee, you double the pleasure (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/p/DXZkwAsCEzn/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🌸Aw, [Mother's Day Brunch Recipes](https://cooking.nytimes.com/article/mothers-day-brunch-breakfast-recipes?ref=secretbreakfast.com) ☕️Roar, [Everything About the Invention of Instant-Coffee](https://www.worksinprogress.news/p/the-creation-of-instant-coffee?ref=DenseDiscovery-387) ❄️Whiz, [Six ways to store asparagus](https://www.foodandwine.com/best-way-to-store-asparagus-11955792?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🍒Kaboom, a Cherry Rose Compote (★[recipe](https://makingtime.saraimitnick.com/p/fancy-pantry-cherry-rose-compote?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🍞Zap, [The Best Free Restaurant Bread](https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/2026/05/best-free-restaurant-bread-america/686582/?gift=MeKpMBHKX7jsQNsNnC8tejcdOb0uSWfkpdXjL4lNuow&hid=b65c06b8bb54449e12b2324cde45cf069f804769&did=23362920-20260502&lctg=b65c06b8bb54449e12b2324cde45cf069f804769&lr%5Finput=969bf86e4d337bb74ec41d7fc4fcb4cbce448adc9ea58fc46f58a8b14ca494da&blt=true&bvee=1777737633408&kw=myrecipesnl&ref=secretbreakfast.com) in America 🤖Zzzz, [AI isn't replacing you, it's dismantling you](https://maried.substack.com/p/ai-isnt-replacing-you-its-dismantling?ref=secretbreakfast.com) (and that's not necessarily bad news) --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/White---19-.png) ### [Could This Fish Be a Notebook?](https://reasonstobecheerful.world/great-lakes-fish-interview/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **David Byrne / Reasons to Be Cheerful** From Iceland to the Great Lakes, some fisheries are learning to use every part of the catch — skin, bones, head. Even for stationery! Byrne thinks it through and adds his own fish head soup recipe. Circular economy with the right flavor. [](https://www.foodandwine.com/good-guys-spritz-recipes-11724234?tag=travel&hid=b65c06b8bb54449e12b2324cde45cf069f804769&did=17544041-20250504&utm%5Fcampaign=faw-top10%5Fnewsletter&utm%5Fsource=faw&utm%5Fmedium=email&utm%5Fcontent=050425&lctg=b65c06b8bb54449e12b2324cde45cf069f804769&lr%5Finput=969bf86e4d337bb74ec41d7fc4fcb4cbce448adc9ea58fc46f58a8b14ca494da) --- ### [The invisible force making food less nutritious](https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/interactive/2026/carbon-pollution-diluting-key-nutrients-food/?campaign%5Fid=17931392&ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Naema Ahmed and Sarah Kaplan / The Washington Post** CO₂ doesn't just warm the planet, it quietly drains nutrients from the crops we eat. Wheat, rice, chickpeas: all losing zinc, iron, protein as carbon levels rise. By 2050, 175 million more people could face zinc deficiency, 1.4 billion women and children pushed deeper into anemia. In wealthy countries, you swap foods or buy supplements. In low-income regions, where two or three staples are your entire diet, there's nowhere to turn. --- 🔥 Last week's most clicked link was [The Top 10 Global Cities for Food and Drink, According to the Experts](https://www.foodandwine.com/top-global-cities-for-food-and-drink-2026-11908134?ref=secretbreakfast.com). And that's all for today. --- ### How Not To Host the Perfect Dinner Party 🙅🏻‍♀️ URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/how-not-to-host-the-perfect-dinner-party/ Last updated: 2026-04-29T11:31:11.000Z ### Welcome to Secret Breakfast / The best place to enjoy reindeer heart and scorched rice, extract oil from banana peels, and fry flowers with butter and batter Hi there! The other night, seven pieces of sushi, sparkling water, and a cover charge set me (actually my wife) back 52 euros. Not Jiro. Just a regular dinner spot in Milan. In a parallel life, I could have been sitting at a White House state dinner, the kind interrupted by a killer threat, guests spilling out onto the street, maybe ending up in front of a 7-Eleven at midnight (there's a [picture](https://i.dailymail.com/1s/2026/04/26/18/108167953-15766183-Guests%5Fcongregate%5Foutside%5Fof%5Fa%5FWashington%5FDC%5F7%5FEleven%5Ffollowing%5F-a-27%5F1777222811350.jpg?ref=secretbreakfast.com) of that!). Two dinners. One of them clearly more absurd than the other. I have my suspicions about which one. *Piero* --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/quote-transparent-1-1.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2026/04/springsteen.png) ✹**Bruce Springsteen**, [*Dancing in the Dark*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=129kuDCQtHs&ref=secretbreakfast.com). Just got a cooking angle. --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/book-transparent-1.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2026/04/dinner.jpg) #### Food notes from a friend A cookbook that doubles as an emotional memoir. Steafel weaves recipes, essays, and strong opinions about supermarket cheddar into a manifesto on the one question that never goes away: what's for dinner? Funny, warm, and honest about what food really means — which is never just food. The blurb on the cover is British gold: "You'll want a copy for the kitchen and another one to keep by your bed". [****But First, Dinner: Food for Our Real Lives**](https://www.orionbooks.co.uk/titles/eleanor-steafel/but-first-dinner/9781399629072/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **by Eleanor Steafel** ****→ Shortplot:** 🍝 🛋️ 🧀 💬 ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/White---22--1.png) ## The shape of taste, the taste of shape ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2026/04/a1fcf5424d1532bc73f5323fc39c71aad99c5975_2560--1--1.jpg) Photograph by [Heami Lee](https://www.heamilee.com/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) for [Bon Appetit](https://www.instagram.com/p/DXcc0TkFrxL/?img%5Findex=1&ref=secretbreakfast.com) super cool art issue I also was at the launch of [a new mysterious pasta format](https://www.instagram.com/reels/DXrna8NjRHK/?ref=secretbreakfast.com). There, one question stayed with me: **does shape change how we experience food?** Apparently, yes. **Humans consistently rate round, organic shapes as more pleasant than angular ones.** In research by Charles Spence at Oxford, participants associated curved shapes with sweetness - and sharp ones with bitterness. Shape influences expectation. Expectation shapes perception. And perception is taste, at least in part. This shows up everywhere: a round bowl makes food taste less salty than a square plate. A curved chocolate feels creamier than an identical sharp-edged one. Chefs have known this intuitively for decades. The best contemporary kitchens have turned it into practice: [biomimicry](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biomimetics?ref=secretbreakfast.com) applied to texture and plating. A few examples: **spherification** works because a perfect sphere mimics a berry, a fish egg. The brain trusts it. **Handmade pasta irregularities** are perceived as richer than machine-cut equivalents, even with the same recipe. **Smear plating** echoes geological strata, natural erosion. It signals complexity before the fork lands. The new pasta I saw is engineered, but arrives at an organic result. The whole experience feels more generous. **Shape, then, doesn't just deliver food. It tells a story and the brain listens before the tongue does.** --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/op-transparent-1.png) Juicy content from food creators ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2026/04/zuchh.jpg) [Zucchini Blossoms Crepes](https://www.instagram.com/reels/DXIT01CAat%5F/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) by Olga Shulpina --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/Hunger-1.png) 🌏[The Top Global Cities for Food and Drink in 2026](https://www.foodandwine.com/top-global-cities-for-food-and-drink-2026-11908134?ref=secretbreakfast.com) ☕️Now you can have your coffee [Devil Wears Prada2 style](https://parade.com/food/starbucks-devil-wears-prada-2-secret-menu-review-april-2026?ref=secretbreakfast.com), *groundbreaking* 🍞 Tsukurioki, the "separate" Japanese meal prep (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/p/DXRo0K3FJ3F/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🍋 [Stammtisch, the German tradition of the ](https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/stammstich-german-gathering-concept-37547523?ref=secretbreakfast.com) reserved table, same day every week, same people every time 🍞Ohhhh, an Irish Batch Loaf! (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reels/DXMUzWUDS2A/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🍗A "Marry Me Chicken Salad" (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reels/DXQP3OpEjxx/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🍟 [Fast food and value menus in 2026](https://www.axios.com/2026/04/28/subway-value-menu-launch-mcdonalds-mcvalue-deals?ref=secretbreakfast.com): we got a 3$ menu 🍌 Banana Olio from banana peels (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DWb3MqtDqq1/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🇺🇸[The Top 10 US Restaurants in 2026](https://www.foodandwine.com/top-united-states-restaurants-2026-11919583?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 📺Watch free: [Kitchen for Singles](https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLM-NFifVyaF6YpLe7ckhmYFh4zNJmu718&ref=secretbreakfast.com), a Japanese forgotten series about... You know about what ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/White---19-.png) ### [A Food Bucket List: Dishes From Around the World You Should Try](https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2026/04/17/t-magazine/dishes-try-world-cuisine.html?unlocked%5Farticle%5Fcode=1.eVA.6KKP.D0iAIdiIVuNc&smid=url-share&ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Ligaya Mishan / T Magazine** Sour cream porridge with smoked reindeer heart. Scorched rice. Braised fish head with scallion. Ligaya Mishan, a chief restaurant critic for *The New York Times*, shares her list of plates from Oslo to Singapore that she thinks people should endeavor to try. --- ### [The science of hosting the perfect dinner party](https://www.popsci.com/science/best-host-dinner-party-advice-science/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Clarissa Brincat / Popular Science** Guest list, plate color, music tempo, cutlery weight — there's research behind all of it. A neuroscientist breaks down what actually shapes how people experience a meal together. Spoiler: avoid bitter food and black plates. *\+ Bonus:* [*How to host a tea party like an art director*](https://www.instagram.com/p/DXP-J7MEmTB?ref=secretbreakfast.com) [](https://www.foodandwine.com/good-guys-spritz-recipes-11724234?tag=travel&hid=b65c06b8bb54449e12b2324cde45cf069f804769&did=17544041-20250504&utm%5Fcampaign=faw-top10%5Fnewsletter&utm%5Fsource=faw&utm%5Fmedium=email&utm%5Fcontent=050425&lctg=b65c06b8bb54449e12b2324cde45cf069f804769&lr%5Finput=969bf86e4d337bb74ec41d7fc4fcb4cbce448adc9ea58fc46f58a8b14ca494da) --- 🔥 Last week's most clicked link was the Korean [Ugly Pony Bread](https://www.instagram.com/p/DXZGBNMgWkA/?ref=secretbreakfast.com). And that's all for today. --- ### Chef's Kiss Subs and Table Kinks 🥪 URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/chefs-kiss-subs-and-table-kinks/ Last updated: 2026-04-22T11:41:23.000Z ### Welcome to Secret Breakfast / The best place to learn how to enjoy Korean pony bread and pricey whale vomit while hiding your favorite recipes from the evil people Hi there! Sometimes this newsletter is... Well, you find the words. Have a good one. *Piero* --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/quote-transparent-1-1.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2026/04/orson.png) ✹**Orson Welles**, from the movie [*The Other Side of the Wind*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The%5FOther%5FSide%5Fof%5Fthe%5FWind?ref=secretbreakfast.com). Mind your intake! --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/book-transparent-1.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2026/04/noma.jpg) #### The bleeding-edge cookbook by the most talented evil guys This long-awaited book arrives too late. The Noma brand doesn't feel quite right anymore. [Chef René Redzepi has stepped back](https://edition.cnn.com/2026/03/12/travel/rene-redzepi-noma-resignation-abuse-allegations-scli-intl?ref=secretbreakfast.com), and now—who'd actually want their guide to hidden flavors? Who'd listen to obsessives with knives, forced to invent carrot-based recipes for months, competing in a culinary fight club just to prove that bleeding-edge beats cutting-edge in the kitchen too? Who'd make [Japanese quince butter](https://www.kitchenartsandletters.com/cdn/shop/files/NomaFlavour4%5Ffd7393d7-c99b-4fd0-b784-ba6598d4dae3.jpg?v=1754075043&ref=secretbreakfast.com), pine vinegar, parsley purée? Who wouldn't use [ice to clarify](https://www.kitchenartsandletters.com/cdn/shop/files/NomaFlavour6%5F8a343614-dd06-4256-9a69-736606e62e83.jpg?v=1754075043&ref=secretbreakfast.com) mushroom broth? Me. I would. I want to know everything about this stuff. I'd even tattoo the cover art on my forearm. We're mad. Mad for flavor. [****The Noma Guide to Building Flavour**](https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/rene-redzepi/the-noma-guide-to-building-flavour/9781579657192/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **by René Redzepi and The Noma Test Kitchen** ****→ Shortplot:** 🍄‍🟫 🧊 🥕 🧠 ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/White---22--1.png) ## The ‘Oops, Forgot Everyone Hates This’ Syndrome ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2026/04/daik.jpg) I love this guy and his giant daikon. Found him [here](https://exotic-seeds.com/en/home/sakurajima-daikon-giant-radish-seeds-largest-radish-in-the-world.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com) The other day I spotted a recipe for *tsukemono*—those fermented pickles that never miss a Japanese table (I was aiming for [this recipe](https://happyhappynester.com/pickle-recipe-sweet-pickled-daikon-takuan/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)). I bought a beautiful, firm daikon, long as a forearm. Then halfway home it hit me: someone in my family can't stand the smell when I pickle things. Sound familiar? It's a real thing. You buy something with genuine intention, get home, and remember: «Oh, no». They won't eat it. It'll sit in a jar, slowly disappointing everyone. It happens with so much food. Anything aged or funky, even humble fermented greens. You buy it convinced this time will be different. This time they'll try it. They won't. But here's the plot twist: those "unloved" ingredients make incredible things nobody expects. Natto works silently into a pasta. Kimchi becomes the best fried rice base you'll ever make. That daikon? [Simmered in soy, sugar, and ginger](https://onolicioushawaii.com/simmered-daikon/?ref=secretbreakfast.com), it becomes something so gentle and deep that even skeptics ask for seconds. So, what's your ingredient? What does your household refuse? And more importantly: what's the sneaky dish you've built around it that finally won them over? --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/op-transparent-1.png) Juicy content from food creators ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2026/04/dip.jpg) [Garden Plot Veggie Dip](https://www.instagram.com/reels/DWttoFUDUCP/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) with pumpernickel soil by Olivia Carney - Cloverly Corner --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/Hunger-1.png) 🎬 Good for picnics: [13 Chefs From 13 Countries Make Sandwiches](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KIoDdxjKcpo&ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🐋 [Ambergris](https://x.com/i/status/2045509677706891628?ref=secretbreakfast.com), or whale vomit, is worth millions 🌺 [Hwajeon](https://www.instagram.com/p/DXOa0mvkdQx/?ref=secretbreakfast.com), azalea rice cakes, a Joseon royal spring ritual (★[recipe](https://kimchimari.com/hwajeon/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🍞 [Ugly Pony Bread](https://www.instagram.com/p/DXZGBNMgWkA/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) is Korea's latest bakery craze🫖 Gen-Z is having a [Tea Time Revival](https://www.instagram.com/p/DXP-J7MEmTB/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🇳🇬 Quick Obe Ata, Nigerian tomato and pepper sauce (★[recipe](https://www.foodandwine.com/quick-obe-ata-11948769?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🥗 Sauce 2: Nam Yum, lime, fish sauce, chiles, palm sugar (★[recipe](https://www.foodandwine.com/nam-yum-thai-salad-dressing-11947750?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🙅🏻‍♀️[The Woman Who Hid 600 Recipes From SS Officers](https://www.jewishfoodsociety.org/stories/the-woman-who-hid-600-recipes-from-ss-officers?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🌉Diners across the country are turning meals into lasting memories with restaurant [postcards](https://www.foodandwine.com/restaurant-postcards-keepsakes-11950691?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🥒Garden pickles with rice-rinsing water and carrot top furikake (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/p/DXN9gh1kR8l/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/White---19-.png) ### [Eat This, Not That](https://www.vittlesmagazine.com/p/eat-this-not-that?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Robin Craig / Vittles** A steaming plate of pad thai becomes a battleground of control and surrender as a partner’s firm grip and commanding voice transform a simple meal into an intimate act of domination: this is the world of food-based kink, where the act of eating is stripped of shame and filled with erotic power. For some, like the author, giving up control over food - being ordered, fed, or even “forced” to eat - isn’t just play, but a profound release from society’s relentless diet culture, a chance to indulge without guilt under someone else’s command. [](https://www.foodandwine.com/good-guys-spritz-recipes-11724234?tag=travel&hid=b65c06b8bb54449e12b2324cde45cf069f804769&did=17544041-20250504&utm%5Fcampaign=faw-top10%5Fnewsletter&utm%5Fsource=faw&utm%5Fmedium=email&utm%5Fcontent=050425&lctg=b65c06b8bb54449e12b2324cde45cf069f804769&lr%5Finput=969bf86e4d337bb74ec41d7fc4fcb4cbce448adc9ea58fc46f58a8b14ca494da) --- ### [The Art of Antarctic Cooking](https://thenewinquiry.com/the-art-of-antarctic-cooking/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Christine Baumgarthuber / The New Inquiry** ***From the archive.*** On the frozen edge of survival, early Antarctic explorers like Shackleton and Amundsen relied on resourceful cooks to turn penguin, seal, and even sled dogs into life-saving meals where a simple stew called "hoosh" became a symbol of hope in a land more alien than Earth itself. Behind the epic races to the South Pole stood unsung culinary heroes, whose creativity and eccentricity kept teams alive and spirits high in the world’s most unforgiving wilderness. Food is more than fuel: it’s a lifeline to humanity. --- 🔥 Last week's most clicked link was the book [The Tunnel](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The%5FTunnel%5F%28Sabato%5Fnovel%29?ref=secretbreakfast.com), that's a surprise. And that's all for today. --- ### Self Made Fortune Cookies and Ginger Chews 🥠 URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/self-made-fortune-cookies-and-ginger-chews/ Last updated: 2026-04-15T11:31:05.000Z ### Welcome to Secret Breakfast / The best place to start folding space dumplings, slurping Coachella noodles and baking your own destiny Hi there! I did not expect having so much sweet stuff this week. Well, enjoy! *Piero* --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/quote-transparent-1-1.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2026/04/sabato.png) ✹Ernesto Sábato, [*El túnel*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The%5FTunnel%5F%28Sabato%5Fnovel%29?ref=secretbreakfast.com). --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/book-transparent-1.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2026/04/folding.jpg) #### Dumplings in space First, thanks to [Tostoini](https://www.tostoini.it/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) for that. What do we have here? A multiverse sci-fi where quantum mechanics breaks the laws of physics — and a family meal of dim sum might be the only thing holding two sisters together. Ellie's mother is in a coma, her cousin has found a device that keeps her alive while destabilizing reality, and the engineers who run the universe's machinery may be rewriting the rules for personal gain. Family drama dressed in speculative fiction, with dry humor, emotional weight, and dumplings. [****The Subtle Art of Folding Space**](https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250425409/thesubtleartoffoldingspace/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **by John Chu** ****→ Shortplot:** 🚀 🪐 🥢 🥟 ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/White---22--1.png) ## Obsessive preservation is good ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2026/04/katy-perry-justin-trudeau.jpg) Justin Trudeau, [Katy Perry](https://www.instagram.com/p/DXBwa9clWH3/?ref=secretbreakfast.com), Coachella, [Island Noodles](https://www.instagram.com/islandnoodles/?hl=en&ref=secretbreakfast.com) and white T-shirts This week's theme: music. Not because we're sandwiched between an overhyped Coachella, nor for the TikTok protests about how much [food](https://la.eater.com/best-live-music-dinner-venues/301191/coachella-music-festival-food-drink-options-guide?ref=secretbreakfast.com) costs there, nor for the photo of Katy Perry and the former Canadian Prime Minister eating noodles while in love (though — how cool is that?). Music, I said. **For 40 years, Aadam Jacobs brought a cassette recorder to concerts nobody else was documenting.** Over 10,000 shows — Nirvana before Grohl, Björk before Björk was Björk, Phish in 1990\. All of it is now [on Internet Archive, free to stream](https://archive.org/details/aadamjacobs) and download. There's a pre-fame Nirvana recording where *About a Girl* gets three claps from the audience. It's a story about **obsessive preservation** — the kind of quiet, unglamorous labor that keeps culture alive. Not unlike the person who writes down their grandmother's recipe before it disappears. The archivist as an act of love. Don't get stuff get lost in time. --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/op-transparent-1.png) Juicy content from food creators ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2026/04/choco.jpg) Melt-in-your-mouth Japanese chocolate cubes by [Craveflash](https://www.instagram.com/p/DWdrHW7iEam/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/Hunger-1.png) 🥠 Make your own fortune, bake Fortune Cookies at Home (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DW42srPxf-p/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🌈 34 Vibrant Dessert Ideas (★[recipe](https://www.foodandwine.com/colorful-desserts-11938286?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🍿 Popcorn Praliné: professional pastry logic, home kitchen effort (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DWRiDuhMjDX/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🍰 Red Velvet Cheesecake (★[recipe](https://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/red-velvet-cheesecake?ref=secretbreakfast.com))🥙 La kebbé de tomate de Carla Rebeiz (★[recipe](https://www.lorientlejour.com/cuisine-liban-a-table/1501132/la-kebbe-de-tomate-de-carla-rebeiz.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🫚 Some Homemade Ginger Chews (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DWmZ-cijrmH/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🍗 [Bobby Brown fried chicken in cocaine when he was 10](https://mathewingram.com/work/2026/04/13/bobby-brown-fried-chicken-in-cocaine-when-he-was-10/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🥪 [100 Best Sandwiches in the World](https://www.tasteatlas.com/best-rated-sandwiches-in-the-world?ref=secretbreakfast.com) (Bánh mì appears too many times) 🦠 [Your roommate can influence your gut bacteria](https://interestingengineering.com/health/your-roommate-can-change-your-gut?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🍝 Pasta Tiramisù? Meh (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DWwS%5F0eiPN7/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🥕How we fell for carrot propaganda ([video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7DscujOwtyw&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) + 📺 *Re: free streaming*. I've been enjoying Japanese Film Festival Online (JFF+): I watched a couple of good movies and docs last week. Food related: [a documentary portrait of Tokyo's legendary fish market](https://it.jff.jpf.go.jp/movie/tsukiji-wonderland/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) and a [mellow story about tea ceremony](https://it.jff.jpf.go.jp/movie/every-day-a-good-day/?ref=secretbreakfast.com). Bonus: the super romantic [Time Traveller-The Girl Who Leapt Through Time](https://it.jff.jpf.go.jp/movie/the-girl-who-leapt-through-time-2010/?ref=secretbreakfast.com). But you can find stuff about bonsai, karaoke and ink painting too. ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/White---19-.png) ### [Why Cookbooks Are the Next Frontier for Narrative Writing](https://www.culturedmag.com/article/2026/03/25/food-writing-cookbooks-recipes-ella-quittner/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Emmeline Clein / Cultured** Ella Quittner and Tanya Bush discuss their new cookbooks, which lean into the intricate subjectivity of food culture, instead of its algorithm-friendly optimization. [](https://www.foodandwine.com/good-guys-spritz-recipes-11724234?tag=travel&hid=b65c06b8bb54449e12b2324cde45cf069f804769&did=17544041-20250504&utm%5Fcampaign=faw-top10%5Fnewsletter&utm%5Fsource=faw&utm%5Fmedium=email&utm%5Fcontent=050425&lctg=b65c06b8bb54449e12b2324cde45cf069f804769&lr%5Finput=969bf86e4d337bb74ec41d7fc4fcb4cbce448adc9ea58fc46f58a8b14ca494da) --- 🔥 Last week's most clicked link was the (short) movie [Sandiwara](https://sandiwarafilm.com/?ref=secretbreakfast.com). Don't miss it. And that's all for today. --- ### Space for New Recipes 🌔 URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/space-for-new-recipes/ Last updated: 2026-04-08T11:31:17.000Z ### Welcome to Secret Breakfast / The best place to start spreading Italian hazelnut delicacies, while baking a sinful pie, dreaming about Malaysian food Hi there! As you know, NASA's Artemis II crew made history by traveling farther from Earth than any humans ever have. To get that far, the crew had to undergo almost three years of training. As for the Nutella jar floating around them, on the other hand, nobody's talking. Since crumbs are considered a safety hazard in space, no sandwiches are allowed — but [NASA packed about 58 tortillas for the four astronauts](https://foodinstitute.com/focus/astronomy-gastronomy-what-will-artemis-ii-astronauts-eat/?ref=secretbreakfast.com). I still can't figure out how they baked that space-safe cobbler on NASA's menu — but then again, I'm not exactly a rocket scientist. *Piero* *PS:* Here's an [astronaut eating the Secret Breakfast logo (and honey) in space](https://x.com/i/status/2041497988636332439?ref=secretbreakfast.com) --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/quote-transparent-1-1.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2026/04/Abby-Jimenez.png) ✹Abby Jimenez, [*The Night We Met*](https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/abby-jimenez/the-night-we-met-deluxe-edition/9781538759226/?lens=forever&ref=secretbreakfast.com). This one is #1 Hardcover Fiction in the US this week. --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/book-transparent-1.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2026/04/sleep-in-my-kitchen.webp) #### At Mariam's table Do you remember Palestine? Not the politics, not the headlines — the Palestine of home kitchens, overnight-soaked chickpeas, trays of kibbeh shaped shoulder to shoulder with sisters. That's where Mariam Daud comes from: daughter of Palestinian immigrants, raised in a family of 12, in a Cleveland restaurant where kids folded napkins between courses. Today Mariam is one of the most beloved food voices on Instagram, followed as [@mxriyum](https://www.instagram.com/mxriyum/?hl=en&ref=secretbreakfast.com) for recipes that feel both comforting and quietly inventive. Her debut cookbook is **I Sleep in My Kitchen* — 100 recipes spanning breakfast, small plates, soups, mains, and her signature bakes. At the heart of it: Palestinian American cooking. Msakhan (★[recipe](https://mxriyum.com/msakhan-national-dish-of-palestine/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)), the national dish, with soft flatbread, caramelized onions and tender stewed chicken. Tahini Browned Butter Banana Bread. Mediterranean Pasta Salad with sumac vinaigrette. And then Bang Bang Shrimp Tacos, pull-apart Cinnamon Rolls, Fluffy Browned Butter Rolls, and this Oozi , that is Spiced Rice with Beef, Peas and Carrots (★[recipe](https://cupofjo.com/2026/03/04/oozi-is-my-new-favorite-low-mess-dinner/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)). Her mother never kept a recipe to herself. Neither does she. [****I sleep in my kitchen**](https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/755737/i-sleep-in-my-kitchen-by-mariam-daud/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **by Mariam Daud** ****→ Shortplot:** 🫓 🫒 🤌 🕌 ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/White---22--1.png) ## The Free Movie About Food You Haven't Seen Yet ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2026/04/6989ede281128a1e7bba49e3_c31024fcaad5e7910ac6a116eafb6d5a_SP892_FILM-STILLS_16x9_15.jpg) Ten minutes. Free. Worth it. [*Sandiwara*](https://sandiwarafilm.com/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) — "theatrical performance" in Malay — was directed by Sean Baker (*Anora*) and commissioned by fashion brand Self-Portrait. Forget the fashion angle. This is a film about hunger: for food, for recognition, for home. Michelle Yeoh plays five women across the streets and food courts of Penang, Malaysia. A food influencer. A restaurant critic. A waitress. A cook. A singer. One city, one evening, one night market where all five stories converge. [Baker shot it on an iPhone in two days](https://www.wmagazine.com/culture/sandiwara-michelle-yeoh-sean-baker-short-film-self-portrait?ref=secretbreakfast.com), the same way he followed characters through Florida motels. The method doesn't change. Only the latitude does. The detail that stays with you: the cook never leaves her kitchen. She doesn't know the critic is coming. She just cooks. Labor without an audience. Dignity without recognition. Baker spent ten days in Penang before shooting. This is not a film that uses food as metaphor. The noodles are real. The hawker stalls are real. The hierarchy between critic and cook is real. It premiered at Berlin, then Los Angeles. Then, quietly, online — for free. --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/op-transparent-1.png) Juicy content from food creators ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2026/04/gaslight.jpg) Gaslight-me pie, by Thomas Colin (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DWf4jheiS8-/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)). (You know that [gaslighting](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaslighting?ref=secretbreakfast.com) is bad for you, don't you?) --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/Hunger-1.png) 🥞 [Why All Pancakes Are Suddenly So Thick](https://www.eater.com/trends/950531/thick-fluffy-pancake-trend-explained-golden-diner?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🍜 [BTS Cook Dinner Together](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ENt4uip1MJ8&ref=secretbreakfast.com) Jin, Jimin, and V make janchi-guksu (★[recipe](https://mykoreankitchen.com/korean-noodle-soup-janchi-guksu/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🚲 [The Yakult Ladies](https://www.instagram.com/p/DV5twGgFh7s/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) In Japan, probiotic delivery workers have become an informal antidote to the elderly loneliness crisis 🏜️ Fish plov, [The Dish That Keeps the Spirit of the Aral Sea Alive](https://www.saveur.com/culture/fish-plov-aral-sea-uzbekistan/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🦇 [Quirks of Viennese Cuisine](https://www.wien.info/en/dine-drink/viennese-cuisine/quirks-of-viennese-cuisine-356154?ref=secretbreakfast.com) What's actually served when you order "fried mice" 💑 [Aperitif Dînatoire](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/25/t-magazine/aperitif-dinatoire-party.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com), Not a dinner, not a cocktail party. American chefs embrace the French ritual 📵 [Phone-Free Restaurants](https://www.axios.com/2026/04/05/phone-free-restaurants-bars-bans-restrictions-offline?ref=secretbreakfast.com) are a thing now 🐐 [Padma Lakshmi Thinks You Should Eat More Goat](https://www.saveur.com/culture/amused-bouche-padma-lakshmi/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 📖 [How to Drink Soju](https://www.instagram.com/p/DV%5FcN-YAQuW/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🍇 Kōso au raisin — fermented grape and sugar syrup, ready in 5–7 days (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DWUGepLDXkq/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🍊 Orange Chaat — the viral Indian street snack that's sweet, tangy, spiced, and takes about five minutes (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DUSdSsNjAFB/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/White---19-.png) ### [Are You in a Restaurant Gap Relationship?](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/03/dining/restaurant-gap-relationship.html?unlocked%5Farticle%5Fcode=1.ZFA.If95.hsMDWxe6WoNv&smid=url-share&ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Luke Fortney / The New York Times (gift link)** The "restaurant gap" serves as a critical diagnostic tool, revealing profound disparities in lifestyle, financial values, and risk tolerance that often determine a relationship's longevity. Empirical observations from relationship experts confirm that dining incompatibility is not merely a matter of taste. Ultimately, how a couple negotiates the culinary divides dictates whether their partnership evolves through mutual adaptation or fractures under the weight of irreconcilable differences. [](https://www.foodandwine.com/good-guys-spritz-recipes-11724234?tag=travel&hid=b65c06b8bb54449e12b2324cde45cf069f804769&did=17544041-20250504&utm%5Fcampaign=faw-top10%5Fnewsletter&utm%5Fsource=faw&utm%5Fmedium=email&utm%5Fcontent=050425&lctg=b65c06b8bb54449e12b2324cde45cf069f804769&lr%5Finput=969bf86e4d337bb74ec41d7fc4fcb4cbce448adc9ea58fc46f58a8b14ca494da) --- ### [My Week of Eating Literal AI Slop](https://www.thecut.com/article/tiktok-ai-slop-recipe-videos-review.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Mia Mercado / The Cut (partially paywalled)** A journalist spent a week cooking recipes from TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook that showed clear signs of AI generation — fake audio, impossible physics, contradictory steps. Most results were inedible or unrecognizable: rubbery egg sheets sold as breadsticks, burnt zucchini goop, flavorless cheesecake mush. The only success was a chickpea wrap — later traced to a stolen recipe from Minimalist Baker. Her conclusion: AI hasn't replaced us in the kitchen yet, but it's flooding our feeds with low-quality content that wastes time, ingredients, and appetite. --- 🔥 Last issue's most clicked link was [11 Foods You Might Think Are High in Protein, but Actually Aren’t](https://www.self.com/story/9-foods-you-think-are-high-protein-but-actually-arent?ref=secretbreakfast.com). Yes, chickpeas. And that's all for today. --- ### Popcorn Ganache and Easter Baking 🐣 URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/popcorn-ganache-and-easter-baking/ Last updated: 2026-03-25T12:31:26.000Z ### Welcome to Secret Breakfast / The best place to learn that your salted caramel mocha latte is destroying society and we didn't invent fermented foods — they invented us Hi there! A few days ago, the word [whimsy](https://www.businessinsider.com/whimsy-trend-explained-why-it-works-2026-2?ref=secretbreakfast.com) started appearing everywhere on my feeds. Get-ready-with-me videos, pink home décor, TikTok creators adding playful touches to ordinary days. *Whimsy* is bringing levity to life when you can. Reconnecting with what made you happy as a kid. Underneath the aesthetic, there's something real. The idea that small, intentional gestures of joy matter. **That delight is a practice, not a mood.** Which made me think about – guess what? – food. Because the kitchen might be where whimsy makes the most sense — and where we've most completely forgotten it. We turned cooking into optimization: macros, meal prep, clean eating. But whimsy asks a different question entirely: **what would actually delight someone?** It's the loose tooth pound cake nobody requested. Shirley Temples in your best glassware on a Tuesday. A candle lit before you start chopping. Hosting, especially, is where whimsy gets its sharpest edge — a playlist that fits the mood so precisely it feels like a joke, potato chips served in your finest bowl (or – spoiler – stacked with fatty cured meat and salsa). **People don't remember the food exactly. They remember the feeling that someone thought about them before they arrived.** *Piero* --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/quote-transparent-1-1.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2026/03/sanada--1-.png) ✹**Hiroyuki Sanada** in [John Wick: Chapter 4](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John%5FWick:%5FChapter%5F4?ref=secretbreakfast.com). In the end, proximity is wasted on enemies. --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/book-transparent-1.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2026/03/9781524744731.jpeg) #### The Most Important French Revolution French cooking had a revolution in the '70s — and like all revolutions, it involved enormous egos, suspicious sauces, and at least one man who smuggled pig bladders in his underwear. Luke Barr reconstructs the decade when Bocuse and his toque bros reinvented the chef as artist, while quietly keeping women out of the kitchen. Spoiler: the women were better cooks anyway. [****The Secret History of French Cooking. The Outlaw Chefs Who Made Food Modern**](https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/602455/the-secret-history-of-french-cooking-by-luke-barr/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **by Luke Barr** ****→ Shortplot:** 🇫🇷 🍽️ ✊ 👩🏻‍🍳 ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/White---22--1.png) ## Same week, two feasts. Don't pick a side ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2026/03/egg-shoe-AaronK.Yoshino-1.png) Loewe Eggshell Shoes, 2022 - Photo: Aaron K. Yoshino I often mix up Easter and Passover — and every year it costs me editorially. This April, two unmissable food moments land almost on top of each other: - *Passover* runs from April 1 to April 8 - *Easter* falls on April 5 Which means the most food-obsessed weeks of spring, for two different traditions, are essentially the same week. Don't waste it. I *l∙o∙v∙e* this collection of [48 Passover Recipes From Jewish Communities Around the World](https://www.jewishfoodsociety.org/collections/passover-recipes-from-jewish-communities-around-the-world?ref=secretbreakfast.com) by the Jewish Food Society. It's not the boring Matzo Balls: you can have Persian Charoset With Pear, Banana, and Dates, West African Brisket, and an astonishing Mina de Espinaca (Matzah and Spinach Pie). What about Easter? Here in Italy you change the menu from town to town. This year I think you could settle with some of these incredibly challenging treasures: Sicilian Timballo (★[recipe](https://cookingwithnonna.com/italian-cuisine/sicilian-timballo.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) to wake up [your inner Stanley Tucci](https://www.finedininglovers.com/explore/articles/how-make-timpano-stanley-tuccis-big-night?ref=secretbreakfast.com), Fried lamb chops (★[recipe](https://www.greatitalianchefs.com/recipes/fried-lamb-chops-recipe?ref=secretbreakfast.com)), and Pastiera Napoletana (★[recipe](https://www.greatitalianchefs.com/recipes/pastiera-napoletana-recipe?ref=secretbreakfast.com)). Bonus: Cheese Bread from Umbria (★[recipe](https://www.umbriatourism.it/en/-/torta-di-pasqua-al-formaggio-it?ref=secretbreakfast.com)), that you eat like bread with cured meat, wine, boiled eggs and more cheese (alternative - clearer - recipe [here](https://www.recipesfromitaly.com/easter-cheese-bread-crescia-pasqua/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)). Enjoy the feast! Or join anybody feasting! --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/op-transparent-1.png) Juicy content from food creators ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2026/03/potatocascade.jpg) Look at this: potato chips (and chorizo) as a party trick (★[recipe](https://www.bonappetit.com/story/potato-chips-are-my-chicest-party-trick?ref=secretbreakfast.com)), via Bon Appétit; Photo by [Joseph De Leo](https://www.jdeleophoto.com/?ref=secretbreakfast.com), Food Styling by [Lillian Chou](https://www.instagram.com/lililbeijing/?ref=secretbreakfast.com). Inspired by [Ernesto's Paleta con Chips](https://www.instagram.com/p/DS8MLsKDrLy/?img%5Findex=1&ref=secretbreakfast.com) --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/Hunger-1.png) 🍕 A shakshuka pizza! (★[recipe](https://yasssletter.substack.com/p/the-best-ny-pizza-ive-had-lately?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🥗 Always Good Green Goddess Chicken Salad by Carolina Gelen (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DWDDcJsDdFr/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🍿[Popcorn ganache bonbons](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DVJHLcbjHp6/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) by Nicolaas Kunst. 🌱 [11 Foods You Might Think Are High in Protein but Actually Aren't](https://www.self.com/story/9-foods-you-think-are-high-protein-but-actually-arent?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🫘 18 Essential Bean Ideas (★[recipes](https://www.foodandwine.com/bean-recipes-11925477?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🍟 Rotisserie chicken, puff pastry, and all the shortcuts that don't feel like shortcuts (★[recipes](https://www.foodandwine.com/easy-recipes-that-use-store-bought-shortcuts-11925349?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🍫 Milk Chocolate Bark with Peanuts & Potato Chips (★[recipe](https://food52.com/recipes/78132-milk-chocolate-bark-with-peanuts-potato-chips?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🥂 [6 Cortisol Mocktails](https://www.instagram.com/p/DV25Bjpkpwg/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🥔 🥐 Croissant ganache by Nicolaas Kunst (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DVtNqgLDAVD/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🧁 Those are conveniente: muffin-sized Basque cheesecakes (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DVv3Eb3iMWR/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🍊 Sun-brewed Earl Grey orange tea by Abril (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/p/DVeUkRrErrl/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/White---19-.png) ### [Culture Shift](https://www.asimov.press/p/culture-shift?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Rachel Dutton / Asimov Press** We didn't invent fermented foods — they invented us. Or... Fermented foods didn't just feed us — they may have built us, shaping our immune system, our gut, and possibly even our brain over millions of years. Then, in about a century, the Western food industry quietly replaced all of it with sterile, shelf-stable alternatives. Now science is finally catching up — and the answers are stranger than anyone expected. [](https://www.foodandwine.com/good-guys-spritz-recipes-11724234?tag=travel&hid=b65c06b8bb54449e12b2324cde45cf069f804769&did=17544041-20250504&utm%5Fcampaign=faw-top10%5Fnewsletter&utm%5Fsource=faw&utm%5Fmedium=email&utm%5Fcontent=050425&lctg=b65c06b8bb54449e12b2324cde45cf069f804769&lr%5Finput=969bf86e4d337bb74ec41d7fc4fcb4cbce448adc9ea58fc46f58a8b14ca494da) --- ### [Your salted caramel mocha latte is destroying society](https://dnyuz.com/2026/03/09/your-salted-caramel-mocha-latte-is-destroying-society/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Jakub Grygiel / The Washington Post** A conservative political scientist argues that hyper-customized coffee orders are atomizing society. Specialty coffee consumption up 84% since 2011, loneliness epidemic growing — just a correlation? He doesn't think so. Italy's espresso bar culture, naturally, is the counterexample. --- 🔥 Last week's most clicked link was [The 20 Best Food Scenes in Movies](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/12/dining/best-food-movie-scenes.html?unlocked%5Farticle%5Fcode=1.UFA.GvVE.Dt5YonA30t%5FW&smid=url-share&ref=secretbreakfast.com). And **I’ll have what she’s having*. --- ### Blue Cheese Windows and Maximalist Parties🪟 URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/blue-cheese-windows-and-maximalist-parties/ Last updated: 2026-03-18T13:14:52.000Z ### Welcome to Secret Breakfast / The best place to start using churro umbrellas, Stilton apertures, and meeting random strangers to eat fried starchy tuberous vegetables Hi there! You're probably wondering how my diet is going. No? Doesn't matter. This week I'm using AI to navigate a low-calorie diet — I gave it my doctor's orders and asked it to redesign my meals: same macros, same calories, but built around seasonal local vegetables and a Japanese-style dinner every night called [*Ichijū Sansai*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ichij%C5%AB-sansai?ref=secretbreakfast.com) (literally: one soup, three sides). Three courses, very small. One soup. Also small. If I can't eat everything, and I can't travel for a while, at least I can travel in my imagination. *Piero* PS: no, unfortunately my diet doesn't work with the Italian principle *Pizza and Negroni everynight*. --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/quote-transparent-1-1.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2026/03/yoshimoto.png) ✹Yoshimoto Banana, [*Kitchen*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kitchen%5F%28novel%29?ref=secretbreakfast.com). This week we get to the basics. --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/book-transparent-1.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2026/03/peopleover.jpg) #### ****The Art of the Party, Maximized** Maximalism in entertaining never really died — it just waited for the right host to bring it back. In a publishing moment crowded with casual, low-effort hosting guides, this **"Maximalist's Guide to Having People Over"* makes the case that a party worth throwing is worth doing with intention, beauty, and a little theatrical flair. Written by Mariana Velásquez — chef, food stylist, and housewares designer — the book offers 85 recipes across 15 menus organized by time of day, from breakfast in bed to late evening cocktails, each with a detailed plan that starts not with what to cook, but with why you're hosting at all. Velásquez's approach is glamorous but never intimidating: her deconstructed pie bar and crowd-sized omelet roulade are as achievable as they are photogenic, proof that maximalism, at its best, is just generosity with good taste. [****Revel: A Maximalist's Guide to Having People Over**](https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/768322/revel-by-mariana-velasquez/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **by Mariana Velásquez** ****→ Shortplot: 🍷 🍰 🌺 🍒** ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/White---22--1.png) ## They were also having dinner ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2026/03/gaza.jpg) Members of al-Najar family break their fast during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan amid the rubble of destroyed buildings in Gaza City. [Jehad Alshrafi/AP via The Guardian](https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/gallery/2026/mar/13/the-week-around-the-world-in-20-pictures?ref=secretbreakfast.com) We often photograph our dinner plates. Or we stretch an arm across the table and capture a selfie, because that moment deserves to be remembered. Fair enough. But sometimes reality doesn't pose. Sometimes the frame holds a family breaking their Ramadan fast amid rubble, in a city that no longer exists as they knew it. Same gesture — gathering around food — but no filter softens it, no caption makes it lighter. The photograph is still an act of memory. Just a different kind. --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/op-transparent-1.png) Juicy content from food creators ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2026/03/651366845_18566169283036095_5632132154916217515_n.jpg) Saint Agur blue cheese shortbread cookies with honey glazed window by [Sandy Truong An Tran Ho](https://www.instagram.com/p/DV1JsXLDeY%5F?ref=secretbreakfast.com) (look at the window!) --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/Hunger-1.png) 🍟Why [young Koreans are meeting strangers to eat french fries together](https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/lifestyle/trends/20260311/why-young-koreans-are-meeting-strangers-to-eat-french-fries-together?ref=secretbreakfast.com) (it's not the fries) 🎞️[The 20 Best Food Scenes in Movies](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/12/dining/best-food-movie-scenes.html?unlocked%5Farticle%5Fcode=1.UFA.GvVE.Dt5YonA30t%5FW&smid=url-share&ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🍽️The Dishwasher and [the things in food invented by women](https://www.instagram.com/p/DViiz7KoH0J?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 👰🏻‍♀️From Churro Umbrellas to Butter Art: [Inside the High-Drama Wedding Food Trends for 2026](https://www.latimes.com/weddings/planning-ideas/advice/story/creative-wedding-food-trends?ref=secretbreakfast.com) ❄️Super cool: [Whats in a Private Chef's Freezer](https://www.instagram.com/p/DV5%5F3V4kVxt/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 💣[René Redzepi's Last Words](https://www.instagram.com/p/DVw9LxfCFTG/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🍪Nigel Slater’s recipe for almond and marzipan biscuits (★[recipe](https://www.theguardian.com/food/2025/apr/22/nigel-slaters-recipe-for-almond-and-marzipan-biscuits?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🌍Zanzibari Pizza, Chaat Party and 21 Recipes and 3 Menus for the Ultimate African Gathering (★[recipes](https://cooking.nytimes.com/article/african-diaspora-recipes-feast?ref=secretbreakfast.com), partially paywalled) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/White---19-.png) ### [He Came to New York for Fun. He Left Seeking $20 Million in Damages](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/14/nyregion/german-tourist-new-york-lawsuit-walmart-nypd.html?smid=url-share&ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Christopher Maag / The New York Times** Faycal Manz, a German tourist, claimed that a taco had given him diarrhea, a Walmart store had discriminated against him and that an interaction with the police had given him insomnia. I don't even know where to start. [](https://www.foodandwine.com/good-guys-spritz-recipes-11724234?tag=travel&hid=b65c06b8bb54449e12b2324cde45cf069f804769&did=17544041-20250504&utm%5Fcampaign=faw-top10%5Fnewsletter&utm%5Fsource=faw&utm%5Fmedium=email&utm%5Fcontent=050425&lctg=b65c06b8bb54449e12b2324cde45cf069f804769&lr%5Finput=969bf86e4d337bb74ec41d7fc4fcb4cbce448adc9ea58fc46f58a8b14ca494da) --- ### [Nobody Gets Promoted for Simplicity](https://terriblesoftware.org/2026/03/03/nobody-gets-promoted-for-simplicity/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Matheus Lima / Terrible Software** Engineering teams keep promoting the person who overbuilds, not the one who solves the problem cleanly — and that quiet bias shapes entire careers. The essay argues that simplicity is the harder, smarter choice, but it's invisible by design: you can't write a compelling story about the complexity you avoided. The kitchen parallel writes itself: a chef who reduces a sauce to its purest three ingredients deserves more respect than one who piles on techniques to look impressive — and the best cooks, like the best engineers, know that restraint is the real skill. 🔥 Last week's most clicked link was [How to talk to anyone – and why you should](https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2026/feb/24/stranger-secret-how-to-talk-to-anyone-why-you-should?ref=secretbreakfast.com). **Hey, what did you talk about?* Well, that's all for today. --- ### Against the chefs, against the foodies 🪖 URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/against-the-chefs-against-the-foodies/ Last updated: 2026-03-11T12:31:11.000Z ### Welcome to Secret Breakfast / The best place to start you personal war. This time vs Jamie Oliver, René Redzepi, and all the foodies out there Hi there! Apparently, war times call for culinary wars. Some cool reading along this issue. Hope you like it. Take care, don't be evil. *Piero* --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/quote-transparent-1-1.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2026/03/michael-pollan.png) ✹**Michael Pollan** has spent years circling the same questions — why we eat, why we alter our minds, what's actually happening inside them. His new book,[ *A World Appears: A Journey Into Consciousness*](https://michaelpollan.com/books/a-world-appears/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) is where those threads finally converge. --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/book-transparent-1.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2026/03/9791387688776_L38_04_l.png) #### ****Against the Foodies** When did everyone become a food expert? [Juan Manuel Bellver](https://www.instagram.com/bellver65/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) — journalist, Spain's National Gastronomy Award winner — has been watching the rise of the foodie with a sharp, slightly wicked eye. In **Contra los foodies*, he cuts through the noise: the Instagram plates, the chef worship, the performative eating. What he defends instead is food as culture, memory, and genuine pleasure. Less posturing, more conversation. Less spectacle, more truth. A witty, erudite takedown of culinary pretension — and a quiet manifesto for eating with your head, not your feed. Niche reading, don't underestimate. [****Contra los foodies**](https://www.siruela.com/catalogo.php?id%5Flibro=5263&completa=S&titulo=contra-los-foodies&autor=juan-manuel-bellver&ref=secretbreakfast.com) **by Juan Manuel Bellver (🇪🇸 Spanish only, epub available)** ****→ Shortplot:** 🍽️ 📱 ✂️ 📚 ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/White---22--1.png) ## Nothing could be normal at Noma ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2026/03/622490017_18078669749337998_3478400938737573171_n.jpg) [Omnivore](https://www.instagram.com/p/C9nSE7yvgfJ/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) for AppleTV I've been to Noma. Paid out of my own pocket. Also [wrote something enthusiastic about that](https://macchioni.cc/posts/2020-02-02-noma/?ref=secretbreakfast.com). For those who don't know: Noma is a Copenhagen restaurant that, since 2004, has rewritten the rules of fine dining — five times ranked number one on the World's 50 Best Restaurants list, three Michelin stars, and the place that single-handedly put New Nordic cuisine on the global map. **Redzepi didn't just cook. He changed the conversation**: foraged ingredients, fermentation, hyper-local sourcing, insects as a condiment. I watched the jars of deer brain garum, lived each course like something I couldn't quite name. Reading Redzepi's books — and the books written about him — [the stress was more than legible between the lines](https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2013/oct/19/rene-redzepi-i-was-a-beast?ref=secretbreakfast.com), a current nobody mentioned out loud. When the testimonies started appearing on social media, I waited. I wanted a real investigation, verified sources, documented facts. [*The New York Times* delivered with Julia Moskin, who worked years on this feature](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/07/dining/rene-redzepi-noma-abuse-allegations.html?smid=url-share&ref=secretbreakfast.com) (also, read her answers in the comment section). **The picture that emerges is precise and heavy: punches to the ribs, kitchen implements used to jab cooks during service, ritualized public humiliations, threats to have families deported or wives fired.** Thirty-five former employees interviewed, a pattern spanning nearly a decade. Redzepi responded with a statement that admits "enough" to acknowledge the harm, without recognizing all of it. **The fact that certain behaviors are now called by their actual name — violence, abuse, systemic toxicity — is real progress.** Not obvious, not automatic. It took people with the courage to speak, and journalism that did its job. One uncomfortable question remains, though, turning in my head since I read the piece. How do you turn Copenhagen — a city of flavorless sausages — into the European capital of food? How do you put foraging, fermentation, ants instead of lemon back at the center of the world's attention? Probably not with well-balanced people, reasonable hours and a functioning HR office. **History, at least so far, has handed us this version: that certain radical changes are produced by outsized personalities, sometimes borderline, sometimes worse. That's not a justification. It's a contradiction worth sitting with — because the genius and the damage, in this case, came from the same place.** --- *PS: Noma* [*answered*](https://www.instagram.com/p/DVl7HeHilBP/?utm%5Fsource=ig%5Fweb%5Fcopy%5Flink&igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==)*.* *Bonus:* [*some good sense rules to keep it supportive without lowering the standards*](https://www.instagram.com/p/DVmd1UBmmSq/?utm%5Fsource=ig%5Fweb%5Fcopy%5Flink&igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==) --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/op-transparent-1.png) Juicy content from food creators ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2026/03/chou.jpg) [Chou farci](https://www.instagram.com/p/DU8qVH8jQQj/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) by James Holdsworth. **Eat more cabbage, as well!* --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/Hunger-1.png) 🥩Sesame beef, and 19 more weeknight winners (★[recipes](https://www.foodandwine.com/new-recipes-march-2026-11918050?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 💬[The stranger secret: how to talk to anyone](https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2026/feb/24/stranger-secret-how-to-talk-to-anyone-why-you-should?ref=secretbreakfast.com) – and why you should 🇨🇳[China Is Developing a Taste for Fake Meat](https://heatmap.news/climate-tech/fake-meat-china?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🍍[How to Make Any Kind of Sour Frozen Fruit](https://www.foodandwine.com/how-to-make-sour-fruit-11917369?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🗼A cool [collection of food places in Tokyo](https://zaraintokyo.com/?ref=secretbreakfast.com), Japan 🥘From a one-pan chicken and rice bake to gooey cookie dough bars 9 Weeknight Recipes from Our Favorite Cookbooks of Winter 2026 (★[recipes](https://www.foodandwine.com/2026-best-winter-cookbook-recipes-11872259?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🐻[‘The Bear’ Is Ending With Season 5](https://deadline.com/2026/03/the-bear-ending-season-5-fx-1236744166/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🥬[How an unappetizing shrub became dozens of different vegetables](https://www.worksinprogress.news/p/many-of-the-tastiest-vegetables-are?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 👃🏼[Smell is The Missing Sense in Modern Medicine](https://daily.jstor.org/the-missing-sense-in-modern-medicine/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) ☔️I'm on a massive random manga diet, this week i completed [*Koi wa Ameagari no You ni (After the Rain)*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/After%5Fthe%5FRain%5F%28manga%29?ref=secretbreakfast.com)*,* currently on [*Monster*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monster%5F%28manga%29?ref=secretbreakfast.com)(suggestions are welcome) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/White---19-.png) ### [What the Noma Controversy Means for Diners](https://www.foodandwine.com/noma-controversy-diner-response-11922509?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Kat Kinsman / Food & Wine** A complete examination of the controversy surrounding Noma *(again, sorry)*, detailing abuse allegations against renowned chef René Redzepi, the restaurant’s response, and what ethical dining means for customers today. [](https://www.foodandwine.com/good-guys-spritz-recipes-11724234?tag=travel&hid=b65c06b8bb54449e12b2324cde45cf069f804769&did=17544041-20250504&utm%5Fcampaign=faw-top10%5Fnewsletter&utm%5Fsource=faw&utm%5Fmedium=email&utm%5Fcontent=050425&lctg=b65c06b8bb54449e12b2324cde45cf069f804769&lr%5Finput=969bf86e4d337bb74ec41d7fc4fcb4cbce448adc9ea58fc46f58a8b14ca494da) --- ### [Bad People, Bad Food, Bad Place](https://www.vittlesmagazine.com/p/bad-people-bad-food-bad-place?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Heather Parry / Vittles** A British writer from Rawmarsh, a working-class village near Rotherham, revisits the 2006 media frenzy when parents famously passed chips through school gates to protest a headteacher's sudden ban on outside food, inspired by Jamie Oliver's school dinners campaign. "Jamie Oliverism" is the author's shorthand for a top-down, celebrity-driven approach to changing working-class eating habits. --- 🔥 Last week's most clicked link was [A Creamy Salad Dressing That Will Change Your Life](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/26/dining/silken-tofu-salad-dressing-rvr-los-angeles.html?smid=url-share&ref=secretbreakfast.com). And that's all for today. --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2026/03/vw.jpg) ### Orange Caramels and Red Codes 🚀 URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/orange-caramels-and-red-codes/ Last updated: 2026-03-04T12:31:20.000Z ### Welcome to Secret Breakfast / The best place to enjoy your last meal, living like a monk, dining like a king, and drinking Butter Tea Hi there! One day, if I'm lucky, I'll have grandchildren who might ask me: "Grandpa, what were you doing during the [Third Information Crisis](https://www.theguardian.com/books/2025/nov/15/dont-argue-with-strangers-and-11-more-rules-to-survive-the-information-crisis?ref=secretbreakfast.com)?" Or: "What worried you in the days leading up to the [Great War](https://edition.cnn.com/2026/03/02/middleeast/us-israel-iran-conflict-what-we-know-intl?ref=secretbreakfast.com) of the Second World Disorder?". I don't know if I'll have the courage to tell them that I was writing a food newsletter at late night hours. Anyway, welcome to another week where we don't need to wish each other "may you live in interesting times". *Piero* --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/quote-transparent-1-1.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2026/03/Freida-McFadden--Dear-Debbie-march-.png) ✹Freida Mcfadden, [*Dear Debbie*](https://www.freidamcfadden.com/books/standalone-thrillers/dear-debbie/?ref=secretbreakfast.com). --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/book-transparent-1.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2026/03/bact.jpg) #### Bactery powered Welcome to the only newsletter where you can find a book about bacteria in the cookbook section. Then, Colomina and Wigley's manifesto argues that microbes are the true architects of our buildings — and that eliminating them has made both our spaces and our bodies sick. The parallel with food is "obvious": the same war on bacteria that sterilized modern architecture is what industrial food production did to bread, cheese, and fermentation. The best kitchens, like the best buildings, have always been alive. **Nevertheless, keep your kitchen tools clean, wash your vegetables and pasteurize those eggs!* [****We The Bacteria. Notes Toward Biotic Architecture**](https://www.lars-mueller-publishers.com/we-bacteria?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **by Beatriz Colomina and Mark Wigleye** ****→ Shortplot: 🦠** 🍄‍🟫 🧫 🤤 ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/White---22--1.png) ## The Ayatollah's Last Breakfast ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2026/03/HCara_Wa4AAS-nZ.jpg) While the Middle East was burning, and the rest of us were trying to make sense of this huge new war, one imperceptible detail lodged itself in my ear: [Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was having a breakfast meeting with aides during the very strikes that killed them](https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c3gdnpjvj4ko?ref=secretbreakfast.com). We all fantasize about last suppers. Imagining something wonderful to eat if we could choose our final great meal. But what happens when your hour arrives without warning — mid-bite, mid-sentence, mid-meeting? Ok, the supreme leader of Iran was basically a theologian who turned faith into a control mechanism, and signed death warrants on the way to the bank. He was responsible of mass executions, torture, systematic censorship, state-engineered poverty — while his financial network was estimated at $200 billion. A man who called gender equality "one of the biggest intellectual mistakes of the Western world". He was neither a gentleman nor a foodie. "We had a hard life. Sometimes for supper we had nothing but bread with some raisins," he is quoted as saying. His favourite meal, reportedly, was *nun-o-paneer-o-sabzi* (★[recipe](https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1022455-naan-o-paneer-o-sabzi-bread-feta-and-herb-platter?unlocked%5Farticle%5Fcode=1.QVA.kdrt.g2Hl9Kx3-KNT&smid=share-url&ref=secretbreakfast.com), fancier version) — bread, cheese, and fresh herbs — the same frugal table as Ruhollah Khomeini. In Persian culture, this modest spread signals humility and detachment from the material world. To me, though, with its simple variety, it suggests something else entirely: the essential richness of sitting together. Good call, Mr. K. Then again, who can really know the truth? Can the supreme leader of Iran — for 37 years — ever say what he truly loves? Perhaps his most resonant words are about the opposite of eating: *"Your fasting is a divine blessing. Fasting is a celestial banquet."* A man who ate bread and raisins. A man who called hunger a feast. And in the end, no choice at all about the last meal. Perhaps — given his record — the only thing that made him truly human. --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/op-transparent-1.png) Juicy content from food creators ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2026/03/ora-1.jpg) Soft Orange Caramels (Orange Krówki) by [Katie P](https://www.instagram.com/p/DVPlqzmjpnJ/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/Hunger-1.png) 🥣Chocolate-Oatmeal Carmelitas (★[recipe](https://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/chocolate-oatmeal-carmelitas?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) + 28 Fiber-Packed Oats Recipes, From Granola to Gluten-Free Bread (★[recipes](https://www.foodandwine.com/oats-recipes-11887037?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🫑Sami Tamimi's Stuffed Peppers (★[recipe](https://www.theguardian.com/food/2026/mar/04/stuffed-peppers-freekeh-mtabal-aubergine-dip-sami-tamimi-savoury-palestinian-snacks-recipes?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🥢[The history of the frustrating Korea’s metal chopsticks](https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/2026%E2%80%9302%E2%80%9314/why/WHY-Flat-frustrating-and-now-famous-The-history-of-Koreas-metal-chopsticks/2519615?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 📺A Tibetan short movie about [Butter Tea](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uXo0efnN6W4&ref=secretbreakfast.com) (★[recipe](https://arborteas.com/blogs/tea-recipes/tibetan-butter-tea-recipe?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🥣[A Creamy Salad Dressing That Will Change Your Life](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/26/dining/silken-tofu-salad-dressing-rvr-los-angeles.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🫕This is the time of the year I try to understand Mapo Tofu (★[recipe](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQOiLBjR8lY&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🍜Then I land to Dan Dan Noodles (★[recipe](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=axB-TvsSleQ&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) ☀️[I Tried Replacing Nightlife With Daylife](https://www.popsugar.com/health/daylife-editor-experiment-49473542?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🕶️As Meta [smart glasses capture scenes in restaurants](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/16/dining/meta-ray-ban-glasses-restaurants.html?unlocked%5Farticle%5Fcode=1.QlA.CLK6.4Q1yEAj9aBe%5F&smid=url-share&ref=secretbreakfast.com) for social media, service workers and customers are becoming captive participants 🍇Is the [vinegar sommelier](https://www.diningandcooking.com/2538191/why-foodies-are-going-mad-for-gourmet-vinegar-102?ref=secretbreakfast.com) in the house? 🍪[The £45 Vanilla Flower Cookie](https://www.theguardian.com/food/2026/mar/04/25-for-a-cookie-what-the-baffling-luxury-bakery-boom-tells-us-about-britain?ref=secretbreakfast.com) and his expensive siblings 🎞️[Rental Family](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rental%5FFamily?ref=secretbreakfast.com#Production) is the film I enjoyed the most this year ([trailer](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n0pqP6ClcE8&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/White---19-.png) ### [He lives like a monk. He dines like a king](https://sfstandard.com/2026/02/25/fine-dining-regular-michelin-restaurants/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Sara Deseran / San Francisco Standard** Nowadays the city of San Francisco - no shops, poor fentanyl zombies colonizing the streets - is quite shocking for us, Europeans. Anyway, this Michael Grepo is a 67-year-old retired federal worker, has eaten at some of the city’s best restaurants more than 50 times. And he’s still going. [](https://www.foodandwine.com/good-guys-spritz-recipes-11724234?tag=travel&hid=b65c06b8bb54449e12b2324cde45cf069f804769&did=17544041-20250504&utm%5Fcampaign=faw-top10%5Fnewsletter&utm%5Fsource=faw&utm%5Fmedium=email&utm%5Fcontent=050425&lctg=b65c06b8bb54449e12b2324cde45cf069f804769&lr%5Finput=969bf86e4d337bb74ec41d7fc4fcb4cbce448adc9ea58fc46f58a8b14ca494da) --- ### [A foodie tour of Iran: it's poetry on a plate](https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2016/oct/29/iran-food-tour-yasmin-khan-stews-kebabs-desserts?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Yasmin Khan / The Guardian** This one is 9 years old. When food was (is) a wonderful vehicle for discovering Iran, with its fabulous regional produce featuring in stews, rice dishes, kebabs and desserts. By the author of [*The Saffron Tales: Recipes from the Persian Kitchen*](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28260529-the-saffron-tales?ref=secretbreakfast.com)*.* --- 🔥 Last week's most clicked link was [I Lowered My Grocery Bill Using the Japanese Concept of “Mottainai”](https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/mottainai-meaning-japanese-concept-2-37534045?ref=secretbreakfast.com). And that's all for today. God, we need some peace, though. --- ### Bright Ideas and Translucent Pears 🍐 URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/bright-ideas-and-translucent-pears/ Last updated: 2026-02-25T12:41:10.000Z ### Welcome to Secret Breakfast / The best place to start baking, lowering the grocery bill, and cooking on a luxury yacht Hi there! Two ideas caught my attention this week, and you'll find them linked around in this issue. The first is a reframe of **the 1% concept** — not the wealthy elite, but **the tiny fraction of users who generate almost everything you see online.** That loud, obsessive minority shapes what feels like "the conversation," even though it represents almost no one. The second idea comes from veteran tech journalist Om Malik, via [Dense Discovery](https://www.densediscovery.com/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) newsletter (a very good one), and it's about **velocity — the organizing principle that quietly replaced authority on the internet.** Malik's argument is structural, not moral. Nobody decided to make the internet worse. Platforms built systems that reward speed above everything else, and rational people — writers, reviewers, newsrooms — responded accordingly. First takes win. Best takes arrive too late. And here's where the two ideas connect: when 1% of users produce the content, and the algorithm pays a premium for whoever speaks first, **what we get isn't information. It's a freakshow running at full speed.** Like a kitchen where only the microwave gets used — fast, convenient, and completely unable to develop any real flavor. Different paths, I suppose. *Piero* PS: I have many microwave friends. --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/quote-transparent-1-1.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2026/02/Andy-Weir.png) ✹**Andy Weir**, [*Project Hail Mary*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project%5FHail%5FMary?ref=secretbreakfast.com). One of my favorite books ever, an outstanding scientific adventure, and – soon (March 20th) – [a movie featuring Ryan Gosling](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m08TxIsFTRI&ref=secretbreakfast.com). --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/book-transparent-1.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2026/02/happy-1.jpg) #### Oh, sweetie A hybrid memoir and cookbook for anyone who has ever found their way back to themselves through a kitchen. Fifty baking recipes woven into a coming-of-age story about desire, reinvention, and the hard-earned satisfaction of following a recipe all the way to the end. The author, Tanya Bush — co-founder of the James Beard-nominated Cake Zine and the mind behind the Instagram account [@will.this.make.me.happy](https://www.instagram.com/will.this.make.me.happy/?hl=en&ref=secretbreakfast.com) — makes dessert feel like the most honest form of self-expression there is. [****Will This Make You Happy**](https://tanyabush.com/Book?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **by Tanya Bush** ****→ Shortplot:** 🍰 🍩 🍧 🤗 ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/White---22--1.png) ## I'll have it vegan, with bacon on the side ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2026/02/artem-mihailov-PHrGFSBY6G4-unsplash.jpg) Photo by [Artem Mihailov](https://unsplash.com/@mihailovart%5Fpht?utm%5Fsource=unsplash&utm%5Fmedium=referral&utm%5Fcontent=creditCopyText) on [Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/photos/a-woman-holding-a-fork-with-food-on-it-PHrGFSBY6G4?utm%5Fsource=unsplash&utm%5Fmedium=referral&utm%5Fcontent=creditCopyText) Food – we know that — is rarely just fuel. It's identity, memory, ritual, *blablabla* — and when someone tells you to change what you eat, they're often asking you to rewrite a part of yourself. That's why radical dietary shifts fail so often: they demand a complete conversion before you've even decided you believe. Danielle Foré put it simply on Mastodon: *"*[*People often avoid making small positive changes because they get caught up in trying to go all the way*](https://mastodon.online/@danirabbit/115985248349797403?ref=secretbreakfast.com)*"* (this comes also from the latest Dense Discovery issue!). Enters the "vegan + bacon framework", that is disarmingly simple (and that's precisely its strength). It doesn't ask you to be a different person. It asks you to try one thing. «“I could never go vegan. I love bacon too much”. So then go vegan plus bacon. Or vegetarian plus bacon». The ethical tension is real, though. A purist would argue that half-measures normalize compromise — that eating one animal product still funds an industry you claim to oppose. Fair point. But pragmatism has its own ethics. A million people reducing meat consumption by 30% likely does more measurable good than ten thousand going fully vegan and burning out by February. Small changes also do something radicals underestimate: they build identity slowly. And the direction matters more than the velocity. PS: you can also make vegan bacon (★[recipe](https://www.okonomikitchen.com/shio-pan-salt-bread/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/op-transparent-1.png) Juicy content from food creators ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2026/02/pera.jpg) Translucent Pear Chips, via [Michal Kováč](https://www.instagram.com/p/DVJsNsDgPYb/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/Hunger-1.png) 🍎[Should I Refrigerate Apples? And More Fruits and Vegetables Storage Questions, Answered](https://cooking.nytimes.com/article/fruits-vegetables-storage?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🥐[Salt Bread Is Ready to Win Over the World](https://www.eater.com/trends/942923/korean-salt-bread-japanese-shio-pan-trend-explained?ueid=e28c375eb8adc4ff1210f142451302c6&bxid=6152386d15888967f0c62d3a&utm%5Fsource=Sailthru&utm%5Fmedium=email&utm%5Fcampaign=From%20the%20Editor%20-%202/21/2026&utm%5Fterm=From%20the%20Editor) (★[recipe](https://www.okonomikitchen.com/shio-pan-salt-bread/?ref=secretbreakfast.com))💡Rumpelstiltskin Effect, The 1% Rule, Slopaganda and more: learn [26 Useful Concepts for 2026](https://www.gurwinder.blog/p/26-useful-concepts-for-2026?utm%5Fsource=substack&utm%5Fmedium=email) Ideas to equip you for 2026 🎨[Rituals of Famous Creative Women](https://www.instagram.com/p/DUn0LKajLwX?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🍷[How to sum up Spanish wine in six glasses](https://www.ft.com/content/c68ebaae-7f9b-4037-8405-2faac971910b?ref=secretbreakfast.com) (none of them sherry) 🍦Why [the world’s biggest food companies are ditching ice cream](https://edition.cnn.com/2026/02/19/business/nestle-selling-ice-cream-business-intl?utm%5Fcampaign=mb&utm%5Fmedium=newsletter&utm%5Fsource=morning%5Fbrew)🍸[The Smallest Bar in the World](https://www.insidehook.com/cocktails/backdoor-43-smallest-bar-world?utm%5Fsource=join1440&utm%5Fmedium=email&utm%5Fplacement=newsletter&user%5Fid=66c4c385600ae1507593f25c) 💸[I Lowered My Grocery Bill Using the Japanese Concept of “Mottainai”](https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/mottainai-meaning-japanese-concept-2-37534045?utm%5Fsource=instagram&utm%5Fmedium=social&utm%5Fcampaign=infeed&utm%5Fcontent=www.instagram.com/p/DU--XfyAbGa) ✊This is on the political side, but interesting: [7 reasons why hosting a silly little potluck (or game night, or porch hang, or book club, or group hike) is essential to defeating fascism](https://thewhitepages.net/p/seven-reasons-why-hosting-a-silly?ref=secretbreakfast.com) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/White---19-.png) ### [Velocity Is the New Authority. Here’s Why](https://om.co/2026/01/21/velocity-is-the-new-authority-heres-why/?ref=DenseDiscovery-377) **Om Malik / OM** This is one of the best reads of this 2026 yet. The piece argues that the internet's real damage isn't misinformation — it's structural: velocity replaced authority as the organizing principle of information. What makes it sharp right now is that AI is about to accelerate that same dynamic, flooding every feed with content that costs nothing to produce and even less to ignore. The author doesn't moralize; he maps the infrastructure, which is the more honest and useful thing to do. --- ### [Bad Lunch](https://om.co/2026/01/21/velocity-is-the-new-authority-heres-why/?ref=DenseDiscovery-377) **Mishele Maron / The Sun Magazine** A self-taught cook lands a job on a luxury Mediterranean charter yacht, serving ultra-wealthy clients who pay $30,000 a day and test the staff with lipstick marks on windows. The writing earns its keep through sharp class contrasts — food stamps in a trailer versus gold credit cards at Saint-Tropez — and a dry, unsentimental eye for the absurdity of serving the rich. What makes it compelling is the physical toll hidden beneath the glamour: burned fingers, sleepless nights, a storm in Sardinia, and a cook crawling through spilled stock on a tilting floor. [](https://www.foodandwine.com/good-guys-spritz-recipes-11724234?tag=travel&hid=b65c06b8bb54449e12b2324cde45cf069f804769&did=17544041-20250504&utm%5Fcampaign=faw-top10%5Fnewsletter&utm%5Fsource=faw&utm%5Fmedium=email&utm%5Fcontent=050425&lctg=b65c06b8bb54449e12b2324cde45cf069f804769&lr%5Finput=969bf86e4d337bb74ec41d7fc4fcb4cbce448adc9ea58fc46f58a8b14ca494da) --- 🔥 Last week's most clicked link was about [The French Sunday](https://www.vogue.com/article/french-sunday?ref=secretbreakfast.com). And that's all for today. --- ### Butter, Ramadan and Egg Marinades 🧈 URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/butter-ramadan-and-egg-marinades/ Last updated: 2026-02-18T12:31:23.000Z ### Welcome to Secret Breakfast / The best place to start asking questions, discover the real nature of fungi and drink stacked water (whatever that is) Hi there! And *Ramadan Mubarak*! This week we have fasting and butter, mushrooms and chili ganache. I think we're good, then. *Piero* --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/quote-transparent-1-1.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2026/02/merlin.png) ✹Merlin Sheldrake, [*Entangled Life: How Fungi Make Our Worlds, Change Our Minds & Shape Our Futures*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Entangled%5FLife?ref=secretbreakfast.com). This one is a classic. Perfect if you loved [*The Last of Us*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The%5FLast%5Fof%5FUs%5F%28TV%5Fseries%29?ref=secretbreakfast.com) (no, just kidding). --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/book-transparent-1.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2026/02/but.jpg) #### There's only one 'but' in butter If I could write a book dedicated to butter, what would it look like? Mine shaped like a stick of butter. Too bad Anna Stockwell and Chronicle Books got there first with this little manual of butter-based delights. Click the link below and you can even copy a few recipes, without getting your hands dirty. Ah, with 112 pages, this book is exactly one stick of butter — no more, no less. There's nothing more to say, except that it's not recommended for vegans. [****Butter Book**](https://www.chroniclebooks.com/products/butter-book?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **by Anna Stockwell** ****→ Shortplot: 🧈 🧈 🧈 🧈** ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/White---22--1.png) ## What a Celebrated Maestro Taught me About Cooking ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2026/02/0.Concert-1.jpg) [Max Richter](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Max%5FRichter?ref=secretbreakfast.com) is one of the most significant composers of our time — a post-minimalist architect of slow, aching beauty. He also holds a peculiar record: [*Sleep*](https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLcSkPXginhQeOmqyJlf64CZERKArxGf2Z&ref=secretbreakfast.com), his 2015 eight-hour lullaby designed to be heard unconscious, is the longest classical composition ever commercially released (and probably the most streamed online). So, clearly, he has nothing to do with food or cooking. And yet meeting him last week made me think about something important in the world we care about most here at Secret Breakfast. At some point I asked him **whether he ever feared other people's judgment of his work**. Today, in the age of social media, public reaction — online, in real time — is one of the first challenges anyone faces when they want to communicate something. And yet to make art, or to serve a dish at the table, you need to find the courage to strip yourself bare and put yourself out there. If any of you ever feel anxiety, or catch yourself self-censoring out of fear of others — here's what Richter told me. > I see creative work as being half of a conversation. You make a piece of music and then you're asking the world a kind of *what/if question*. How about if I made this, so what is it? Please tell me. So you then get the other half of this conversation. And then that's culture, that's a dialogue and shared understanding. And it's fascinating. Not bad, right? **To create is to ask a question, to write half of a conversation. The other person's response is the other half. That's how culture is made.** Let's cook. Let's make culture. --- *Disclaimer: I met Richter for work, as part of a collaboration he did with Maison Krug. It's a fascinating project — if you're curious, you can* [*read more here*](https://www.krug.com/en-int/maxrichter?ref=secretbreakfast.com) *and also watch a short documentary that explains it.* *Trivia: 2008 was a damned good year for Champagne. Even though the harvest began on the very day Lehman Brothers collapsed.* --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/op-transparent-1.png) Juicy content from food creators ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2026/02/capture-2026-02-18-alle-09.54.55_cleanup.jpg) Egg Marinades by [Chef Ylyt Frixiah Manaig](https://www.instagram.com/p/DUhVRmQD7qP/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/Hunger-1.png) 🍿[Being Gordon Ramsay](https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2026/feb/18/being-gordon-ramsay-review-restaurants-netflix?ref=secretbreakfast.com), on Netflix 🥖[Why the Hotel Bakery Is Becoming as Popular as the Hotel Bar](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-02-12/cedric-grolet-celebrity-bakers-make-hotel-bakeries-dining-destinations?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🤖[Now you can take your AI chatbot on an actual date at NYC’s companion cafe](https://nypost.com/2026/02/12/tech/table-for-one-now-you-can-take-your-ai-chatbot-on-an-actual-date-at-nycs-world-first-companion-cafe/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🍰Chocolate Mochi Cake with Thai Chili Ganache (★[recipe](https://cakezine.substack.com/p/chocolate-mochi-cake-with-thai-chili?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🥺[How to network when you’re socially anxious](https://psyche.co/guides/how-to-network-when-youre-socially-anxious?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🚰[Stacked Water](https://www.self.com/story/what-is-stacked-water?ref=secretbreakfast.com),the Internet’s New Hydration Hack 🇫🇷[Where to Eat in Marseille](https://www.instagram.com/p/DUh9MFzjfQA/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) (let's go NOW) ♥️[50 Non-Awkward Questions for a First Date](https://www.self.com/story/questions-for-first-date?client%5Fservice%5Fid=31203&client%5Fservice%5Fname=self+magazine&service%5Fuser%5Fid=1.78e+16&supported%5Fservice%5Fname=instagram%5Fpublishing&ref=secretbreakfast.com) That’ll Actually Spark a Connection 🛏️[The Case for Having a “French Sunday”](https://www.vogue.com/article/french-sunday?ref=secretbreakfast.com) (I'm sold) ☪️Ramadan special: [How to plan Ramadan meals](https://www.theguardian.com/food/2026/feb/13/plan-ramadan-meals-minimal-work-maximum-readiness-fasting?ref=secretbreakfast.com): minimal work, maximum readiness; BBC's [48 Ramadan Recipes](https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/collection/ramadan-recipes?ref=secretbreakfast.com); Serious Eats' [31 Ramadan Recipes](https://www.seriouseats.com/ramadan-recipes-11905208?ref=secretbreakfast.com) for a Nourishing, Flavor-Packed Iftar; [25 Plant-Based Middle Eastern Ramadan Recipes](https://www.onearabvegan.com/2018/05/25-plant-based-middle-eastern-ramadan-recipes/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) for you, *veganzas* ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/White---19-.png) ### [How To Eat When You’re In Love/Not In Love](https://darthdevi.substack.com/p/how-to-eat-when-youre-in-lovenot?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Sreya Vittaldev / Table For One** We forget to eat when we fall in love — and we forget ourselves along with it. One woman traces her relationship through flavour: the electric first dates she can't remember tasting, the bland meals she cooked to please someone else, the appetite that vanished before the breakup did. The question she's left with is uncomfortably simple: why do we only start taking care of ourselves when we're alone?. --- 🔥 Last week's most clicked link was abut the book [The Power, by Naomi Alderman](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The%5FPower%5F%28Alderman%5Fnovel%29?ref=secretbreakfast.com). And that's all for today. --- ### Pleasure Matters More Than the Recipes ♥️ URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/pl/ Last updated: 2026-02-12T18:50:48.000Z ### Welcome to Secret Breakfast / The best place to start making omelettes with Rosalía, licking the rims, and rediscover the lower senses Hi there! In less than seven days I attended the opening of an Olympic Games, found myself in the same room as George Clooney, had lunch at the chef's table of a three-Michelin-star restaurant, listened to and interviewed one of the most important living composers. Right now, though, I'm rushing to free a country house infested with owls. What was Karma supposed to be called? This issue is unbalanced almost quite like me now. *Piero* --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/quote-transparent-1-1.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2026/02/naomi2.png) ✹**Naomi Alderman**, [*Don’t Burn Anyone at the Stake Today*](https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/469677/dont-burn-anyone-at-the-stake-today-by-alderman-naomi/9780241777633?ref=secretbreakfast.com). Just bought my signed copy yesterday in London. Do you know her? [*The Power*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The%5FPower%5F%28Alderman%5Fnovel%29?ref=secretbreakfast.com) is the book you have to read once in your life. --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/White---22--1.png) ## Eat, Flirt or Cook on Valentine’s Day ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2026/02/joey-nicotra-jaWsWDzCXSQ-unsplash.jpg) Photo by [Joey Nicotra](https://unsplash.com/@joeynicotra?utm%5Fsource=unsplash&utm%5Fmedium=referral&utm%5Fcontent=creditCopyText) on [Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/photos/person-with-white-cream-on-face-jaWsWDzCXSQ?utm%5Fsource=unsplash&utm%5Fmedium=referral&utm%5Fcontent=creditCopyText) Valentine's day is closing in and if you're reading this looking for inspiration, you might be terribly late. That's why I tried to play with gestures and intentions more than with recipes. **First Bite = Power** **PlayDish: Oysters with pink peppercorn mignonette** (★[recipe](https://andrewzimmern.com/recipes/andrew-zimmern-cooks-mignonette-sauce/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) In Japan, couples feed each other the first bite of cake at weddings—dominance disguised as devotion. Try it with oysters. Lock eyes. Tip the shell toward their mouth. “Open.” Don’t ask. If they obey, you'll enjoy. **Kitchen = Combat Zone** **Dish: Korean tteokbokki with gochugaru** (★[recipe](https://kimchimari.com/tteokbokki-korean-spicy-rice-cake/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) Cook together. Stand too close. Steal their spoon mid-stir. If they protest, kiss them quiet. The food can burn. Taste from the same fork. Make them say if it needs more heat. Pray they don't hate garlic. **Secret Ingredient = Risk** **Dish: Dark chocolate mousse with pink chocolate shavings & cardamom** (★[recipe](https://nirvanacakery.com/rose-cardamom-chocolate-mousse-vegan/?ref=secretbreakfast.com), then wing it) Moroccan lovers slip saffron into tea—an aphrodisiac (or poison if you overdo it). Hide cardamom in the mousse. Grate pink chocolate on top like you’re performing surgery. Tell them after the first spoonful. “Did you taste that?”. Watch them try to guess. **Restaurant = Theater** **Dish: Whatever’s most expensive.** Order the tasting menu. Or something table-side served. No menus, no choices—just trust. In Ethiopia, *gursha* means feeding your lover by hand in public. Keep it clean, but do it between courses. Make the waiter uncomfortable. If they blush, you’re doing it right. **Wine = Confession Serum** **Pairing: Natural** [**orange wine**](https://thecorkscrewconcierge.com/2024/10/moldovan-wines-are-primed-for-the-limelight/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **or aged Barolo** In Georgia, toasts aren’t optional—they’re ritual. Pour something strange and expensive. Make them toast to something true: a secret, a fear, a fantasy. Drink from the same glass. When it’s empty, lick the rim. Then see where the night leads you. The wine is just the excuse. **Bonus = Nonna's Move** **Dish: Ravioli fatti a mano—any filling** (but consider [this one](https://en.julskitchen.com/first-course/fresh-pasta/beetroot-ravioli-with-ricotta?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) You want to prove love? Make pasta from scratch. Flour on the counter, eggs cracked with one hand, filling mixed like you’re hiding evidence. Nonna knew: food made by hand says “I spent time I’ll never get back on you.” If you roll the dough thin enough to read through, you win. If you crimp each raviolo shut like a secret—you marry them. --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/op-transparent-1.png) Juicy content from food creators ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2026/02/626285356_18341057875242023_5999745672268346226_n.jpg) Forget Layers, [Sheet Wedding Cake are the New Trend](https://thewed.com/magazine/trend-sheet-wedding-cakes?ref=secretbreakfast.com) --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/Hunger-1.png) 🌎[The World’s Most Welcoming Cities for 2026](https://news.booking.com/bookingcom-announces-the-worlds-most-welcoming-cities-for-2026/?ref=secretbreakfast.com), according to Booking 🥔Also Rosalía loves [this](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d3%5FVc%5FSScLU&ref=secretbreakfast.com) tortilla de patatas (here's a [fresh video of her cooking](https://www.vogue.com/article/now-serving-rosalia?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🧠[Michael Pollan Says Humanity Is About to Undergo a Revolutionary Change](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/07/magazine/michael-pollan-interview.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🎻More people are treating themselves to a [solo meal](https://www.axios.com/2026/02/07/solo-dining-self-care-fast-food?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🌹[Bring the Bouquet to the Table With These 16 Rose-Infused Recipes for Valentine’s Day](https://www.foodandwine.com/rose-recipes-11899045?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🥒[The $20 Side Dish Is Here](https://www.grubstreet.com/article/20-dollar-side-dishes.html?ueid=e28c375eb8adc4ff1210f142451302c6&bxid=6152386d15888967f0c62d3a&utm%5Fsource=Sailthru&utm%5Fmedium=email&utm%5Fcampaign=From%20the%20Editor%20-%2002/07/2026&utm%5Fterm=From%20the%20Editor) 🐊Ok, they have a [Lacoste Café](https://www.instagram.com/p/DUnRfdBiEpK/?ref=secretbreakfast.com), but they're not serving alligator meat 🥇Here’s [what you should be drinking during the Olympic and Paralympic Games](https://www.instagram.com/p/DUhLufajaav/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/White---19-.png) ### [The Professor of the Lower Senses](https://www.vittlesmagazine.com/p/the-professor-of-the-lower-senses?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Ruby Tandoh /Vittles** In 1790, a pompous French lawyer fleeing revolutionaries crashed a stranger's feast, flirted his way to a pardon, and later turned the story into *The Physiology of Taste*—**the book that invented modern food writing.** The twist: this man who taught us to obsess over food was a dinner party bore who ate badly and never entertained, yet wrote so seductively about desire that we've been quoting him for two centuries. He had one radical idea: pleasure matters more than recipes, and talking about food can be as thrilling as eating it. [](https://www.foodandwine.com/good-guys-spritz-recipes-11724234?tag=travel&hid=b65c06b8bb54449e12b2324cde45cf069f804769&did=17544041-20250504&utm%5Fcampaign=faw-top10%5Fnewsletter&utm%5Fsource=faw&utm%5Fmedium=email&utm%5Fcontent=050425&lctg=b65c06b8bb54449e12b2324cde45cf069f804769&lr%5Finput=969bf86e4d337bb74ec41d7fc4fcb4cbce448adc9ea58fc46f58a8b14ca494da) --- ### [When drinking coffee was illegal—or even punishable by death](https://www.popsci.com/health/coffee-ban-history/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Anne Ewbank / Pop Science** Rulers once closed cafés, burned beans, and even executed someone—all for a cup of coffee. --- 🔥 Last week's most clicked link was [Where to Eat in 2026](https://www.eater.com/dining-out/936672/best-places-to-eat-restaurants-travel-2026?ref=secretbreakfast.com). And that's all for today. --- ### Fire Horses, Frozen Olympians and Super Bowl Parties 🐴 URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/fire-horses-frozen-olympians-and-super-bowl-parties/ Last updated: 2026-02-05T13:14:25.000Z ### Welcome to Secret Breakfast / The best place to start your day having lunch Bengaluru, dinner in Milan, drinks in Tokyo, and a football party in Santa Clara Hi there! I'm writing from the Olympic city of Milan, where things are hectic. You know, we're hours away from the [Milano Cortina 2026](https://www.olympics.com/en/milano-cortina-2026?ref=secretbreakfast.com) opening ceremony. Am I an Olympian? No way. Just a day late with the newsletter—sorry about that! *Piero* --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/quote-transparent-1-1.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2026/01/Stewart-Brand--1.png) ✹**Stewart Brand**, author of [Maintenance: Of Everything, Part One](https://press.stripe.com/maintenance-part-one?ref=secretbreakfast.com). Published by Stripe Press and everywhere in my newsfeed. Why I like it? Answer's fermentation! Bread, pickles, soy sauce, name yours. --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/White---22--1.png) ## Eat like it's the Year of the Horse ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2026/02/bo-1.jpg) [The Year of the Horse](https://www.dazeddigital.com/life-culture/article/69545/1/fire-horse-alice-sparkly-kat-2026-chinese-new-year-snake-astrology?ref=secretbreakfast.com) (and of [Draco Malfoy](https://www.instagram.com/p/DUV2uwdiAyW/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) begins February 17, 2026\. The Year of the Horse demands speed. But not the microwave kind: the kind of someone who knows what they want and gets it in 30 minutes. Here are a few recipes that gallop you toward lunch and dinner. **🔋Energy angle.** The horse is movement, freedom, energy. Focus on fast but nourishing dishes - bowls ready in 20 minutes (★[recipes](https://theeverygirl.com/grain-bowl-recipes/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)), "saddle-friendly" recipes you can take anywhere, meal prep for people who never stop. **🥕Power ingredients.** Oats (horse food becomes gourmet porridge), red beets (strength and endurance), glazed carrots, fennel. Or proteins that give you a boost: beef, eggs, legumes. **🫙Dishes on the move**: Things you eat while going - gourmet sandwiches (★[recipe](https://www.theguardian.com/food/2020/oct/26/the-20-best-sandwich-recipes?ref=secretbreakfast.com)), wraps (★[recipe](https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/three%5Feasy%5Fvegan%5Fwraps%5F21271?ref=secretbreakfast.com)), salads in jars (★[recipe](https://www.halfbakedharvest.com/mediterranean-chickpea-and-egg-salad-jars/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)). The horse doesn't stand still, neither do you. **🎉The horse is social.** Offer a recipe for sharing - a big tray of lasagna, a barbecue spread, an elaborate charcuterie board. Something that brings people together. Do you see yourself more on energy-speed or sharing-herd? --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/op-transparent-1.png) Juicy content from food creators ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2026/02/620956060_18552337543062687_5499106082546767222_n.jpg) [Braided Rhubarb Tart](https://www.instagram.com/p/DT08bZmCNCw/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) by Ruby Bhogal --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/Hunger-1.png) 🌏From Aguascalientes to Bengaluru, [Where to Eat Around the World in 2026](https://www.eater.com/dining-out/936672/best-places-to-eat-restaurants-travel-2026?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🏈25 Easy, Crowd-Pleasing Desserts for Super Bowl Parties (★[recipes](https://www.foodandwine.com/super-bowl-desserts-11887204?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🥱[7 kinds of rest (other than sleep)](https://www.npr.org/2026/02/02/nx-s1-5694017/7-kinds-of-rest-other-than-sleep?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🍷Save me a spot: in Japan there's [a bar designed specifically for people who are considering leaving their jobs](https://www.instagram.com/p/DUNFbR2AbG9/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🍊This Citrus Vinaigrette Uses an Entire Orange, Pith and All (★[recipe](https://www.foodandwine.com/whole-orange-vinaigrette-11897749?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) + 🗻From casunziei to spätzle, [celebrating the 2026 Winter Olympics with Cortina Recipes](https://share.google/GenPpp1iQc0yvRMJX?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🥇[Giada De Laurentiis’ Game Plan for Hosting a Gold Medal-Worthy Winter Olympics Watch Party](https://www.foodandwine.com/giada-de-laurentiis-olympic-hosting-tips-11893249?ref=secretbreakfast.com) ✨Into the kitchen of Enrico Bartolini al MUDEC, [Milan’s only three-Michelin-star restaurant](https://www.olympics.com/en/milano-cortina-2026/videos/milan-haute-cuisine-bartolini-mudec-michelin-star-restaurant?ref=secretbreakfast.com). ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/White---19-.png) ### [Mieko Kawakami grew up in Tokyo’s sexy, seedy bar scene. Now she’s written a novel about it](https://www.ft.com/content/1360e1b7-1dd2-4538-b668-9ec84826b5e2?desktop=true&segmentId=7c8f09b9-9b61-4fbb-9430-9208a9e233c8&ref=secretbreakfast.com#myft:notification:daily-email:content) **Mieko Kawakami, Translation by Sam Bett / Financial Times** "\[In Tokyo\] There are, of course, a few distinct varieties of drinking. First, there’s drinking voluntarily, for fun. Then there’s the kind of drinking that isn’t really fun, but feels like the only way to make life tolerable, in what amounts to escapism or self-harm. The third variety is when you drink, or get other people to drink, as a way of making money. If I’m going to write about nightlife in Tokyo, this third one is impossible to ignore". [*Sisters In Yellow*](https://www.panmacmillan.com/authors/mieko-kawakami/sisters-in-yellow/9781035024131?ref=secretbreakfast.com) will be published on 19 March by Picador. --- 🔥 Last week's most clicked link was [12 Distractions to Leave Behind in 2026](https://nosidebar.com/12-distractions-to-leave-behind-in-2026/?ref=secretbreakfast.com). And that's all for today. --- ### Hot Dips and Damned Choppelgangers 🌶️ URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/damned-choppelgangers/ Last updated: 2026-01-28T12:31:55.000Z ### ### Welcome to Secret Breakfast / The best place to start collecting bread tags, watching food doppelgangers, and melting gold on your risotto even if it has no flavor at all Hi there! You know what? It seems that luxury spending has shifted dramatically and ["stuff" doesn't signal status anymore](https://matterbymatter.substack.com/p/stuff-doesnt-signal-status-anymore?ref=secretbreakfast.com). While handbag sales slump, fine dining jumped 7% and the matcha market is set to nearly double by 2033\. The data tells a sharp story: people aren't buying status symbols anymore—they're buying lived experiences. A designer bag that hundreds of students bought in the same color feels dystopian; a table at a three-Michelin-star restaurant or first-flush [tencha](https://obubutea.com/shop/green-tea/tencha-green-tea/tencha/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) from Kyoto signals something no one can replicate. Identity isn't telegraphed through what you own—it's broadcast through what you've tasted, where you've eaten, and how you've chosen to feed yourself. *Piero* --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/quote-transparent-1-1.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2026/01/samurai.png) ✹**Master Eiji,** in [*Blue Eye Samurai*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue%5FEye%5FSamurai?ref=secretbreakfast.com), which I finally watched and enjoyed so much. --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/book-transparent-1.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2026/01/81IZc9zSzPL._AC_UF1000-1000_QL80_-1.jpg) #### We're fermenting [Yoko Nakazawa](https://www.instagram.com/cookingwithkoji/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) grew up in rural Japan learning to preserve her family's vegetable harvest using ancient fermenting techniques, then carried those skills to Australia where she now teaches others. Her book explains the practical mechanics—salt ratios, chopping methods, fermenting times—while weaving in personal stories that transform technical instruction into something warmer. It's equal parts preservation manual and love letter to seasonal eating and generational knowledge. [****The Japanese Art of Pickling and Fermenting: Preserving Vegetables and Family Traditions**](https://www.smithstreetbooks.com/catalogue/the-japanese-art-of-pickling-fermenting/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **by Yoko Nakazawa** ****→ Shortplot:** 🍑 🧂 🥒 🔪 ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/White---22--1.png) ## Beware the "Choppelganger"! ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2026/01/alex-mqX9J-pTiS4-unsplash.jpg) Photo by [alex](https://unsplash.com/@ax4w?utm%5Fsource=unsplash&utm%5Fmedium=referral&utm%5Fcontent=creditCopyText) on [Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/photos/a-couple-of-people-that-are-standing-in-the-street-mqX9J-pTiS4?utm%5Fsource=unsplash&utm%5Fmedium=referral&utm%5Fcontent=creditCopyText) **Choppelganger** fuses "chopped" and "doppelganger" into Gen Z's latest weapon: it describes someone who looks like a celebrity but fell through the Canva version of genetics. Think discount bin, not boutique. The term thrives on TikTok as a brutal compliment disguised as observation. But stretch it beyond faces. Margarine is butter's choppelganger—same yellow promise, zero soul. Instant ramen pretends it's tonkotsu but tastes like regret in a Styrofoam cup. Canned "Parmesan" is the criminal here, that sawdust they sell next to pasta that insults actual Parmigiano-Reggiano. **Yet some choppelgangers exceed their originals:** Oreos obliterated [Hydrox](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrox?ref=secretbreakfast.com), the cookie they copied. Sometimes the knockoff wins, and that's the twist—being a choppelganger isn't always the insult. Sometimes it's evolution. --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/op-transparent-1.png) Juicy content from food creators ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2026/01/apple.jpg) Apple Winter Tea, with Real Apples by [Lyana Begret See](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DRLEkmvianD/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/Hunger-1.png) 🇺🇸In these troubled days G. Daniela Galarza wrote an issue of [Eat Voraciously about Minnesota](https://s2.washingtonpost.com/camp-rw/?trackId=60c79a1bade4e27d9e2f202c&s=697773636465085e278b8e56&utm%5Fcampaign=wp%5Fveatvoraciously&utm%5Fmedium=email&utm%5Fsource=newsletter&linknum=2&linktot=45) ❎[12 Distractions to Leave Behind in 2026](https://nosidebar.com/12-distractions-to-leave-behind-in-2026/?utm%5Fsource=substack&utm%5Fmedium=email) 🥫[20 Hot Dips to Get Your Party Started](https://www.foodandwine.com/hot-dip-recipes-11888630?hid=b65c06b8bb54449e12b2324cde45cf069f804769&did=21298217-20260124&utm%5Fcampaign=faw%5Frelationship-builder&utm%5Fsource=faw&utm%5Fmedium=email&utm%5Fcontent=012426&lctg=b65c06b8bb54449e12b2324cde45cf069f804769&lr%5Finput=969bf86e4d337bb74ec41d7fc4fcb4cbce448adc9ea58fc46f58a8b14ca494da) 🏷️ Whaaat? [Bread-tags have become collectibles](https://hyphen.art/p/bread-clips-are-the-new-bauhaus?ref=secretbreakfast.com) How micro-design is becoming the defining aesthetic of 2026 🇬🇧Eater's [38 Best Restaurants in London](https://www.eater.com/maps/best-london-restaurants-eater-38?ueid=e28c375eb8adc4ff1210f142451302c6&bxid=6152386d15888967f0c62d3a&utm%5Fsource=Sailthru&utm%5Fmedium=email&utm%5Fcampaign=From%20the%20Editor%20-%2001/24/2026&utm%5Fterm=From%20the%20Editor) 🍲[33 Hearty Winter Dinner Recipes to Make all Season Long](https://www.foodandwine.com/winter-dinner-recipes-11866016?hid=b65c06b8bb54449e12b2324cde45cf069f804769&did=21616323-20260123&utm%5Fcampaign=faw-top10%5Fnewsletter&utm%5Fsource=faw&utm%5Fmedium=email&utm%5Fcontent=012326&lctg=b65c06b8bb54449e12b2324cde45cf069f804769&lr%5Finput=969bf86e4d337bb74ec41d7fc4fcb4cbce448adc9ea58fc46f58a8b14ca494da) 🔄[How to Make Cooking Substitutions](https://cooking.nytimes.com/article/ingredient-substitutions?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🐖[Make Butaniku no Shogayaki (Japanese Ginger Pork)](https://www.seriouseats.com/pork-ginger-buta-shogayaki-recipe-5208113?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🍌Check this: [Haru Hana Banana](https://www.instagram.com/p/DTnX4RmjYQy/?ref=secretbreakfast.com), a single tray containing gradient-like bananas at varying stages of ripeness 📖Your [book aesthetic based on your Zodiac Sign](https://www.instagram.com/p/DT0t5B5ER-9/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 📺Eater made a series where they follow a rotating cast of chef friends on their rare day off: [Burger Expert George Motz’s Favorite NYC Meals (That Aren’t Burgers)](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=f6LQGEm04Q0&pp=4gcKEghTYWlsdGhydQ%3D%3D&ref=secretbreakfast.com) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/White---19-.png) ### [How Bakers Survive Winter Mornings](https://cakezine.substack.com/p/how-bakers-survive-winter-mornings?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Cake Zine** Bakers wake in darkness, driven by duty and small rituals: fuzzy sweaters, early-aughts rock, puzzles with strong coffee, gradual sunrise lamps. The winter mornings are brutal—3 a.m. alarms, frigid bike rides, the knowledge that without them, there's no bread for dinner service—but there's something sacred in those first solo hours before the world wakes. They survive on caffeine, carefully curated playlists, and one shared delusion: that waking up early ever gets easier (spoiler: it doesn't). --- ### [All That Glitters Is Edible Gold and Silver](https://tastecooking.com/all-that-glitters-is-edible-gold-and-silver/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Anikah Shaokat / Taste** Edible gold and silver have symbolized luxury for millennia—not for taste (they're flavorless) but for their supposed mystical powers and incorruptible perfection. Today's gilding craze hides a problem: fake "edible" metals laced with toxic copper flood online markets, while traditional craftspeople like India's Muslim pannigars fight to preserve ancient techniques against automation. Whether it's a $25,000 sundae or a $20 gold-dusted cone, we're chasing the same thrill: swallowing something precious to feel precious. [](https://www.foodandwine.com/good-guys-spritz-recipes-11724234?tag=travel&hid=b65c06b8bb54449e12b2324cde45cf069f804769&did=17544041-20250504&utm%5Fcampaign=faw-top10%5Fnewsletter&utm%5Fsource=faw&utm%5Fmedium=email&utm%5Fcontent=050425&lctg=b65c06b8bb54449e12b2324cde45cf069f804769&lr%5Finput=969bf86e4d337bb74ec41d7fc4fcb4cbce448adc9ea58fc46f58a8b14ca494da) --- 🔥 Last week's most clicked link was [7 Excellent Food Movies to Watch Right Now](https://www.saveur.com/sponsored-post/food-movies-mubi/?ref=secretbreakfast.com). And that's all for today. --- ### Greenlandic delicacies and Zodiac Kimchi 🇬🇱 URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/greenlandic-delicacies-and-zodiac-kimchi/ Last updated: 2026-01-21T12:31:29.000Z ### Welcome to Secret Breakfast / The best place to start drinking the greatest wine in the world while having soup in the morning and shark meat in the evening Hi there! Later today I'll be all in with [Drops of God](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drops%5Fof%5FGod%5F%28TV%5Fseries%29?ref=secretbreakfast.com) Season 2, even if I'm pretty sure it's [jumping the shark](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jumping%5Fthe%5Fshark?ref=secretbreakfast.com) soon. Season one had all the elements that make me get lost in a story. Taste, French wines, Japan and Japanese tradition, a dead parent with an overwhelming legacy, a few good love stories, a fascinating and unpredictable female character, three main languages. (This was quite personal to me. I started watching it while I was racing across Italy to say goodbye to my father. No mystery why it stuck). Anyway, this second season marks a turning point: it's no longer an adaptation of the [manga](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drops%5Fof%5FGod?ref=secretbreakfast.com) (that I actually bought, in Japanese, just because I felt like it I had to), but offers completely new adventures. This time Camille and Issei—who clashed over the inheritance of the world's most important wine collector—must now solve a mystery that their own father was unable to unravel: discovering the origin of the greatest wine in the world. The takeout of all this? I don't know, but at least remember that sometimes money spent for an excellent wine are money well spent in good memories. *Piero* --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/quote-transparent-1-1.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2026/01/seo.png) ✹**Seo Maiko**, *"And, the Baton Was Passed"* (そして、バトンは渡された), just published in Italy by e/o as [*Cinque benedizioni per un matrimonio*](https://www.edizionieo.it/book/9788833579443/cinque-benedizioni-per-un-matrimonio?ref=secretbreakfast.com). They also made [a movie](https://www.instagram.com/yuko%5Fbaton%5Fmovie/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) from it. --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/White---22--1.png) ## Greenland's Cuisine: Not Why You'd Invade, But Worth Defending ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2026/01/visit-greenland-Le891OC-QC8-unsplash.jpg) Photo by [Visit Greenland](https://unsplash.com/@visitgreenland?utm%5Fsource=unsplash&utm%5Fmedium=referral&utm%5Fcontent=creditCopyText) on [Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/photos/rising-sun-lWSn7An7XLE?utm%5Fsource=unsplash&utm%5Fmedium=referral&utm%5Fcontent=creditCopyText) [If the United States were to invade Greenland](https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvgr19m642zo?ref=secretbreakfast.com), it surely wouldn't be for the food. **Greenlandic cuisine is strong**—fermented seal packed with hundreds of whole birds, whale skin eaten raw, [shark meat buried under rocks until its toxins break down](https://www.atlasobscura.com/foods/hakarl-shark-iceland?ref=secretbreakfast.com). Yet this harsh-sounding menu is actually an exceptional example of extracting the best from a difficult territory. For centuries, **Inuit communities turned extreme scarcity into abundance through ingenious preservation methods.** They netted thousands of [dovekies](https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/what-is-kiviaq?ref=secretbreakfast.com) in spring to ferment as kiviaq for winter feasts. They caught [lumpfish](https://world.expeditions.com/en/expedition-stories/stories/a-world-of-flavor-7-traditional-foods-of-greenland?ref=secretbreakfast.com) whose delicate roe rivals caviar. They hunted reindeer and [musk ox](https://visitgreenland.com/activities/greenlandic-gastronomy-a-taste-of-greenland/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) that roamed freely across tundras, producing meat more tender than anything raised in a pen. **What makes Greenlandic food remarkable isn't just survival—it's** [**adaptation and fusion**](https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/restaurants-in-greenland?ref=secretbreakfast.com)**.** Thai restaurants dot the coastline now, run by immigrants who've made Greenland home, serving green curry with seal and pad krapow with reindeer. Local chefs create sushi with whale skin and mattak. South Greenlandic lamb, raised on limited fertile soil, gets paired with Arctic thyme and angelica. Wild berries emerging from melting permafrost become compotes for gamey ptarmigan. The cuisine tells multiple stories: pre-colonial Inuit ingenuity, Danish colonial influence, climate change reshaping ecosystems, and a small population fiercely preserving traditions while welcoming new flavors. It's complicated, yes. But that complexity makes it worth tasting—and protecting. --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/op-transparent-1.png) Juicy content from food creators ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2026/01/muf.jpg) Muffuletta hardcore sandwich for travelers by [Delicious](https://www.delicious.com.au/recipes/muffuletta-sandwich-recipe/e2clwg60?ref=secretbreakfast.com) --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/Hunger-1.png) 💌A group of journalists look to fill the void left by Condé Nast’s Gourmet by reviving it as a [worker-owned newsletter](https://gourmetmagazine.net/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🥖Taylor Swift’s [Sourdough Bread](https://www.vogue.com/article/taylor-swift-sourdough-bread-hottest-accessory-of-2026?ref=secretbreakfast.com) Is the Hottest Accessory of 2026 So Far 🍱[Sushi has become kid's food](https://www.instagram.com/p/DTQnCyhEtMs?ref=secretbreakfast.com), the new chicken nuggets, so people are going broke over it 💉 [Ozempic is changing](https://news.cornell.edu/stories/2025/12/ozempic-changing-foods-americans-buy?ref=secretbreakfast.com) the foods Americans buy 🍲Three Soups for Breakfast: [Gukbap](https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1026299-gukbap-beef-and-bean-sprout-soup-with-rice?unlocked%5Farticle%5Fcode=1.GFA.hZKD.ZUJKQNOEcBcQ&smid=share-url&ref=secretbreakfast.com) (Beef and Bean Sprout Soup With Rice), [Apple-Spice Breakfast Soup](https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1013569-apple-spice-breakfast-soup?unlocked%5Farticle%5Fcode=1.GFA.iqZR.tV8dVGi6NGMz&smid=share-url&ref=secretbreakfast.com), [Miso](https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1023468-miso-soup?unlocked%5Farticle%5Fcode=1.GFA.D79l.W0PKNm6AeLpY&smid=share-url&ref=secretbreakfast.com) ♈️[Zodiac Signs as Kimchi](https://www.instagram.com/p/DTKbZawjHNG/?img%5Findex=1&ref=secretbreakfast.com): find yours 🥟Soup Dumpling Lasagna (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reels/DSXA6fTgHZw/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🥛Viral Fake Lazy Cheesecake (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reels/DTl2orMju4u/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🤖You don't need to click this, but just know that [the Anti-AI Aesthetic Taking Over Social Media](https://www.businessoffashion.com/articles/beauty/the-anti-ai-aesthetic-taking-over-social-media/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🖋️How to Keep a [Reading Journal](https://cityfawns.substack.com/p/how-to-keep-a-reading-journal?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 📺[7 Food Movies](https://www.saveur.com/sponsored-post/food-movies-mubi/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) on Mubi (it's a Saveur sponsored content, but it's good content) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/White---19-.png) ### [From The Kids’ Table: Ode to the On-Mountain Meal ](https://www.thesupersonic.blackbird.xyz/p/from-the-kids-table-ode-to-the-on?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **James Jung / The Supersonic** A writer reflects on the many meals he’s had slope side, and why lunch—even a cafeteria pizza—always tastes better following a morning of skiing.[](https://www.foodandwine.com/good-guys-spritz-recipes-11724234?tag=travel&hid=b65c06b8bb54449e12b2324cde45cf069f804769&did=17544041-20250504&utm%5Fcampaign=faw-top10%5Fnewsletter&utm%5Fsource=faw&utm%5Fmedium=email&utm%5Fcontent=050425&lctg=b65c06b8bb54449e12b2324cde45cf069f804769&lr%5Finput=969bf86e4d337bb74ec41d7fc4fcb4cbce448adc9ea58fc46f58a8b14ca494da) --- 🔥 Last week's most clicked link was [52 places to go in 2026](https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2026/travel/places-to-travel-destinations-2026.html?unlocked%5Farticle%5Fcode=1.EFA.tLdR.ZoEQ86zhYgwC&ref=secretbreakfast.com). And that's all for today. --- ### Caramelised Yogurt and Okra Pork Rolls 🐽 URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/caramelised-yogurt-and-okra-pork-rolls/ Last updated: 2026-01-14T12:13:23.000Z ### Welcome to Secret Breakfast / The best place to start serving the best portion of a good person's life, while watching rom-com bits and air-frying banana slices Hi there! This 2026 is having a rough start. Some soft vibes are needed. Hope you find some here today. *Piero* --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/quote-transparent-1-1.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2026/01/Levi.png) ✹**Allen Levi**, [*Theo of Golden*](https://www.allenlevi.com/the-book?ref=secretbreakfast.com). --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/book-transparent-1.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2026/01/grape.jpg) #### You Can Drink to That Alice, a wine rep dulled by routine, escapes to a French vineyard for harvest season where she meets Henri—the vineyard owner's equally adrift nephew—among rows of riesling and an eclectic crew of grape pickers. Author Eliza Dumais, a Brooklyn wine writer known for describing wines as tasting "like cherries and disappointment," draws from her own romance with chef Sam Lawrence to craft this Alsatian love story. Critics praise it as an intoxicating escape that blends sensual European settings with characters so vivid they leap off the page, making readers want to refill their glass and keep reading. [****Grape Juice**](https://831stories.com/products/grape-juice-by-eliza-dumais?variant=51853630996753&ref=secretbreakfast.com) **by Eliza Dumais** ****→ Shortplot:** 🍷 🍇 🥂 🫦 ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/White---22--1.png) ## Gimbap and Onigiri: when Korea met Japan ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2026/01/oni.jpg) 🇰🇷강혜원 and 🇯🇵赤楚衛二 (hint: those are their names in their own language) I need romantic comedies right now. [*People We Meet on Vacation*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/People%5FWe%5FMeet%5Fon%5FVacation%5F%28film%29?ref=secretbreakfast.com) was good, but it only made things worse—now I'm hungry for more. While I wait for the second part of *Drops of God* ([trailer](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3j85pa3KggQ&ref=secretbreakfast.com), we'll talk about that when it's time), Netflix's [*Gimbap and Onigiri*](https://www.netflix.com/it-en/title/82122775?ref=secretbreakfast.com) showed up. The plot is simple: Taiga (Eiji Akaso), a former university runner now working at a small restaurant, meets Park Rin (Kang Hye-Won), a Korean animation grad student in Japan who's exhausted and broke. One onigiri later, she's hooked. He's hooked on her smile. You know how this goes. The lighting is terrible. The sets are worse. The story? We'll see. But the food—the food gives us something. Forget the symbolic gimbap (★[recipe](https://www.seriouseats.com/gimbap-korean-seaweed-rice-rolls?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) and onigiri (★[recipe](https://www.okonomikitchen.com/vegan-onigiri-japanese-rice-ball-recipe/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) for a second. Episode one alone drops solid ideas: [Simmered Beef with Ginger (Shigureni)](https://www.justonecookbook.com/simmered-beef-with-ginger-shigureni/?ref=secretbreakfast.com), sweet and salty Japanese comfort food; [Jangjorim](https://www.beyondkimchee.com/jangjorim-soy-braised-beef/?ref=secretbreakfast.com), Korean soy-braised beef with eggs; [Okra Pork Rolls](https://cookpad.com/eng/recipes/24077588?ref=secretbreakfast.com), a 20-minute fix that's good for your stomach; and [Natto Pancake](https://www.japanesecooking101.com/natto-pancake/?ref=secretbreakfast.com), because why not? At the moment I have another obsession beyond rom-coms —yes, I'm trying to learn (a bit of) Japanese— so I'll keep watching. I don't guarantee the series is worth it, but if more good recipes show up, you'll find them here. --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/op-transparent-1.png) Juicy content from food creators ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2026/01/caramelised.jpg) [Caramelised Yogurt](https://www.instagram.com/p/DTC11yKEjn%5F/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) by Jessy Santin --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/Hunger-1.png) 🌎[2026 Travel Destinations: 52 Places to Go This Year](https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2026/travel/places-to-travel-destinations-2026.html?unlocked%5Farticle%5Fcode=1.EFA.tLdR.ZoEQ86zhYgwC&smid=url-share&ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🍌Air Frier Crispy Banana Breakfast, and more (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DSSozC%5FiI7I?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🍕[Why is pizza in decline?](https://theweek.com/business/pizza-decline-sales-takeout-prices?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🌍*Pluribus* is winning hard during the award season, so: West African sunshine dishes, chicken yassa pot pie and stuffed plantain boats (★[recipes](https://www.theguardian.com/food/2026/jan/12/chicken-yassa-pot-pie-plantain-boats-recipes-toyo-odetunde?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🎥If you like today's movie stars, probably you'll love [this mega editorial](https://www.wmagazine.com/culture/best-performances-2026-portfolio-photos?ref=secretbreakfast.com) featuring a barefoot George Clooney, a flawless Jacob Elordi, a golden Sydney Sweeney and Renate Reinsve having some messy spaghetti 🇺🇸United States have a new food pyramid, apparently they don't like processed stuff no more, and they like smart webdesign: [Realfood](https://realfood.gov/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/White---19-.png) ### [Viscerality: some notes on pleasure](https://map.simonsarris.com/p/viscerality?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Simon Sarris / The Map is Mostly Water** This essay argues that modern convenience—from climate control to mass-produced objects—has dulled our sensory awareness, confining us to a narrow, sterile experience of life. Sarris advocates for intentional pleasure-seeking through everyday rituals: using beautiful dishes, eating seasonal produce at its peak, and choosing objects we genuinely adore over cheap replacements. For food enthusiasts, it's a compelling case that cooking and eating aren't just about nutrition or efficiency, but about cultivating a richer, more visceral relationship with taste, texture, and the rhythms of harvest. --- 🔥 Last week's most clicked link was [What a longevity expert eats in a day](https://www.washingtonpost.com/wellness/2026/01/02/longevity-expert-eats-every-day/?ref=secretbreakfast.com). And that's all for today. --- ### Arepas reloaded, Crab Dips and Longevity Diet 🦀 URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/arepas-reloaded-crab-dips-and-longevity-diet/ Last updated: 2026-01-07T13:26:57.000Z ### Welcome to Secret Breakfast / The best place to start considering that man is the pie that bakes and eats himself on a neverending glucose roller coaster Hi there! Has 2026 started well for you? I don't put much stock in New Year's resolutions, but I do believe in setting the table right. Surrounding myself with good people. A few tools that actually work. Keeping my mind open to new ideas. Choosing a practice that makes me feel alive. Giving myself one small indulgence every day, if I can. These are the talismans I carry into the twelve months that show up every January. What about you? *Piero* --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/quote-transparent-1-1.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2026/01/Alasdair-Gray.png) ✹Alasdair Gray, [*Lanark*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lanark:%5FA%5FLife%5Fin%5FFour%5FBooks?ref=secretbreakfast.com). This book is epic. I saw that in [Ben Mervis' feed](https://www.instagram.com/p/CLtuDSkFhLM/?hl=it&img%5Findex=1&ref=secretbreakfast.com) and had to hop on eBay and get it. --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/White---22--1.png) ## How will the arepas taste tomorrow? ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2026/01/venez.jpg) Caracas, Venezuela. Photograph: [Jacinto Oliveros/AFP/Getty Images](https://www.theguardian.com/news/gallery/2026/jan/04/maduro-capture-stonehenge-sunrise-photos-of-the-weekend?CMP=share%5Fbtn%5Furl&ref=secretbreakfast.com#img-13) (via The Guardian) It seems like only yesterday—and in fact it was just November 2025—when we were asking ourselves [who made better arepas: Venezuela or Colombia](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/26/world/americas/colombia-venezuela-arepas-food.html?unlocked%5Farticle%5Fcode=1.CVA.YTnz.qESct-eqJ6cF&smid=url-share&ref=secretbreakfast.com) (★[recipe](https://www.seriouseats.com/venezuelan-style-arepas-recipe?ref=secretbreakfast.com)). Not even 100 weeks ago, the Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro Moros [was a meme](https://www.instagram.com/p/C3kt2IWM0sz/?hl=en&ref=secretbreakfast.com) defending one of his nation's culinary treasures, even wanting arepas recognized as UNESCO World Heritage. Today that same man has been deposed and forcibly taken to the United States in one of the most dramatic military operations in recent years. Now in Caracas and across the country, people aren't mourning their leader's disappearance—they're fearing instability. They're emptying supermarkets, [stockpiling drinking water, toilet paper, and long-lasting food](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/03/world/americas/venezuelans-food.html?unlocked%5Farticle%5Fcode=1.CVA.-56P.sS-h5g0QbFh0&smid=url-share&ref=secretbreakfast.com). Others queue at butcher shops for *milanesa*, *muslo*, *chuleta de pollo*, *masa de pastelito*, *queso llanero*. Be careful: Caracas is not Gaza, and hopefully will never reach that threshold of desperation. Today it seems the country's future will be decided by oil companies and American power. Who knows if the arepas will taste different tomorrow. --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/op-transparent-1.png) Juicy content from food creators ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2026/01/gt.jpg) [Charred Lemon Gin and Tonic by Ariel](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DSWG5xCjzgi/?ref=secretbreakfast.com). In 2026 consider the charred lemon. --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/Hunger-1.png) 📺Short doc: [La Chef](https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=Hymqc6aetew&ref=secretbreakfast.com), The Story Behind Michelin-Starred Chef Ana Dolores and Esquina Común by Jessica De La Torre 🥜[What a longevity expert eats in a day](https://www.washingtonpost.com/wellness/2026/01/02/longevity-expert-eats-every-day/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) (spoiler: nuts for lunch, salad for dinner) 🍛I wanted to cook Japanese-style curry (★[recipe](https://www.justonecookbook.com/simple-chicken-curry/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)), then I also made Curry Roux (★[recipe](https://www.justonecookbook.com/how-to-make-curry-roux/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) and Homemade Fukujinzuke (★[recipe](https://www.justonecookbook.com/homemade-fukujinzuke/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🦀[A Spinach Artichoke Crab Dip Recipe That’s Ready for Any Party](https://www.eater.com/eater-at-home/922370/best-spinach-artichoke-dip-recipe-strange-delight-ham-el-waylly?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🥣A 5-Ingredient Chinese Style Savory Oatmeal (★[recipe](https://omnivorescookbook.com/savory-oatmeal/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🍲From Tadka Dal with Roti to Burmese Samusa Soup... 37 Satisfying Lentil Soups and Stews (★[recipes](https://www.foodandwine.com/lentil-soup-and-stew-recipes-11871370?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) ❌[The Paradox of Failed Resolutions](https://jillianhess.substack.com/p/the-paradox-of-failed-resolutions?ref=thebrowser.com): notebooks are where resolutions are made and where they are broken. ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/White---19-.png) ### [How Pete Wells, Former New York Times Restaurant Critic, Changed His Eating Habits](https://cooking.nytimes.com/article/our-former-restaurant-critic-changed-his-eating-habits-you-can-too?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Pete Wells / The New York Times** This one I can relate to. A feared restaurant critic who spent 12 years eating professionally describes how he reversed prediabetes, obesity, and metabolic syndrome by breaking his sugar addiction—losing 55 pounds without counting calories. The piece argues that cutting simple carbohydrates doesn't just improve health markers; it fundamentally resets your appetite, making it easier to eat less of everything else by getting off what nutritionists call the glucose roller coaster. [](https://www.foodandwine.com/good-guys-spritz-recipes-11724234?tag=travel&hid=b65c06b8bb54449e12b2324cde45cf069f804769&did=17544041-20250504&utm%5Fcampaign=faw-top10%5Fnewsletter&utm%5Fsource=faw&utm%5Fmedium=email&utm%5Fcontent=050425&lctg=b65c06b8bb54449e12b2324cde45cf069f804769&lr%5Finput=969bf86e4d337bb74ec41d7fc4fcb4cbce448adc9ea58fc46f58a8b14ca494da) --- 🔥 Last week's most clicked link was [The 10 Best Recipes of 2025](https://slate.com/life/2025/12/best-new-cookbooks-recipes-2025-gifts.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com), by Slate. Dig them, they're still good in 2026! And that's all for today. --- ### Open This When You're Ready for the New Year 🎇 URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/open-this-when-youre-ready-for-the-new-year/ Last updated: 2025-12-31T15:51:27.000Z ### Welcome to Secret Breakfast / The best place to start the ending of the year, or ending what you started too late, dreaming about yaupon tea, minibar shots and grandmacore Hi there! I could bore you with a navel-gazing essay about the year just passed. But I care about you too much for that. Instead, I wish you a pantry never empty of the only nourishment that doesn't make us fat: love. We'll reconnect in 2026, with fresh appetites, hunting for new flavor in our days. Cheers! *Piero* --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/quote-transparent-1-1.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/12/woodkid.png) ✹**Woodkid**, *To The Wilder* ([lyrics video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSN1rPPKK9s&ref=secretbreakfast.com)), awesome, awesome tune from [*Death Stranding 2: On the Beach*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death%5FStranding%5F2:%5FOn%5Fthe%5FBeach?ref=secretbreakfast.com) soundtrack. I don't play videogames, but 2025 was my [Hideo Kojima](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hideo%5FKojima?ref=secretbreakfast.com) year. --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/White---22--1.png) ## We'll have a "fricy" 2026 ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/12/css.jpg) A riot at the top of Leeson Street, 1978, by Chris Steele-Perkins (Magnum), [a great photographer we lost this year](https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2025/sep/11/chris-steele-perkins-magnum-photographer?ref=secretbreakfast.com) It's the time of food predictions. All publications agree on one central point: **2026 will mark a return to simplicity and authenticity, in contrast to the viral and theatrical excesses of 2025\.** A collective desire emerges for comfort, substantial quality, and genuine connection with food. The predictions reflect economic tensions (inflation, high prices) and social anxieties (instability, digital overload), with consumers seeking real value, manageable portions, and functional ingredients. Curiously, humble ingredients like cabbage and brown butter become protagonists, while regional culinary traditions and nostalgia replace innovation for innovation's sake. **The New York Times** ([link](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/29/dining/food-trends-2026-predictions.html?unlocked%5Farticle%5Fcode=1.A1A.ikqf.g6ue1NP84W8y&smid=url-share&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) - Foodmaxing meets "grandmacore" (traditional fermented foods, sourdough bread) - Texture as new choice driver (crunchy, chewy, creamy) - Vinegar as ingredient of the year - Local American ingredients (yaupon tea, pawpaw, bison) - Kitchen couture (packaging as decorative element) - Heightened sensory attention and inclusivity for neurodivergent diners - Focus on "value" rather than affordability - Smaller restaurants with personalized service - Cabbage as vegetable of the year **BBC Food** ([link](https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/articles/2026%5Ffood%5Ftrends?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) - "Fricy" flavors (fruity + spicy: chamoy, yuzu kosho) - Mini portions and "snackification" (Ozempic/GLP-1 influence) - Functional food and drinks (fiber, probiotics, mushroom coffee) - Brown butter as viral technique - Jacket potato reinvented ([Kim Kardashian effect](https://www.taste.com.au/food-news/kim-kardashians-hilarious-response-jacket-potato-question/bbkrf17s?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) - Cabbage comeback (dumplings, golumpki, fermented) **Delish** ([link](https://www.delish.com/food/a69840466/food-trends-2026-expert-predictions/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) - Simplicity as dominant trend (less complexity, more quality) - Nostalgia and comfort food (well-executed classics, Beef Wellington) - Immersive experiences and interactive dining - Heritage cooking (regional cuisines, Filipino, African) - Health-conscious cooking (real proteins, no powders) - No/low-ABV cocktails **Bonus, by Food & Wine:** [The Food Trends We Nailed — and the Ones We Definitely Didn’t](https://www.foodandwine.com/best-food-trend-predictions-fails-11877678?ref=secretbreakfast.com) --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/op-transparent-1.png) Juicy content from food creators ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/12/butter.jpg) Basically bath bombs, but made of butter. Also you have to eat them (recipe by [Nadia Aidi](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DSfwCrSAdcs/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/Hunger-1.png) 🥔I just cooked the last dish of 2025: Michelin Star Potato Dauphinoise (★[recipe](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sgARuVOKpwE&ref=secretbreakfast.com)), stay for the final trick 🏅Slate's [10 Best Recipes of 2025 from the year’s cookbooks](https://slate.com/life/2025/12/best-new-cookbooks-recipes-2025-gifts.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🥈[F&W's 20 Most Popular Recipes of 2025](https://www.foodandwine.com/most-popular-recipes-2025-11864143?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 😴Minibar Shots, but for sleep (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DQkfyMkEuHd/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🤧Home-made Cough Drops (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reels/DRFR63tkZJK/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🤒Anti-cold Clear Gummies (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reels/DQ1vfmsjBa6/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🍔Black Bean Patty Melt (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reels/DSA5IxfkrQq/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🍴[Forks Out](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJxzhUAGBDw&ref=secretbreakfast.com): A Benoit Blanc Sesame Street Mystery ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/White---19-.png) ### [One Gazan Girl’s Fight to Survive Extreme Hunger](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/26/world/middleeast/hoda-gaza-malnutrition-israel.html?unlocked%5Farticle%5Fcode=1.A1A.jrHy.WRzx4%5F%5Fa4iAN&smid=url-share&ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Ben Hubbard and Bilal Shbair / The New York Times** After Israel sealed Gaza’s borders, Hoda Abu al-Naja, 12, who suffered from celiac disease, spent months seeking the food and care she needed to combat malnutrition. --- ### [I opened a bookshop. It was the best, worst thing I’ve ever done ](https://www.ft.com/content/cc77c2c9-3415-4b96-af76-65f04d761a85?shareType=nongift&ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Chloe Fox / FT** This piece captures opening a bookshop—the terror of risking everything, then finding a stranger's letter that reminds you why it matters beyond profit. It's beautiful because vulnerability meets purpose: fear dissolves when you realize you're serving someone who needs stories to survive. For hospitality, the same truth applies—you're not selling products, you're creating spaces where people trust you with their loneliness and need for connection. --- 🔥 Last issue's most clicked link was - as usual - [40 questions to ask yourself at the end of the year](https://github.com/kepano/40-questions?ref=secretbreakfast.com). And that's all for year 2025, se you on the other side. --- ### Homemade Sleep Gummies and Christmas Tortellini 🎅🏻 URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/homemade-sleep-gummies-and-christmas-tortellini/ Last updated: 2025-12-17T14:25:32.000Z ### Welcome to Secret Breakfast / The best place to start a newsletter cursing in Italian and dreaming about French oysters you'll never have Hi there! Have you heard the news? UNESCO has officially recognized Italian cuisine as an [Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity](https://www.accademiaitalianadellacucina.it/en/notizie/notizia/unesco-has-officially-recognized-italian-cuisine-intangible-cultural-heritage?ref=secretbreakfast.com). Well, as we say in Rome among the uneducated: "intangible" *stocazzo*. Pardon my French, what I mean is: intangible? Something about the food? It doesn't work like that, we real people with greasy fingers know that. You all have a Happy Christmas, my tangible friends!!! *Piero* --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/quote-transparent-1-1.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/12/nigel-2025.png) ✹Nigel Slater, [*The Christmas Chronicles*](https://www.nigelslater.com/the-christmas-chronicles%5Fbk%5F39?ref=secretbreakfast.com). --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/White---22--1.png) ## What Video Games Teach Us About Food ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/12/zz.jpg) Imagine: you're on a snowy mountain, the cold draining your energy. You open your inventory, select five spicy peppers, toss them into a steaming pot. A cheerful melody plays as the dish takes shape. Now you have an hour of cold resistance. You can climb to the summit. This is *The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild*, but it could be any of the most-played games of the last decade. Food in popular video games has become much more than a bar to fill. It's become complex mechanics, narrative moment, even survival philosophy. **In *Minecraft*, food is brutal necessity.** The hunger bar drops as you play. Without food you can't sprint, then you start losing health, finally you die. The game teaches you that food requires work: planting seeds, waiting for them to grow, harvesting, processing. The [Golden Carrot](https://www.digminecraft.com/food%5Frecipes/make%5Fgolden%5Fcarrot.php?ref=secretbreakfast.com) requires gold beyond the base carrot, becoming a strategic investment for those who want maximum saturation. **In *The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild* and *Tears of the Kingdom*, food becomes creativity.** Link combines ingredients to create dishes with specific effects: [Spicy Peppers](https://game8.co/games/Zelda-Breath-of-the-Wild/archives/293921?ref=secretbreakfast.com) grant cold resistance, [Mighty Bananas](https://www.kelleherbros.com/blog/2017/4/16/simple-recipes-for-busy-hylians?ref=secretbreakfast.com) boost attack power, [Endura Carrots](https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/switch/189707-the-legend-of-zelda-breath-of-the-wild/faqs/74776?ref=secretbreakfast.com) add temporary stamina wheels. There are over 100 recipes. The system rewards experimentation: mixing incompatible ingredients cancels effects, but finding winning combos makes you feel like an expert chef. **In *Animal Crossing: New Horizons*, food is conviviality.** The 2.0 update introduced 141 cooking recipes: [Aji Fry](https://animalcrossingworld.com/guides/new-horizons/how-to-cook-food-items-unlock-cooking-recipes/?ref=secretbreakfast.com), [Apple Pie](https://animalcrossingworld.com/guides/new-horizons/how-to-cook-food-items-unlock-cooking-recipes/?ref=secretbreakfast.com), [Tomato Curry](https://animalcrossingworld.com/guides/new-horizons/how-to-cook-food-items-unlock-cooking-recipes/?ref=secretbreakfast.com). They don't primarily serve to recover energy but to decorate homes, gift to villagers, create atmosphere. Cooking becomes social ritual, not game mechanic. Games force us to slow down. In *Zelda* you spend minutes gathering mushrooms, meat, spices. You bring them to a pot. You choose what to combine. You wait for it to cook. It's a process we skip in modern life: we order takeout, heat up frozen meals, devour everything in five minutes in front of a screen. Scholars note that when we prepare virtual food we increase familiarity and curiosity toward real culinary traditions. **Cooking in a game makes you think about ingredients, combinations, necessary time. Qualities we've lost but that video games, paradoxically, give back to us.** The paradox is this: we spend hours optimizing pixel recipes to survive in fake worlds, while in real life we open the fridge and complain that "there's nothing to eat". **Maybe video games don't teach us recipes to replicate in the kitchen. They teach us that food requires attention, planning, care.** And that taking time to prepare it isn't waste but necessity, just like in *Minecraft* you can't ignore hunger hoping it disappears. *PS: this essay came into my mind after I read this article about* [*the videogames that accidentally shaped the far right*](https://www.ettingermentum.news/p/how-a-swedish-video-game-company?ref=secretbreakfast.com)*. It's pretty good.* --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/op-transparent-1.png) Juicy content from food creators ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/12/sleep2.jpg) 15 minutes sleep gummies by [Driftology.co](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DQRrz9TkZnE/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/Hunger-1.png) These days I had people over. This is what I cooked *British Style Brunch* 🦐Potted Shrimps (★[recipe](https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/wordofmouth/2011/jul/20/how-cook-perfect-potted-shrimps?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🥗Watercress and Green Apple Salad (★[recipe](https://www.thekitchn.com/watercress-salad-recipe-23198710?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🫖Mary Berry's Scones (★[recipe](https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/tea%5Ftime%5Fscones%5F77839?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🥔Mashed Potatoes (★[recipe](https://www.thepioneerwoman.com/food-cooking/recipes/a12083/delicious-creamy-mashed-potatoes/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🫐Chelsea Buns (★[recipe](https://www.theguardian.com/food/2023/may/31/how-to-make-chelsea-buns-recipe-felicity-cloake?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🥧Steak and Ale Pie, the thing that everybody loved (★[recipe](https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/wordofmouth/2013/jan/10/how-cook-perfect-steak-ale-pie?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🍎Apple and Blackberry Crumble (★[recipe](https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/crunchyappleandblack%5F7679?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🍳I also scrambled some eggs with soy sauce and served them on a baked mushroom and crispy bacon *Vegetarian guests* 🌰Chestnut Gnocchi (★[recipe](https://foragerchef.com/chestnut-gnocchi/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) with black cabbage sauce (★[recipe](https://www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/pasta/super-green-spaghetti/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) by Jamie Oliver) and Amaretti biscuits squash cream (you can wing those on a pan, then blitz it all) 🫑Sheet-Pan Baked Feta With Broccolini, Tomatoes and Lemon (★[recipe](https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1021277-sheet-pan-baked-feta-with-broccolini-tomatoes-and-lemon?unlocked%5Farticle%5Fcode=1.9U8.nk3L.EMP0jeNVQGHH&smid=share-url&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🥕Carrot and Oranges Salad (★[recipe](https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1025547-carrot-and-orange-salad?unlocked%5Farticle%5Fcode=1.9U8.Ds8p.REXZ31SnmNYu&smid=share-url&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) *As always, the three recipes I dream about every Christmas* 🦪Any Panaché de fruits de mer, like [this one](https://www.instagram.com/p/DSK%5F6x4APGi/?hl=am-et&img%5Findex=1&ref=secretbreakfast.com) or [this one](https://www.legrandcafe.com/it/foto/?ref=secretbreakfast.com#images-5) 🐽Modena's Style Tortellini (★[recipe](https://www.mymodenadiary.it/en/grandmas-tortellini/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🐟Bouillabaisse Marseillaise (★[recipe](https://www.seriouseats.com/bouillabaisse-marseillaise-fish-stew-recipe?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) + *Two end-of-the-year perennials* 📦[The 2025 Kottke Holiday Gift Guide](https://kottke.org/25/12/the-2025-kottke-holiday-gift-guide?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🪶[40 questions to ask yourself every year ](https://github.com/kepano/40-questions?ref=secretbreakfast.com) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/White---19-.png) ### [In Shakespeare, Food References Are a Window to the Soul ](https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/food-in-shakespeare?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Leigh Chavez-Bush / Atlas Obscura** In Shakespeare's time, food revealed character and emotion through the theory of humors—roast mutton fueled anger, vinegar deepened melancholy. Gluttony was the worst sin, embodied by Falstaff, whose excessive eating showed his moral failings. Yet refusing food was equally suspect, since hospitality demonstrated virtue and social connection. [](https://www.foodandwine.com/good-guys-spritz-recipes-11724234?tag=travel&hid=b65c06b8bb54449e12b2324cde45cf069f804769&did=17544041-20250504&utm%5Fcampaign=faw-top10%5Fnewsletter&utm%5Fsource=faw&utm%5Fmedium=email&utm%5Fcontent=050425&lctg=b65c06b8bb54449e12b2324cde45cf069f804769&lr%5Finput=969bf86e4d337bb74ec41d7fc4fcb4cbce448adc9ea58fc46f58a8b14ca494da) --- 🔥 Last week's most clicked link was [What Your Breakfast Habits Say About Your Lifespan](https://www.vice.com/en/article/what-your-breakfast-habits-say-about-your-lifespan/?ref=secretbreakfast.com). And that's all for today. --- ### Italian Punk & Christmas Cookies 🎄 URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/italian-punk-christmas-cookies/ Last updated: 2025-12-10T12:24:01.000Z ### Welcome to Secret Breakfast / The best place to start baking surreal biscuits, spreading avocado on messy open sandwiches because - you know - nobody wants to be a foodie anymore Hi there! How's your binge-watching level these days? I'm obsessed with [*Pluribus*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pluribus%5F%28TV%5Fseries%29?ref=secretbreakfast.com)*,* in which a hive mind has taken over most of humanity, leaving only a few immune survivors navigating a world where individuality has become a rarity. There's this Carol who refuses to be helped by the hive mind, but other immune **survivors** enjoy the pleasures of being served by this docile humanity. When Carol visits Mr. Diabaté, an immune who is living a spoiled and rich life in Vegas, she transforms her breakfast plate into a messy open-faced sandwich—eggs, bacon, avocado stacked on toast in a spontaneous combination. Mr. Diabaté, watches carefully, then mimics her, and in that moment discovers something he couldn't have asked his hive-mind servants to create: **something he didn't know existed.** While this AI-like collective can only respond to prompts already known, this unscripted act reveals what algorithms miss. The Hive can list off all the ingredients and prepare the dish perfectly, but it will never recreate the experience—which gets at something Anthony Bourdain understood: **the presentation of a dish is less important than how it tastes, and the taste is less important than the people with whom you're eating.** Diabaté's childlike delight at this accidental discovery suggests he's starting to feel the cost of his fantasy: **a world where everyone says yes but no one can surprise you.** When we eat together, we don't just share meals—we share the unexpected. *Piero* --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/quote-transparent-1-1.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/12/chimamanda.png) ✹**Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie**, [*Dream Count*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dream%5FCount?ref=secretbreakfast.com). --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/book-transparent-1.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/12/italo.jpg) #### Shocking Italian Vanja van der Leeden's **Italopunk* offers a fresh take on Italian cooking by dismantling culinary dogma while honoring tradition—her puttanesca integrale adds cream to the umami bomb, lamb replaces veal in spezzatino with mint labneh, and dishes like vodka carbonara and eggplant tarte tatin sit alongside profiles of new-wave trattoria chefs. Photographer Remko Kraaijeveld's gritty images reject postcard Italy, capturing instead hungry, beautiful people in raw, soul-baring snapshots that make the country's scruffy underbelly feel alive. The book reads like a culinary tour led by a fellow traveler who knows when to tweak a recipe, when to leave it untouched, and when to keep you guessing—proving that Italian cuisine deserves to evolve without losing its soul. [****ItaloPunk**](https://trapublishing.com/collections/bestsellers/products/italopunk?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **by Vanja van der Leeden** ****→ Shortplot:** 🍝 🇮🇹 🍕 🍗 ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/White---22--1.png) ## Martin Parr and the Lies We Eat ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/12/parr.jpg) Ramsgate, Kent, 1996\. From **New British and from Common Sense*. Photograph: Martin Parr/Magnum Photos [Martin Parr died](https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2025/dec/07/martin-parr-obituary?ref=secretbreakfast.com) this week. [He wasn't a food photographer](https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/gallery/2025/dec/07/martin-parr-photographer-career-in-pictures?ref=secretbreakfast.com)—he was a documentarian of ordinary life who happened to find food everywhere he looked. Beaches, supermarkets, tourist traps, street corners. Wherever people gathered, food appeared. And Parr's camera, armed with its signature ring flash, captured it all: the greasy, the garish, the gloriously fake. In 1983, he abandoned black and white for saturated color. Why? "Because that's the language of commercial advertising." He wanted to speak the same dialect as the billboards and packages lying to us daily. "If you go to the supermarket and buy a package of food and look at the photo on the front, the food never looks like that inside, does it?", he said in a 2016 interview. "**That is a fundamental lie we are sold every day".** While others chased culinary perfection, Parr shot what we actually ate. Duck feet in China, where people "eat anything with legs, minus tables". Chips and meat spreads. Junk food he'd photograph and then consume himself. His daughter Ellen became a chef. She hosted dinners in Japan, London, and Germany where guests ate dishes based on her father's photographs. "It's surreal eating what I photograph", Parr said. The propaganda became real food, then became art, then became dinner. Henri Cartier-Bresson called him alien. Some Magnum colleagues didn't understand his approach. But Parr knew what he was doing: "You can tell a lot about society, who we are and what we like doing, by looking at the food we eat." He looked. He showed us. **The gap between the package and what's inside was never just about food—it was about everything we're sold, everything we believe, everything we consume without questioning.** Parr's camera didn't flatter. It told the truth. In a world drowning in food porn, that was his most radical act. --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/op-transparent-1.png) Juicy content from food creators ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/12/rose.jpg) [Festive cookies](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DRKDOBHkxBG/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) by Rosie Madaschi --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/Hunger-1.png) 🍊[Rosalía's Cake](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DQ6XrDODOow?ref=secretbreakfast.com), el bizchoco de 14 kilates (★[recipe](https://rosalia.substack.com/p/bizcocho-de-14-kilates?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🎅🏻75 vegan and vegetarian Christmas ideas (★[recipes](https://www.gourmettraveller.com.au/recipe-collections/christmas-vegetarian-recipes-14966?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🍪[Striped Blue Sugar Cookies](https://www.foodandwine.com/striped-sugar-cookies-11862126?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🔪[Is There a Better Way to Cut a Cake?](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/03/dining/cake-cutting.html?unlocked%5Farticle%5Fcode=1.7k8.BewK.m4lubE-9f2uy&smid=url-share&ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🙅🏻‍♂️[What Your Breakfast Habits Say About Your Lifespan](https://www.vice.com/en/article/what-your-breakfast-habits-say-about-your-lifespan/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🧘‍♀️[My Three-Day Retreat in Total Darkness](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/21/magazine/dark-retreat-meditation-sensory-deprivation-spirituality.html?unlocked%5Farticle%5Fcode=1.7k8.C-69.-5qusuebm0Hh&smid=url-share&ref=secretbreakfast.com)💡[52 things Tom Whitwell learned in 2025](https://medium.com/@tomwhitwell/52-things-i-learned-in-2025-edeca7e3fdd8?ref=secretbreakfast.com) (contains radioactive shrimps!) 🥐Lidl US just dropped [Eau de Croissant](https://www.foodandwine.com/lidl-eau-de-croissant-perfume-11861351?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 📚Meet a real [cookbook collector](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DQ2tHJ%5FgYfd?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🤓[OnlyRecipe](https://onlyrecipeapp.com/?ref=secretbreakfast.com), save and organize your favorite recipes from any website ☕️Japanese Jelly Coffee (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/p/DR2D-zeFRfh?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🎄[Make your house smell like Christmas](https://www.instagram.com/p/DR4tLAEFv34?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🍵Wait! There's a [*Kombucha*](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt33305815/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) horror movie out there 🌮French Dip Quesadilla (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DSDL2lukS42?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🍫Blitz a Chia-Chocolate mousse (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DSAxj5Pjb10/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🥣Soups vs. Inflammation (★[recipes](https://www.instagram.com/p/DSCQGETEgoY?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) + You can stay here or you can go to YouTube and follow my favorite food special of the year: *The New York Times' Cooking Cookie Week*. Now featuring: [Dark 'n' Stormy Cookies](https://youtu.be/8RAQy3zEjpQ?ref=secretbreakfast.com), [Vietnamese Coffee Swirl Brownies](https://youtu.be/9lqmfluXKGo?ref=secretbreakfast.com), [Peanut Brown-Butter Cookies](https://youtu.be/ak4vcQzavjo?ref=secretbreakfast.com), [Mint Chocolate Chip Cookies](https://youtu.be/nvTnWUpcrTE?ref=secretbreakfast.com), [Coconut Cake Snowballs](https://youtu.be/K5hKP0TNHWU?ref=secretbreakfast.com), [Mortadella Cookies](https://youtu.be/PGO3Jm7CV4A?ref=secretbreakfast.com), [Popcorn Bucket Cookies](https://youtu.be/DyS2%5Ferx4mg?ref=secretbreakfast.com). *(I would start with these last ones).* ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/White---19-.png) ### [Nobody Wants to Be a Foodie](https://www.eater.com/food-culture/911138/foodie-history-american-food-culture?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Jaya Saxena - illustrations by Julia Dufossé / Eater** How “foodie” went from badge of honor to cringey term to pejorative smear and all the way back again. [](https://www.foodandwine.com/good-guys-spritz-recipes-11724234?tag=travel&hid=b65c06b8bb54449e12b2324cde45cf069f804769&did=17544041-20250504&utm%5Fcampaign=faw-top10%5Fnewsletter&utm%5Fsource=faw&utm%5Fmedium=email&utm%5Fcontent=050425&lctg=b65c06b8bb54449e12b2324cde45cf069f804769&lr%5Finput=969bf86e4d337bb74ec41d7fc4fcb4cbce448adc9ea58fc46f58a8b14ca494da) --- 🔥 Last week's most clicked link was David Lebovitz and his [desserts](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/20/dining/david-lebovitz-desserts.html?unlocked%5Farticle%5Fcode=1.4E8.Axs0.Nkh3lKWaEofD&smid=url-share&ref=secretbreakfast.com). And - what else? - yep, it's 15 days till Christmas. --- ### Wicked Pizza & Cat Rice 🈯️ URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/wicked-pizza-cat-rice/ Last updated: 2025-11-26T15:36:09.000Z ### Welcome to Secret Breakfast / The best place to set up a fabulous grazing board, reserve the best chef's table and refuse having meals served in a slapdash fashion Hi there! Sprints have become the heartbeat of many contemporary companies — intense, time-boxed pushes that force focus, collaboration, and rapid delivery. I’m at the end of a (long) sprint that should have brought the simple reward of a job well done, but then life sort of kicked me in the ass and spoiled the victory lap. Now I’m hunting for fresh inspiration: trying my hand at a very different kind of writing, picking up Japanese again, and reading things I wouldn’t normally choose. We could say - with unjustified pretentiousness - that I'm refurbishing the palace of the mind. When times are hard, looking outward and sampling new tastes — new projects, languages, or genres — somehow gives me the strength to face the less pleasant things. Is it the same for you? What do you do then? *Piero* PS: next issue will be on December 10th. PPS: hey, you, American friends, Happy Thanksgiving! --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/quote-transparent-1-1.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/11/koike.png) ✹**Rȳunosuke Koike**, The Practice of Not Thinking. Because I feel like this year has drained me already. --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/book-transparent-1.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/11/breakfast.jpg) #### Have a Good Day Jonathan Arana-Morton, co-founder of The Breakfast Club, brings '80s diner nostalgia and feel-good recipes to a cheerful, speedy cookbook designed to elevate breakfast and brunch at home. Packed with classics—from fluffy American pancakes and perfect Eggs Benedict to spicy Huevos Rancheros—and organized into approachable chapters like Eggs, The Great American Diner, and Sides & Drinks, it makes iconic morning dishes easy any time of day. Friendly, unfussy, and full of crowd-pleasers, this book is perfect for anyone who wants to start the day right. [****The Breakfast Club**](https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/471219/the-breakfast-club-by-arana-morton-jonathan/9781529960112?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **by Jonathan Arana-Morton** ****→ Shortplot:** 🥞 🍳 🥑 ☕ ## --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/op-transparent-1.png) Juicy content from food creators ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/11/25FD-PIZZA-INTERVIEW-1-hwft-superJumbo.jpg) Wicked’s [Ariana Grande and Jonathan Bailey](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BubVMU-uEwA&ref=secretbreakfast.com): The Pizza Interview --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/Hunger-1.png) 🍚[Nekomanma (means "Cat rice")](https://cookpad.com/eng/recipes/16499481?ref=secretbreakfast.com) and it is Japanese rice with bonito flakes and soy sauce (Am I watching *Midnight Diner*? Yes I am) 🍮 [How to Make That Restaurant Dessert at Home? Ask David Lebovitz.](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/20/dining/david-lebovitz-desserts.html?unlocked%5Farticle%5Fcode=1.4E8.Axs0.Nkh3lKWaEofD&smid=url-share&ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🍩Scientifically Sweet Cinnamon Rolls (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DRGaqTUDEBz/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🍽️[How to Host a Cookbook Club](https://www.cbc.ca/life/food/how-to-host-cookbook-club-9.6981919?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🥕Carrot and roasted red pepper feta dip (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/p/DQuAzfjjoQR?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🌿Should you [fibermax](https://www.self.com/story/fibermaxxing-tiktok-trend?ref=secretbreakfast.com)? 🧀[How to Create a Well-Rounded Grazing Board](https://www.marthastewart.com/1529543/grazing-board-easy-no-cook-appetizer?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🇲🇬[Lemurs in Madagascar Face an Unexpected Killer](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/22/science/lemurs-madagascar-eating.html?unlocked%5Farticle%5Fcode=1.3k8.KBzt.jsWCUfmkKpDV&smid=url-share&user%5Fid=66c4c385600ae1507593f25c&ref=secretbreakfast.com): people eating them 📖A simple webapp telling you [what to read based on your previous readings](https://book.sv/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) ⭐️[The World’s Best Chef’s Table Restaurants](https://guide.michelin.com/gb/en/article/travel/best-chef-tables-michelin-starred-restaurants?utm%5Fsource=newsletter&utm%5Fmedium=email&utm%5Fcampaign=251124%5FB2C%5FNL%5FUK%5Fexperiences&utm%5Fterm=pos3%5Fchef%5Ftables%5Frestaurantarticle&hashed%5Femail=969bf86e4d337bb74ec41d7fc4fcb4cbce448adc9ea58fc46f58a8b14ca494da&imoReporting=cheftable) 🎃[Thanksgiving Pies So Good, You’ll Want to Skip Dinner](https://cooking.nytimes.com/article/pies-thanksgiving-desserts?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🍗Dedicated to a friend of mine: *Pluribus*' Koumba Diabaté Poulet Yassa (★[recipe](https://lowcarbafrica.com/poulet-yassa-senegalese-chicken-recipe/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/White---19-.png) ### [The Culture War Comes to Kitchen](https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/2026/01/women-food-influencers-gender-politics/684956/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Sophie Gilbert / The Atlantic (partial paywall)** How the politics of food brought together the crunchy left and the trad right. --- 🔥 Last week's most clicked link was [22 Christmas cookie recipes you won’t want to share](https://www.gourmettraveller.com.au/recipe-collections/christmas-cookies-biscuits/?ref=secretbreakfast.com). And that's all for today. --- ### Retro Food and Duplo Dinners 👾 URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/retro-food-and-duplo-dinners/ Last updated: 2025-11-19T12:13:58.000Z ### Welcome to Secret Breakfast / The best place to feel like an amoeba, then start baking 20+ kinds of Christmas cookies after you cooked for Thanksgiving Hi there! I was reading this super-cool feature by Ronald W. Dworkin called [The Amoeba and the Mathematician](https://hedgehogreview.com/web-features/thr/posts/the-amoeba-and-the-mathematician?ref=thebrowser.com). The essay argues that in the AI age, workers should stop trying to be machine-like and instead cultivate "wisdom"—**a middle ground between pure instinct (the amoeba) and pure reason (the mathematician).** Using poker as an example, it shows that the "wise" player who blends intuition with logic outperforms both impulsive amateurs and mathematically optimal machines when dealing with human opponents. The cooking world is having its own reckoning with this continuum. At one end: the home cook who eyeballs everything, tastes constantly, adds "a little of this" until it feels right. Pure amoeba. At the other: the modernist chef wielding a scale accurate to 0.1 grams pursuing the mathematically perfect soft-boiled egg at 63.5°C for exactly 45 minutes. Here's what the essay reveals about food: **neither extreme wins in the real world**. *(Ok, defining "wins" can be tricky, I know)* The **amoeba cook** makes inconsistent food. Can't teach anyone. Can't replicate success. The **mathematician cook** produces technically flawless dishes that somehow lack soul—or worse, can't adapt when the tomatoes are too watery or the oven runs hot. The **wise cook**? They know the recipe but read the room. They understand that Wednesday's chicken needs more salt because it's been frozen. They spot when a dinner guest is gluten-intolerant before being told. They combine technique with observation. Data with instinct. AI will nail the perfect béarnaise every time. But it won't notice that your grandmother just stopped enjoying rich food, or that the birthday girl seems stressed and needs comfort food, not ambitious cuisine. **The future of cooking isn't about memorizing ratios or following gut feelings. It's about knowing when to trust the thermometer and when to trust your nose.** When to follow tradition and when the ingredients are telling you something different. That's wisdom. And no algorithm can taste the difference. At least, for now. *Piero* --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/quote-transparent-1-1.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/11/susk.png) ✹**Patrick Süskind**, [*Perfume: The Story of a Murderer*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perfume%5F%28novel%29?ref=secretbreakfast.com). --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/book-transparent-1.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/11/capture-2025-11-19-alle-11.09.11.jpg) #### Alison at home Alison Roman is my Achilles' heel. She's one of my four North Stars (yes, one isn't enough for me) when I'm looking for simple food or some form of comfort. Compared to her previous work, this book feels like an expression of how she actually cooks at home. I mean: it's probably not an essential book, but it's an authentic cookbook. It could be a thoughtful gift, a way of saying that good food doesn't require reaching for the stars—just heart, and knowing how to work with what's at the market or in your fridge. [****Something from Nothing: A Cookbook**](https://www.alisoneroman.com/books/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **by Alison Roman** ****→ Shortplot: 🍅** 🐟 🥬 🥧 ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/White---22--1.png) ## Retro food is not a nightmare like this ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/11/cropped-fish.jpg) Ok, this is a meme, now. But you've got the idea. More are [here](https://servingsplatter.wordpress.com/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) Every year, without fail, we're told [retro food is back](https://www.ft.com/content/37644dc6-bc37-417b-b5be-a1f6d3693baf?ref=secretbreakfast.com). You roll your eyes, skeptical as always—until you walk into [Harrods' food court](https://www.harrods.com/en-gb/c/departments/harrods-food-halls/fresh-market-hall?ref=secretbreakfast.com), or [Peck](https://peck.it/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) in Milan, or any high-end Parisian rotisserie and find yourself surrounded by langoustines trapped in jelly, jambon persillé, shiny pâtés, beef Wellington, even curry rice. What is it about these dishes that keeps pulling us back? Perhaps it's that they're economical, nutritious, and taste good as food writer Tom Parker Bowles says of his beloved stews. Or perhaps it's showmanship—these are dishes that demand to be seen, that transform eating into theatre. In an age of minimalism and clean eating, retro food offers something we're starving for: pomp, excess, the sheer pleasure of not taking yourself too seriously. We return to these extravagant creations not despite their kitsch, but because of it—because sometimes an enormous prawn perched on the edge of a glass vessel is exactly what we need. --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/op-transparent-1.png) Juicy content from food creators ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/11/demog-1.jpg) Bake a Demogorgon bread with [Natalya Syanova](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DQ7H0NSkSHc/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/Hunger-1.png) 🎄[22 Christmas cookie recipes you won’t want to share](https://www.gourmettraveller.com.au/recipe-collections/christmas-cookies-biscuits/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 👰🏻‍♀️[The Wedding Food Trends](https://www.instagram.com/p/DQ66K8ajKP9/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) for 2026 🌎[The top trending travel destinations for 2026 revealed – with an Asian capital taking the top spot](https://www.timeout.com/news/the-top-trending-travel-destinations-for-2026-with-an-asian-capital-taking-the-top-spot-111325?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 👾[Duplo Dinners](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DQ%5FdmGhka-K/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) are a great idea for meal preps 🇬🇧The Country Women's Association of Victoria is famous for its scones (★[recipe](https://www.delicious.com.au/recipes/cwa-scone-recipe/659w83xa?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🍠Japanese Sweet Potato Soup (★[recipe](https://justinesnacks.com/japanese-sweet-potato-soup/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🫔Everywhere I look, I see Sheet Pan Chicken Kabob Wraps (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DQsfuo9DwBY?ref=secretbreakfast.com), or [this](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DQ9jMTqDG9J/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🍟[Fry something using paper](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DQb2jVqipIm?ref=secretbreakfast.com) instead of a frying pan 🎃Pumpkin Pie Cookies (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DQMg4dCiNWe?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🍿[If You Love Popcorn So Much, Why Don’t You Cook With It?](https://bittmanproject.com/everythings-popping-up-popcorn/?utm%5Fsource=convertkit&utm%5Fmedium=email&utm%5Fcampaign=If%20You%20Love%20Popcorn%20So%20Much,%20Why%20Don%E2%80%99t%20You%20Cook%20With%20It?%20-%2019728991) 🇵🇸Palestinian taboon bread (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DPO0v28Dj1T?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🍬[This Is What Sugar Does to Your Skin—and How to Fix It](https://www.self.com/story/does-eating-sugar-age-your-skin?ref=secretbreakfast.com) *Some last-minute Thanksgiving (November 27, 2025)* *👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻* 🇺🇸 Andy Baraghani’s gorgeous Thanksgiving menu (★[recipes](https://cooking.nytimes.com/article/andy-baraghani-thanksgiving-menu?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) + the [Secret Breakfast TG special](https://secretbreakfast.com/japanese-mayo-and-pickled-pumpkin/) 👨🏾‍🍳[The 5 Thanksgiving Dishes That Aren’t Worth Making](https://www.foodandwine.com/thanksgiving-dishes-better-store-bought-11848490?ref=secretbreakfast.com), According to Professional Chefs ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/White---19-.png) ### ["You want to imagine what this tastes like? Fuck you, says AI"](https://www.vittlesmagazine.com/p/you-want-to-imagine-what-this-tastes?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Georgina Voss / Vittles** A hunt for AI-generated images in London restaurants reveals something stranger than fake pictures: the moment when photography itself becomes uncertain. From Hot Cross Toasties that look like digital slop to McFlurrys that might be Photoshop, this investigation traces how synthetic images are quietly infiltrating our streets—and what gets lost when algorithms replace the craft. --- 🔥 Last week's most clicked link was [35 Best Soup Recipes](https://www.loveandlemons.com/soup-recipes/?ref=secretbreakfast.com). And that's all for today. --- ### Tiramisu Balls and the Handsy Mayor 🖐🏻 URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/tiramisu-balls-and-the-handsy-mayor/ Last updated: 2025-11-12T12:13:15.000Z ### Welcome to Secret Breakfast / The best place to start baking with heart-shaped tins, freezing egg wraps and dreaming about ant-fermented yogurt Hi there! I don't know about yours, but my days have been chaos. Last week I wasn't sharp enough to write a decent newsletter, so I didn't. No real takeaway here. Except this: listen to Rosalía's new record, [*Lux*](https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLN3HOJ-INNEKAox1k-Q6JFIKFLr1xs4s5&si=uslqeaIz-rEk%5Fx9-&ref=secretbreakfast.com). It's incredible. It might take time to grow on you, but give it a chance. *Piero* --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/quote-transparent-1-1.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/11/ferran-2-.png) ✹[Ferran Adrià Acosta](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferran%5FAdri%C3%A0?ref=secretbreakfast.com), Spanish revolutionary. --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/book-transparent-1.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/11/bee.jpg) #### What the contents of our kitchens say about us When Bee Wilson baked her husband a wedding fruitcake in a heart-shaped tin, she couldn't know it would later symbolize loss—he left before their 25th anniversary. **The Heart-Shaped Tin* uses kitchen objects as a lens to explore how ordinary tools carry our histories and help us endure change. It's a beautiful book because Wilson weaves her divorce and her mother's dementia alongside wider stories, from David Drake's revolutionary pottery made while enslaved to families clinging to objects through war. She proves small things hold great power: they make homes, preserve identities, and when too heavy, we can let them go. The book transforms grief into something comforting through its recognition that we're all trying to hold on to what matters. [****THE HEART-SHAPED TIN: Love, Loss, and Kitchen Objects**](https://www.beewilson.com/book/the-heart-shaped-tin?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **by Bee Wilson** ****→ Shortplot:** 🫶🏻 🍰 🔪 ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/White---22--1.png) ## The best meal, hands down ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/11/mam-man.jpg) Zohran Mamdani at Kabab King, a 24-hour restaurant in Jackson Heights, Queens, where he has eaten since his high school days. Photo: Amir Hamja for The New York Times This morning, I kicked off my day with a simple breakfast—two crisp toast slices, lavished with a luscious layer of jam. As the clock ticked towards mid-morning, I found myself at the office, peeling a banana like it was the most normal thing in the world. Sure, a few seconds later I couldn’t resist the allure of a chocolate treat, and yes, I split a slice of strudel with a colleague. Lunchtime rolled around, and let me tell you, it was a busy day... I resorted to cutting up an apple right at my desk. And yes, you guessed it—**I was munching away on everything with my bare hands**. Now, I wouldn’t have paused to ponder this rather primal way of dining if it weren’t for some interesting news last week. New York just elected a new mayor who [had to defend himself during his campaign against accusations of eating rice with his hands](https://www.foxnews.com/food-drink/nyc-mayoral-candidate-zohran-mamdani-draws-criticism-hand-eating-rice-debate.amp?ref=secretbreakfast.com). I mean, come on! I’d wager that at least 2 billion people, on any given day, are doing the very same thing without a second thought. [Does eating with my hands make me less civilised?](https://medium.com/sharing-food/eating-with-my-hands-doesnt-make-me-less-civilised-69af6d300490?ref=secretbreakfast.com) I don't think so. And this Mamdani guy [leveraged his lifelong love of eating to inform his policy plans and spread his message](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/30/dining/zohran-mamdani-nyc-mayor-food.html?unlocked%5Farticle%5Fcode=1.y08.YWYI.ghmrI2ghrE77&smid=url-share&ref=secretbreakfast.com). We should remember that [the sense of touch can be a crucial part of dining](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/18/t-magazine/eating-with-hands.html?unlocked%5Farticle%5Fcode=1.y08.zCUf.x3IJxJhFBs6h&smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare&ref=secretbreakfast.com), one thing that some cultures have understood better than others. --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/op-transparent-1.png) Juicy content from food creators ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/11/tiramisu.jpg) [Tiramisù Balls](https://www.instagram.com/p/DPyYdiEDB4I/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) by Sarra Ennouri --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/Hunger-1.png) 🧋[Chinese MilkTea Brands Are Now writing Fanfiction on Receipts](https://www.instagram.com/p/DQJ4NgvDkyQ/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) (and People Are Actually Reading It) 🍲It's time for the [35 Best Soup Recipes](https://www.loveandlemons.com/soup-recipes/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🇮🇹The [Olympyc-Shaped Pasta Thing](https://www.instagram.com/p/DQbk1CDAjRH/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) Has Gone Out of Hands Already 🍪 Sablé bretón de chocolate (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/p/DPvQ5n8DQTQ/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🎃Pumpkin Spice Loaf (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/p/DQXx4qXEyv4?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🥧[Freeze dozen pies](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DPtTdpdDKsI/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) for your air frier 🌯Bacon, sausage, and egg wraps (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DQeqJSNjuLy/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🛞Ok, Apple Made [Its Own *Chef's Table*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mKXjmjCTZHI&ref=secretbreakfast.com)🐜Good, let's [make yogurt with ants](https://www.cell.com/iscience/fulltext/S2589-0042%2825%2901856-5?utm%5Fsource=substack&utm%5Fmedium=email) 🍅[How to Make Stanley Tucci’s Simple Tomato Sauce](https://www.foodandwine.com/stanley-tucci-tomato-sauce-11841543?hid=b65c06b8bb54449e12b2324cde45cf069f804769&did=20251939-20251104&utm%5Fcampaign=faw-top10%5Fnewsletter&utm%5Fsource=faw&utm%5Fmedium=email&utm%5Fcontent=110425&lctg=b65c06b8bb54449e12b2324cde45cf069f804769&lr%5Finput=969bf86e4d337bb74ec41d7fc4fcb4cbce448adc9ea58fc46f58a8b14ca494da) 📺I promise you, [*Pluribus*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pluribus%5F%28TV%5Fseries%29?ref=secretbreakfast.com) is a really good show (but I also enjoyed [*Romantics Anonymous*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romantics%5FAnonymous%5F%28TV%5Fseries%29?ref=secretbreakfast.com) because it has the whole package: love, Japan, [OCD](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obsessive%E2%80%93compulsive%5Fdisorder?ref=secretbreakfast.com) and chocolate) --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/White---19-.png) ### [The Kid Is All Right: In Defense of Picky Eating](https://www.seriouseats.com/the-kid-is-all-right-in-defense-of-picky-eating-11832437?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Irina Dumitrescu / Serious Eats** On learning to accept your child’s discriminating tastes, even when it hurts. --- ### [The Restaurant Resistance](https://www.digest.madfeed.co/p/the-restaurant-resistance?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **MAD Digest** The restaurant industry has historically resisted oppression and authoritarianism. How is it responding (or not responding enough) to current immigration crackdowns in the US? [](https://www.foodandwine.com/good-guys-spritz-recipes-11724234?tag=travel&hid=b65c06b8bb54449e12b2324cde45cf069f804769&did=17544041-20250504&utm%5Fcampaign=faw-top10%5Fnewsletter&utm%5Fsource=faw&utm%5Fmedium=email&utm%5Fcontent=050425&lctg=b65c06b8bb54449e12b2324cde45cf069f804769&lr%5Finput=969bf86e4d337bb74ec41d7fc4fcb4cbce448adc9ea58fc46f58a8b14ca494da) --- 🔥 Last week's most clicked link was... Nothing. We skipped a beat. And that's all for today. --- ### Immunity Soda and Kinky Bites 🥕 URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/immunity-soda-and-kinky-bites/ Last updated: 2025-10-29T18:39:45.000Z ### Welcome to Secret Breakfast / The best place to serve meals drawing inspiration from Russian film makers and Internet subcultures, while dreaming about healthy drinks and sandwiches with pickles replacing the bread Hi there! Have you ever heard about the [Kuleshov Effect](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kuleshov%5Feffect?ref=secretbreakfast.com)? **It is simple: show an actor's neutral face, then cut to a bowl of soup—the audience sees hunger. Same face, cut to a coffin—they see grief. Same face, cut to a child playing—they see tenderness.** The face never changes, but we create meaning from what comes before and after it. Russian filmmaker Lev Kuleshov proved this a century ago through his famous editing experiment. Cooks understand this instinctively. A piece of grilled fish is just protein until you decide what sits beside it. Pair it with lemon and capers, it tastes bright and Mediterranean. Same fish with miso and ginger becomes something else entirely. The main ingredient doesn't change—the context does. But the real magic happens at the table. That fish, those sides, that specific plate—they all transform again depending on who's across from you. The same meal tastes different when you're eating alone versus celebrating with someone whose presence changes the flavor of everything. **We think we're tasting the food, but we're tasting the edit: the sequence of flavors, the composition of the table, the montage of faces and voices around us.** Cinema taught us that meaning lives between the cuts. Cooking teaches us the same about combination. Both reveal something deeper: we're creatures who can't experience anything in isolation. We need the before and after, the this-next-to-that, to make sense of the world. *Piero* --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/quote-transparent-1-1.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/10/----Ali-Hazelwood--Mate.png) ✹ **Ali Hazelwood**, [*Mate*](https://alihazelwood.com/mate/?ref=secretbreakfast.com). Ok, here we're talking about vampires and werewolves, but a good bite is a good bite, isn't it? --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/White---22--1.png) ## A Visit from the Goon Squad ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/10/bayuaji-abiyu-URGeyg8q2hc-unsplash-1-.jpg) Photo by [Bayuaji Abiyu](https://unsplash.com/@bayuajiabiyu?utm%5Fsource=unsplash&utm%5Fmedium=referral&utm%5Fcontent=creditCopyText) on [Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/photos/a-tray-of-food-that-includes-fries-and-dips-URGeyg8q2hc?utm%5Fsource=unsplash&utm%5Fmedium=referral&utm%5Fcontent=creditCopyText) Sometimes, while looking for news about food and cooking, taste and creative ways to stay together I stumble upon sexy stuff. Sometimes this stuff is way farer that simply sexy, but it may be interesting. That's why today I'm serving you this *Harper's* essay: [The Goon Squad: *corn*’s next frontier](https://harpers.org/archive/2025/11/the-goon-squad-daniel-kolitz-porn-masturbation-loneliness/?ref=thebrowser.com). *"Corn"* is - as you must imagine - a placeholder for another word. 🔞 The thesis. A generation raised on unlimited internet *corn* has spawned "gooners"—men who enjoy themselves for hours in elaborate home setups, chasing a transcendent state they call the "goonstate". They've built an entire subculture around it: Discord servers with tens of thousands of members, competitive *corn*\-trading games, and in-person meetups. Writer Daniel Kolitz dove deep into their world to understand how we got here—and whether the rest of us are really that different. Ok, where's the food in it? The gooners' relationship with *corn* almost mirrors our modern relationship with food delivery apps and cooking content. **Just as they've replaced actual intimacy with an endless buffet of hyperstimulating videos, we've replaced the slow ritual of cooking with DoorDash dopamine hits and TikTok recipe voyeurism we'll never actually make.** Both substitute messy, effortful reality with algorithmically optimized simulation. The gooners just reached the terminal point first. So—are we all gooners now? --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/op-transparent-1.png) Juicy content from food creators ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/10/toffee.jpg) [Nicola Lamb’s toffee apple pie](https://www.theguardian.com/food/2025/oct/15/toffee-apple-pie-apple-crumb-loaf-recipes-nicola-lamb?ref=secretbreakfast.com). Photograph: Kim Lightbody/The Guardian. Food styling: Tamara Vos. Prop styling: Anna Wilkins. Food assistant: Lucy Ellwood. --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/Hunger-1.png) 🌍[The simplest way to “live like a **local**”](https://andrewsamtoy.substack.com/p/ten-ways-to-live-like-a-local-anywhere?ref=DenseDiscovery-362) 🍏[Fermented apple](https://www.instagram.com/p/DO89kfUgUsB/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🍄[Have you ever tried a puffball mushroom?](https://www.instagram.com/p/DPQXmb1iEVQ/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🥕[Carrot Bug Immunity Soda](https://www.instagram.com/p/DPg72g%5FCO6B/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) ⚠️[NYC adds sugar warnings to fast-food menus](https://www.timeout.com/newyork/news/why-are-there-little-sugar-spoons-on-fast-food-menus-all-over-nyc-heres-what-they-mean-102725?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🍲[Beyond chicken soup: what chefs eat when they’re sick](https://www.theguardian.com/food/2025/oct/18/what-chefs-doctors-eat-when-sick-hungover?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🥒[Is the ‘Picklewich’ Actually Healthier Than a Sandwich?](https://www.self.com/story/i-tried-jimmy-johns-picklewich?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 📰[Vittles Issue 2 is about Bad Food](https://www.vittlesmagazine.com/p/vittles-issue-2-bad-food?utm%5Fcampaign=post&utm%5Fmedium=web&ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🥔[Aldi unveils jacket potato jacket](https://www.dezeen.com/2025/10/21/aldi-jacket-potato-jacket/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)🍹[The World’s 50 Best Cocktail Bars, by the Numbers](https://punchdrink.com/articles/worlds-50-best-cocktail-bars-2025/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🐽[How to Cook a Coppa Steak](https://www.foodandwine.com/coppa-steak-11811085?hid=b65c06b8bb54449e12b2324cde45cf069f804769&did=20139412-20251028&utm%5Fcampaign=faw-top10%5Fnewsletter&utm%5Fsource=faw&utm%5Fmedium=email&utm%5Fcontent=102825&lctg=b65c06b8bb54449e12b2324cde45cf069f804769&lr%5Finput=969bf86e4d337bb74ec41d7fc4fcb4cbce448adc9ea58fc46f58a8b14ca494da) 🍞[Use the poke test to stop overproofing your dough](https://www.theperfectloaf.com/how-to-bake-open-crumb-sourdough-bread/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 💍[Are Engagement Rings Getting Bigger?](https://www.cosmopolitan.com/style-beauty/fashion/a66068467/engagement-ring-trends-2025/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🥚[The secret ingredient for perfect egg sandwich? Water](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DP85QrfAn%5Fq/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🥕[Homemade carrot caramel sauce with edible gold dust](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DQJ8yg-Dqkc/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 📦[Wrap a package like a Japan’s street vendor](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DNeu11-gA6a/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🍋[Zesting citrus: the right technique](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DNopyBTO3QE/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🧁[Magnolia Bakery’s iconic chocolate cupcakes](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DPzBb0RjNID/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) (video recipe) 🧪[Non-cocoa chocolate made from food waste](https://www.instagram.com/p/DQR1IqQCdnH/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🍲[One delicious nutritious soup for skin, gut, and immune system](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DQVNaaTj1j1/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🦆[Meat Is Back at Eleven Madison Park](https://www.nytimes.com/video/dining/100000010469276/meat-is-back-at-eleven-madison-park.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare&ref=secretbreakfast.com) --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/White---19-.png) ### [Selling baby food and the American dream](https://dirt.fyi/article/2025/10/making-babies?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Gillian Goodman / Dirt** Behind the glossy baby food commercials lies a carefully manufactured world where dinosaur kale gets rejected for looking too menacing and organic sugar gets sprinkled on purées to guarantee that perfect "bite and smile." A former advertising creative reveals the mechanical process of casting babies across continents, constructing aspirational families, and selling products worth millions—all built on our collective fears rather than our authentic desires. [](https://www.foodandwine.com/good-guys-spritz-recipes-11724234?tag=travel&hid=b65c06b8bb54449e12b2324cde45cf069f804769&did=17544041-20250504&utm%5Fcampaign=faw-top10%5Fnewsletter&utm%5Fsource=faw&utm%5Fmedium=email&utm%5Fcontent=050425&lctg=b65c06b8bb54449e12b2324cde45cf069f804769&lr%5Finput=969bf86e4d337bb74ec41d7fc4fcb4cbce448adc9ea58fc46f58a8b14ca494da) --- 🔥 Last week's most clicked link was [The 39 coolest neighbourhoods in the world in 2025](https://www.timeout.com/travel/coolest-neighbourhoods-in-the-world-2025?ref=secretbreakfast.com). And that's all for today. --- ### Japanese Mayo and Pickled Pumpkin 🇯🇵 URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/japanese-mayo-and-pickled-pumpkin/ Last updated: 2025-10-22T14:01:04.000Z ### Welcome to Secret Breakfast / The best place to meet with crazy theoretical physicists, wild pickle makers, and audacious cheese&coffee drinkers Hi there! I was watching [this video with the theoretical physicist Richard Feynman](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N1pIYI5JQLE&ref=secretbreakfast.com), where he talks about trees, and it completely flipped my perspective. Everyone looks at a tree and thinks it grows from the ground, right? But Feynman explains that almost all the wood—the actual mass of the tree—comes from the air, not the soil. The carbon gets pulled from carbon dioxide, split apart by sunlight, and built into the trunk and branches. The ground just provides some minerals. The tree is literally made of air. It made me think about how easily we get locked into beliefs without questioning them, seeing only what we expect to see. Sometimes you need to shift the angle, challenge the obvious. It's true everywhere—even in cooking. You assume a dish works a certain way because that's how it's always been done, then you try a different technique or ingredient and suddenly everything opens up. Perspective matters. Question the basics. *Piero* --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/quote-transparent-1-1.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/10/The-Count-of-Monte-Cristo.png) ✹**Alexandre Dumas**, *The Count of Monte Cristo.* This quote should be remembered during life's greatest challenges: growing tomatoes from seed, untangling Christmas lights, and getting a soufflé to rise. Why Dumas today? Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy began serving a five-year sentence in prison. He [told](https://www.euronews.com/culture/2025/10/21/which-highly-symbolic-books-has-nicolas-sarkozy-taken-to-prison?ref=secretbreakfast.com) French newspaper *Le Figaro* he is bringing Alexandre Dumas’ *The Count of Monte Cristo* and a biography of Christ, *Jésus* by Jean-Christian Petitfils. --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/book-transparent-1.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/10/kewpie-1.jpg) #### When Japanese Make Mayo I'm in one of my frequent Japanese moods, and this time it's all about Kewpie mayonnaise. Created in 1925 by Toichiro Nakashima, this isn't your average mayo—it uses only egg yolks and secret flavorings, earning its cult status and even a museum. The book traces its history from Tokyo to global fame, then delivers 55 recipes ranging from apple galette to spaghetti carbonara, all elevated by that iconic squeeze bottle with the red cap (and the scary naked baby). True story: at my house, I'm the only one who gets it. [****For the Love of Kewpie : A Cookbook and Celebration**](https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/kewpie-corporation/for-the-love-of-kewpie/9781523533008/?lens=workman-publishing-company&ref=secretbreakfast.com) **by Elyse Inamine and Jessie YuChen** ****→ Shortplot:** 🥚 🛢️ 🇯🇵 👶🏻 ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/White---22--1.png) ## Thanksgiving for Those in a Hurry ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/10/capture-2025-10-22-alle-14.49.36.jpg) You know what? [Thanksgiving Is Secretly the Sexiest Holiday](https://www.insidehook.com/sex-and-dating/thanksgiving-is-secretly-the-sexiest-holiday?ref=secretbreakfast.com). The sexiest Thanksgiving menu I know: [The 2024 Alison Roman Thanksgiving Special (Part 1) ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3OYqgZSm9ng&ref=secretbreakfast.com) and [the 2024 Alison Roman Thanksgiving Special (Part 2)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CmdwEwsgQTw&ref=secretbreakfast.com). Focus on the stuffing. The quickest I know: [One-Pot, One-Pan Thanksgiving](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SNx5wYGnh0k&ref=secretbreakfast.com) by Melissa Clark. For those funny friends who can't stand turkey, but they deserve love anyway: [Vegan Sheet Pan Thanksgiving Dinner](https://itdoesnttastelikechicken.com/vegan-sheet-pan-thanksgiving-dinner/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) and [35 Vegetarian Thanksgiving Recipes for a Crowd-Pleasing Feast](https://www.foodandwine.com/vegetarian-thanksgiving-recipes-6404999?ref=secretbreakfast.com) PS: No need to rush, there's a month to go 😁 --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/Hunger-1.png) 🌎[The 39 coolest neighbourhoods in the world in 2025](https://www.timeout.com/travel/coolest-neighbourhoods-in-the-world-2025?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🏁F1 driver Oscar Piastri [knows how to enjoy meat](https://www.instagram.com/p/DP2BZn8Eh1k?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🍠Sweet Potato Layer Cake (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/p/DP1oG29j931/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🇬🇧The [Ghetto Gastro Guide to London](https://www.instagram.com/p/DP6vOEGDpt1/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🍷[Wine with ice-cream](https://www.instagram.com/p/DPxzSm8COMs/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)?! Not for me 🧀[Cheese Melting Into My Coffee](https://www.instagram.com/p/DPa6dv6DPPY/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)?! Nor for me 🍪[12 Seasonal Oreo Flavors, Ranked from Worst to Best](https://sporked.com/article/seasonal-oreo-flavors-ranked/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🎃[Easy Pickled Pumpkin Recipe](https://larderlove.com/pickled-pumpkin/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🥚[Perfect Air Fryer Eggs](https://cookathomemom.com/air-fryer-eggs/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🇯🇵This podcast with [Craig Mod](https://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2025/07/16/books/craig-mod-things-become-other-things/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) explaining the concept of *yoyuu* (余裕), like having space in your heart for other people ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/White---19-.png) ### [How to Build, Then Lose, a Restaurant Empire](https://seattle.eater.com/restaurant-news/89030/what-happened-to-josh-henderson-seattle-chef-skillet?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Harry Cheadle / Eater** Not long ago, Josh Henderson was going to be Seattle’s next celebrity chef. Now he’s nowhere to be found.[](https://www.foodandwine.com/good-guys-spritz-recipes-11724234?tag=travel&hid=b65c06b8bb54449e12b2324cde45cf069f804769&did=17544041-20250504&utm%5Fcampaign=faw-top10%5Fnewsletter&utm%5Fsource=faw&utm%5Fmedium=email&utm%5Fcontent=050425&lctg=b65c06b8bb54449e12b2324cde45cf069f804769&lr%5Finput=969bf86e4d337bb74ec41d7fc4fcb4cbce448adc9ea58fc46f58a8b14ca494da) --- 🔥 Last week's most clicked link was: [The Biggest Food Trends Of 2026](https://www.southernliving.com/whole-foods-trends-2026-11826622?ref=secretbreakfast.com). And that's all for today. --- ### Honey Lime Cilantro Chicken and the 2026 Food Trends 🍗 URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/honey-lime-cilantro-chicken-and-the-2026-food-trends/ Last updated: 2025-10-15T11:13:02.000Z ### Welcome to Secret Breakfast / The best place to feel trendy for using beef tallow, because - in a landscape of infinite digital choice - recipes survive only if they seduce Hi there! We have [the 8 Biggest Food Trends for 2026](https://www.southernliving.com/whole-foods-trends-2026-11826622?ref=secretbreakfast.com), according to Whole Foods. A few caveats: Whole Foods is owned by Amazon, so this is essentially marketing. But I have a weakness for food predictions (I've also written a book about them). So, what's on the list? The 8 food trends are: **better freezer options** for meals, brighter flavors thanks to **vinegar**, **instant foods**, better-for-you **sweets**, good food with **great design**, **female farmers** growing food, **fiber-rich products**, and **beef tallow** as a cooking fat. Beef what? *Piero* --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/quote-transparent-1-1.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/10/Matthew-McConaughey.png) ✹**Matthew McConaughey**, actor and expert in good-looking, in his book [*Greenlights*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greenlights%5F%28book%29?ref=secretbreakfast.com). --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/White---22--1.png) ## We Are All Consuming Now ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/10/maxresdefault-1.jpg) This one deserves our attention. Ruby Tandoh's book, [*All Consuming*](https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/805767/all-consuming-by-ruby-tandoh/?ref=secretbreakfast.com), won't teach you how to cook better, or which dishes are trending this season. **It will tell you something truer instead: that the way you eat is not a choice.** Yes, we already knew that after *The Devil Wears Prada* lumpy blue sweater monologue ([video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-rDTRuCOs9g&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) performed by Meryl Streep years ago. Back to food now. It's the effect of systems we don't see. **It's not the famous chef deciding what ends up on your plate, but that person in an office writing code, or migration legislation, or the algorithm rewarding a recipe titled "crispy, cheesy, crunchy" because those words generate clicks.** The algorithm doesn't describe the dish; it generates it. And while you think you have personal preferences and refined taste, you're actually breathing air saturated with pre-digested recipes and anonymous feedback loops. Don't be that guy. --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/op-transparent-1.png) Juicy content from food creators ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/10/capture-2025-10-15-alle-10.42.36-1.jpg) [Bacon Fat Shokupan](https://www.instagram.com/p/DPvl2l-kXMy/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) by Zai • Oishi Mate (ok, this one is a bit too strong for me) --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/Hunger-1.png) 🌾Make couscous, but [do not follow the instructions on the couscous box](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DPbqiy-iGn0?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🇲🇦Moroccan Msemen, always (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DPbfUfOjNNA/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🍪Some perfect Butter Sablé (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DNPdPE5RKoQ/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🍩[Smelling Like a Doughnut Became the Latest Body Care Craze](https://www.wsj.com/lifestyle/fragrance-scent-donut-cookies-cake-42931fa5?st=PRKWfL&mod=1440&user%5Fid=66c4c385600ae1507593f25c&ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🍋Some Super Sticky Cake au Citron (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DO8DZ12EyzT/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 📖Noma has a [new book](https://www.instagram.com/p/DPwc-3xD2dm?ref=secretbreakfast.com) coming out in Spring 🇳🇴[Why the Norwegian 4x4 Workout Is Everywhere Right Now](https://www.self.com/story/what-is-the-norwegian-4x4-workout?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🍸[Greta Lee Makes Six Cocktails Inspired by Her Six Favorite Movies](https://www.vogue.com/video/watch/a-toast-to-cinema-greta-lee?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🍗This Honey Lime Cilantro Chicken & Rice Bowl is Everywhere (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DMJGC1ky8JJ?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🥕A Carrot-Pumpkin (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DPMW0VziBFe/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🎻This is not about food but is deep: [Can cellos remember?](https://www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v47/n18/thomas-laqueur/a-different-life?ref=thebrowser.com) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/White---19-.png) ### [What Makes a Recipe Craveable?](https://www.eater.com/food-culture/911235/ruby-tandoh-book-excerpt-all-consuming-recipe-trends?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Ruby Tandoh /** [**book**](https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/805767/all-consuming-by-ruby-tandoh/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **excerpt on Eater** Internet recipe culture has evolved into a visual, sensory art form engineered to bypass rational thought and trigger cravings—driven by developers like Ottolenghi and Mob who treat recipes as endlessly remixable modules rather than fixed formulas. In a landscape of infinite digital choice, recipes survive only if they seduce: through strategic naming, saturated photography, ASMR sound design, and an ingredient palette drawn from a "global pantry" that promises perpetual novelty. --- ### [How to Open a Restaurant in NYC](https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/10/06/dining/how-to-open-restaurant-nyc.html?unlocked%5Farticle%5Fcode=1.tk8.cBFC.hOpCX2-yIeue&smid=url-share&ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Priya Krishna / The New York Times** A year in the making of a rookie’s first restaurant. Beautiful feature and digital layout. --- 🔥 Last week's most clicked link was [Everything I Learned About Cold Brew Coffee](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AB0QLjroFss&ref=secretbreakfast.com). And that's all for today. --- ### Fermented Fries and Taylor Swift's treats 🍟 URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/fermented-fries-and-taylor-swifts-treats/ Last updated: 2025-10-08T15:08:12.000Z ### Welcome to Secret Breakfast / The best place to start reading Captain Marvel's Cookbook while drinking cold-brew coffee in a ghost kitchen, where *I’d sell my soul to have a taste of a magnificent life that’s all mine* Hi there! I have a story for you. *After the storm passed, Jake stepped outside to enjoy the *petrichor* wafting through the air, pulling out his old *dumbphone* to call his friend Sarah at her new *ghost kitchen*.* *She was in full *beast mode*, preparing *farm-to-table* dishes while occasionally giving *side-eye* to her ancient computer that could barely process a single *teraflop*.* *«*Hard pass* on *adulting* today», she texted him later, after doomscrolling through yet another *cancel culture* debate while sipping her *cold brew* (*★[recipes](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AB0QLjroFss&ref=secretbreakfast.com))*.* *Jake laughed, realizing YOU just read* [*all ten new Merriam-Webster additions*](https://apnews.com/article/merriamwebster-collegiate-print-dictionary-update-b5bd37f92fe20c28ac70bd166cd89a60?ref=secretbreakfast.com)*—plus a bonus word—without breaking a sweat.* Have a good week! *Piero* --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/quote-transparent-1-1.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/10/bon.png) ✹**Lee Chae-Min** most quoted quote of [*Bon Appétit, Your Majesty*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bon%5FApp%C3%A9tit,%5FYour%5FMajesty?ref=secretbreakfast.com) (폭군의 셰프). Anyway, that could be fit for my graveyard. --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/book-transparent-1.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/10/brie-1.jpg) #### Lessons in food (and friendship) chemistry This one is a cookbook by Brie Larson (Oscar-winning actress turned host) and Courtney McBroom (former Milk Bar culinary director), who bonded over queso while working on [**Lessons in Chemistry*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lessons%5Fin%5FChemistry%5F%28miniseries%29?ref=secretbreakfast.com). The 100 recipes mix nostalgic comfort with millennial creativity: Mexican martinis, miso deviled eggs, Cheesy Jenga Bread, ranch made from ramen packets, and a Ritz cracker cake with cherry Kool-Aid frosting. It's part cookbook, part teen magazine, part friendship manifesto—the philosophy being that life's short, so celebrate everything with your "BFFFs" (Best Food Friends Forever). The spirit is pure joy over perfection, fun over fuss, connection over entertaining anxiety. [****Party People: A Cookbook for Creative Celebrations**](https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/782964/party-people-by-brie-larson-and-courtney-mcbroom/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **by Brie Larson and Courtney McBroom** ****→ Shortplot: 🥚 🍗 🍸 🥗** ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/White---22--1.png) ## The Spice of a Showgirl ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/10/tay.jpg) The time of these years is unquestionably marked by three major events: wars, epidemics, and Taylor Swift’s albums. And in analyzing the singer-songwriter’s latest work, [*The Life of a Showgirl*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The%5FLife%5Fof%5Fa%5FShowgirl?ref=secretbreakfast.com), we can find - amidst the glamour and backstage drama - a few succulent references to the culinary world and flavors that enrich her storytelling. ⭐️The first glimpse of the high-life comes in [*Elizabeth Taylor*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jk%5FZFgROIYU&ref=secretbreakfast.com)*,* a track that transports us directly to Hollywood’s Golden Age with the mention of a legendary institution: > “We hit the best booth at [Musso & Frank](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Musso%5F%26%5FFrank%5FGrill?ref=secretbreakfast.com)’s” This iconic Los Angeles restaurant serves as the setting for an exclusive dining scene, evoking private dinners and the enduring allure of Old Hollywood’s elite. --- 🍯It is in the track [*Honey*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-EzK5UB40U&ref=secretbreakfast.com) where literal flavors and drinks become central. The title itself is a sweet term of endearment and a direct nod to the food substance, honey. The lyrics are rich with sensory details: “Summertime spritz (★[recipe](https://iba-world.com/iba-cocktail/spritz/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)), pink skies” The “spritz” is a reference to a refreshing beverage, setting a scene of relaxed, celebratory summer moments. Furthermore, the flavor of a kiss is described using a specific sweet-mint flavor: > “Wintergreen kiss, all mine” This line injects a specific gustatory element into the album’s romantic language. --- 💃🏻In the final and titular track, [*The Life of a Showgirl*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=slUhVTAznMo&ref=secretbreakfast.com), the struggle for stardom is framed as a desperate hunger. In a line that captures the dark side of ambition, a character expresses their yearning for success: > “She said: I’d sell my soul to have a taste of a magnificent life that’s all mine.” Here, the word “taste” is used metaphorically, defining the experience of fame and luxury as something to be consumed and desired, highlighting the lengths one would go to just to sample a magnificent life. It's not much, but Taylor Swift definitely used the language of food and drink to ground her stories of celebrity and desire. --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/op-transparent-1.png) Juicy content from food creators ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/10/apple.jpg) [Gluten Free Apple Pie Cookies](https://theloopywhisk.com/2025/10/03/gluten-free-apple-pie-cookies/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) by the awesome Kat at The Loopy Whisk --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/Hunger-1.png) 🍟I'm Gonna Try These Fermented Fries (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DPT9mCyCPVE/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🌊The Dreamy Cinematography of Noma's [Seaweed à la Crème](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DPYTxHoiqe9?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🖼️Fancy Fruit Toasts (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DOHrVfOD%5FkB?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🧳[Why Can’t You Pack a Bag?](https://www.newyorker.com/culture/open-questions/why-cant-you-pack-a-bag?ref=secretbreakfast.com) and the updated [Indefinite Backpack Travel](https://jeremymaluf.com/onebag/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🏨Yes, I have a thing for [Hotel stationery](https://www.instagram.com/p/DLaCRGUtm1Q/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) too 🌮[How to Make Tortillas Puff?](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DO1WWoJCJty/?igsh=eGswbTVtOTE5MnFx&ref=secretbreakfast.com) (possibly a repost) 🩸The Menstrual Girl Dinner, [Explained](https://www.instagram.com/p/DO1HOJukRK4?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🎃[The Best Simple Stuffing](https://www.bonappetit.com/recipe/simple-is-best-stuffing-dressing?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🍏[José Pizarro’s recipe for parsnip, apple and chickpea albóndigas in saffron-tomato broth](https://www.theguardian.com/food/2025/oct/07/parsnip-apple-chickpea-albondigas-recipe-saffron-tomato-broth-jose-pizarro?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🍲"[Whenever I’m sick I make this soup from the Chinese Cultural Revolution Cookbook and it fixes everything](https://x.com/w1lld0mk3/status/1975319579997147328?s=12&ref=secretbreakfast.com)" (★[recipe](https://www.reddit.com/r/Cooking/comments/czz7xx/recipe%5Fthe%5Foriginal%5Fhot%5Fsour%5Fsoup%5Fwuxistyle%5F%E6%97%A0%E9%94%A1%E9%85%B8%E8%BE%A3%E6%B1%A4?ref=secretbreakfast.com), is this?) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/White---19-.png) ### [The Top 25 Food Culture Trends That Defined the 2000s](https://www.foodandwine.com/top-25-chef-culture-trends-11824583?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Kat Kinsman and Amelia Schwartz / Food & Wine** The internet didn't just change food—it exploded it. Everyone became a critic. Chefs became activists, media moguls, memoir writers. We documented meals before tasting them, ordered from ghost kitchens, survived a pandemic that nearly killed the industry. This is the story of how food culture got democratized, commodified, and occasionally traumatized. --- 🔥 Last week's most clicked link was [**What We Can Know*](https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/796211/what-we-can-know-by-ian-mcewan/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) by Ian McEwan. I used that a lot for the whole issue. And that's all for today. --- ### Acorn Coffee and the Fluffy Eggs Trick 🍳 URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/acorn-coffee-and-the-fluffy-eggs-trick/ Last updated: 2025-10-01T12:41:35.000Z ### Welcome to Secret Breakfast / The best place to bake pumpkin Basque cheesecake and make sourdough gelato while living the last days of social media Hi there! The other day I was thrilled because a pizza place I loved in Rome opened in my city. Pizza it's still good, not the same, but it's still good enough. Yet something feels off. The first problem is taste. When we eat something uprooted from its place of origin, the experience shifts. The flavor changes. The second problem is price. Yes, the price is much higher, but I can accept financing an independent business for something good, once in a while. What is bad is: when popular food crosses a threshold and becomes premium, it loses its nature. When something (edible) that unites rich and poor becomes an accessory for the status-wealthy, something has broken. Don't you think so too? *Piero* --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/quote-transparent-1-1.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/09/mcewan.png) ✹**Ian McEwan**, [*What We Can Know*](https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/796211/what-we-can-know-by-ian-mcewan/?ref=secretbreakfast.com). Here's a message from the future of what could be the novel of the year. More on that, later on. --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/book-transparent-1.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/09/russ.jpg) #### More NYC Deli for you I've never been lovestruck by New York City. But I left my heart a few times at Russ and Daughters. Joel Russ turned a herring pushcart into a century-old Lower East Side institution that now spans four New York locations. The book offers insider stories, expert guides to appetizing staples like smoked fish and caviar, plus over 100 recipes for Jewish classics. It captures the spirit of a place where ordering lox is both family ritual and New York tradition. [****Russ & Daughters: 100 years of appetizing**](https://shop.russanddaughters.com/cookbook?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **by Niki Russ Federman & Josh Russ Tupper with Joshua David Stein** ****→ Shortplot: 🐟** 🧅 🥔 🥯 ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/White---22--1.png) ## The future of food is dystopian and boring ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/09/acorn-coffee-substitute-white-table-close-up-space-text_91908-3814.jpg) Acorn coffee, it's real (★[recipe](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yDpnRUPg4iE&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) In his latest novel [What We Can Know](https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/796211/what-we-can-know-by-ian-mcewan/?ref=secretbreakfast.com), Ian McEwan ([9 min NPR's podcast](https://www.npr.org/2025/09/20/nx-s1-5289956/ian-mcewan-discusses-his-new-novel-what-we-can-know?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) presents a 2119 Britain where **people drink acorn coffee and eat unappetizing protein cakes made from "atmospheric carbon dioxide and cultivated soil bacteria".** *(Protein stuff is a standard in dystopian literature).* Britain has shrunk into a series of small islands following decades of wars and ecological calamities, including a great flood known as the Inundation. People travel mostly by boat, bicycle and foot. America has been carved into dangerous territories controlled by rival warlords. Yet universities survive, the internet still functions (maintained by Nigeria, now the world's economic powerhouse), and nature is beginning to thrive again. Now, to the important part: the inhabitants of this future call our current period the *Derangement*, a time when everyone knew about climate change but failed to act. The protagonist, a 22nd-century academic, looks back on our era with painful envy: rock concerts, pride marches, orchestras, cheese rolling competitions, people going 4 or 5,000 miles for a week's holiday. All lost. **McEwan shows us our present through the eyes of someone who never lived it and desperately longs for it.** Enjoy your time here, then! --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/op-transparent-1.png) Juicy content from food creators ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/10/capture-2025-10-01-alle-13.39.43.jpg) The [Hong Kong Fluffy Eggs Trick](https://www.instagram.com/p/DObQ%5F0gDXQk/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) by Fork the People --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/Hunger-1.png) *Sorry about the Instagram dump, it's been a hard week, uh (I know, I know:* [*Captain, it's wednesday*](https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/what-a-week-huh?ref=secretbreakfast.com)*)* 🍦Sourdough Gelato? Why not? (★[recipe](https://instagram.com/p/DNtNIQs2Eht/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) ☕️Papparoti Coffee buns (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DO8hsjvjDOA?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 💡[Feuilletine](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DO99qLjjUDf?ref=secretbreakfast.com) is a crunchy secret of haute pâtisserie that makes your desserts irresistible 🎃Roasted Pumpkin Basque cheesecake (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DPDpqc3gbFx/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🌽Sweet Corn Puff Pastry Tarts (★[recipe](https://food52.com/recipes/sweet-corn-puff-pastry-tarts?utm%5Fsource=dash+hudson&utm%5Fmedium=instagram&utm%5Fcontent=www.instagram.com/reel/DPEuoyvEar3)) 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿Digestive Biscuits, but better than the industrial made (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DPBr3sQkig7?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🤓You know what? I'm testing a new flavor of Linux ([Omarchy](https://omarchy.org/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) and trying again my way on [Vim](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vim%5F%28text%5Feditor%29?ref=secretbreakfast.com) (I'm gonna fail again) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/White---19-.png) ### [The Last Days Of Social Media](https://www.noemamag.com/the-last-days-of-social-media?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **James O'Sullivan / Noema** Food isn't mentioned anywhere in the piece—no cooking, recipes, or culinary references appear. This essay dissects how social media has devolved into an AI-infested wasteland where bots outnumber humans and authentic connection has been replaced by algorithmic slop—yet it maps out concrete alternatives like federated platforms, algorithmic choice, and civic governance. Worth reading because it diagnoses the death of social media while providing a blueprint for what comes next. And it's about connection, and food IS connection. --- 🔥 Last week's most clicked link was [the Biang Biang noodles recipe](https://www.instagram.com/p/B-pU3vTHR9p?ref=secretbreakfast.com). And that's all for today. --- ### Brazilian Fusion and Tomato Nigiri 🍣 URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/brazilian-fusion-and-tomato-nigiri/ Last updated: 2025-09-24T11:13:26.000Z ### Welcome to Secret Breakfast / The best place to start cooking with Brad Pitt, dating messy chefs and spreading spicy Taipei butter over rice Hi there! Have you heard the news? > Wise House executive chef is expected to announce that using flour in federal kitchens raises food poisoning risk, despite lack of culinary evidence supporting the link. The ingredient, fundamental to baking worldwide, is considered safe by every major culinary institution. > Kitchen Director Robert F. Remmedy Jr. has vowed to find the cause for growth in stomach illness reports, also blaming salt despite strong evidence against that claim. > The flour link is similarly unfounded: a major 2024 study of 2.5 million meals, comparing dishes made with flour against sibling recipes without it, found no increased risk. OK, I bluffed: this isn't real news. Nevertheless, real stories we're hearing these days follow the exact pattern I used here. And sound even more absurd. Don't you think? Have a happy week and remember: scientific evidence is our friend. *Piero* --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/quote-transparent-1-1.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/09/brown.png) ✹**Dan Brown**, [*The Secret of Secrets*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The%5FSecret%5Fof%5FSecrets%5F%28Brown%5Fnovel%29?ref=secretbreakfast.com). --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/book-transparent-1.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/09/capture-2025-09-23-alle-18.41.39.jpg) #### Brazilian fusion During the Covid-19 Pandemic a [biang biang noodles video](https://www.instagram.com/p/B-pU3vTHR9p?ref=secretbreakfast.com) (★[recipe](https://www.theguardian.com/food/2020/nov/28/yotam-ottolenghi-noodle-recipes-sambal-crab-biang-biang-pineapple-vermicelli?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) saved my life. Or maybe not, but I could work from home, taking breaks to follow the recipe steps and fall in love with the food developer who was so patient in teaching us how to make those tricky, oily noodles. She was—she is—Ixta Belfrage, and now she has a full book of Brazil-inspired recipes. So why wouldn't I love that? Why wouldn't I love dishes like moqueca fish burgers, picanha with coffee and chile butter, and chocolate-papaya cake? [****FUSÃO: Untraditional recipes inspired by Brasil**](https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/461830/fusao-by-belfrage-ixta/9781529932829?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **by Ixta Belfrage** Shortplot → 🐟 🇧🇷 ☕️ 🥩 ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/White---22--1.png) ## How Brad Pitt in *F1:The Movie* can make you a better cook ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/09/pitt-1.jpg) Brad with a classic diner's Cherry Pie (★[recipe](https://thehappyfoodie.co.uk/recipes/my-twin-peaks-cherry-pie/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) I'm stuck in [F1:The Movie](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F1%5F%28film%29?ref=secretbreakfast.com). Watching it again and again, even if it is full of flaws and clichées. And there's Brad Pitt, of course. Anyway, in the story, this aging racer Sonny Hayes - portrayed by Mr. Pitt - proves that sometimes the most valuable lessons come not from the fastest car, but from the smartest driver. It speaks directly to anyone who's ever stood in a kitchen, faced with limited ingredients and (un)limited possibilities. **Combat Over Speed.** Hayes knows his APXGP car can't outrun the competition. His solution? *"Our shot is battling in the turns. We need to build our car for combat."* The same applies to cooking with constraints. Can't afford premium ingredients? Master technique. Limited kitchen space? Focus on precision. No fancy equipment? Learn knife skills that would make a chef weep. When Hayes deliberately triggers safety cars (aka generating chaos on the track) to give his teammate Joshua a chance, he's not cheating – he's understanding the game better than everyone else. In the kitchen, this translates to using pasta water to bind sauces, or saving vegetable scraps - all the vegetables - for stock. It's about seeing opportunity in what others discard. ✻✻✻ **Slow Is Smooth, Smooth Is Fast.** Hayes' father's wisdom echoes through every scene: *"Slow is smooth, smooth is fast."* Watch any great cook work. They move with deliberate calm. No rushing. No panic. Each motion serves a purpose. The onions get proper time to caramelize. The bread rises at its own pace. The sauce reduces when it's ready, not when you want it ready. This isn't about being slow – it's about eliminating waste. *Every frantic movement in the kitchen creates mistakes.* Every mistake costs time. Hayes understands this at 200 mph. You should understand it at room temperature. ✻✻✻ **Creating Your Own Breaks.** *"Hope is not a strategy. Create your own breaks."* Hayes doesn't wait for perfect conditions. He makes strategic moves when opportunity presents itself. In cooking, this means tasting constantly and adjusting. It means recognizing when that sauce is about to break and fixing it before it does. Great cooks don't hope their risotto turns out perfect. They stir with intention. They add stock when the rice demands it. They create the conditions for success rather than crossing their fingers. ✻✻✻ **The Long Game.** At one point, Hayes wants to move on to Baja racing. Not for money. Not for glory. When asked what he's racing for, he just laughs. The best cooks understand this. They're not cooking for Instagram or reviews. They're chasing that perfect moment when everything aligns – the technique, the ingredients, the timing, the company. They're pursuing excellence as its own reward. ✻✻✻ **The Hayes Method.** Start with what you have. Understand your limitations. Find creative solutions. Master the fundamentals. Stay calm under pressure. Learn from every attempt. Keep racing. *"It's just noise,"* Hayes says about critics. The same applies to cooking trends, Instagram pressure, or perfectionist paralysis. Focus on the work. Trust your instincts. Create your own breaks. Sometimes the most nourishing meals come not from the most expensive ingredients, but from the most intentional cook. Like Hayes at Abu Dhabi, sometimes winning means making the smart play rather than the obvious one. --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/op-transparent-1.png) Juicy content from food creators ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/09/capture-2025-09-24-alle-10.50.28.jpg) [Marinated Tomato Nigiri](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DO4jjSyk-9k/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) by Liz Miu 苗可玉 --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/Hunger-1.png) 💡[Meal Prep Made Easy: 3 Curries, 12 Dinners](https://thehappypear.ie/plant-based-and-vegan-recipes/meal-prep-made-easy-3-curries-12-dinners/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) \+ [Healthier No-Bake Flapjacks](https://thehappypear.ie/plant-based-and-vegan-recipes/healthier-no-bake-flapjacks/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)🥔Following my obsession with the movie *Pig*: [Nicolas Cage Making Pigeon and Pommes Anna with Chef Gabriel Rucker](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6WPP3yAnxY&ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🇬🇧[The 25 Essential Dishes to Eat in London](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/16/t-magazine/best-food-london-restaurants.html?unlocked%5Farticle%5Fcode=1.nU8.SD1S.jFvvRwHoRu9n&smid=url-share&ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🥗Season Your Greens to [Make Your Sandwiches Extra Delicious](https://www.chowhound.com/1972991/dressing-greens-restaurant-sandwiches/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🔥 Fermented Beet Hot Sauce (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/p/DObZgOSCEd8/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) ☠️ Scientists Say [Delaying Breakfast Could Be Deadlier Than You Think](https://www.foodandwine.com/late-breakfast-higher-mortality-risk-study-11811037?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 5️⃣[What Are 5 Things in Your Kitchen You’d Never Be Caught Without?](https://cupofjo.com/2025/09/17/what-are-5-things-in-your-kitchen-youd-never-be-caught-without/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🥠Make Fortune Cookies at Home (★[recipe](https://cicili.tv/fortune-cookies/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🧈Try This Spicy Taipei Butter (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DOslrapCFd%5F/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/White---19-.png) ### [Degrowth and the Death of a Party Grape](https://fieldnotesonprogress.substack.com/p/degrowth-and-the-death-of-a-party?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Abby ShalekBriski / Field Notes on Progress** This article reveals a striking paradox: scientists have developed drought-resistant grape varieties 98% identical to classics like Pinot Noir, yet no one plants them despite climate change threatening 70% of wine regions. Wine's obsession with tradition—through rigid regulations, risk-averse producers, and consumer habits—blocks the very adaptation that could save the industry. The irony is sharp: wine successfully adapted before (grafting to survive phylloxera), but now resists similar innovation when facing an even greater threat. [](https://www.foodandwine.com/good-guys-spritz-recipes-11724234?tag=travel&hid=b65c06b8bb54449e12b2324cde45cf069f804769&did=17544041-20250504&utm%5Fcampaign=faw-top10%5Fnewsletter&utm%5Fsource=faw&utm%5Fmedium=email&utm%5Fcontent=050425&lctg=b65c06b8bb54449e12b2324cde45cf069f804769&lr%5Finput=969bf86e4d337bb74ec41d7fc4fcb4cbce448adc9ea58fc46f58a8b14ca494da) --- ### [How to date a chef according to real chefs and their partners](https://www.lifestyleasia.com/bk/dining/food/dating-guide-how-to-date-a-chef-according-to-real-chefs-and-their-partners?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Khemjira Prompan / Lifestyle Asia** Unpredictable schedules that kill holidays and weekends, messy kitchen habits at home, and plenty of solo time while they're working everyone else's celebrations. Would you embrace that chaos for love? --- 🔥 Last week's most clicked link was [11 Food and Drink Rules Italians Live By](https://www.foodandwine.com/travel/italian-food-drink-rules?ref=secretbreakfast.com). And that's all for today. --- ### Jane Austen's Soup and Onion Crackers 🧅 URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/jane-austens-soup-and-onion-crackers/ Last updated: 2025-09-17T11:13:14.000Z ### Welcome to Secret Breakfast / A newsletter at the intersection of food intersections and cooking intersections. With a side of mushroom intersections Hi there! We live at the intersection of exhaustion and buzzwords. **Every startup now positions itself "at the intersection" of two trendy concepts.** *Platformer* sits "at the intersection of Silicon Valley and democracy." *Glossier* emerged "at the intersection of beauty and technology." *Peloton* claimed the space "at the intersection of fitness and entertainment." *Airbnb* conquered "the intersection of hospitality and community." Even your local coffee shop probably describes itself as existing "at the intersection of artisanal craft and neighborhood culture." **This formula works because intersections promise something new without requiring explanation.** They suggest innovation through collision rather than creation. The phrase has become our era's "synergy"—a word that sounds sophisticated while meaning almost nothing. We use it to avoid the harder work of actually defining what makes something unique. It's intellectual fast food: satisfying in the moment, forgettable after. **But here's what cooking teaches us about real intersections. When flavors truly meet, they don't just coexist—they transform.** Miso doesn't sit politely next to caramel; it becomes something entirely new. Real fusion happens in the pan, not in the pitch deck. Maybe instead of describing ourselves at intersections, we should ask: What actually happens when our ingredients collide? What new flavor emerges that couldn't exist alone? *Piero* --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/quote-transparent-1-1.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/09/emily.png) ✹**Emily Brontë**, [*I Am the Only Being Whose Doom*](https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/52309/i-am-the-only-being-whose-doom?ref=secretbreakfast.com). I'm cheating on this, but I was in a moment of *Wuthering Heights-*mania. The right way to quote this is: > In secret pleasure, secret tears, > This changeful life has slipped away, > As friendless after eighteen years, > As lone as on my natal day. --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/book-transparent-1.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/09/tart-9781668070222_hr.jpg) #### Closed for Pandemic You can love or hate this one by [Slutty Cheff](https://www.instagram.com/sluttycheff?ref=secretbreakfast.com). Reviews go from the "stop publishing influencers" to "unstudied and intimate as an impromptu supper thrown together for friends at home after the pubs close". Then, what is it about? The plot is what it is: as she navigates the demanding world of London’s fine dining scene, she faces the challenges of long hours and being the only woman in the kitchen, while also enjoying the excitement of culinary success and romantic encounters. The way it is written can make a difference. [****Tart: Misadventures of an Anonymous Chef**](https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Tart/Slutty-Cheff/9781668070222?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **by Slutty Cheff** ****→ Shortplot:** 🔪 🧑🏻‍🍳 💖 🍷 ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/White---22--1.png) ## An Austen-storm is coming ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/09/MCDEMMA_UC015.webp) The writer’s 250th birthday is approaching this December, and a wave of celebrations is coming our way. *The New York Times*' Melissa Clark surprised me when she wrote: ["I may be one of the few people who reads Jane Austen for the food](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/10/magazine/roast-chicken-grapes-recipe.html?unlocked%5Farticle%5Fcode=1.mk8.F5Cb.r--%5FXWYtg6Lp&smid=url-share&ref=secretbreakfast.com)". Funny enough, I don't remember Jane Austen, the foodie, but I've actually read the most of her novels in the past Century. That's why I've never had Roasted Chicken With Vinegared Grapes (★[recipe](https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1027323-roasted-chicken-with-vinegared-grapes?unlocked%5Farticle%5Fcode=1.mk8.x5zJ.XeJ8tU2PM4tf&smid=share-url&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) or the White Soup (★[recipe](https://www.clyverose.com/post/regency-recipe-white-soup?ref=secretbreakfast.com)), or Trifle With Whipt Syllabub from [Jane Austen's sister-in-law's cookbook](https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/jane-austen-recipes-cookbook?ref=secretbreakfast.com). And what about you? Have you ever felt hungry while reading Jane Austen's books? Well, here are [some more recipes](https://paulcouchman.co.uk/how-to-create-a-delicious-regency-dinner-that-jane-austen-may-have-eaten?ref=secretbreakfast.com) for you. --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/09/Omnivore--5-.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/op-transparent-1.png) Juicy content from food creators ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/09/kirby.jpg) [No Bake Boston Cream Cake](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DOkVwthCUSB/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) by kirbyquimado --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/Hunger-1.png) 🌠Wait what? [Your Zodiac Sign Is 2,000 Years Out of Date](https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/upshot/zodiac-signs.html?unlocked%5Farticle%5Fcode=1.mE8.cE8j.TU1izt%5FPnyPs&ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🧮Julia Turshen has somehow hacked my brain and gave the meal prep trick I needed 🎃[America’s Most-Searched Pumpkin Spice Recipes for Fall](https://www.mentalfloss.com/food/recipes/most-popular-pumpkin-spice-recipes?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🇮🇹This one is pretty accurate: [11 Food and Drink Rules Italians Live By](https://www.foodandwine.com/travel/italian-food-drink-rules?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🧈Whipped Brown Butter, now! (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DOotaVEk6pU?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 👠And also this: [Taste Milan Like a Local Chef, From Fine Dining to Natural Wine Bars](https://www.foodandwine.com/where-to-eat-in-milan-according-to-top-chef-judges-11759218?hid=b65c06b8bb54449e12b2324cde45cf069f804769&did=19309086-20250915&utm%5Fcampaign=faw%5Frelationship-builder&utm%5Fsource=faw&utm%5Fmedium=email&utm%5Fcontent=091525&lctg=b65c06b8bb54449e12b2324cde45cf069f804769&lr%5Finput=969bf86e4d337bb74ec41d7fc4fcb4cbce448adc9ea58fc46f58a8b14ca494da&utm%5Fterm=travel) (skip Langosteria and Capuano) 🍄‍🟫He crossed 26 miles in a [kayak made from mushrooms](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/sep/07/mushroom-kayak-plastic-alternative?utm%5Fsource=join1440&utm%5Fmedium=email&utm%5Fplacement=newsletter&user%5Fid=66c4c385600ae1507593f25c) – and lived to tell the tale 🤹🏻‍♀️Fold a napkin into a [basket](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DOezkAJiJM3?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🍃Spring Onion Crackers (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DNDhTxUJEH5?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🧅Lime Pickled Onions (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DOrK3LoCW7D?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🍏Air fryer apple and Blackberry scones, meh (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DOiGUTlDADK?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/White---19-.png) ### [The Whole Internet Is Mukbang Now](https://www.eater.com/food-culture/906308/mukbang-trend-tiktok-youtube-origins?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Amy McCarthy / Eater** Mukbang—originally a South Korean livestream format where hosts silently eat large meals to trigger ASMR—has evolved into a ubiquitous, bite‑sized genre on platforms like TikTok, where creators film themselves devouring messy, often fast‑food dishes in informal settings such as cars or delivery‑room backdrops. This shift reflects broader social trends: the rise of short‑form video, the desire for intimate, voyeuristic content that mimics companionship, and a paradoxical appeal for viewers who, amid increasing dietary restrictions and isolation, find comfort in watching others indulge. [](https://www.foodandwine.com/good-guys-spritz-recipes-11724234?tag=travel&hid=b65c06b8bb54449e12b2324cde45cf069f804769&did=17544041-20250504&utm%5Fcampaign=faw-top10%5Fnewsletter&utm%5Fsource=faw&utm%5Fmedium=email&utm%5Fcontent=050425&lctg=b65c06b8bb54449e12b2324cde45cf069f804769&lr%5Finput=969bf86e4d337bb74ec41d7fc4fcb4cbce448adc9ea58fc46f58a8b14ca494da) --- 🔥 Last week's most clicked link was: [the 15 Favorite Recipes From **Food & Wine*’s September Issue](https://www.foodandwine.com/september-recipes-11771525?ref=secretbreakfast.com). And that's all for today. --- ### Green Tea, Egg Confit, and Creamy Udon 🍵 URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/green-tea-egg-confit-and-creamy-udon/ Last updated: 2025-09-10T14:51:44.000Z ### Welcome to Secret Breakfast / The best place to start cooking stuff at the exact temperature of your fever, dreaming about soju, eggless breakfasts, and corn cookies Hi there! Today, I'm not ok. Less editing and more food. It's not that bad, then. *Piero* --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/quote-transparent-1-1.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/09/----Fredrik-Backman--My-Friends.png) ✹Fredrik Backman, [*My Friends*](https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/My-Friends/Fredrik-Backman/9781982112820?ref=secretbreakfast.com). --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/book-transparent-1.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/09/soju-1.jpg) #### K-Partying! Remember that haunting [Anthony Bourdain episode](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X%5FjPJ4kaVEU&ref=secretbreakfast.com) where he seemed completely disconnected? The whole show felt like watching someone reconstruct a night that went too far—empty bottles, half-eaten plates, piecing together what happens when drinking becomes cultural immersion. **Soju Party* captures that same raw authenticity, but with warmth. Irene Yoo doesn't just teach Korean drinking—she initiates you into a social ecosystem where every shot has rules and every meal serves the hangover. This isn't cocktail recipes. It's cultural anthropology as party manual. Yoo maps Korean drinking's invisible architecture: hierarchy, rituals, essential anju foods that keep you standing. Viral Milkis Shots to late-night Kimchi Carbonara—recipes that matter when you're three bottles deep. The book promises what Bourdain sought: genuine connection through shared consumption. Unlike his darker moments, Soju Party celebrates the messiness. It includes hangover cures because some nights are worth the morning after. [****Soju Party. How to Drink (and Eat!) Like a Korean**](https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/authors/2303704/irene-yoo/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **by Irene Yoo** ****→ Shortplot:** 🍜 🍗 🌶️ 🍻 ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/White---22--1.png) ## When Life Gives You Fever, have a Cuppa, and Make Confit ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/09/joni-ludlow-rqaSSf7N3rc-unsplash.jpg) Photo by [Joni Ludlow](https://unsplash.com/@joniludlow?utm%5Fcontent=creditCopyText&utm%5Fmedium=referral&utm%5Fsource=unsplash) on [Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/photos/white-blue-and-red-ceramic-teapot-pouring-water-on-white-ceramic-teacup-rqaSSf7N3rc?utm%5Fcontent=creditCopyText&utm%5Fmedium=referral&utm%5Fsource=unsplash) Stuck in bed with a 38.2°C fever (100.8°F), my food-obsessed brain started wondering: what could I actually cook at this exact temperature? Turns out, precision cooking doesn't always need fancy equipment—sometimes you just need to be creatively unwell. Because when you're running a fever, you might as well run with it. **Egg Confit.** Submerge eggs in olive oil at 38°C for 45 minutes. The whites stay creamy, yolks remain liquid gold. Perfect over toast with flaky salt. Or follow this one by The Glutton Life (★[recipe](https://www.thegluttonlife.com/2019/03/12/confit-egg-yolks/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)). **Green Tea Perfect Brew.** Steep premium sencha at exactly 38°C for 2 minutes. Use 6g tea per 200ml water. This temperature preserves delicate flavors without bitterness. **Chocolate Ganache Infusion.** Warm cream to 38°C, pour over dark chocolate (1:1 ratio). Add cardamom or chili. Stir gently until glossy. Ideal for truffles. **Yogurt Activation.** Heat milk to 38°C, add 2 tbsp live yogurt per liter. Maintain temperature 6-8 hours. Your fever temp creates perfect bacterial environment. **Vanilla Bean Oil.** Split 3 vanilla pods into 500ml neutral oil at 38°C. Infuse 2 hours minimum. Transforms simple cakes into luxury desserts. **Honey Crystallization Control.** Gently warm crystallized honey to 38°C in water bath. Takes 15-20 minutes. Crystals dissolve while preserving enzymes and flavor compounds. **Herb-Infused Butter.** Soften butter to 38°C, fold in minced herbs (thyme, rosemary, chives). 100g butter + 2 tbsp herbs. Maintains fresh herb color. **Sake Warming.** Heat premium sake to exactly 38°C (nunkan style). Takes 2-3 minutes in warm water. This temperature opens floral notes without cooking alcohol harshly. **Fruit Enzyme Activation.** Dice pineapple, sprinkle with sugar, hold at 38°C for 30 minutes. Natural enzymes break down proteins, creating incredibly tender fruit compote. **Probiotic Kefir.** Mix kefir grains with milk at 38°C. Ferment 12-24 hours at this temperature. Creates optimal conditions for beneficial bacteria multiplication. *Considering how I feel today, I'm probably somewhere between egg confit and probiotic kefir myself—slow-cooking in my own heat.* --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/op-transparent-1.png) Juicy content from food creators ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/09/corn.jpg) Sweet Corn and Corn Pops Cookies by [Constellation Inspiration](https://constellationinspiration.com/2024/08/corn-and-corn-pops-cookies.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/09/truffle-1--1.png) --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/Hunger-1.png) 🍛Finally watched [*Past Lives*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Past%5FLives%5F%28film%29?ref=secretbreakfast.com), curious about the Yukgaejang, Spicy Beef Soup (★[recipe](https://mykoreankitchen.com/yukgaejang-spicy-beef-soup/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🥟Who needs a [gyoza bag?](https://www.instagram.com/p/DN0aYUc2N6y/?img%5Findex=4&igsh=dHFjdHdvMmc5cHJ6&ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🫒Chocolate–Olive Oil Cake, Dr Pepper–Braised Pot Roast, Creamy Udon with Umami Butter and the [15 Favorite Recipes From Food & Wine’s September Issue](https://www.foodandwine.com/september-recipes-11771525?hid=b65c06b8bb54449e12b2324cde45cf069f804769&did=19309083-20250906&utm%5Fcampaign=faw%5Frelationship-builder&utm%5Fsource=faw&utm%5Fmedium=email&utm%5Fcontent=090625&lctg=b65c06b8bb54449e12b2324cde45cf069f804769&lr%5Finput=969bf86e4d337bb74ec41d7fc4fcb4cbce448adc9ea58fc46f58a8b14ca494da) 🌮Video: [The Ice Cold Death Of The Choco Taco](https://youtu.be/nuBWUdCCvrs?feature=shared&ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🧇16 Eggless Breakfasts, From Smoothie Bowls to Scones (★[recipes](https://www.foodandwine.com/eggless-breakfast-ideas-8783913?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🍳5 One-Pan Recipes for Back-to-School Season (★[recipes](https://food52.com/story/forkcast-5-one-pan-recipes-for-back-to-school-season?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 👩🏻‍🍳[Meet the Pastry Chef Who’s Going Viral for Her Wildly Inventive Conchas and Croissants](https://www.foodandwine.com/2025-best-new-chefs-mariela-camacho-11776531?hid=b65c06b8bb54449e12b2324cde45cf069f804769&did=19363858-20250909&utm%5Fcampaign=faw%5Frelationship-builder&utm%5Fsource=faw&utm%5Fmedium=email&utm%5Fcontent=090925&lctg=b65c06b8bb54449e12b2324cde45cf069f804769&lr%5Finput=969bf86e4d337bb74ec41d7fc4fcb4cbce448adc9ea58fc46f58a8b14ca494da) 🍲[25 Easy Weeknight Recipes by Best New Chefs, From Carbonara to Meatloaf](https://www.foodandwine.com/best-new-chefs-easy-weeknight-meals-11776571?hid=b65c06b8bb54449e12b2324cde45cf069f804769&did=19363858-20250909&utm%5Fcampaign=faw%5Frelationship-builder&utm%5Fsource=faw&utm%5Fmedium=email&utm%5Fcontent=090925&lctg=b65c06b8bb54449e12b2324cde45cf069f804769&lr%5Finput=969bf86e4d337bb74ec41d7fc4fcb4cbce448adc9ea58fc46f58a8b14ca494da) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/White---19-.png) ### [The plant-based problem: why vegan restaurants are closing – or adding meat to the menu](https://www.theguardian.com/food/2025/sep/02/plant-based-problem-why-vegan-restaurants-closing-or-adding-meat-menu?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Isobel Lewis / The Guardian** Veganism is still on the rise, but many popular venues and chains are shutting down. Are they victims of a terrible era for hospitality or part of a growing shift in cultural values? [](https://www.foodandwine.com/good-guys-spritz-recipes-11724234?tag=travel&hid=b65c06b8bb54449e12b2324cde45cf069f804769&did=17544041-20250504&utm%5Fcampaign=faw-top10%5Fnewsletter&utm%5Fsource=faw&utm%5Fmedium=email&utm%5Fcontent=050425&lctg=b65c06b8bb54449e12b2324cde45cf069f804769&lr%5Finput=969bf86e4d337bb74ec41d7fc4fcb4cbce448adc9ea58fc46f58a8b14ca494da) --- 🔥 Last week's most clicked link was [**Bon Appétit, Your Majesty*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bon%5FApp%C3%A9tit,%5FYour%5FMajesty?ref=secretbreakfast.com). And that's all for today. --- ### Make-ahead Breakfast and Spaghetti for a Tyrant 🍝 URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/make-ahead-breakfast-and-spaghetti-for-a-tyrant/ Last updated: 2025-09-03T13:15:14.000Z ### Welcome to Secret Breakfast / The best place to start pouring brown butter into your Bibimbap, while baking Scottish morning rolls and Shrek-dating Hi there! This week you will find few recipes (but ones to save forever) and two very intense (even if a bit somber) long reads. It happened a bit by chance, but sometimes chance encounters are a good thing, aren't they? *Piero* --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/quote-transparent-1-1.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/09/henry.png) ✹**Emily Henry**, [*People We Meet on Vacation*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/People%5FWe%5FMeet%5Fon%5FVacation?ref=secretbreakfast.com), is somehow on the New York Times Best Sellers list again. --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/White---22--1.png) ## Cooking for the (good-looking) Tyrant ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/09/sous.jpg) Last weekend I started watching [Bon Appétit, Your Majesty](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bon%5FApp%C3%A9tit,%5FYour%5FMajesty?ref=secretbreakfast.com). This Korean historical drama follows a modern-day chef who unexpectedly travels back in time and becomes the royal cook during the Joseon Dynasty ([real history here](https://time.com/7313404/bon-appetit-your-majesty-history?ref=secretbreakfast.com)). In each exceptionally long episode, the protagonist (the lovely [Im Yoon-ah](https://www.instagram.com/yoona%5F%5Flim?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) must solve a difficult situation or save her life by cooking something for the problematic, capricious, and fascinating sovereign (actor [Lee Chae-min](https://www.instagram.com/l.c.m%5F%5F%5F%5F?ref=secretbreakfast.com): his lips are probably the most beautiful part of the show). In the early episodes, we've seen her: - make an improvised gochujang Bibimbap (★[recipe](https://www.lazycatkitchen.com/vegan-bibimbap?ref=secretbreakfast.com), vegan) with brown butter; - create monosodium glutamate (aka MSG) effect using fried shrimps and dried mushrooms; - tenderize tough meat through sous vide technique (hand-measuring the temperature of water!); - pull pasta to make Italian spaghetti with Korean sauce; - slip clams into a spinach broth to make it more invigorating for an old lady with a sour attitude. In short, it's going to be really hard to stop this binge-watching. \-- And now, if you love things of political power and food, enjoy this old video of [Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping making pancakes](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5qZoT6bbJo&ref=secretbreakfast.com), years ago in Vladivostok. --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/09/truffle.png) --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/op-transparent-1.png) Juicy content from food creators ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/09/scottish-m-rolls.jpg) [Scottish Morning Rolls](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DODS1TeDfw7/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) by Annie Mae Herring ([Patreon](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DODS1TeDfw7/?utm%5Fsource=ig%5Fweb%5Fcopy%5Flink) \- [Newsletter](https://theseasonalkitchen.substack.com/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)), they're far better than my screenshot, I promise --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/Hunger-1.png) 🍫Billie Eilish's Vegan Dubai Chocolate Dessert (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/p/DNyxOsoZKPx/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🍌Somebody Give [John Cena](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DN3wlkz4jMV/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) a Banoffee Pie (★[recipe](https://www.seriouseats.com/banoffee-pie-recipe-8646124?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🍅Tomato Protein Soup Will Be a Staple of the Coming Weeks (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DN1kqjyXkmS?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🍳 18 High-Protein, Make-Ahead Breakfasts That Will Keep You Going Until Lunch(★[recipes](https://cooking.nytimes.com/article/high-protein-breakfast-meal-prep-ideas?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🍽️Food & Wine named [Diane’s Place in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the 2025 Restaurant of the Year](https://www.foodandwine.com/2025-restaurant-of-the-year-11799920?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🧌 [What Is the “Shrekking” Dating Trend?](https://www.cosmopolitan.com/relationships/a65890351/shrekking-dating-trend/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/White---19-.png) ### [Ghost Kitchens](https://www.vittlesmagazine.com/p/ghost-kitchens?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Nikesh Shukla / Vittles** In this touching memoir, the author takes us on a poignant journey through London's eateries, each a time capsule of their friendship with a loved one who has passed away. From a humble kebab shop to a shisha lounge, every shared meal tells a deeper story—of laughter, vulnerability, and unwavering support. The narrative reaches a heartbreaking climax when the author, after months of avoidance, finally returns to the last spot they saw their friend, only to discover that this final, cherished memory has been erased by the city's relentless change. --- ### [Life and death at Balthazar](https://dirt.fyi/article/2025/08/life-and-death-at-balthazar?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Amelia Granger / Dirt** An eighteen-year-old girl working as a hostess at the celebrity-filled New York City restaurant Balthazar navigates the constant humiliations and objectification of her job. She feels like a replaceable part of a grander machine, her self-worth tied to being a "pretty-enough face" for the owner and management. This feeling of being an object rather than a person is tragically underscored when a homicide detective visits the restaurant, revealing that a woman was murdered on a night the hostess had felt a sense of "consequence-less, total freedom." --- 🔥 Last week's most clicked link was [the essentials for a successful dinner party](https://www.instagram.com/p/DNn9enSN2oG/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) (it's just a funny cartoon, not a real solution!). And that's all for today. --- ### The Perfect Chips Brine and Other Brainrot Food 🍟 URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/the-perfect-chips-brine-and-other-brainrot-food/ Last updated: 2025-08-27T11:13:52.000Z ### Welcome to Secret Breakfast / The best place to get into exploited monkeys and gentrified kitchens, while baking Turkish potato cakes and Palestinian vegetables, never mistaking bad taste for liberation Hi there! I'm really pleased with the recipes in this issue. And the monkey story is compelling, though the exploitation of animals for food gathering hardly comes as news. Enjoy your week! *Piero* --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/quote-transparent-1-1.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/08/Tulathimutte.png) ✹**Tony Tulathimutte**, [*Private Citizens*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Private%5FCitizens%5F%28novel%29?ref=secretbreakfast.com). How did I come to this book? My friend GP thinks that another book by this author, called [*Rejection*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rejection%5F%28short%5Fstory%5Fcollection%29?ref=secretbreakfast.com) and published in 2024, is unmissable (🇮🇹[it will be published in Italian in September](https://www.edizionieo.it/book/9788833579153/rifiuto?ref=secretbreakfast.com)). --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/book-transparent-1.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/08/sami-tamimi-2.jpg) #### A Palestinian Chef's Return to His Roots Sami Tamimi's **Boustany* takes its name from the Arabic word for "my garden" (does it?), evoking childhood memories of his maternal grandparents' dream house near Hebron, where lush orchards filled with fruit trees and vegetables became the backdrop for family gatherings and traditional Palestinian feasts. This deeply personal cookbook arrives at a fractured moment for the Jerusalem-born chef, who has severed ties with his longtime Israeli business partner Yotam Ottolenghi. More than recipes, **Boustany* becomes an act of cultural preservation and gentle resistance, documenting Palestinian culinary traditions from Gaza-style falafel rich with spices to innovative takes on classics like tahini and labneh. "I don't want people to think only of war when Palestine is mentioned," Tamimi explains, positioning food as a way to celebrate Palestinian identity beyond conflict. [****Boustany: A Celebration of Vegetables from my Palestine**](https://www.sami-tamimi.com/cookbooks/boustany?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **by Sami Tamimi** →Shortplot 🇵🇸 🍆 🫛 🍉 ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/White---22--1.png) ## The 50% Leftover Rule ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/08/katrin-hauf-XyGfxCVbjCA-unsplash.jpg) Foto di [Katrin Hauf](https://unsplash.com/it/@trine?utm%5Fcontent=creditCopyText&utm%5Fmedium=referral&utm%5Fsource=unsplash) su [Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/it/foto/bilancia-bianca-e-marrone-a-0-XyGfxCVbjCA?utm%5Fcontent=creditCopyText&utm%5Fmedium=referral&utm%5Fsource=unsplash) I was mindlessly scrolling when I saw someone take puff pastry scraps, add 50% sugar by weight, and create easy Palmiers (★[recipe](https://www.jessicagavin.com/delicious-french-palmier-cookie-recipe?ref=secretbreakfast.com)). That got me thinking: ***what other bases can I transform with just one ingredient at X% of their weight?*** Here are 5 leftover transformations that should work with that formula: **🥔 Leftover Mashed Potatoes + 30% Flour = Gnocchi** Cold mashed potatoes become pillowy pasta with just flour and a quick roll. **🍨 Melted Ice Cream + 50% Self-Rising Flour = Instant Cookies** Two ingredients. Ten minutes. Done. **🍝 Leftover Pasta + 20% Beaten Eggs = Frittata di Pasta** Neapolitan street food magic. Crispy outside, creamy inside. **🍞 Stale Bread + 40% Milk = Bread Pudding Base** Soak, sweeten, bake. Waste becomes dessert. **🍚 Leftover Rice + 25% Cornstarch = Crispy Rice Cakes** Pan-fry until golden. Perfect vehicle for any topping. Do you have any other formula? --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/op-transparent-1.png) Juicy content from food creators ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/08/Patatesli-Pide.jpg) [Patatesli Pide](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DL-VuDKoUEw/?utm%5Fsource=ig%5Fweb%5Fcopy%5Flink&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==) by Burçin Arda (let's use the IG translation tool!) --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/Hunger-1.png) 🍟To Make The Perfect Chips, You Need [This Brine](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DNt0XGHXNP3?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🧄José Andres No Egg Allioli (★[recipe](https://www.foodandwine.com/allioli-catalan-garlic-and-oil-sauce-11794030?ref=secretbreakfast.com))🫘Full of beans: six hearty, fibremaxxed vegetable recipes (★[recipes](https://www.theguardian.com/food/2025/aug/20/full-of-beans-six-hearty-fibremaxxed-vegetable-recipes?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🌱One of the Most Popular NYTimes Recipes: [One-Pan Orzo With Spinach and Feta](https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1021485-one-pan-orzo-with-spinach-and-feta?unlocked%5Farticle%5Fcode=1.hE8.8vyq.0bISfd%5F%5F52-L&smid=share-url&ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🍅Tomato Tart With Mustard and Herbs (★[recipe](https://www.saveur.com/recipes/tomato-tart-mustard-herbs/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🇮🇷Mini Persian love cakes (★[recipe](https://www.delicious.com.au/recipes/mini-persian-love-cakes-recipe/lvkircmo?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🧡This Creamy Butter Halloumi Curry Works also as a Frozen Dinner (★[recipe](https://whattohavefordinnertonight.com/butter-halloumi-curry/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🧠How Do You Like [Brainrot Food](https://www.instagram.com/p/DNymrxbYqkA/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)? 🌽*Chipá Guazú* is a Cheese and Corn Casserole (★[recipe](https://www.saveur.com/recipes/chipa-guazu-recipe/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🐝[The Honey Deuce Cocktail Turns 18](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/26/dining/drinks/honey-deuce-us-open.html?unlocked%5Farticle%5Fcode=1.hE8.I0Ee.NlqdJe5Llqvv&smid=url-share&ref=secretbreakfast.com) ☕️Spiced coffee granita with whipped cream (★[recipe](https://www.theguardian.com/food/2025/aug/22/spiced-coffee-granita-whipped-cream-recipe-benjamina-ebuehi?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 📔Like Every Year, I'm picking my [2026 Japanese Journal](https://www.1101.com/store/techo/en/lineup?ref=secretbreakfast.com) on Sep 1st (I'll go with the *Weeks Mega* this time) 🥒Joke: [The Essential For a Perfect Dinner Party](https://www.instagram.com/p/DNn9enSN2oG?ref=secretbreakfast.com) by Richard Scarry ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/White---19-.png) ### [Restaurant kitchens have been gentrified](https://medium.com/@lewisbassett24/adam-byatt-restaurant-kitchens-have-been-gentrified-54f92fde07b2?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Lewis Bassett** This article presents chef Adam Byatt's debatable theory about kitchen "gentrification" - the shift from working-class cooks who entered for economic necessity to middle-class chefs pursuing cooking creatively. Byatt argues that working-class chefs like himself created tougher, more hierarchical kitchens because they craved structure, while middle-class chefs favor informal styles. He claims fewer working-class people now enter the industry, with today's kitchen staff more likely to exercise than drink - though this remains his perspective on a complex cultural transformation. [](https://www.foodandwine.com/good-guys-spritz-recipes-11724234?tag=travel&hid=b65c06b8bb54449e12b2324cde45cf069f804769&did=17544041-20250504&utm%5Fcampaign=faw-top10%5Fnewsletter&utm%5Fsource=faw&utm%5Fmedium=email&utm%5Fcontent=050425&lctg=b65c06b8bb54449e12b2324cde45cf069f804769&lr%5Finput=969bf86e4d337bb74ec41d7fc4fcb4cbce448adc9ea58fc46f58a8b14ca494da) --- ### [Why I’ll Never Ever Buy This Canned Coconut Milk Again: Monkey Exploitation](https://www.thekitchn.com/peta-monkey-labor-coconut-milk-investigation-23737482?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Ali Domrongchai / The Kitchn** This sounds like a spinoff of *Wicked*, the musical, but it's not. Thailand's coconut industry uses forced monkey labor - young monkeys are chained, brutally trained, and forced to climb trees to harvest coconuts for global export. Despite investigations by PETA since 2019 revealing widespread abuse, the industry actively conceals these practices while falsely claiming "monkey-free" products. --- 🔥 Last week's most clicked link was [The Best 2-Ingredient Cocktails](https://www.foodandwine.com/two-ingredient-cocktails-11712435?ref=secretbreakfast.com). And that's all for today. --- ### Sardines on Fire and Iberian Croquettes 🐟 URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/sardines-on-fire-and-iberian-croquettes/ Last updated: 2025-08-21T11:05:32.000Z ### Welcome to Secret Breakfast / The best place to start the day by being late, mixing waffles and red velvet, while setting fire to your precious canned fish Hi there! Raise your hand if you forgot the extremely rare laptop power cable at home before travelling. No? Well, I did. Then, since I'm already late, I'll be super quick. September is approaching, and traveling time will soon be over; the newsletter will grow back to its usual standards. *Piero* --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/quote-transparent-1-1.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/08/Ashley-Audrain--1-.png) ✹Ashley Audrain, [*The Push*](https://ashleyaudrain.com/the-push?ref=secretbreakfast.com). --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/White---22--1.png) ## The Vending Machine in the Middle of Nowhere ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/08/eiji.jpg) Some refreshing visual break. For almost 10 years, [photographer Eiji Ohashi has been capturing Japan’s vending machines in the most isolated places](https://eijiohashi.com/en/work/roadside-lights-%E2%85%B5?ref=secretbreakfast.com) of the country. His [*Roadside Lights*](https://eijiohashi.com/en/work/roadside-lights-i?ref=secretbreakfast.com) projects deserves your attention. > The Japanese composer Toru Takemitsu once said of John Cage's music: "Meaning is never fully distinct; it is almost alive. It takes on different forms and reveals itself uniquely to each interpreter". > In the context of my work, I hope that the viewer's interpretation will transform the concrete image—the landscape with vending machine—into the abstract, so that the meaning can break free from the conventions of photography and remain indistinct and vivid. > My encounter with vending machines began when I lived in Wakkanai, the northernmost city in Japan. Winters in the north are harsh, with blizzards so strong that the snow seems to fall upwards. Once, while driving in one of these blizzards, the road disappeared behind the snow and I completely lost my sense of direction. But then I saw the familiar glow of the vending machines by the side of the road. They let me know where I was going. Since then, vending machines have taken on a special meaning for me. --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/op-transparent-1.png) Juicy content from food creators ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/08/red.jpg) Red Velvet + Waffle = [Red Veffle Cake](https://thecaketoonist.substack.com/p/red-veffle-cake?ref=secretbreakfast.com) by Tat Effby - The Caketoonist --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/08/Omnivore--4--2.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/Hunger-1.png) 🇪🇸Aithor Zabala's Creamy Iberian Ham Croquettes! (★[recipe](https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/9hapfed70i5j40pvmmcsu/Creamy%5FIberian%5FHam%5FCroquettes.docx?e=1&rlkey=k4jsf99uf7nqzr5w5sac4lsx7&st=9m9z16pt&dl=0&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🍹[The Best 2-Ingredient Cocktails for Those Looking to Keep It Quick and Easy](https://www.foodandwine.com/two-ingredient-cocktails-11712435?hid=b65c06b8bb54449e12b2324cde45cf069f804769&did=18772259-20250816&utm%5Fcampaign=faw%5Frelationship-builder&utm%5Fsource=faw&utm%5Fmedium=email&utm%5Fcontent=081625&lctg=b65c06b8bb54449e12b2324cde45cf069f804769&lr%5Finput=969bf86e4d337bb74ec41d7fc4fcb4cbce448adc9ea58fc46f58a8b14ca494da) 🥜Bao's Peanut Milk (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/p/DNNTQx8IdP7?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🧈[The Butter Museum](https://open.substack.com/pub/rootkitchens/p/the-butter-museum?utm%5Fcampaign=post&utm%5Fmedium=web&ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🐟[Set Fire](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DM0hwhvgd9d?ref=secretbreakfast.com) to Your Sardines 🍅[WTF, the potato evolved from a tomato ancestor](https://www.theguardian.com/science/2025/jul/31/potato-evolved-from-tomato-ancestor-researchers-find?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🫙[This](https://www.foodandwine.com/oxo-pop-container-set-review-amazon-11791474?ref=secretbreakfast.com) is basiclly and OXO adv, but square and airtight food containers (kept far from light) are always a good idea 🍊Ganache de tangerina (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DMqjizStUFU/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 👶🏼[Why Grown-Ups Eat Like Kids](https://www.foodandwine.com/why-grown-ups-eat-like-kids-at-their-parents-house-11790022?hid=b65c06b8bb54449e12b2324cde45cf069f804769&did=19056867-20250817&utm%5Fcampaign=faw-top10%5Fnewsletter&utm%5Fsource=faw&utm%5Fmedium=email&utm%5Fcontent=081725&lctg=b65c06b8bb54449e12b2324cde45cf069f804769&lr%5Finput=969bf86e4d337bb74ec41d7fc4fcb4cbce448adc9ea58fc46f58a8b14ca494da) 🫤[People are bringing their own food to Bay Area restaurants](https://www.sfchronicle.com/food/restaurants/article/outside-eat-bay-area-20785175.php?ueid=e28c375eb8adc4ff1210f142451302c6&utm%5Fsource=Sailthru&utm%5Fmedium=email&utm%5Fcampaign=From%20the%20Editor%20-%2008/16/2025&utm%5Fterm=From%20the%20Editor) 🥩[Meat Is Back at Eleven Madison Park, After 4 Vegan Years](https://ny.eater.com/news/403748/eleven-madison-park-not-vegan-adding-meat-nyc-restaurant?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🫣This story, frankly I don't know, but here you go: [He Announced His Intention to Die. The Dinner Invitations Rolled In](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/10/business/last-supper-joseph-awuah-darko.html?unlocked%5Farticle%5Fcode=1.f08.WJ49.uIUzEKuEHl35&smid=url-share&ref=secretbreakfast.com) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/White---19-.png) ### [The Pistachio Croissant and the Meaning of Life](https://michaelshindler.substack.com/p/the-pistachio-croissant-and-the-meaning?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Michael Shindler / Et In Arcadia We Go** This essay is a great read because it transforms a simple pastry into a philosophical quest. It's not just a story about a pistachio croissant, but a clever exploration of history, symbolism, and cultural identity. The author uses a conversation with a quirky philosopher to dive into complex ideas, making a simple baked good a springboard for discussions on everything from Kierkegaard's philosophy to historical events and the nature of meaning itself. It’s a compelling piece that proves even the most mundane things can hold extraordinary depth. [](https://www.foodandwine.com/good-guys-spritz-recipes-11724234?tag=travel&hid=b65c06b8bb54449e12b2324cde45cf069f804769&did=17544041-20250504&utm%5Fcampaign=faw-top10%5Fnewsletter&utm%5Fsource=faw&utm%5Fmedium=email&utm%5Fcontent=050425&lctg=b65c06b8bb54449e12b2324cde45cf069f804769&lr%5Finput=969bf86e4d337bb74ec41d7fc4fcb4cbce448adc9ea58fc46f58a8b14ca494da) --- ### [Dicing an Onion, the Mathematically Optimal Way](https://www.theautopian.com/the-airplane-barf-bag-is-a-genius-invention-most-people-never-think-about-and-using-one-blew-my-mind?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Andrew Aquino, Russell Samora, Jan Diehm / The Pudding** Incredible feature! Tens of millions of people are curious about how to properly dice an onion and get uniform piece sizes. Here's how math and geometry can help solving this quest. --- 🔥 Last week's most clicked link was [What Chefs Prefer to Buy Instead of Cook](https://www.foodandwine.com/ingredients-better-store-bought-11700540?ref=secretbreakfast.com). And that's all for today. --- ### Greek Basics and Automated Noodles 🏺 URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/greek-basics-and-automated-noodles/ Last updated: 2025-08-13T14:56:33.000Z ### Welcome to Secret Breakfast / The best place to start shaving peaches, brewing muddy coffee, drinking every cocktail and discovering the importance of manners when you're spending time in a restaurant Hi there! Where were we? Or - better - where have I gone? Funny story: I skipped a week, because I was enjoying the Mediterranean Sea with my family, friends, my remotely connected workmates, and a couple of dogs. Please bear with me if this issue is all about the encounters I had during these sunny days. I hope it will bring some sunny vitamins to you too! *Piero* --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/quote-transparent-1-1.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/08/Lauren-Eden--1-.png) ✹Lauren Eden, [*Lioness Awakens*](https://www.laureneden.me/books?ref=secretbreakfast.com). Found that doomscrolling. Not bad. --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/book-transparent-1.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/08/atomaticnoodle.jpg) #### Love, Flour + Robots Think The Bear meets WALL-E, with extra helpings of hope, humor, and the kind of found family that forms around shared meals and shared dreams. Decommissioned robots boot up in an abandoned kitchen and decide their next mission is mastering the perfect bowl of hand-pulled noodles. And when fake reviews threaten their newfound purpose, these culinary bots must rally their community to prove that sometimes the most revolutionary act is simply making something beautiful and nourishing. [****Automatic Noodle**](https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250357465/automaticnoodle?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **by Annalee Newitz** ****→ Shortplot:** 🤖 🍜 🔥 🫣 ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/White---22--1.png) ## The Inevitable Post About Greek Cooking ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/08/leandros-papakarmezis-FN1VMmgjW6M-unsplash.jpg) Photo by [Leandros Papakarmezis](https://unsplash.com/it/@leandros?utm%5Fcontent=creditCopyText&utm%5Fmedium=referral&utm%5Fsource=unsplash) via [Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/it/foto/le-mani-di-una-persona-sopra-un-pezzo-di-carta-FN1VMmgjW6M?utm%5Fcontent=creditCopyText&utm%5Fmedium=referral&utm%5Fsource=unsplash) Just got back from Kefalonia. It's the first time I happened to stay in a place featured that very day on the "[36 Hours](https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/08/07/travel/things-to-do-kefalonia.html?unlocked%5Farticle%5Fcode=1.ck8.znur.E593%5F7JlORoX&smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare&ref=secretbreakfast.com)" feature of *The New York Times*. They say this Ionian gem isn't just about stunning beaches and dramatic cliffs – it's a serious foodie destination that deserves way more credit. I like the unmistakable Greek warmth that turns strangers into family around a dinner table, but I cannot say I got Kefalonia's food mojo. Hadn't enough time. You know what gets me every time? The Extra Virgin Olive Oil. Anyway, we can recap a few more staples. **🥧Kefalonian Meat Pie** (★[recipe](https://www.dianekochilas.com/kefalonitiki-kreatopita-cephalonia-three-meat-pie?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) – This isn't your average pie. Three different meats, local herbs, and Robola wine wrapped in flaky pastry. Pure comfort food, a stew into a pie. You can have it at the restaurant or bring with you on a boat tour. Unfortunately, on the "Secret Breakfast Savory Pie Scale™️", it stays far out of the top. **🍊Portokalopita** (★[recipe](https://www.mygreekdish.com/recipe/extra-syrupy-greek-yogurt-cake-oranges-portokalopita/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) – This one is incredibly good. Greek orange pie made with phyllo instead of flour. Soaked in cinnamon-orange syrup, it's pure sunshine on a plate. 🥒**The Holy Trinity and their Fourth (and Fifth) Friend** – When in Greece you can't avoid Greek Salad (★[recipe](https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1021079-greek-salad?unlocked%5Farticle%5Fcode=1.dk8.JQqa.Ga4CIg0KfHF0&smid=share-url&ref=secretbreakfast.com), invest on the ingredients), Tzatziki and Souvlaki (★[recipe](https://www.seriouseats.com/grilling-pork-souvlaki-with-pita-and-tzatziki-recipe-greek?ref=secretbreakfast.com)). My Achille's Heel is a dip called Taramasalata (★[recipe](https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/wordofmouth/2015/may/13/how-to-make-perfect-taramasalata-recipe?ref=secretbreakfast.com), original, even if Ibuy the colored pink stuff at the supermarkets as well). Ah, I forgot: you need - FRESH - pita (★[recipe](https://www.mygreekdish.com/recipe/the-easiest-homemade-pita-bread?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) as well. ☕️**Greek Coffee** – Muddy, detested by Italians, misunderstood by the many. Probably not the best cup you could offer to *Twin Peaks* agent Cooper. You make it like that (★[recipe](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wyIjUVwFrjc&ref=secretbreakfast.com)). And don't forget to try the [Robola Wine](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robola?ref=secretbreakfast.com). Fascinating history, by the way: though it was historically believed to be the same variety as the Friuli wine grape Ribolla, DNA profiling in 21st century has since shown that Robola is a distinct variety. --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/08/yotam.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/Hunger-1.png) 🍮Oh, this [Brulée Trick](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DMHKYsHxh3w?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🇬🇧[Best New Restaurant Openings in London](https://londontheinside.com/best-new-restaurants-in-london/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 👩🏻‍🍳[Not Everything Is Better Homemade](https://www.foodandwine.com/ingredients-better-store-bought-11700540?ref=secretbreakfast.com) — Here’s What Chefs Prefer to Buy Instead of Cook 🍒Chocolate Cherry Crinkle Cookies (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DMsqNHuIbpR?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🥕Carrot Wraps (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DNEFHi8Oo-e?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🏪[London’s New Wave Grocery Shops that you can eat in](https://londontheinside.com/londons-new-wave-grocery-shops/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🍑[Freeze and shave](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DMyVZr-AD8M?ref=secretbreakfast.com) peaches 💄Beauty’s in its foodie era: we have a limited edition guac-proof [Wonder Blading Peel and Reveal Lip Stain Kit](https://wonderskin.com/products/lipotle-wonder-blading-peel-and-reveal-lip-stain-kit?ref=secretbreakfast.com) in collaboration with Chipotle 🌽[Hypnotic](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DMTOeOfRRAx?ref=secretbreakfast.com) Tamales Making 🧋[The Drink of the Summer Is a ‘Billion Dollar Smoothie’](https://www.wsj.com/arts-culture/food-cooking/smoothie-erewhon-sunlife-organics-hailey-bieber-0a9d0ac6?st=h1r2uR&mod=1440&user%5Fid=66c4c385600ae1507593f25c&ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🍅Chilled preserved plum tomatoes (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DMF6o6QM-hd?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🐋Listen to [*Moby Dick* read by Benedict Cumberbatch, Tilda Swinton, David Attenborough](https://www.mobydickbigread.com/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🔟Remember! [10 Minutes is 1% of Your Day](https://taylor.town/10-minutes?ref=secretbreakfast.com) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/White---19-.png) ### [Manners](https://www.mangal2.com/newsletter/2025/8/7/manners?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Ferhat Dirik & Sertaç Dirik (?) / Mangal II** A London restaurant worker with 25 years of experience delivers a raw, frustrated manifesto about how dining customers have become increasingly entitled and inconsiderate. He catalogs the worst behaviors plaguing hospitality: no-shows without notice, vindictive one-star reviews over minor issues, unreasonable dietary demands, excessive noise levels, and constant comparisons to other establishments. While acknowledging that economic frustration and societal anger drive this misdirected hostility toward service workers, he pleads for basic kindness—arguing that restaurants absorb society's rage when they should be spaces for connection and nourishment. [](https://www.foodandwine.com/good-guys-spritz-recipes-11724234?tag=travel&hid=b65c06b8bb54449e12b2324cde45cf069f804769&did=17544041-20250504&utm%5Fcampaign=faw-top10%5Fnewsletter&utm%5Fsource=faw&utm%5Fmedium=email&utm%5Fcontent=050425&lctg=b65c06b8bb54449e12b2324cde45cf069f804769&lr%5Finput=969bf86e4d337bb74ec41d7fc4fcb4cbce448adc9ea58fc46f58a8b14ca494da) --- ### [I Drank Every Cocktail](https://aaronson.org/blog/i-drank-every-cocktail?ref=thebrowser.com) **Adam Aaronson** The International Bartenders Association, or IBA, maintains a list of official cocktails, ones they deem to be “the most requested recipes” at bars all around the world. Cheers! [](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/27/opinion/gaza-starvation-famine-israel.html?unlocked%5Farticle%5Fcode=1.Z08.Ogn5.P%5FE0XxE3EDp2&ref=secretbreakfast.com) --- 🔥 Last week's most clicked link was NOTHING, I skipped a week. But two weeks ago you liked [French Butter Cookies](https://www.monpetitfour.com/french-butter-cookies?ref=secretbreakfast.com). And that's all for today. Oh, no, it's not. *This issue is dedicated to the memory of* [*Gianni Berengo Gardin*](https://lfi-online.de/en/stories/obituary-gianni-berengo-gardin-21504.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com)*, one of Italy's most celebrated photographers, whose black-and-white images chronicled social and cultural changes. He's also the author of this one, that I like so much.* ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/08/capture-2025-08-12-alle-14.49.09.jpg) The phrase "We are against the comfortable life" was a Fascist motto that lingered on this building long after the regime's downfall. In the picture, it serves as a counterpoint to the way women are seated on Vespas, which I believe dates back to the 1950s. --- ### The Most Beautiful Rice Rolls and the Most Expensive Date Night 🌺 URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/the-most-beautiful-rice-rolls-and-the-most-expensive-date-night/ Last updated: 2025-07-30T12:41:38.000Z ### Welcome to Secret Breakfast / The best place to start singing at Wembley, having omakase in New York, or baking Pizza with the Fantastic Four Hi there! Liam and Noel Gallagher are definitely creating the tour of the year. After 15 years of silence, [*Oasis Live '25*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oasis%5FLive%5F%2725%5FTour?ref=secretbreakfast.com) proves we live on nostalgia, or at least believe in reconciliation. Or maybe we're convinced that two such elements lose strength when separated, while together they satisfy our hunger for legend and tension. You know what they made me think of? Beer and whisky? That too, but mostly butter and sugar in the history of pastry-making. For centuries - not just 15 years - they lived in parallel worlds: butter in Alpine huts and Norman farms; sugar first as wild honey, then as cane in Caribbean colonies. It was only in the 18th century, when trade routes stabilized and the European bourgeoisie discovered the art of confectionery, that these two ingredients truly met. The first butter-sugar creaming changed the taste of the West forever. The cookies we know today were born, modern cakes, the entire pastry tradition. A total revolution, though not quite like the musical one of Oasis in the Nineties. That said, I still prefer Sable Bretons cookies (★[recipe](https://www.monpetitfour.com/french-butter-cookies?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) to Oasis. But you already knew that. *Piero* --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/quote-transparent-1-1.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/07/----Paul-Murray--The-Bee-Sting.png) ✹Paul Murray, [*The Bee Sting*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The%5FBee%5FSting?ref=secretbreakfast.com). My next reading. I also need pizza. --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/White---22--1.png) ## Date night, the price is right ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/07/materialists.png) After watching [*Materialists*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Materialists%5F%28film%29?ref=secretbreakfast.com), I couldn't stop thinking about that brutal Nobu scene. Lucy (Dakota Johnson) asks Harry ([handsy](https://www.ndtv.com/entertainment/how-pedro-pascal-went-from-being-internet-sweetheart-to-a-viral-hot-girl-anxiety-meme-8939531?ref=secretbreakfast.com) Pedro Pascal) if romance really needs to cost a fortune, and his casual "Doesn't it?" hits like financial whiplash. The camera pans across the restaurant's luxury interior, exposing the vast economic chasm between her practical dating mindset and his effortless four-figure dinners. Director Celine Song chose restaurants as class markers with surgical precision. The film showcases a Manhattan dining spectrum: from [Nobu Downtown](https://noburestaurants.com/downtown/home?ref=secretbreakfast.com) (averaging $135 per person, at the lower end) and the French-Japanese tasting menu at [L'Abeille](https://www.labeille.nyc/?ref=secretbreakfast.com), to [Joseph Leonard](https://www.josephleonard.com/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)'s accessible oyster bar and [Birdy's](https://www.instagram.com/birdysbushwick?ref=secretbreakfast.com) dive bar afterparty spot. The film's central question emerges clearly: **does dropping $300-500 on dinner actually amplify romance?** Song seems skeptical. The expensive peonies and omakase sessions at [Sushi Ichimura](https://www.sushiichimura.nyc/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) feel performative next to Lucy's Coke-and-beer order. Romance lives in attention, not expense accounts. Nevertheless, dates are performative, aren't they? I have no problem admitting that romance - if you're a food lover - also lives in exciting dinner experiences. And those can have a million different price tags. PS: if you wanna read more about the movie real estate... - [Where Was Materialists Filmed?](https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/articles/where-materialists-filmed-202221877.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com) - [The $12-Million Apartment in ‘Materialists’ Is a Real Home in NYC—Here’s What We Know About It](https://www.housebeautiful.com/lifestyle/entertainment/a65056330/materialists-filming-locations-sets/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/07/ferran-1.png) --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/op-transparent-1.png) Juicy content from food creators ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/07/ricerolls.jpg) Artsy Rice Rolls via [Lucia Carnel](https://www.instagram.com/p/DMesd3lskXK?ref=secretbreakfast.com) --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/Hunger-1.png) *99% Instagram dump this week, sorry about that* 4️⃣The Fantastic Four Make Pizza ([video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GXaGSpldDnk&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 📕[The Sandwich Book](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DMOGTliyBF2/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🍎No flour. No sugar. No dairy. No eggs. The 2-Ingredient Apple Sponge (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DLqZ1q6zCbD?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 👹More [Labubu Food](https://www.instagram.com/p/DLwCPMrxBSq?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🧋The Tea Sommelier Cold-Brew Summer Tea (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DL3TrqzIU4q?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🦐Skull Island prawns with dashi butter, shoyu sesame and samphire (★[recipe](https://www.skullisland.com.au/blogs/tips-and-tricks/skull-island-prawns-with-dashi-butter-shoyu-sesame-and-samphire?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) or just [Skull Island Prawn Toast](https://www.instagram.com/p/DMRMBYnTyoT?ref=secretbreakfast.com) with peppers and honey siracha (no recipe) 🌭The Vegetarian [Courgette Hot-Dog](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DMLPmvgtTZ7?ref=secretbreakfast.com) ❄️[12 Freezer-Friendly Foods to Keep on Hand](https://www.instagram.com/p/DMc5QC7xUhm?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🍗The Perfect Chicken Tender (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DMlHSiAvU87?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🥞Fluffy, chocolatey Pancakes (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DMk17yax9Ph?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🧮Are [Food Patterns](https://www.instagram.com/p/DMktUJoIk1g?ref=secretbreakfast.com) a Thing, Now? ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/White---19-.png) ### [Diary of a Popcorn Seller](https://www.vittlesmagazine.com/p/diary-of-a-popcorn-seller?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Lucy Fitzgerald / Vittles** From the quiet calm of pre-opening rituals to the bustling chaos of a weekend rush, Lucy offers a delightful and often humorous glimpse into the daily grind. Discover the "ceremony" of serving customers, the "weirder, disparate flavours" people combine with their popcorn, and the unique dynamics of "Lover's Window" transactions. You'll even get a peek into the "popcorn bucket boom" and the subtle art of sweeping up "chemtrails of our flight". [](https://www.foodandwine.com/good-guys-spritz-recipes-11724234?tag=travel&hid=b65c06b8bb54449e12b2324cde45cf069f804769&did=17544041-20250504&utm%5Fcampaign=faw-top10%5Fnewsletter&utm%5Fsource=faw&utm%5Fmedium=email&utm%5Fcontent=050425&lctg=b65c06b8bb54449e12b2324cde45cf069f804769&lr%5Finput=969bf86e4d337bb74ec41d7fc4fcb4cbce448adc9ea58fc46f58a8b14ca494da) --- 🔥 Last week's most clicked link was about the [Cortisol Cocktail](https://www.vogue.com/article/the-cortisol-cocktail?ref=secretbreakfast.com). And that's all for today. --- ### Cortisol Cocktails and Batch Drinks🍹 URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/cortisol-cocktails-and-batch-drinks/ Last updated: 2025-07-23T11:13:57.000Z ### Welcome to Secret Breakfast / The best place where you can invite somebody into your heart by making salads, freezing cucumbers, and serving bizarre concoctions ### Hi there! As Stephen King wrote in [*Never Flinc*h](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Never%5FFlinch?ref=secretbreakfast.com), *one drink is too many and a thousand are never enough*. Stay hydrated and have some fun. *Piero* PS: This issue features two photographs from this year's [Les Rencontres de la Photographie d'Arles](https://www.rencontres-arles.com/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) (closing on Oct 5th). --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/quote-transparent-1-1.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/07/maya.png) ✹[**Maya Angelou**](https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maya%5FAngelou?ref=secretbreakfast.com). Have I posted this quote already? --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/book-transparent-1.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/07/pizza.jpg) #### Power to the Pizza Pizza is always a good idea. And when it's not, it's still a good idea anyway. **We the Pizza* chronicles Muhammad Abdul-Hadi's [Down North Pizza ](https://www.downnorthpizza.com/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)in North Philadelphia, a Detroit-style pizzeria staffed exclusively by formerly incarcerated individuals. The book combines 65 recipes with employee stories and historical context about mass incarceration, showcasing how the restaurant uses exceptional food to create second chances and reduce recidivism in the neighborhood. Abdul-Hadi transforms pizza into both sustenance and social justice, proving that great food can serve as a vehicle for community healing and economic opportunity. [****We the Pizza. Slangin' Pies and Savin' Lives**](https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/739586/we-the-pizza-by-muhammad-abdul-hadi-with-michael-carter-and-david-joachim?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **by Muhammad Abdul-Hadi with Michael Carter and David Joachim. Recipes by Michael Carter.** → Shortplot: 🍕 🔔 🔥 ✊🏿 ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/White---22--1.png) ## When Breadcrumbs Become Dinner ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/07/crumbs.jpg) Sarah Carp, **Faceless*, 2024 (via [Les Rencontres de la photographie d'Arles](https://www.rencontres-arles.com/en/expositions/view/1641/sarah-carp?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) They say bread is gold, and to me, nothing could be truer. You can toast breadcrumbs, sardines, and herbs in a pan to create a sublime topping for your pasta. Or, you can blitz some digestive biscuits or crackers, mix them with butter, and get a wonderful base for a sweet or savory cheesecake. You can even make my favorite, **passatelli** (★[recipe](https://www.turismo.ra.it/en/recipes-and-traditions/passatelli?ref=secretbreakfast.com)), by simply combining an egg, Parmigiano, and breadcrumbs to form a dough. And let's not forget how breadcrumbs can thicken soups and gazpacho. I remember a guy telling me that on Sundays, poor families used to make meatballs with stale bread and tomato sauce, just so they could trick their neighbor's nose into thinking they were cooking a meat stew. And I haven't even mentioned the panko you use for frying. I bet you wanna try one of the following: 🍝**Pasta c'Anciuova e Muddica Atturrata** (★[recipe](https://www.seriouseats.com/pasta-canciuova-e-muddica-atturrata-sicilian-pasta-with-anchovies-and-toasted-breadcrumbs?ref=secretbreakfast.com)), Sicilian Pasta With Anchovies and Toasted Breadcrumbs. 🍞**No Meat Bread Meatballs** (★[recipe](https://www.theguardian.com/food/2024/apr/13/how-to-turn-stale-bread-into-vegetarian-meatballs-recipe-zero-waste-cooking-tom-hunt?ref=secretbreakfast.com)), a real no-waste resource. 🥖**Roasted Cauliflower Toast** (★[recipe](https://www.cherryonmysundae.com/2023/01/roasted-cauliflower-toast.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com)), don't be cheap with hazelnuts. 🥮**Leftover breadcrumb plum cake** (★[recipe](https://www.theguardian.com/food/2020/oct/17/tamal-ray-recipe-leftover-breadcrumb-plum-cake?ref=secretbreakfast.com)), because we need something sweet. --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/07/yellow-1.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/op-transparent-1.png) Juicy content from food creators [![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/07/capture-2025-07-23-alle-12.21.12.jpg)](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DKPXMckx2Dd?ref=secretbreakfast.com) Blueberry Lemon Cheesecake Cookies by Ginny - In Bloom Bakery --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/Hunger-1.png) 🍸The [“Cortisol Cocktail”](https://www.vogue.com/article/the-cortisol-cocktail?ref=secretbreakfast.com) Isn’t Just Delicious—It Also Works + [I Drank a “Cortisol Cocktail” Every Day for a Week](https://www.stress.org/news/i-drank-a-cortisol-cocktail-every-day-for-a-week-heres-what-happened/?ref=secretbreakfast.com), Here’s What Happened 🛢️[Batch cocktails](https://www.theguardian.com/food/2025/jul/22/best-batch-cocktails-for-summer-kitchen-aide-anna-berrill?ref=secretbreakfast.com) are the summer party lifesavers 🥗80 Ideas for Salad Season (★[recipes](https://www.delish.com/cooking/recipe-ideas/g2877/summer-salads/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🪵Roasted Beet & Goat Cheese Log (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/p/DLk%5FzdNz9mO?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🍈Melon and Peach Salad (★[recipe](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/16/magazine/melon-salad.html?unlocked%5Farticle%5Fcode=1.Yk8.%5FXs4.6k6p%5FfX5y4iW&smid=url-share&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🥒[Why Southern Chefs Freeze Their Cucumbers](https://www.foodandwine.com/freezer-cucumber-salad-trick-11776056?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🥱[The Full Tesla Diner Menu](https://la.eater.com/restaurant-openings/287015/tesla-diner-los-angeles-full-menu-reveal?ref=secretbreakfast.com), Revealed 🥕[I Prepped This Carrot Coin Salad For The Week & It’s Still Crunchy](https://www.delish.com/cooking/recipe-ideas/a64022948/carrot-coin-salad-recipe/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🍤[How to make the perfect fritto misto](https://www.theguardian.com/food/2025/jul/20/how-to-make-the-perfect-fritto-misto-recipe-felicity-cloake?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 📈[20 Food Trend For 20 Years](https://www.instagram.com/p/DMbIlFUBwLF?ref=secretbreakfast.com), by Eater ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/White---19-.png) ### [For the Privileged Few, Airport Food Hits a New Height of Luxury](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/21/dining/airport-lounges-food.html?unlocked%5Farticle%5Fcode=1.Yk8.w%5F6i.g8olMtH1%5FsRY&smid=url-share&ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Priya Krishna / The New York Times** In pursuit of well-heeled fliers, airlines and credit card companies are stocking their elite lounges with caviar, sushi bars and big-name chefs. [](https://www.foodandwine.com/good-guys-spritz-recipes-11724234?tag=travel&hid=b65c06b8bb54449e12b2324cde45cf069f804769&did=17544041-20250504&utm%5Fcampaign=faw-top10%5Fnewsletter&utm%5Fsource=faw&utm%5Fmedium=email&utm%5Fcontent=050425&lctg=b65c06b8bb54449e12b2324cde45cf069f804769&lr%5Finput=969bf86e4d337bb74ec41d7fc4fcb4cbce448adc9ea58fc46f58a8b14ca494da) --- ### [Why Alinea Is One of the U.S.’s Most Influential Restaurants](https://www.eater.com/dining-out/896104/alinea-grant-achatz-20-anniversary?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Mercedes Streeter / Eater** "In 2014, Ruth Reichl wrote: 'What makes Alinea such a fabulous experience is the sheer exuberant fun of the place. This is food as performance, food as surprise, food as you’ve never seen it before'. The restaurant still holds three Michelin stars. Today, Chef Grant Achatz reflects on 20 years at Alinea and considers what lies ahead". Quick reminder: it's the restaurant of the edible helium balloon and the dessert assembled right on the surface of your table. --- 🔥 Last week's most clicked link was - I KNEW IT - [the Dirtiest Parts of a Hotel Room, According to Housekeeping](https://www.travelandleisure.com/dirtiest-parts-of-hotel-11769446?ref=secretbreakfast.com). And that's all for today. 🇮🇹 **PS for Italian readers*: you can donate to support Palestinian civilians in need through the* [*Cocomero ebook*](https://cocomero.premiate.org/it?ref=secretbreakfast.com)*, a beautiful ebook featuring recipes, articles, and artwork from 76 international authors. Read more* [*here*](https://cocomero.premiate.org/it?ref=secretbreakfast.com)*.* 🇵🇸 --- ### Strawberry Pasta and Labubu Meals 👹 URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/strawberry-pasta-and-labubu-meals/ Last updated: 2025-07-16T12:13:51.000Z ### Welcome to Secret Breakfast / The best place to start eating like a champion and harvesting micro vegetables, while turning cities into selfie backdrops Hi there! How was your week? Mine in one paragraph: due to a sudden water pipe issue my kitchen was dismantled, leaving me unable to cook for days; I've been reduced to making burritos with pre-packaged ham, assembling them directly inside the fridge. I hope your home meals were better than mine. *Piero* --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/quote-transparent-1-1.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/07/solitude.png) ✹Jonathan Lethem, [The Fortress of Solitude](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The%5FFortress%5Fof%5FSolitude%5F%28novel%29?ref=secretbreakfast.com), 2003\. I'm lucky to have friends who remind me of good books. --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/White---22--1.png) ## Even a Polish tennis champion can teach you something about cooking, if you know how to listen ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/07/capture-2025-07-16-alle-11.44.48.jpg) A Wimbledon fan, and his hat. Wimbledon's winner, Iga Swiatek, and her love for [Strawberry-Yogurt Pasta](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/10/dining/iga-swiatek-tennis-wimbledon-strawberry-pasta.html?unlocked%5Farticle%5Fcode=1.WU8.wYqN.7Q7rGOj4U-aP&smid=url-share&ref=secretbreakfast.com) (★[recipe](https://likeshop.me/nytcooking/media/63142085?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) sparked debate. Then, every food creator on TikTok had to cook it, hoping for some hardcore engagement coming by horrified people (mostly Italian, I suppose). Yet think about it: tomatoes have dominated our plates for centuries. Technically, they're fruit. **Fruit in savory dishes isn't madness—it's chemistry**. Natural sugars balance acidity and saltiness. Umami meets sweet and - sometimes - magic happens. Chefs have known this forever. Prosciutto embraces melon, pineapple meets pizza (whether you like it or not), and pears marry cheese. I even remember an interesting dessert I had years ago: goat milk ice cream with frozen cucumber. Maybe we should stop being surprised and start experimenting things like the following: **Strawberry and gorgonzola risotto** (★[recipe](https://www.recipesfromitaly.com/strawberry-risotto-recipe/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) - sweetness tames the cheese's bite **Curry chicken with green mango** (★[recipe](https://www.theendlessmeal.com/mango-chicken-curry/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) - fruit's acidity cuts through spicy creaminess **Pasta with basil pesto and peaches** (★[recipe](https://madeitateitlovedit.com/pesto-peach-pasta/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) - sweetness enhances the herb **Grilled salmon with raspberry sauce** \- fatty fish loves acidity **Pizza with pears, gorgonzola and walnuts** \- perfect texture trio **Salad with avocado, grapefruit and shrimp** (★[recipe](https://mariebostwick.com/garlic-shrimp-grapefruit-and-avocado-salad/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) - tropical freshness **Pineapple-glazed pork** (★[recipe](https://akispetretzikis.com/en/recipe/3181/choirino-me-karamelwmenh-saltsa-anana?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) – Hawaiian classic that conquers **Crostini with ricotta, honey and figs** \- seductive appetizer **Apricot and lamb couscous** (★[recipe](https://thehappyfoodie.co.uk/recipes/rick-steins-lamb-tagine-with-apricots/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) - authentic Middle East **Octopus with oranges and olives** \- pure Sicily **Peach Gazpacho** (★[recipe](https://pittsburghearthday.org/no-cook-spicy-peach-and-tomato-gazpacho-a-cant-miss-summer-dish/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) **Watermelon Tuna** (★[recipe](https://zardyplants.com/recipes/watermelon-tuna/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) - a vegan substitute for tuna. **Pyongyang-style cold noodles with pear and beef** (★[recipe](https://www.maangchi.com/recipe/naengmyeon?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) - Korean surprise that works PS: Do you know [what’s in the trending restaurant desserts? Vegetables.](https://www.eater.com/trends/892222/vegetable-dessert-restaurant-trend?ref=secretbreakfast.com) --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/07/gordon.png) --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/op-transparent-1.png) Juicy content from food creators [![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/07/vegetable-garden.jpg)](https://www.instagram.com/p/DLgv2q1RFxe?ref=secretbreakfast.com) Miniature Harvest by [chef\_zouheir](https://www.instagram.com/chef%5Fzouheir/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/Hunger-1.png) 🥦 Michelin-style Labubu weight-loss meal (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DLWTolWJzsd?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🍦[How To Give Vegan ‘Ice Cream’ That Creamy Taste, Minus The Milk](https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2017/05/15/527656425/how-to-give-vegan-ice-cream-that-creamy-taste-minus-the-milk?utm%5Fsource=join1440&user%5Fid=66c4c385600ae1507593f25c) 🍯Wait, Now We Shouldn't [Eat Honey](https://open.substack.com/pub/benthams/p/dont-eat-honey?utm%5Fcampaign=post&utm%5Fmedium=web&ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🍓This "Lazy" Crêpe is something (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DL-QIGTO-8H/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🫣[These Are the Dirtiest Parts of a Hotel Room, According to Housekeeping](https://www.travelandleisure.com/dirtiest-parts-of-hotel-11769446?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🍕These Are Officially [the 50 Best Pizzerias in America](https://www.foodandwine.com/best-pizza-in-america-50-top-pizza-awards-2025-11769461?tag=travel&hid=b65c06b8bb54449e12b2324cde45cf069f804769&did=18582738-20250715&utm%5Fcampaign=faw-top10%5Fnewsletter&utm%5Fsource=faw&utm%5Fmedium=email&utm%5Fcontent=071525&lctg=b65c06b8bb54449e12b2324cde45cf069f804769&lr%5Finput=969bf86e4d337bb74ec41d7fc4fcb4cbce448adc9ea58fc46f58a8b14ca494da), According to International Rankings 🎑[Restaurants Are Still Printing Postcards? It Has Nothing to Do With Mail](https://tastecooking.com/restaurants-are-still-printing-postcards-it-has-nothing-to-do-with-mail/?ueid=e28c375eb8adc4ff1210f142451302c6&utm%5Fsource=Sailthru&utm%5Fmedium=email&utm%5Fcampaign=From%20the%20Editor%20-%2007/12/2025&utm%5Fterm=From%20the%20Editor) 🐟Air Frier Mayo Flounder (★[recipe](https://open.substack.com/pub/juliaturshen/p/unreasonably-great-flounder?r=727n3&utm%5Fcampaign=post&utm%5Fmedium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🍨[DIY Ice Cream in Wartime](https://www.smithsonianmag.com/air-space-magazine/cool-side-tropical-warfare-180969515/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) (condensed milk at 33,00 ft, fun story) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/White---19-.png) ### [Overtourism in Japan, and How it Hurts Small Businesses](https://craigmod.com/ridgeline/210/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Craig Mod / Ridgeline** It's disheartening to see the unique charm of cities and their small businesses, something Maggie James has witnessed in Kyoto, eroded by overtourism fueled by social media. These local hubs are overwhelmed, losing their essence. The article by Craig Mod highlights how algorithmic attention dehumanizes places, turning cities into selfie backdrops. Yet, hope remains with curious, respectful travelers seeking genuine connection, pointing to sustainable ways to experience the world's hidden gems. Remember: being popular is not the goal of most small businesses. [](https://www.foodandwine.com/good-guys-spritz-recipes-11724234?tag=travel&hid=b65c06b8bb54449e12b2324cde45cf069f804769&did=17544041-20250504&utm%5Fcampaign=faw-top10%5Fnewsletter&utm%5Fsource=faw&utm%5Fmedium=email&utm%5Fcontent=050425&lctg=b65c06b8bb54449e12b2324cde45cf069f804769&lr%5Finput=969bf86e4d337bb74ec41d7fc4fcb4cbce448adc9ea58fc46f58a8b14ca494da) --- ### [The Quiet Nights That Count](https://danoregan.substack.com/p/the-quiet-nights-that-count?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Dan O'Regan / Notes on a Napkin** What a slow service taught about success, connection, and why we stand there smiling: "Numbers aren’t everything. Two hundred covers, badly done, isn’t success. But twenty, done with care, with atmosphere, with heart — that’s where the magic lives. Those nights when the restaurant breathes a little". --- 🔥 Last week's most clicked link was [the Science of Why You Doomscroll](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/06/opinion/decisions-neuroscience-brains.html?unlocked%5Farticle%5Fcode=1.VE8.4Kmc.H5wSeuIpti0T&smid=url-share&ref=secretbreakfast.com). And, since you've scrolled til far, that's all for today. --- ### AI Cakes, Mushroom Murders, and Rebel Wine 🍷 URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/ai-cakes-mushroom-murders-and-rebel-wine/ Last updated: 2025-07-09T11:13:07.000Z ### Welcome to Secret Breakfast / The best place to recycle Greek Yogurt, fill butter with radish, and enjoy cooking when it’s hot outside Hi there! I think you've noticed Artificial Intelligence is becoming our new Google Search. Especially since Google placed a Gemini answer at the top of search results. I'm no Gemini fan, but I use other AIs (duck.ai, claude.ai,...) for many tasks: from visualizing bloodwork trends to helping me code or buying a cartridge for my turntable. Yesterday, I was in a country house and I had 500 g of Greek yogurt I had frozen months ago. I wanted to cook something with that, and this AI-suggested sponge came out fluffy and perfect with some caramelized apricots tossed in. *500g Greek yogurt, 3 eggs, 150g sugar, 300g flour, 16g baking powder, 30ml seed oil, zest of 1 lemon.* Caution! At first, the AI suggested 200g of flour and it was clear it was not enough. Lesson learned? Always question the machine! *Piero* --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/quote-transparent-1-1.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/07/Chungking-Express.png) ✹[*Chungking Express*](https://medium.com/@nadyra/chungking-express-the-irony-in-isolation-1a27ad4aa2c1?ref=secretbreakfast.com) is a dreamy, offbeat portrait of love and loneliness in 1990s Hong Kong, told through two interwoven stories of heartbroken policemen and the women who disrupt their routines. --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/book-transparent-1.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/07/rebel-1.jpg) #### Who, what, why and how when it comes to wine Rebel School of Wine by Tyler Balliet, the creator of Wine Riot and Rosé Mansion, makes a clear case: wine should be about joy, not intimidation. This vibrantly illustrated guide quickly dismantles the complexities of wine, covering everything from production to industry economics with an inviting, step-by-step approach. It's the fun, comprehensive insider's guide you've always wanted. It's perfect for a present: to you or somebody else. [****Rebel School Of Wine**](https://rebelschoolofwine.com/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **by Tyler Balliet** ****→ Shortplot:** 🍇 🍷 🥂 🍾 ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/White---22--1.png) ## Death, Beef, and the Curious Case of the Mushroom Murderer ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/07/beef-wellington-easy.jpg) Beef Wellington, easy style, via [The Spruce Eats](https://www.thespruceeats.com/make-a-classic-beef-wellington-easy-435726?ref=secretbreakfast.com) In 2023, Erin Patterson cooked a Beef Wellington lunch (as in Gordon Ramsey's Beef Wellington, ★[recipe](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cyskqnp1j64&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) that killed three of her in-laws and seriously poisoned a fourth. The dish, she later admitted, contained [death cap mushrooms](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amanita%5Fphalloides?ref=secretbreakfast.com) — among the most lethal fungi in the world. Patterson claimed the mushrooms may have accidentally come from a mix of wild and store-bought dried mushrooms. Now [she has been found guilty](https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/jul/07/erin-patterson-guilty-australia-mushroom-murder-trial-ntwnfb?ref=secretbreakfast.com) of three counts of murder and the attempted murder of the lone survivor. Her story was huge and it even started a [daily podcast](https://pocketcasts.com/podcasts/8161b590-c8a1-013c-0da4-0e67697b4cb9?ref=secretbreakfast.com) (and a shorter [podcast](https://open.spotify.com/show/0j6kGpzcr6Ym4d7lnbQot4?ref=secretbreakfast.com), as well). People remembered movies like [I Love You to Death](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I%5FLove%5FYou%5Fto%5FDeath?ref=secretbreakfast.com), where a wife repeatedly tries — and hilariously fails — to kill her unfaithful husband. Even Patterson’s estranged husband, Simon, survived! He didn’t attend the lunch and later questioned her about poisoning his parents. Their children, however, ate the same meal the next day and were unharmed — casting doubt on whether the dish was intentionally poisoned for specific victims. \*\*\* Murders aside, it is practically impossible to precisely quantify how many people have died discovering that a food was poisonous, but the number is certainly very high throughout human history. It is thanks to those attempts — often fatal — that today we have a vast knowledge of food edibility. A hypothetical estimate based on some anthropological models suggests a surprisingly low number, or at least lower than one might expect. Can you imagine? **Throughout human history, approximately 70-100 million people have died from discovering which foods were poisonous.** It's a staggering number because every year around 9 million people die worldwide due to malnutrition (and could be saved). --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/07/Omnivore--3-.png) --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/op-transparent-1.png) Juicy content from food creators [Sara Tane on Instagram: “Radish butter terrine round ✌️!!!!!!! The grated radish realllllllllly does it for me!!!!!”80K likes, 775 comments - saratane on July 1, 2025: “Radish butter terrine round ✌️!!!!!!! The grated radish realllllllllly does it for me!!!!!”.![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/icon/De-Dwpd5CHc-19.png)Instagram![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/thumbnail/514581140_18513606310028913_6819222320608392714_n.jpg)](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DLk6N1%5FykCo/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/Hunger-1.png) 🧑🏻‍🍳[The Chef's Wedding](https://www.instagram.com/p/DLsggW0Jc90?ref=secretbreakfast.com): Eleven Madison Park's Daniel Humm married *Succession*'s Annabelle Dexter 🌿I'm reading a novel where they cook Curried Chickpeas with Spinach (★[recipe](https://ministryofcurry.com/chana-saag-chickpeas-and-spinach/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🧠[How to Make Better Decisions, According to a Neuroscientist](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/06/opinion/decisions-neuroscience-brains.html?unlocked%5Farticle%5Fcode=1.VE8.4Kmc.H5wSeuIpti0T&smid=url-share&ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🧈Have I already posted a Butter Tart? (★[recipe](https://thevictoriajames.substack.com/p/welcome-to-the-insiders-table?triedRedirect=true&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 😓[How to Enjoy Dining When It’s Hot As Fxxx Outside](https://www.eater.com/dining-out/889613/how-to-order-in-extreme-heat?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🥮What to Bake When It’s Too Hot for the Oven (★[recipes](https://food52.com/blog/28856-sunday-reset-no-bake-desserts-for-summer?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) ❄️Mexican Paletas will make kids happy (★[recipes](https://www.internationaldessertsblog.com/strawberry-crema-paletas-mexican-ice-pops/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🍋‍🟩It's said that this Key Lime Pie will get you a boyfriend (★[recipe](https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1024568-key-lime-pie?unlocked%5Farticle%5Fcode=1.VE8.9-ZA.-SQ2uVliaS4w&smid=share-url&ref=secretbreakfast.com)), or at least it worked for the recipe developer 🏗️Thanks Puci (🇮🇹[newsletter](https://pucci.substack.com/p/fare-autocritica?ref=secretbreakfast.com)), I needed a song about two cranes who are in love: These New Puritans, [*Industrial Love Song*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZ-MWiFgIzs&ref=secretbreakfast.com) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/White---19-.png) ### [The War on ‘Artificial’ Ice](https://newsletter.pessimistsarchive.org/p/the-war-on-lab-grown-ice?utm%5Fcampaign=post&utm%5Fmedium=web&ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Louis Anslow / Pessimists Archive** "Artificial meat is under attack: US states like Montana, Mississippi and Alabama have banned it - taking the lead from Florida who outlawed it in 2024\. The irony? 180 years ago the sunshine state would pioneer another artificially produced product that was traditionally harvested from nature: ICE". [](https://www.foodandwine.com/good-guys-spritz-recipes-11724234?tag=travel&hid=b65c06b8bb54449e12b2324cde45cf069f804769&did=17544041-20250504&utm%5Fcampaign=faw-top10%5Fnewsletter&utm%5Fsource=faw&utm%5Fmedium=email&utm%5Fcontent=050425&lctg=b65c06b8bb54449e12b2324cde45cf069f804769&lr%5Finput=969bf86e4d337bb74ec41d7fc4fcb4cbce448adc9ea58fc46f58a8b14ca494da) --- ### [Out of the Ashes. How fungi are surviving—and even thriving—in a warming world](https://orionmagazine.org/article/out-of-the-ashes/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Meera Subramanian / Orion** In this article, Christian Schwarz, a naturalist, discovers new mushroom species flourishing in Big Basin Redwoods State Park after a devastating wildfire, leading him to study how fungi adapt to a changing world. The author then explores how fungi offer lessons in resilience and interconnectedness amidst climate change, posing the question of whether humanity can adapt and survive like fungi. --- 🔥 Last week's most clicked link was the [Tzaziki Salad](https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1025698-tzatziki-chickpea-salad?ref=secretbreakfast.com). And that's all for today. --- ### Frozen Dessert, Almond Gazpacho, and Campari Galette 🍧 URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/frozen-dessert-almond-gazpacho-and-campari-galette/ Last updated: 2025-07-01T14:21:25.000Z ### Welcome to Secret Breakfast / The best place for eating the rich, with a side of Parisian Gnocchi, Wimbledon Strawberries, and Watermelon Agua Fresca ### Hi there! I'm late today because I wrote an entire section about the [Bezos wedding in Venice](https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/jun/27/jeff-in-venice-seven-takeaways-from-the-bezos-sanchez-wedding?ref=secretbreakfast.com), then I wasn't sure about that and deleted it. The shorter version is the following. \*\*\* You may have heard that Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and journalist Lauren Sánchez held their sober wedding ceremony in Venice on Friday, in a three-day gala that drew dozens of stars and also protests by local activists. In Italy, this event was a big deal. It's 2025 zeitgeist happening there, all at once: the aesthetics of the new power and the Kardashians, the Disneyfication of a spectacular city, and the irresistible glamspotting, the unescapable Trumpism everywhere, designer dresses and - for once - no Instagrammed meals. Wealth wasn't hidden, dresses weren't hidden. The food was. In Italy. The food was not shown. Nevertheless, I guess the real meal served in Venice was almost [the same that William Shakespeare wrote about centuries ago](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shylock?ref=secretbreakfast.com#In%5Fthe%5Fplay): a pound of flesh. Rich people's flesh. Because, during those days, people ate the rich, their corsets or black ties, and their unapologetic lifestyle. *Piero* *PS:* Further reading, [have we had enough of TV shows about rich people?](https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2025/jun/26/rich-people-tv-shows-sirens-and-just-like-that?ref=secretbreakfast.com) [](https://open.substack.com/pub/wildbarestepf/p/taste-is-the-new-intelligence?utm%5Fcampaign=post&utm%5Fmedium=web&ref=secretbreakfast.com) --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/quote-transparent-1-1.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/06/sugo.png) ✹**Mariachiara Montera**, [Sugo](https://blackie-edizioni.it/products/sugo?ref=secretbreakfast.com). Just released in Italy, this book is the ultimate exploration of food, expressed with unparalleled brilliance. --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/book-transparent-1.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/06/capture-2025-06-30-alle-23.08.17.jpg) #### The Ice Cream at the End of the World I bet none of us will buy this book. Ice cream recipe books are somehow a next level: raise your hand if you have an ice-cream machine at home. You do? How often do you use it? Smiling and smart, Pooja Bavishi has built a world of egg-free frozen desserts with flavors and textures that make you fly far away from home. Have some guests try the Orange Fennel French Toast, or the Parle-G Masala Chai Ice Cream Sandwiches, a Rose-Strawberry syrup for the ice-cream floats (★[recipe](https://people.com/pooja-bavishi-s-strawberry-rose-ice-cream-floats-11763488?ref=secretbreakfast.com)). You know what? I do have an ice-cream machine, time to let it roll. [Malai Cookbook. Frozen Desserts Inspired by South Asian Flavors](https://www.malai.co/cookbook?ref=secretbreakfast.com) by Pooja Bavishi ****→ Shortplot:** 🍨 🍓 🥭 🌹 ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/White---22--1.png) ## What We Knew About The Bear Was All Wrong ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/07/capture-2025-07-01-alle-14.32.23.jpg) Ok, I binge-watched *The Bear*, Season 4 (the last season?), and in the end, 94% of what I think was already in Amy McCarthy's words: [Here’s What Makes ‘The Bear’ So Infuriating](https://www.eater.com/pop-culture/889128/the-bear-season-4-is-infuriating?ref=secretbreakfast.com). I also agree with Sophie Gilbert, who wrote that this season of the FX show was [exactly what it —and we—needed](https://www.theatlantic.com/culture/archive/2025/06/the-bear-season-4-tv-review/683324/?ref=secretbreakfast.com). Anyway, I think it's too early to write in detail about the series while people are still watching at a normal pace. Let me share some of my notes: - Yes, operating a restaurant business is like having a four-dimensional giant countdown clock of your future failure in front of you, at any second. - Yes, the chef; but - hey - the cooks. - African American haircare, respect. - Never, never forget the core of your business. And sandwiches. - Find yourself someone who looks at you the way everybody looks at Claire. - Also, find your inner Syd. - Bring into your life someone organized and devoted, like the three new hires by cousin Richie. - There's only one true Bear. - Restaurants are definitely in the memory business. ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/07/bear.jpg) --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/op-transparent-1.png) Juicy content from food creators [Emilie Pullar on Instagram: “Hands down the easiest pasta to make at home!! Gnocchi sardi (also called malloreddus) is impossible to mess up! Get some friends together and make an afternoon of it. For four: 400 grams fine semolina flour 200 grams lukewarm water I know it looks more legit on the bench top but I more often than not throw ingredients into a food processor. Pulse until even and shaggy, take blade out and squeeze mixture into a rough ball. Knead on bench for 3 - 4 mins then wrap tightly in cling film and rest for 10 mins. Knead again for 2 - 3 mins then wrap and rest for a final 30 mins. Slice and roll out into long ropes about the width of a finger and cut into 2cm pieces. Roll down a gnocchi board or anything with a texture. You need to press quite firmly and you should have a sore thumb by the end 😂. Boil for 3 - 4 mins and add to any sauce! They freeze well too! #pasta #gnocchi #homemadepasta #pastalover #foodporn #italianfood #malloreddus”18K likes, 93 comments - burntbuttertable on June 26, 2025: “Hands down the easiest pasta to make at home!! Gnocchi sardi (also called malloreddus) is impossible to mess up! Get some friends together and make an afternoon of it. For four: 400 grams fine semolina flour 200 grams lukewarm water I know it looks more legit on the bench top but I more often than not throw ingredients into a food processor. Pulse until even and shaggy, take blade out and squeeze mixture into a rough ball. Knead on bench for 3 - 4 mins then wrap tightly in cling film and rest for 10 mins. Knead again for 2 - 3 mins then wrap and rest for a final 30 mins. Slice and roll out into long ropes about the width of a finger and cut into 2cm pieces. Roll down a gnocchi board or anything with a texture. You need to press quite firmly and you should have a sore thumb by the end 😂. Boil for 3 - 4 mins and add to any sauce! They freeze well too! #pasta #gnocchi #homemadepasta #pastalover #foodporn #italianfood #malloreddus”.![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/icon/De-Dwpd5CHc-18.png)Instagram![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/thumbnail/512150010_734665932603462_6125388788325068147_n.jpg)](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DLYQ63ZzlUD/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/07/Omnivore-Julia.png) --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/Hunger-1.png) 🥒Tzatziki Chickpea Salad Recipe (★[recipe](https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1025698-tzatziki-chickpea-salad?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🍋Lemon Thyme Olive Oil Caramel Polenta Cake (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DLQHIpCtv%5FL?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🇫🇷Parisian Gnocchi (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DKc9FHbz3zy?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🎾The Delicious History Behind 2025 Wimbledon’s Strawberries and Cream ([video](https://youtube.com/watch?v=uP8YUky4HZw&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) ⚪️Almond White Gazpacho, please (★[recipe](https://food52.com/recipes/19739-white-gazpacho?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🍝Ayo Edebiri's Miso Pasta (★[recipe](https://www.tapasmagazine.es/en/ayo-edebiri-the-bear-shares-his-star-pasta-recipe/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) How *The Bear* Turns [Hamburger Helper Into A Gourmet Dish](https://www.foodrepublic.com/1896616/the-bear-gourmet-hamburger-helper-tomato-paste-cheese/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) With Two Ingredients 🍒Everywhere I look I see a Campari Galette (★[recipe](https://www.punchfork.com/recipe/Sour-Cherry-and-Campari-Galette-Epicurious?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🍉Watermelon Agua Fresca (★[recipe](https://www.rickbayless.com/recipe/watermelon-agua-fresca/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/White---19-.png) ### [Taste Is the New Intelligence](https://open.substack.com/pub/wildbarestepf/p/taste-is-the-new-intelligence?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Stepfanie Tyler / Wild Bare Thoughts** I read this via the Dense Discovery newsletter. This piece compellingly redefines intelligence for the modern age, arguing that in a world overflowing with content, discernment—or "taste"—is the ultimate survival skill. It's no longer about knowing the most, but about the ability to filter, curate, and select what genuinely matters. This perspective highlights how cultivating good "taste" leads to a more intentional and coherent life amidst the noise. --- 🔥 Last week's most clicked link was about the[ in-ear monitors](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In-ear%5Fmonitor?ref=secretbreakfast.com) I bought. God, I should have chosen the affiliated links path, but I didn't. And that's all for today. --- ### No-Cook Recipes and Other Life Upgrades 💡 URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/no-cook-recipes-and-other-life-upgrades/ Last updated: 2025-06-25T11:13:47.000Z ### Welcome to Secret Breakfast / The best place to start upgrading your life with kinky cannibalism, expensive music, imperialist sandwiches, Peruvian classics and wartime pizza Hi there! I recently made a small but revelatory upgrade to my music setup—swapping AirPods for [In-Ear Monitors](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In-ear%5Fmonitor?ref=secretbreakfast.com) and the standard Spotify streaming for [FLAC files](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FLAC?ref=secretbreakfast.com). The parallel to food hit me immediately. We live in an age where everything is instantly available: every cuisine delivered to your door, every song streamed in seconds. But convenience often masks compromise. That first spoonful of proper bouillabaisse (★[recipe](https://lacuisinedegeraldine.fr/en/bouillabaisse?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) in Marseille, after years of seafood soups masquerading as the real thing, teaches you what you've been missing. The same shock comes when you hear a song you've known for years suddenly reveal details buried beneath compression algorithms. Yes, there are trade-offs. Cables instead of wireless freedom. Higher costs. More intentional choices. **But some upgrades liberate rather than burden.** Morning workouts instead of rushed coffee. Evening books instead of endless scrolling. Better wine, less frequently. Proper espresso over pod convenience. Music that demands—and rewards—your attention. Oh, even [no-cook recipes when it's too hot to light the stove](https://cooking.nytimes.com/article/no-cook-recipes-heat-wave?ref=secretbreakfast.com). Life becomes a series of conscious edits: what deserves the premium version of your time, money, and focus? **The question isn't whether you can afford the upgrade. It's whether you can afford to keep accepting the shadow when the real thing awaits.** What upgrade will you choose tomorrow? *Piero* PS: this week's upgrade is the "Omnivore's Dilemma" section comeback. I'm not lying, the new inspiration comes from a recurring set of odd questions asked during almost every episode of a smart podcast about football called [La Riserva](https://open.spotify.com/show/0xkobCLfOEvwbJqB2vkube?ref=secretbreakfast.com). PPS: *The Bear 4* is here. [Where were we at?](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/24/arts/television/the-bear-season-4.html?unlocked%5Farticle%5Fcode=1.RU8.Z8aE.hp6nRWktzrn1&smid=url-share&ref=secretbreakfast.com) Well, just remember that, almost like the famous Schrödinger's cat, this week Jeremy Allen White is both [Carmy Berzatto](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vOyRo-Yjr2Q&ref=secretbreakfast.com) and [Bruce Springsteen](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQXdM3J33No&ref=secretbreakfast.com) at the same time. --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/quote-transparent-1-1.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/06/Navessa-Allen.png) ✹**Navessa Allen**, [*Caught Up: Into Darkness Trilogy*](https://www.waterstones.com/book/caught-up/navessa-allen/9781529442427?ref=secretbreakfast.com). Ok, TikTok finally made a bestseller of a dark romance novel with elements of voyeurism, stalking and play club kink. There's also a hilarious food-fetish dialogue: > *“Taylor swirled the dregs of her coffee. “Well, I did get a kind of weird PPV request from a sub and was hoping to get your perspectives on it.”* > *“Weird how?”*\[...\]*.* > *“Weird like, they want a video of me naked, covered in olive oil and herbs, with vegetables spread out around me,” Taylor said. “They even requested that I put an apple in my mouth and baste myself.”* > *Ryan raised their brows. “Baste, like . . . baste?”* --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/book-transparent-1.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/06/capture-2025-06-24-alle-13.59.58.jpg) #### Sharing and caring Laurie Woolever's memoir is a journey into finding one's place. It offers an honest look at her experiences, from navigating New York City to working with figures like Mario Batali (🐽) and Anthony Bourdain (😢). Laurie is a relevant voice as a journalist and cookbook author, who also chronicled Bourdain's life in **Bourdain: The Definitive Oral Biography*. Her book shares lessons on workplace dynamics, addiction, and self-discovery. It's a read for anyone who has sought their path in a complex world. It could be the biography you bring with you this summer. Quick quote: ****"I am in control of almost nothing beyond how I choose to care for (and feed) myself and others".** [Care and Feeding: A Memoir](https://www.harpercollins.com/products/care-and-feeding-laurie-woolever?variant=42922631856162&ref=secretbreakfast.com) by Laurie Woolever ****→ Shortplot:** 🍷 🦪 🥖 🍰 ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/White---22--1.png) ## Welcome to the World's Best Restaurant ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/06/maido.jpg) Mitsuharu Tsumura Among the signature dishes are the teppanyaki-style lomo saltado, which reinterprets a Peruvian classic with Japanese techniques. And the nikkei ceviche, where leche de tigre meets Japanese dashi broth. Other iconic plates include squid ramen with Amazonian chorizo and short rib braised for 48 hours, showcasing attention to raw ingredients and creativity in elevating rare components. Lima's Maido restaurant is recognized as one of the world's best thanks to its nikkei cuisine, a fusion of Japanese precision and Peruvian flavors. Chef Mitsuharu "Micha" Tsumura, Japanese-born and Lima-raised, has combined culinary techniques learned in Japan and the United States with ingredients from the Andes, Amazon, and Peruvian coast. This approach just led Maido to [first place in The World's 50 Best Restaurants 2025](https://www.theworlds50best.com/the-list/1-10/maido.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com), transforming the venue into - get ready for the standard press release definition - *a journey that tells the multicultural identity of contemporary Peru.* I like scraping the web after these awards. Here you have: - [a 2023 review](https://eatingreallywell.com/maido?ref=secretbreakfast.com) with images and video - a [55 seconds video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yeg6PozTDbQ&ref=secretbreakfast.com) with some impressive table-side service - the podcast [World of Mouth with chef Tsumura](https://www.worldofmouth.app/podcast/mitsuharu-tsumura-from-maido-in-lima-peru?ref=secretbreakfast.com) - [his first Japanese knives](https://www.instagram.com/p/CybSXd7uLEe/?hl=en&ref=secretbreakfast.com)The A few years ago, I wrote here that we should stop looking for the signs of the future in New York City: yes, the restaurant business is Major League level there, but the most interesting food bits are coming (at least) from Asia and South America. I've found an echo of that in [one of Chef Tsumura's recent interviews](https://english.elpais.com/culture/2024-01-10/chef-micha-tsumura-owner-of-maido-peru-isnt-latin-americas-food-capital-because-of-just-five-haute-cuisine-restaurants.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com), when he says: "Peru isn’t Latin America’s food capital because of just five haute cuisine restaurants. You can also eat well in the streets and marketplaces". It's not the restaurant, it's the ecosystem. --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/06/Omnivore--2-.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/op-transparent-1.png) Juicy content from food creators [Katarina Cermelj on Instagram: “I’ve finally figured out the recipe for THE PERFECT carrot cake muffins: they’re soft and moist, stuffed with a creamy vanilla cheesecake filling and topped with a heap of crisp, buttery streusel 🥕🧡 And they’re sooo easy to make, it’s really a no-fuss, fail-proof recipe. Coarsely (not finely!!) grated carrots and a fairly thick batter are essential here, they’ll ensure that the muffins have the perfect texture and nicely domed tops. 🙌 Full recipe is on my blog, link in my bio!! #carrotcake #muffins #cheesecake #crumble #glutenfree”129K likes, 1,301 comments - theloopywhisk on April 12, 2025: “I’ve finally figured out the recipe for THE PERFECT carrot cake muffins: they’re soft and moist, stuffed with a creamy vanilla cheesecake filling and topped with a heap of crisp, buttery streusel 🥕🧡 And they’re sooo easy to make, it’s really a no-fuss, fail-proof recipe. Coarsely (not finely!!) grated carrots and a fairly thick batter are essential here, they’ll ensure that the muffins have the perfect texture and nicely domed tops. 🙌 Full recipe is on my blog, link in my bio!! #carrotcake #muffins #cheesecake #crumble #glutenfree”.![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/icon/De-Dwpd5CHc-17.png)Instagram![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/thumbnail/491417207_18381846211138421_6293434700126333304_n.jpg)](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DIWZ40KoF02/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/Hunger-1.png) 💣[How a Papa Johns pizza surge near the Pentagon tipped off social media before Trump’s decisive Iran strike](https://www.foxnews.com/food-drink/how-papa-johns-pizza-surge-near-pentagon-tipped-off-social-media-before-trumps-decisive-iran-strike?ref=secretbreakfast.com) [](https://mobygratis.com/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)❄️Inside the World’s Most Remote Dining Restaurant ([video](https://youtu.be/AzXoDnNYrlk?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 😴[The Viral “3–2–1 Method” Is An Expert-Approved Sleep Hack](https://www.bustle.com/wellness/3-2-1-sleep-method-nighttime-bed-routine?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🥘[What do I do with all of this zucchini???](https://open.substack.com/pub/juliaturshen/p/what-do-i-do-with-all-of-this-zucchini?utm%5Fcampaign=post&utm%5Fmedium=web&ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🐳[Free Moby music to empower your creative projects](https://mobygratis.com/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 👶🏼[The age you peak](https://vis.social/@infobeautiful/114737730830470900?ref=secretbreakfast.com) at everything 🥵43 more no-cook ideas (★[recipes](https://www.tasteofhome.com/collection/fresh-balanced-filling-no-cook-summer-dinners/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🌮Taco Bell’s Crunchwrap Supreme [Became an Unlikely Muse for Chefs](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/20/dining/taco-bell-crunchwrap-supreme.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🇮🇷Iranian Food? It's Great (★[recipe](https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/collections/persian%5Frecipes?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🧅Onion Sandwich? (★[recipe](https://www.foodandwine.com/what-is-an-onion-sandwich-11755804?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) [](https://www.foodandwine.com/what-is-an-onion-sandwich-11755804?hid=b65c06b8bb54449e12b2324cde45cf069f804769&did=18134792-20250618&utm%5Fcampaign=faw-top10%5Fnewsletter&utm%5Fsource=faw&utm%5Fmedium=email&utm%5Fcontent=061825&lctg=b65c06b8bb54449e12b2324cde45cf069f804769&lr%5Finput=969bf86e4d337bb74ec41d7fc4fcb4cbce448adc9ea58fc46f58a8b14ca494da) [](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DLClRrLPn2I/?igsh=MW5tZ201eDJkaG9s&ref=secretbreakfast.com) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/White---19-.png) ### [The Princess and the Pambazo](https://buttondown.com/theswordandthesandwich/archive/notable-sandwiches-128-the-princess-and-the/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Talia Lavin and David Swanson / The Sword and the Sandwich** The pambazo (★[recipe](https://www.muydelish.com/pambazos/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)), a beloved Mexican street food, is tied to a charming, though likely untrue, legend about its creation by Empress Carlota's Hungarian chef. This iconic dish, with its blend of flavors and colors, symbolizes the fusion of Old and New Worlds. Despite the dubious origin story, the pambazo remains a celebrated Mexican staple, intrinsically linked to Carlota's complex legacy. *(BTW, this newsletter is gold!)* [](https://www.foodandwine.com/good-guys-spritz-recipes-11724234?tag=travel&hid=b65c06b8bb54449e12b2324cde45cf069f804769&did=17544041-20250504&utm%5Fcampaign=faw-top10%5Fnewsletter&utm%5Fsource=faw&utm%5Fmedium=email&utm%5Fcontent=050425&lctg=b65c06b8bb54449e12b2324cde45cf069f804769&lr%5Finput=969bf86e4d337bb74ec41d7fc4fcb4cbce448adc9ea58fc46f58a8b14ca494da) --- 🔥 Last week's most clicked link was the [Sweet Korean pancake recipe](https://www.koreanbapsang.com/hotteok-sweet-korean-pancakes/?ref=secretbreakfast.com). I was surprised [the Korean newsletter](https://secretbreakfast.com/the-korean-food-diary-takeover/) didn't perform as well as the previous issues. Screw data. That's all for today. ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/06/ChatGPT-Image-24-giu-2025--13_40_38-1.png) Have you met Toastie? This week, Secret Breakfast's super-cute mascot is flying on a magic Persian carpet - because she spends too much time listening to the news. --- ### The Korean Food Diary Takeover 🇰🇷 URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/the-korean-food-diary-takeover/ Last updated: 2025-06-19T21:10:54.000Z ### Welcome to Secret Breakfast / The best place to start dealing with all I have eaten in about 10 days at the 38th parallel, where napa cabbage rules, chicken gets fried, and dead molluscs still move at the rhythm of your favorite K-pop band Hi there! 안녕하세요! I spent a couple of weeks in Korea, and I was torn between the idea of sharing everything food-related I've seen (and eaten) and the absolute certainty that I had not have enough time to get to the core of that incredible place and people. So what? I decided to mix things up. A lot. This is an issue where everything Korean happens everywhere, almost all at once—a cultural multiverse following the most iconic K-wave codes and trends we all know. Things will be hot like the fried chicken at Kyochon 1991 (★[recipe](https://futuredish.com/kyochon-chicken/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)), or weird like cutting your noodles with a pair of scissors. Things will be fried and sweet like a honey and seeds hotteok pancake (★[recipe](https://www.koreanbapsang.com/hotteok-sweet-korean-pancakes/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)), or unreal and cruel like an octopus sliced and still moving on your plate (be careful with the [video](https://youtu.be/9HWR8hOcPCU?ref=secretbreakfast.com)). I've warned you! *Piero* PS: I really could use some feedback about this issue, because 1) I wouldn't want to have fallen into some stereotype; 2) it's a very different issue from the previous ones and if something's wrong (or right!), I'd like to know. ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/06/ChatGPT-Image-19-giu-2025--14_45_18.png) Meet ****TOASTIE** (****토스티**), Secret Breakfast Korean-Style's new mascot. Isn't she cute? She's 5 years old and holding a key because she's keeping a secret. Her favorite accessory is a limited edition backpack made of Danish salted butter. Her arch-enemy is every single hideous jam jar with a lid that's impossible to open when you're late for work. --- ## Things you have to know about South Korea before we start ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/06/Designer--8-.jpeg) This one is clearly AI, but I'd say: rabbit! - 51.8 million people packed into a territory roughly the size of Iceland (357k people) - Divided country since 1953 - South Korea is roughly half of the Korean Peninsula - 4 distinct seasons with monsoon summers and freezing winters - From war-torn nation to tech powerhouse in just 70 years - Home to Samsung, LG, Hyundai - and the global K-pop phenomenon - South Korea's map is said to look like a rabbit or tiger. You'll be the judge of that. Let's roll. --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/White---22--1.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/06/Designer.jpeg) ## Seoul's Quest for Connection: Four Ingredients, Countless Bonds ## The first ingredient is pronounced *geimhwa*. It's written 게임화. It's what we call **"gamification"**, alas, the application of game mechanics - like points, levels, and rewards - to non-game activities to increase engagement and motivation. The second one is pronounced *deokjil*. It's written 덕질. It's what we call **"fandom decorating"**, namely the practice of personalizing everyday objects like bags and backpacks and Crocs with K-pop idol merchandise - or photocards, pins, kawaii keychains and stickers - to express fan identity and create social connections in real life. Then we have *han* (written 한), the complex emotion of **deep sorrow, regret, and unfulfilled dreams**, historically rooted in Korea's tumultuous past with invasions, colonial rule, wars, and division. In this country, even traditional recipes carry collective memory and pain. Finally, there's *jeong* (정), the deep emotional **bond and affection** that binds relationships. In food, the way sharing meals creates lasting connections between people. **In Seoul, the populace appeared to me as a delicate texture, a tapestry woven from these four defining threads.** Across this peculiar fabric, images emerged: women and men meticulously guarding their skin from the sun, their belongings festooned with countless keychains and charms. They find refuge in the innocent world of super-cute cartoons and plush figures, wear matching outfits, reside in small, standardized condominiums, and forge connections with friends in intimate cafes, all while striving to overcome urban solitude, fierce competition, and the insidious impostor syndrome that a deeply meritocratic society instills. Everything happens all at once, while the eyes of the girls and boys are pointing to their smartphones, looking for the next thread, the newest shop event (a gamified chance to get some prize), tomorrow's talk of the town. No, better: tomorrow's DM of the KakaoTalk. Seoul - I noted in a moment of superficial and guilty idiocy - is a kind of totalitarian playground for adults kept in a state of eternal adolescence by social media. But I was harsh and wrong. > **ㅆㅆㅆ** **Connection struck me as the ultimate key to understanding this country.** It's a dual reality: the constant, sprawling connection this human swarm maintains via the Social Graph, juxtaposed with the human-physical connection they desperately seek with real people. This yearning is for moments where they can truly escape public rankings, the pervasive fear of judgment, and the cruelty of forced interactions. Take this. In Korea, **it is customary to pour drinks for others rather than yourself**, especially when in a group setting. This act is a sign of respect and shows consideration for those you are with. We can view this in two distinct ways. First: It's a charming display of romance, politeness, and class. Second: It's the frustrating experience of having water at your fingertips, yet being forced into a perpetual state of dependence, waiting for another to pour it for you (ok, gotcha: I'm an Aries). > **ㅆㅆㅆ** Nevertheless, in no other country have I more profoundly appreciated the joy of sharing a simple meal at the table. ***Banchan***, the array of small side dishes accompanying rice in a typical Korean meal, effortlessly fills every available space, bringing a vibrant kaleidoscope of color and variety. They make your taste buds feel alive throughout the meal. Often, they are fermented foods like *kimchi* (★[recipe](https://www.seriouseats.com/baechu-kimchi-5184676?ref=secretbreakfast.com)), or pickled like the super yellow danmuji (★[recipe](https://chefatulya.com/danmuji-korean-pickled-radish/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)). Here you feel the heritage coming from the past of this country, where women and men learned a way to keep vegetables alive through the seasons. Using time and salt as magical ingredients to make things taste better. While in Italy we typically focus on a single plate, in Seoul, **you experience a dynamic 180-degree engagement, your chopsticks dancing as you meet the gaze of your table companions. It's connection, again.** It's the kind of connection no app will ever give you. A crack in the digitalized reality that will make your heart beat at the rhythm of your new, shared memories. ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/06/portuguese-gravity-muJWgG3vOkQ-unsplash.jpg) **Banchan*. Photo by [Portuguese Gravity](https://unsplash.com/@portuguesegravity?utm%5Fcontent=creditCopyText&utm%5Fmedium=referral&utm%5Fsource=unsplash) on [Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/photos/meat-dish-muJWgG3vOkQ?utm%5Fcontent=creditCopyText&utm%5Fmedium=referral&utm%5Fsource=unsplash) --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/quote-transparent-1-1.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/06/korean.png) ✹**Charlotte Cho**, *The Little Book of Skin Care: Korean Beauty Secrets for Healthy, Glowing Skin*. Korea is still the world's capital of skincare, but they still fry a lot. --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/book-transparent-1.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/06/veg.jpg) #### Ordinary acts of defiance When Yeong-hye decides to stop eating meat, her simple act of refusal becomes a violent confrontation with a society that demands women's submission. Han Kang's devastating novel strips away the veneer of civilized life to expose the brutality lurking beneath domestic routine, transforming a woman's quiet rebellion into a haunting meditation on autonomy, madness, and the price of refusing to be consumed. Winner of the International Booker Prize, **The Vegetarian* matters because it shows how the most ordinary acts of defiance can reveal the most extraordinary truths about power, gender, and the human capacity for both cruelty and transcendence. [****The Vegetarian**](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The%5FVegetarian?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **by Han Kang** ****→ Shortplot: 🥬 🌶️ 🐷 🔥** --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/Hunger-1.png) ### 10 things I ate in Korea (ok, they're more than 10), that you should cook at home ### **The 3 Best** 🐙 Jjukkumi Gui - Spicy grilled octopus topped with melted cheese [Jjukkumi Gui (Spicy Grilled Baby Octopus)Baby octopus are marinated in a spicy gochujang sauce and seared quickly on the grill. Tender, enjoyably chewy, not to mention a burst of flavor with every bite! I know that a lot of people![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/icon/cropped-KB-Site-Icon-270x270.png)Korean BapsangHyosun![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/thumbnail/Baby-octopus.jpg)](https://www.koreanbapsang.com/jjukkumi-gui-spicy-grilled-baby-octopus/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🥞 Dongnae Style Green Onion Pancake - Scallion pancake from Dongnae district [Korean Seafood and Green Onion Pancakes (Haemul Pajeon)Savory and delicious Korean pajeon recipe. Learn how to make Korean seafood and green onion pancakes, “Haemul Pajeon” at home. It’s so easy!![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/icon/cropped-mkk-icon-512x512-180x180-1.png)My Korean KitchenSue![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/thumbnail/2.-Korean-Seafood-Pancake-Hamul-Pajeon.jpg)](https://mykoreankitchen.com/korean-seafood-and-green-onion-pancakes-haemul-pajeon/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🍜 Pyongyang Style Naengmyeon - Cold noodles in icy broth, Pyongyang style. Ice and pear make the difference [Pyongyang Naengmyon![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/icon/apple-touch-icon-1.png)ctvauthorlist=‘Sang Kim’; By Sang Kim![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/thumbnail/pyongyang-naengmyon.jpg)](https://more.ctv.ca/food/recipes/pyongyang-naengmyon.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com) ### **The Others** 🍲 Bibimbap - Rice bowl with mixed vegetables, meat and fried egg on top [Bibimbap (Mixed rice with vegetables)Today’s recipe is bibimbap, a super-popular Korean dish you might have heard about already! It’s a Korean rice bowl made with sautéed and seasoned vegetables (namul: 나물), a bit of hot pepper paste (gochujang: 고추장), and usually a bit of seasoned raw beef, too (yukhoe: 육회). Bibim (비빔) translates…![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/icon/apple-touch-icon-180x180.png)Cooking Korean food with Maangchiany![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/thumbnail/maxresdefault.jpg)](https://www.maangchi.com/recipe/bibimbap?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🥞 Bindaetteok - Crispy mung bean pancake, often with vegetables [Stunning Vegan Bindaetteok: Korean Mung Bean Pancakes. - The Korean VeganHi-protein. Traditional. Korean pancakes. Bindaetteok is so delicious and packed with nutrients that will wallop you with health benefits!![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/icon/cropped-tkv-favicon-270x270.png)The Korean VeganJoanne Molinaro![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/thumbnail/hero-image-of-bindaetteok.jpg)](https://thekoreanvegan.com/vegan-bindaetteok-korean-mung-bean-pancakes/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🍜 Kalguksu - Hand-cut noodle soup in chicken broth [Kalguksu (Korean Knife Cut Noodle Soup)Kalguksu (Korean knife cut noodle soup) recipe. It’s a light, refreshing and ultra comforting noodle soup. Perfect for cold, rainy, or wintery weather!![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/icon/cropped-mkk-icon-512x512-180x180.png)My Korean KitchenSue![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/thumbnail/1.-Kalguksu.jpg)](https://mykoreankitchen.com/kalguksu/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🥜 Hodu-gwaja - Walnut-shaped pastries filled with red bean paste. Gotta find some kind of mold working for you [HodugwajaVisit the post for more.![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/icon/touch-icon-ipad-retina-1.png)MAMALOLImamaloli![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/thumbnail/hodugwaja-1-1.jpg)](https://mamaloli.com/recipes/dessert/hodugwaja/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🍙 Gimbap - Rice rolls with vegetables and protein wrapped in seaweed [Kimbap Recipe (Korean Sushi Rolls) - Beyond KimcheeEasy kimbap recipe with a unique twist—seasoned with Korean plum extract! Learn how to roll perfect Korean seaweed rice rolls at home.![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/icon/apple-touch-icon.png)Beyond KimcheeHolly Ford![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/thumbnail/kimbap-seaweed-rice-rolls.jpg)](https://www.beyondkimchee.com/kimbap/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🍞 Salt Bread - Soft salted bread, often with butter [\[Home baking\] Making salt bread and Shio breadRecently, I heard that there is a famous cafe called Shio bread.. So I made it.![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/icon/apple-touch-icon-180x180-1.png)10000reicpe10000recipe![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/thumbnail/f1d643daf203ec111b7921ee0cbd810b1_f.jpg)](https://www.10000recipe.com/en/6957125/Home%5Fbaking%5FMaking%5Fsalt%5Fbread%5Fand%5FShio%5Fbread?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🥚 Gyeranjjim - Steam-cooked scrambled eggs, fluffy like pudding [Gyeranjjim (Korean Steamed Eggs)Gyeranjjim is a Korean savory egg custard dish. It’s a popular side dish that goes very well with any Korean meal. Try it with this quick and easy recipe!![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/icon/cropped-KB-Site-Icon-270x270-1.png)Korean BapsangHyosun![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/thumbnail/DSC1796_02-2.jpg)](https://www.koreanbapsang.com/gyeranjjim-korean-steamed-eggs/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🍝 Bibimmyeon - Cold noodles mixed with vegetables and spicy sauce. And Ice, sometimes [Bibimmyeon EASY Korean Noodles Recipe & VideoEASY Korean Cold Noodles Mild & Spicy Bibimmyeon recipe! “Myeon” means “Noodles”, so Bibimmyeon is mixed noodles. It is Korean’s staple summer lunch![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/icon/favicon.ico)Seonkyoung LongestSeonkyoung Longest![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/thumbnail/Bibim-Guksu-19-mini.jpg)](https://seonkyounglongest.com/bibimmyeon/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🍜 Jjangmyeon - Noodles with black bean sauce and vegetables [Jjajangmyeon – Sweet And Savory Korean Black Bean Sauce NoodlesKorean Black Bean Paste Noodles - Jajangmyeon ready in less than 20 minutes! This authentic korean noodle recipe will blow your mind!![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/icon/cropped-Logo_1-2-270x270.png)Tiffy CooksTiffany![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/thumbnail/3F21587E-09E4-4F2B-9C0C-C7A397BC5422-scaled.jpg)](https://tiffycooks.com/jajangmyeon-noodles-korean-noodles-in-black-bean-paste/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🍲 Mukbap - Soup with acorn starch jelly, unique texture. Let's say unique texture. [Recipe: Mook Bap (묵밥)A blog on food and culture in Seoul and Korea (and some overseas travels). For the fastest updates, follow my Instagram: @stewart.ho![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/icon/favicon-1.ico)BloggerWhatsstewin![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/thumbnail/DSC06695.JPG)](https://whatsstewin.blogspot.com/2013/10/recipe-mook-bap.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com) ### **I did not have** 🌶️ Tteokbokki - Spicy rice cakes in sweet-spicy sauce 🥣Budae Jjigae - also known as Korean Army Stew 🍪 Dalgona Cookies - Honeycomb toffee cookies, crispy and sweet. You've seen them in *Squid Game* ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/06/capture-2025-06-19-alle-21.57.50.jpg) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/White---19-.png) ### [When a Country’s Cuisine Becomes a Cultural Export](https://www.nytimes.com/2022/10/12/t-magazine/korean-food-national-royal-cuisine.html?unlocked%5Farticle%5Fcode=1.QE8.LrPT.PwYrqRdBa5Vx&smid=url-share&ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Ligaya Mishan / The New York Times** South Korea has sought to protect and enshrine its national dishes — while also sharing its wonders with the world. [](https://www.foodandwine.com/good-guys-spritz-recipes-11724234?tag=travel&hid=b65c06b8bb54449e12b2324cde45cf069f804769&did=17544041-20250504&utm%5Fcampaign=faw-top10%5Fnewsletter&utm%5Fsource=faw&utm%5Fmedium=email&utm%5Fcontent=050425&lctg=b65c06b8bb54449e12b2324cde45cf069f804769&lr%5Finput=969bf86e4d337bb74ec41d7fc4fcb4cbce448adc9ea58fc46f58a8b14ca494da) --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/06/BlueElectric--1.png) Look mama, I live the dream, I have a K-pop band! (Typo included, bad AI) --- ### Kardashian's Pantry and Traveler's Cravings ✈️ URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/i-4giu/ Last updated: 2025-06-04T11:54:12.000Z ### Welcome to Secret Breakfast / The best place to start your day trading spontaneity for strategy, camping for resorts and oysters for snails Hi there! Yesterday, I couldn't resist this clickbait: [This Is the Secret Power Move Every Server Uses to Get Customers to Leave](https://www.foodandwine.com/server-shares-ultimate-power-move-at-restaurant-closing-time-11734880?ref=secretbreakfast.com). I spare you the click, the phrase is: *“Just so you know, we’re closing in 20 minutes”.* Why am I telling you that? Because I'm a selfish and scheming newsletter author. And because, *just so you know, Secret Breakfast will be resting next week.* We will be back on June 18th (or the day after) with new stories, hopefully from a distant and fascinating world. Enjoy this issue: traveling is the fil-rouge here, but I also overloaded the recipe offer with some quick fixes. I see you on the other side. *Piero* --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/quote-transparent-1-1.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/06/Sohn-Won-pyung-.png) ✹[Sohn Won-pyung](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sohn%5FWon-pyung?ref=secretbreakfast.com), *Almond*. It's the same with some recipes, isn't it? --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/book-transparent-1.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/06/capture-2025-06-03-alle-17.40.53.jpg) #### Freewheelin' Things I will never do: cycle across the United States. Things I will never find: the "real" American cuisine. Well, hopefully Felicity Cloake ticked both boxes and wrote an entertaining food memoir. During an election year, she enjoyed a "varied landscape of warm hospitality, local pride and unforgettable flavors — from crawfish stew to sauerkraut balls, Memphis barbecue to Mission burritos, Italian beef to Tex-Mex gyoza." One proof for you: this New England Clam Chowder (★[recipe](https://www.theguardian.com/food/2025/jun/01/how-to-make-clam-chowder-felicity-cloake-recipe?ref=secretbreakfast.com)). [Peach Street to Lobster Lane: Coast to Coast in Search of Real American Cuisine](https://harpercollins.co.uk/products/peach-street-to-lobster-lane-coast-to-coast-in-search-of-real-american-cuisine-felicity-cloake?variant=55063306469755&ref=secretbreakfast.com) by Felicity Cloake ****→ Shortplot:** 🚴🏻‍♀️ 🥧 🦞 🇺🇸 ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/White---22--1.png) ## Have We Learned to Eat the World? ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/06/lisheng-chang-m9BBVrPl87M-unsplash.jpg) Photo by [Lisheng Chang](https://unsplash.com/@changlisheng?utm%5Fcontent=creditCopyText&utm%5Fmedium=referral&utm%5Fsource=unsplash) on [Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/photos/person-wearing-asian-conical-hat-m9BBVrPl87M?utm%5Fcontent=creditCopyText&utm%5Fmedium=referral&utm%5Fsource=unsplash) A friend of mine used to tell me about her trips to Germany in the '80s. She'd sit at restaurant tables, squinting at menus like ancient scrolls, pointing randomly at words she couldn't pronounce. Half the time she'd end up with kidneys when she wanted chicken, or carrots when she was hoping for something safe (yes, she hated carrots, can you believe that?). **Back then, traveling 300 miles could feel like crossing into another universe.** You packed a pocket dictionary like armor. You rehearsed basic phrases. You worried about looking foolish, about accidentally ordering something offensive, about the waiter's judgment when you mispronounced *Wiener Schnitzel* (★[recipe](https://www.austria.info/en-gb/recipes/wiener-schnitzel/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) for the third time. *Food* was a minefield of social anxiety wrapped in foreign syllables. ✢ ✢ ✢ Now? We queue at 4:30 AM for omakase in Tokyo suburbs that Instagram discovered last Tuesday. We know the exact price of that moving octopus in Busan's fish market before we book our flights. We set alarms to snag the most photogenic table at Nordic bakeries located thousands of miles south of actual Scandinavia. **We've traded mystery for certainty, spontaneity for strategy.** ✢ ✢ ✢ The difference isn't just technology—though yes, Google Translate has liberated us from the tyranny of pointing and hoping. It's that we've flipped the entire emotional script. Where my friend felt embarrassed to ask, we feel embarrassed *not* to ask. Where she feared looking foolish, we fear looking boring. The unknown dish isn't a threat anymore. It's content. But something strange happened in this transformation. **We became braver about food and more predictable about choice.** We travel further than ever before, yet somehow we're all chasing the same twenty "authentic" experiences that 2 million people have already documented. ✢ ✢ ✢ My friend's Germany was genuinely foreign, genuinely surprising—even when the surprises were unpleasant. Our version of adventure is highly curated, algorithmically optimized, and socially verified. **Maybe the real question isn't whether we eat better when we travel now. It's whether we still know how to be truly surprised by what's on our plate.** Sometimes I wonder if my friend, fumbling with her dictionary and accidentally ordering tripe, was having a more authentic adventure than any of us queuing for that perfect ramen shot. --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/op-transparent-1.png) Juicy content from food creators [Arash Hashemi on Instagram: ”🥕VIRAL CARROT SALAD This one not only packs a ton of nutrients, but its such an easy and flavorful salad to make. You can eat it as is, or pair with chicken, shrimp, or your favorite kind of protein Here is how I made it: 1.We’ll start by thinly shaving 3-4 medium carrots. Its gotta be thinly shaved. 2.Add them to a jar or a bowl 3.Add a large handful of finely chopped fresh cilantro and 1 finely minced garlic clove 4.To make the dressing, mix together the juice of a lime, 2 tbsp rice vinegar, a splash of soy or tamari, 1 tsp sesame oil, and 1/2 to 1 tbsp powdered monkfruit sweetener or honey. Give it a good mix. 5.Pour the dressing over the carrots. Shake or toss really well, then top with toasted sesame seeds and crushed pisatachios for a crunch! If you make it, be sure to let me know on SHREDHAPPENS. You can also comment “SHREDHAPPENS” below and I’ll message you how to get my cookbook with 100+ lowcarb high protein mediterranean-inspired recipes ENJOY! . . . . #lowcarb #lowcarbrecipes #healthyrecipes #salads #saladrecipes #goodmoodfood #healthyfoodshare #whatsonmyplate”13K likes, 155 comments - shredhappens on May 29, 2025: ”🥕VIRAL CARROT SALAD This one not only packs a ton of nutrients, but its such an easy and flavorful salad to make. You can eat it as is, or pair with chicken, shrimp, or your favorite kind of protein Here is how I made it: 1.We’ll start by thinly shaving 3-4 medium carrots. Its gotta be thinly shaved. 2.Add them to a jar or a bowl 3.Add a large handful of finely chopped fresh cilantro and 1 finely minced garlic clove 4.To make the dressing, mix together the juice of a lime, 2 tbsp rice vinegar, a splash of soy or tamari, 1 tsp sesame oil, and 1/2 to 1 tbsp powdered monkfruit sweetener or honey. Give it a good mix. 5.Pour the dressing over the carrots. Shake or toss really well, then top with toasted sesame seeds and crushed pisatachios for a crunch! If you make it, be sure to let me know on SHREDHAPPENS. You can also comment “SHREDHAPPENS” below and I’ll message you how to get my cookbook with 100+ lowcarb high protein mediterranean-inspired recipes ENJOY! . . . . #lowcarb #lowcarbrecipes #healthyrecipes #salads #saladrecipes #goodmoodfood #healthyfoodshare #whatsonmyplate”.![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/icon/De-Dwpd5CHc-16.png)Instagram![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/thumbnail/501111583_18373091884192504_6596404709896657695_n.jpg)](https://www.instagram.com/p/DKP3YWPO8UO/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/Hunger-1.png) 👑[Khloé Kardashian](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adjVJk5Wy1Y&ref=secretbreakfast.com)'s Pantry Is Worth a Tour [](https://www.theguardian.com/food/2025/may/28/turn-aquafaba-into-delectable-vegan-chocolate-mousse-recipe-zero-waste-cooking?ref=secretbreakfast.com)🥚[Egg Flight Is the New Snack Trend](https://www.foodandwine.com/egg-flight-trend-11742582?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🤳🏻[Would You Fly Around the World for Your Favorite Food Creator?](https://www.eater.com/24433836/food-creator-influencer-travel-tour?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🪷Damn, This White Lotus Effect Made the [Millennials Go All-In on All-Inclusive Resorts](https://www.gq.com/story/all-inclusive-resorts-club-med-parents?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🥣[How Millennials - *it's always them* \- Learned to Sit at Their Desks and Love the Bowl](https://theringer.com/2025/05/06/food/bowl-food-millennial-trend-explained-chipotle-sweetgreen-cava?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🍹[14 Game Changers Who Are Shaping the Future of Food and Drink](https://www.foodandwine.com/game-changers-2025-11735008?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🍚Summer Is [Jollof Rice](https://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/island-jollof-rice?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🍫Acquafaba - chickpea water - Chocolate Mousse (★[recipe](https://www.theguardian.com/food/2025/may/28/turn-aquafaba-into-delectable-vegan-chocolate-mousse-recipe-zero-waste-cooking?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🇸🇪[15 Essential Swedish Recipes for Midsummer](https://www.foodandwine.com/swedish-recipes-11721262?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🧊[Paris’ Most Exciting New Bar Runs Entirely Without Ice](https://punchdrink.com/articles/de-vie-paris-new-cocktail-bar-ice/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🍆Spiced aubergines and chicken lettuce cups (★[recipe](https://www.theguardian.com/food/2025/jun/02/spiced-aubergines-and-chicken-lettuce-cups-millie-tsukagoshi-lagares-recipes-for-japanese-style-midweek-meals?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🫙St. John House Dressing (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/p/DKXhNvpotA9/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🫐Blueberry Crumb Cake Recipe (★[recipe](https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1015511-blueberry-crumb-cake?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) [](https://www.foodandwine.com/egg-flight-trend-11742582?hid=b65c06b8bb54449e12b2324cde45cf069f804769&did=17873940-20250530&utm%5Fcampaign=faw-top10%5Fnewsletter&utm%5Fsource=faw&utm%5Fmedium=email&utm%5Fcontent=053025&lctg=b65c06b8bb54449e12b2324cde45cf069f804769&lr%5Finput=969bf86e4d337bb74ec41d7fc4fcb4cbce448adc9ea58fc46f58a8b14ca494da)🌍[Where to Eat: The Best Summer Escapes 2025](https://www.eater.com/24431819/summer-travel-ideas-2025-best-food-destinations?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🔫[13 Must-Visit Destinations for James Bond Fans](https://www.atlasobscura.com/lists/james-bond-locations?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 💿[The Top 10 Worst Beatles Songs](https://blakebutler.substack.com/p/the-top-10-worst-beatles-songs?ref=secretbreakfast.com) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/White---19-.png) ### [From peasant fodder to posh fare: how snails and oysters became luxury foods](https://theconversation.com/from-peasant-fodder-to-posh-fare-how-snails-and-oysters-became-luxury-foods-254299?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Laura Hood / The Conversation** Oysters and escargot are recognised as luxury foods around the world – but they were once valued by the lower classes as cheap sources of protein. --- ### [This Year’s Hot New Tool for Chefs? ChatGPT](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/02/dining/ai-chefs-restaurants.html?unlocked%5Farticle%5Fcode=1.ME8.aTkz.IVwJfVD7UstU&smid=url-share&ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Pete Wells / The New York Times** Some restaurateurs are starting to explore ways A.I. can help them create recipes, menus and dining experiences. Honestly, you find this article here just because Mr. Wells wrote that. [](https://theringer.com/2025/05/06/food/bowl-food-millennial-trend-explained-chipotle-sweetgreen-cava?utm%5Fsource=join1440&utm%5Fmedium=email&utm%5Fplacement=newsletter&user%5Fid=66c4c385600ae1507593f25c) [](https://www.gq.com/story/all-inclusive-resorts-club-med-parents?ueid=e28c375eb8adc4ff1210f142451302c6&utm%5Fsource=Sailthru&utm%5Fmedium=email&utm%5Fcampaign=From%20the%20Editor%20-%2005/31/2025&utm%5Fterm=From%20the%20Editor) --- 🔥 Last week's most clicked link was [The 20$/20 Minutes Just-in-Case Rule](https://thefocuscourse.com/20-and-20-minutes/?ref=secretbreakfast.com). And that's all for today. ***See you in two weeks!** --- ### Decluttering Tricks and Heavenly Carrots 🥕 URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/decluttering-tricks-and-heavenly-carrots/ Last updated: 2025-05-28T11:18:26.000Z ### Welcome to Secret Breakfast / The best place to start cooking familiar things through unfamiliar eyes, following the 20min-20$ rule, and celebrating any root's desire to go to Heaven Hi there! They say that pressure makes diamonds, but the metaphor works better than the science. For those shiny gems, you need **the right combination** of pressure, temperature, and carbon source. Sometimes, pressure is just pressure. It can cook rice quickly or break you. June is coming, I bet you need some decompression. I certainly do. *Piero* --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/quote-transparent-1-1.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/05/Ocean-Vuong.png) ✹Ocean Vuong, [The Emperor of Gladness](https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/467735/the-emperor-of-gladness-by-vuong-ocean/9781787335400?ref=secretbreakfast.com). The novel draws upon Vuong's real-life experiences in the service industry, as well as elder care. --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/book-transparent-1.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/05/jill-1.jpg) #### Make It Dirty British Filipino filmmaker Jill Damatac chronicles her family's 22-year existence as undocumented immigrants in America, weaving together brutal personal history with Filipino recipes that serve as both cultural anchor and survival tool. Unlike nostalgic food memoirs, Damatac's kitchen becomes a space of reckoning—where dishes like sisig aren't cozy inheritance but reminders of colonial exploitation, where SpaghettiOs represent the diet of American poverty, and where learning to cook her birth country's food becomes an act of documenting herself into existence. [****Dirty Kitchen. A Memoir of Food and Family**](https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Dirty-Kitchen/Jill-Damatac/9781668084632?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **by Jill Damatac** ****→ Shortplot: 🇵🇭** 🪪 🍝 🍚 ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/White---22--1.png) ## Do not cook new things, cook things new ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/05/color-usa-61.jpg) [Ernst Haas](https://www.ernst-haas.com/site/america-4.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com), Maine 1979 Last week, I was watching a [YouTube video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tMWu7gDZUps&ref=secretbreakfast.com) about Ernst Haas. He was an Austrian photographer who revolutionized color photography in the 1950s and never sought spectacular subjects. Instead, he transformed the mundane into poetry through motion blur, selective focus, and imperfect cuts that conveyed feeling over literal documentation. Haas understood, somehow, that **innovation doesn't require exotic ingredients.** **It requires seeing familiar things through unfamiliar eyes.** This philosophy echoes in the kitchens of chefs. I'll go with two Netflix *Chef's Table* examples. René Redzepi, who turned Nordic foraging into haute cuisine at Noma, earning four "World's Best Restaurant" titles in the 2010s. Or Grant Achatz at Alinea reimagined American comfort food through molecular gastronomy, serving memories rather than meals. Both chefs took carrots, potatoes, and herbs—ingredients any grandmother would recognize—and presented them as edible stories. The magic wasn't in discovering new flavors. It was in discovering new ways to make the familiar feel extraordinary. Sometimes the most profound innovations come not from adding complexity, but from stripping away assumptions about how things should be done. It can be a good exercise for us all. --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/op-transparent-1.png) Juicy content from food creators [Jenna Barnard on Instagram: “Lemon poppy seed CAKE has all the delicious flavors of a muffin, but in a sweeter cake form. Not to mention the lemon curd cream cheese frosting 😮‍💨 so easy and so perfect for spring!”124K likes, 635 comments - butternutbakery on May 7, 2025: “Lemon poppy seed CAKE has all the delicious flavors of a muffin, but in a sweeter cake form. Not to mention the lemon curd cream cheese frosting 😮‍💨 so easy and so perfect for spring!”.![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/icon/De-Dwpd5CHc-15.png)Instagram![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/thumbnail/496011500_18383279053191558_2017909489343141763_n.jpg)](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DJW0JO8R4SW/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/Hunger-1.png) 🧈Let's Steal This Butter Cookie (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DIRCbq5S97L/?ref=secretbreakfast.com))🫙The NYTimes [Visual Guide for Storing Condiments](https://www.instagram.com/p/DKLSiBjxCpx/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🍫Raspberry Brownies (★[recipe](https://www.bengingi.com/recipes/raspberry-brownies?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🧘‍♀️I Love This Decluttering Hack: [If You Can Replace It in 20 Minutes With 20$](https://thefocuscourse.com/20-and-20-minutes/?ref=secretbreakfast.com), Trash It 🌮Selena Gomez's Cheesy Chicken Tortillla Casserole (★[recipe](https://www.foodandwine.com/selena-gomez-cheesy-chicken-tortilla-chip-casserole-11737455?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🔥BBQ's Sides (★[recipe](https://www.foodandwine.com/texas-barbecue-side-dishes-11737501?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🥭Fancy a Tropical Ganache? (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DHi2AyORD2W/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🥔This Might Be Fun: Potato Foam (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DKC8Ze3oIJf/?utm%5Fsource=ig%5Fweb%5Fcopy%5Flink)) 🔘This [Dotted Bread Cooked in Hot Pebbles](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DIW58Ytzd%5Fu/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) is something, it Reminds the Iranian Sangak (★[recipe](https://lovecakebake.com/sangak-bread/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/White---19-.png) ### [How America Became Meat Stick Nation](https://sherwood.news/culture/how-america-became-meat-stick-nation?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Adam Chandler/ Sherwood** The US meat stick market has exploded to $3 billion annually, driven by "better-for-you" brands like Chomps and Righteous Felons that emphasize clean ingredients and attractive packaging. These premium products have moved from gas station impulse buys to planned grocery purchases, with Americans now buying multipacks for daily snacking. --- ### [Supply Chains Are Us](https://thereader.mitpress.mit.edu/supply-chains-are-us?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **David A. Mindell / The MIT Press Reader** Supply chains are vast networks connecting farms to your kitchen, with each ingredient traveling through multiple tiers of suppliers before reaching your plate. When you buy food online or throw out a moldy strawberry, you're participating in a global system that embodies ethical choices about farming conditions, environmental impact, and food waste. Unlike tech's "disruption" ethos, food supply chains prioritize reliability—keeping fresh ingredients flowing smoothly from farm to table. [](https://www.foodandwine.com/selena-gomez-cheesy-chicken-tortilla-chip-casserole-11737455?hid=b65c06b8bb54449e12b2324cde45cf069f804769&did=17762841-20250525&utm%5Fcampaign=faw-top10%5Fnewsletter&utm%5Fsource=faw&utm%5Fmedium=email&utm%5Fcontent=052525&lctg=b65c06b8bb54449e12b2324cde45cf069f804769&lr%5Finput=969bf86e4d337bb74ec41d7fc4fcb4cbce448adc9ea58fc46f58a8b14ca494da) [](https://thereader.mitpress.mit.edu/supply-chains-are-us/?ref=DenseDiscovery-340) --- 🔥 Last week's most clicked link was the [Blue Iron Baking Pan](https://pizzamuseum.com/en/product/blue-iron-baking-pan-measuring-60x20x3cm-flared-edges-with-diagonal/?ref=secretbreakfast.com), perfect for pizza Roman style. And that's all for today. --- ### Try This Culinary Puzzle (or the Roman Pizza) 🧩 URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/try-this-culinary-puzzle-or-the-roman-pizza/ Last updated: 2025-05-21T11:54:34.000Z ### Welcome to Secret Breakfast / The best place to start playing word quizzes, baking with blue-iron trays, and living the slop life Hi there! Sometimes (my) life gets complicated. Time can seem abundant until suddenly it's not, which is why this is the shortest Secret Breakfast issue ever. That's not entirely bad—it just means more time for you. Have a great week! *Piero* --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/quote-transparent-1-1.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/05/Shelby-Van-Pelt.png) ✹**Shelby Van Pelt**, [*Remarkably Bright Creatures*](https://www.harpercollins.com/products/remarkably-bright-creatures-shelby-van-pelt?variant=43021750108194&ref=secretbreakfast.com). This novel, how could I forget about that? "Tova, a widow working the night shift at the Sowell Bay Aquarium, is aided in solving a mystery by Marcellus, a giant Pacific octopus living there". I had octopus for dinner yesterday, by the way (★[recipe](https://www.livingalifeincolour.com/recipes/polpo-e-patate-octopus-and-potato-salad-liguria/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/White---22--1.png) ## A Culinary Trends Word Game for You *You know what? Find the 15 culinary terms hidden in the grid. Words can appear horizontally, vertically, or diagonally.* *Try this: the first three you see will be your next cooking experiment.* ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/05/quiz--2-.png) PS: The first I saw was FAT, which wasn't even on the list. --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/Hunger-1.png) 🇮🇳The Most Popular Sandwich in Mumbai: the spiced potatoes Vada Pav (★[recipe](https://www.indianhealthyrecipes.com/vada-pav-recipe/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) and [video](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DJpD7w2NUs7?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🧁Why You Should [Cream Butter and Sugar](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DJaDqYEBzYj?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🥮5 Textures for Basque Cheesecake, Find Yours (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DHgh9TdN6fo/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🌼Pineapple Flowers Trick (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DG60upQRScS?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🫕[Le Creuset vs. Staub vs. Lodge: Which Dutch Oven Should You Get?](https://www.eater.com/24430346/le-creuset-vs-lodge-vs-staub-dutch-oven-pros-cons?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🍕I Tried Roman Pizza Rossa at Home (★[recipe](https://www.theguardian.com/food/2021/apr/26/rachel-roddy-recipe-roman-style-pizza-rossa?ref=secretbreakfast.com), or [alternative](https://www.inromecooking.com/blog/recipes/roman-style-pizza-a-complete-guide-with-recipe-and-ingredients/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) and the Absolute Game-Changer Was the Blue-Iron Baking Tray ([like this one](https://pizzamuseum.com/en/product/blue-iron-baking-pan-measuring-60x20x3cm-flared-edges-with-diagonal/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/White---19-.png) ### [Living the Slop Life](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/19/style/ai-slop-slop-bowls-shein-slop-hauls.html?unlocked%5Farticle%5Fcode=1.I08.elOc.ysgotZsFPVkj&smid=url-share&ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Emma Goldberg / The New York Times** "Slop" refers to the overwhelming, often low-quality, and unsettlingly non-human stream of content, products, and experiences generated by artificial intelligence and mass production that inundate our daily lives. This "slop" manifests as AI-generated images and text, fast-casual "bowls" that prioritize efficiency over craft, and endlessly replenishing fast fashion items, all sharing a consistent quality of being somewhat "off," limitless, and eerily homogeneous, leading to a sense of mental fatigue and a scattering of thoughts. Can you relate? --- 🔥 Last week's most clicked link was [Creamy Cucumber Avocado Broccoli Salad](https://www.instagram.com/p/DJkFLigO5ZJ/?ref=secretbreakfast.com). Easy and fresh. And that's all for today. --- ### The Right Recipes for Breaking the Rules 🧨 URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/the-right-recipes-for-breaking-the-rules/ Last updated: 2025-05-14T12:00:12.000Z ### Welcome to Secret Breakfast / The best place to start bending spoons, freezing jams, having breakfast-for-dinner, and dessert-for-starter *Hi there! Today, I have a - FICTIONAL - story for you.* I was sitting at my usual table in the trattoria when a lawyer in a designer suit materialized before me. «I represent Jimmy Donaldson», he whispered, glancing around like we were in some spy thriller. The name rang a bell. «[MrBeast](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MrBeast?ref=secretbreakfast.com) wants to expand his empire into food publishing and needs someone to teach him the art of culinary newsletters». He told me how YouTube's king, with his 390 million followers, after selling everything from burgers to $65 chocolate bars, was now seeking new territories to conquer. The negotiation fizzled when I revealed my business model: writing purely for reader satisfaction. The lawyer nearly choked on his Cynar Negroni (★[recipe](https://www.acouplecooks.com/cynar-negroni/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)). «No profit margins?». Two weeks later, I discovered from the news that [MrBeast had signed an eight-figure deal with HarperCollins for a thriller with James Patterson](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lifestyle/arts/mrbeast-james-patterson-thriller-book-1236207215/?ref=secretbreakfast.com). Meanwhile, I'm still here crafting newsletters about the perfect carbonara technique while he's creating fictional billion-dollar death competitions. Different paths, I suppose. *Piero* --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/quote-transparent-1-1.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/05/matrix.png) ✹[The Matrix](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The%5FMatrix?ref=secretbreakfast.com), 1999\. The 3:00 clip is [here](https://yewtu.be/watch?v=Ph02o6K2aoo&ref=secretbreakfast.com). --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/book-transparent-1.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/05/johncarey-1.jpg) #### Closed for Pandemic If you're an OLD Secret Breakfast reader, you know this story. Photographer [John Carey](https://www.instagram.com/johncareyphoto/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) captured over 180 chefs in a striking black-and-white series showing the impact of the national lockdown on the UK’s restaurant industry. Released on March 20th—five years after the pandemic closures—the book features chefs from rising talents to legends like Angela Hartnett and Raymond Blanc, photographed in their shuttered spaces as Carey found them. With reflections from icons like Jamie Oliver and Gordon Ramsay, the project is a powerful tribute to a moment that paused an entire industry. Unfortunately is UK delivery only. [****Chefs in Lockdown: A Photographic Portrait Series**](https://www.theburntchefproject.com/product-page/chefs-in-lockdown-a-photographic-portrait-series-by-john-carey?lang=pt&srsltid=AfmBOooGGA3F28jAQV1tw9wk8XKuMubBiNpSw7vYBJ3t6u66EfhJd6ad&ref=secretbreakfast.com) **by John Carey** ****→ Shortplot:** 🔪 🧑🏻‍🍳 🎞️ 😷 ⭕️John Carey is one of the 23 food personalities I interviewed for the first Secret Breakfast book in 2023\. You can always grab a digital copy, it's free, it's [here](https://secretbreakfast.gumroad.com/l/2023-book?ref=secretbreakfast.com). ⭕️ ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/White---22--1.png) ## Use your illusion ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/05/GqfdJJiWMAAMqc9.jpeg) Some recipes don’t just surprise you—they **break the rules of the kitchen**. They challenge everything you think you know about cooking. Sugar that isn’t sweet the way you expect. Jam that never sees heat. Desserts that start the meal, or mains that come out of the freezer. These are the culinary equivalents of bending the spoon (🕶️)—dishes that remind us that the limits we think are there often... aren’t. That the line between savory and sweet, cooked and raw, starter and dessert, is far blurrier than it seems. How many recipes do you know that feel like plot twists? They're familiar in flavor, but strange in logic—upside-down, inside-out, sometimes even backwards. Here's a taste. 🍬**Invert Sugar** (★[recipe](https://www.hanielas.com/invert-sugar-syrup/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) Dive into the chemistry angle: this isn’t metaphorical but literal inversion. Use it in a recipe like a sorbet, or [cookies](https://www.tastingtable.com/972047/the-ingredient-swap-you-need-to-try-for-ultra-chewy-cookies/?ref=secretbreakfast.com), or chewy caramel to show how science flips expectations—smoother texture, longer shelf life. ❄️**Freezer Jam** (★[recipe](https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/ice%5Fkitchen%5Fjam%5F16357?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) Jam that’s not cooked. Spotlight it as a summer recipe that tastes fresher, uses less sugar, and defies the whole idea of jam as a shelf-stable pantry item. 🫑**Inside-out Stuffed Peppers** (★[recipe](https://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/inside-out-stuffed-peppers/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) Take all the ingredients of a stuffed pepper—ground meat, rice, tomato—but blend them into a filling and use roasted pepper strips as a garnish or a puree underneath. The pepper’s not the vessel anymore—it's the condiment. 🥫**Cold Soup, Hot Salad** We expect soup to comfort us warm, and salad to cool us down. Flip it. Gazpacho or cold cantaloupe soup (★[recipe](https://www.fromachefskitchen.com/chilled-cantaloupe-soup/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) can startle with their chill. Meanwhile, try a wilted greens salad with warm vinaigrette and bacon fat (★[recipe](https://www.pbsnc.org/blogs/lifestyle/wilted-collard-salad-with-hot-bacon-dressing/?ref=secretbreakfast.com))—it eats like a main course *(or don't, if your bloodwork is like mine!).* ⤵️**Upside-Down Cake… Savory Edition** Borrow the concept from pineapple upside-down cake (★[recipe](https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/255251/grandmas-pineapple-upside-down-cake/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)), but make it with caramelized onions, roasted tomatoes, and polenta batter. Serve with crème fraîche or goat cheese. A side dish that thinks it’s dessert. 🌓**Breakfast-for-Dinner / Dessert-for-Starter** Savory granola with yogurt and pickled veg (★[recipe](https://culturecheesemag.com/recipes/savory-granola-with-yogurt-and-spring-vegetables/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)). Chocolate mousse with chili and herbs as amuse-bouche (★[recipe](https://www.greatbritishchefs.com/recipes/mexican-chocolate-mousse-recipe?ref=secretbreakfast.com)). Play with temporal inversion—serving foods "out of order" in the meal timeline. --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/op-transparent-1.png) Juicy content from food creators [Alessandra Brontsema on Instagram: “It’s officially spring so it’s lemon season in my book! 🍋 these Lemon Possets are so yummy and so easy to make. You can make them with or without a brûlée top! Recipe inspired by @acozykitchen + @a.goodtable INGREDIENTS: - 8 lemons, halved long ways with pulp scooped out - 16 ounces heavy cream (2 cups) - 2/3 - 3/4 cup granulated sugar (depending on how sweet you want it) - Zest from 1 lemon - 8 tablespoons lemon juice DIRECTIONS: 1\. In a small saucepan, bring cream and sugar to boil over a medium-high heat, stirring until sugar dissolves. Reduce heat to medium, and boil 3 minutes, stirring constantly, adjusting heat as needed to prevent mixture from boiling over. Remove from heat. 2\. Stir in lemon juice and zest and let sit for 5 minutes to cool. 3\. Pour the mixture into the halved lemons. Place them on a cutting board or a cupcake pan and place them in the fridge to chill, at least 3 hours. 4\. To brülée them, add a teaspoon of sugar to the top in an even layer. With a kitchen blow torch, caramelize the top. Serve immediately. #lemon #lemondessert #easydessert #fruit #italian #lemons #fyp #lemonposset #lemonrecipe #meyerlemon”1M likes, 2,197 comments - alessandrabrontsema on March 20, 2025: “It’s officially spring so it’s lemon season in my book! 🍋 these Lemon Possets are so yummy and so easy to make. You can make them with or without a brûlée top! Recipe inspired by @acozykitchen + @a.goodtable INGREDIENTS: - 8 lemons, halved long ways with pulp scooped out - 16 ounces heavy cream (2 cups) - 2/3 - 3/4 cup granulated sugar (depending on how sweet you want it) - Zest from 1 lemon - 8 tablespoons lemon juice DIRECTIONS: 1\. In a small saucepan, bring cream and sugar to boil over a medium-high heat, stirring until sugar dissolves. Reduce heat to medium, and boil 3 minutes, stirring constantly, adjusting heat as needed to prevent mixture from boiling over. Remove from heat. 2\. Stir in lemon juice and zest and let sit for 5 minutes to cool. 3\. Pour the mixture into the halved lemons. Place them on a cutting board or a cupcake pan and place them in the fridge to chill, at least 3 hours. 4\. To brülée them, add a teaspoon of sugar to the top in an even layer. With a kitchen blow torch, caramelize the top. Serve immediately. #lemon #lemondessert #easydessert #fruit #italian #lemons #fyp #lemonposset #lemonrecipe #meyerlemon”.![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/icon/De-Dwpd5CHc-14.png)Instagram![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/thumbnail/485586086_18498030559039362_9176154040243021540_n-1.jpg)](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DHbc2%5FOvoop?ref=secretbreakfast.com) --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/Hunger-1.png) *Basically an Instagram dump today* 🍩[Krispy Kreme](https://www.krispykreme.com/promos/pac-man?ref=secretbreakfast.com) is joining forces with Pac-Man 🐂But I'm More an Oxtail Donuts Regular Guy (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DJY6PA%5Ftscq?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🍏Must Read: [25 Years of N.Y.C. Dining](https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/05/06/dining/25-years-nyc-restaurants.html?unlocked%5Farticle%5Fcode=1.G08.RyO6.OMBPTnYxz9jA&smid=url-share&ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🍋 In the “A Song of Ice and Fire” book series George R.R Martin devotes a lot of ink to lemon cakes, a favorite of the Lady of Winterfell Sansa Stark (★[recipe](https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1022593-lemon-cakes?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🍓Pavlova Muffins (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/p/DI9T%5FIwpHFP/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🥒This One is Super: Creamy Cucumber Avocado Broccoli Salad (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/p/DJkFLigO5ZJ/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🥔Parmesan-Infused Mashed Potatoes with Crispy Parmesan Crust (★[recipe](https://foodforsoul.it/recipe/parmesan-infused-mashed-potatoes-with-crispy-parmesan-crust?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🐟A Fancy Fishcake (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/p/DI1PvJoonxO/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) ☕️Yes, [Coffee Shops Are Tired of Remote Workers](https://www.axios.com/2025/05/09/coffee-shops-no-wifi-laptops-remote-work?utm%5Fsource=newsletter&utm%5Fmedium=email&utm%5Fcampaign=newsletter%5Faxiospm&stream=top) (plus, you're not cool anymore if you work from the bar) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/White---19-.png) ### [The Paradox of the Restaurant Cookbook](https://www.vittlesmagazine.com/p/the-paradox-of-the-restaurant-cookbook?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Siobhan Phillips / Vittles** Restaurant cookbooks promise home cooks access to professional magic, yet often offer recipes too complex or impractical for domestic kitchens. Siobhan Phillips unpacks this contradiction, revealing how these books are as much about aspiration and branding as actual cooking. [](https://www.foodandwine.com/good-guys-spritz-recipes-11724234?tag=travel&hid=b65c06b8bb54449e12b2324cde45cf069f804769&did=17544041-20250504&utm%5Fcampaign=faw-top10%5Fnewsletter&utm%5Fsource=faw&utm%5Fmedium=email&utm%5Fcontent=050425&lctg=b65c06b8bb54449e12b2324cde45cf069f804769&lr%5Finput=969bf86e4d337bb74ec41d7fc4fcb4cbce448adc9ea58fc46f58a8b14ca494da) --- ### [The Airplane ‘Barf Bag’ Is A Genius Invention Most People Never Think About, And Using One Blew My Mind](https://www.theautopian.com/the-airplane-barf-bag-is-a-genius-invention-most-people-never-think-about-and-using-one-blew-my-mind?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Mercedes Streeter / The Autopian** The humble air sickness bag—rarely noticed, hilariously awkward in use—became an unlikely hero when the author experienced sudden nausea mid-flight. What follows is a mix of personal embarrassment, unexpected gratitude, and a deep dive into the surprisingly clever design and quirky history of one of aviation’s most overlooked innovations. --- 🔥 Last week's most clicked link was unexpected: [Alison Roman's Cumin-Roasted Cauliflower and Dates with Tahini and Pine Nuts recipe](https://www.instagram.com/wholeabundance/p/CdmfBmyuHpm/?ref=secretbreakfast.com). And that's all for today. --- ### The Lost Art of Pictureless Cooking 🤳🏻 URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/the-lost-art-of-pictureless-cooking/ Last updated: 2025-05-07T16:14:08.000Z ### Welcome to Secret Breakfast / The best place for unseen recipes, hungry hearts, Lambrusco spritz, foodie priests and food guilts Hi there! How're you doing? Alison Roman shines when writing about the mundane. Take, for instance, [her delightful description of breakfast bean tacos—leftovers](https://anewsletter.alisoneroman.com/p/a-great-breakfast-youll-never-see?ref=secretbreakfast.com) she cobbled together but found too unsightly to photograph for her readers. > Sometimes because it’s genuinely hideous (see: ugly burrito), or sometimes a stunning plate of perfect spring pasta goes “unlensed” because it’s too dark in my dining room or I forget or I’m too hungry or I just am tired of taking photos of everything I cook or eat. Then she addresses a universal guilt we likely all share: **readers rarely attempt recipes from her cookbook, if they lack accompanying photographs.** One of those was *Cumin-Roasted Cauliflower and Dates with Tahini and Pine Nuts* (hey, now it has its [picture](https://www.instagram.com/wholeabundance/p/CdmfBmyuHpm/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)!). I began cooking when cookbooks were about 85% text and 15% images. Now, pictures alone don't suffice. We demand 10-second, well-lit TikToks teasing dishes and 5-minute YouTube tutorials before we even consider grocery shopping for something. And you - forget the basics - have you felt the desire to cook something unphotographed recently? I'll certainly do that. Happy week! --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/quote-transparent-1-1.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/05/Coco-Mellors.png) ✹Coco Mellors, [*Cleopatra and Frankenstein*](https://www.bloomsbury.com/us/cleopatra-and-frankenstein-9781639730704/?ref=secretbreakfast.com). Whatever the reason you're eating, try to eat well. --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/book-transparent-1.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/05/casey.jpg) #### Reclaim your relationship with food Weight lifter Casey Johnston was once trapped in the never-ending cycle of chronic dieting, endless cardio, and food guilt. Her relationship with her body was defined by restriction, cravings, and the false promise that suffering equals results. Then she discovered that the "no pain, no gain" mentality is sabotaging aour bodies; running marathons while eating less can leave you weaker; your hunger cues aren't the enemy—they're valuable signals your body needs fuel. This isn't a diet book—it's liberation from diet culture disguised as a strength training guide. [****A Physical Education: How I Escaped Diet Culture and Gained the Power of Lifting**](https://www.caseyjohnston.website/my-work/a-physical-education?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **by Casey Johnston** ****→ Shortplot:** 🏋🏻‍♀️ 🥩 ⚖️ 🤛🏼 ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/White---22--1.png) ## What do would-be popes eat (and we won't see) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/05/capture-2025-05-07-alle-17.34.24.jpg) I'm writing this as the Cardinals are entering the Sistine Chapel for the Conclave. I must write quickly, because I wanna hit "send" before we have the new Pope. *Wait, you already know who he is? Well, you're a late newsletter reader, then!* Anyway, **during papal conclaves, numerous food restrictions were historically enforced to prevent secret communications**: whole chickens, closed pies, opaque drinking vessels, and unexamined cloth napkins were all forbidden, with guards meticulously inspecting meals passed through a wall-mounted turntable called the "ruota". To understand this, we need to go back to 1274 when Pope Gregory X imposed various food restrictions on the cardinal electors. It took them three years to reach a decision, making it the longest conclave in history (1268-1271). As a result, Gregory decided to change the rules, making the event less gastronomically enjoyable. In fact, the cardinal electors could only eat one dish per meal if they didn't "hurry up" and agree on the verdict within 3 days. If the choice wasn't made within that time frame, they were even restricted to just wine and water. **Today's cardinals, who begin their conclave today,** [**will consume simple regional cuisine from Lazio and Abruzzo**](https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20250430-the-secrets-of-feeding-the-papal-conclave?ref=secretbreakfast.com)prepared by nuns at the Domus Sanctae Marthae — dishes like minestrone, simple pasta, and boiled vegetables — reflecting Pope Francis's emphasis on humility, while the Vatican's primary security concern has shifted from food-concealed messages to electronic surveillance. Also, every time we have a Conclave we talk about "pasta del conclave", a simple dish of pasta with butter and Parmesan cheese. According to historical accounts, it's not really a recipe but rather a dish that reflects the sobriety and simplicity of the Conclave. A sober meeting... under Michelangelo's masterpiece, sure. --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/op-transparent-1.png) Juicy content from food creators [Arushi Hasija | Mills & Buns on Instagram: “Fudgy brownie meets decadent chocolate basque cheesecake to create the most delicious dessert ever made 😍😍 Here’s my brownie basque cheesecake and if you’re telling me you don’t want a bite of this gooey deliciousness, stop with the lies!!! For the brownie layer- 66g caster sugar 33g brown sugar 1 egg 38g butter 66g chocolate 20g flour 8g cocoa powder For the basque cheesecake layer- 300g cream cheese 150g heavy cream 65g caster sugar 2 eggs 120g dark chocolate 6g flour 4g cocoa powder Procedure- 1\. Whisk together the caster sugar, brown sugar and egg until light and pale. 2\. Melt together the dark chocolate and butter, and pour it into the egg and sugar mixture. 3\. Fold in the flour and cocoa powder to bring the batter together, and transfer it into the base of an 8X4 inch loaf pan lined with parchment paper. 4\. To make the cheesecake layer, whisk all the ingredients together in a bowl, until everything is smooth and well combined. 5\. Pour the batter over the brownie batter and bake at 200C for 20 minutes or until the cheesecake is dark brown from the top and jiggly in the middle. Basque cheesecake, burnt basque cheesecake, brownie basque cheesecake, brownie recipe, chocolate cake, cheesecake, cheesecake recipes, baking, baking recipes, recipe, cheesecakes #brownie #basquecheesecake #cheesecake #burntcheesecake #burntbasquecheesecake #cheesecakelovers #recipe #baking”69K likes, 201 comments - millsandbuns on February 20, 2025: “Fudgy brownie meets decadent chocolate basque cheesecake to create the most delicious dessert ever made 😍😍 Here’s my brownie basque cheesecake and if you’re telling me you don’t want a bite of this gooey deliciousness, stop with the lies!!! For the brownie layer- 66g caster sugar 33g brown sugar 1 egg 38g butter 66g chocolate 20g flour 8g cocoa powder For the basque cheesecake layer- 300g cream cheese 150g heavy cream 65g caster sugar 2 eggs 120g dark chocolate 6g flour 4g cocoa powder Procedure- 1\. Whisk together the caster sugar, brown sugar and egg until light and pale. 2\. Melt together the dark chocolate and butter, and pour it into the egg and sugar mixture. 3\. Fold in the flour and cocoa powder to bring the batter together, and transfer it into the base of an 8X4 inch loaf pan lined with parchment paper. 4\. To make the cheesecake layer, whisk all the ingredients together in a bowl, until everything is smooth and well combined. 5\. Pour the batter over the brownie batter and bake at 200C for 20 minutes or until the cheesecake is dark brown from the top and jiggly in the middle. Basque cheesecake, burnt basque cheesecake, brownie basque cheesecake, brownie recipe, chocolate cake, cheesecake, cheesecake recipes, baking, baking recipes, recipe, cheesecakes #brownie #basquecheesecake #cheesecake #burntcheesecake #burntbasquecheesecake #cheesecakelovers #recipe #baking”.![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/icon/De-Dwpd5CHc-12.png)Instagram![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/thumbnail/481195619_18078294691713975_7935256463538580335_n.jpg)](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DGS3dVWS1Hf/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/Hunger-1.png) 🥞"Rosco Style", Heirloom Masa, or Sicilian Flapjacks: Meet [NYC's Newest Pancakes](https://www.grubstreet.com/article/best-new-pancakes-brunch-nyc.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🍞How to Dry Your Sourdough To Keep It Alive While Traveling ([video](https://www.instagram.com/p/DJUI9y0IZRd/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🐮Move over, oat milk: [Lactose-free dairy is having a moment](https://www.axios.com/2025/05/06/lactose-free-fairlife-milk-popular?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🍹3 Effortless Spritz Recipes From NYC’s Coolest New Cocktail Spot, including Pineapple-Lambrusco Spritz and Espresso Spritz (★[recipe](https://www.foodandwine.com/good-guys-spritz-recipes-11724234?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🐍That's a way to develop a recipe: [he let snakes bite him some 200 times to create a better antivenom](https://www.npr.org/sections/goats-and-soda/2025/05/02/nx-s1-5381017/snake-bite-venom-antivenom-tim-friede-universal?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🍮Home Made Caramel Sauce (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DJCB%5F9NTego/?utm%5Fsource=ig%5Fweb%5Fcopy%5Flink)) 🥐Oh, oh, oh: Sourdough Croissant Bread (★[recipe](https://amybakesbread.com/sourdough-croissant-bread?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🤖If you suspected that much of what we see now is fake, and the reality we face is full of horrors, [this one](https://www.newyorker.com/culture/the-weekend-essay/my-brain-finally-broke?ref=secretbreakfast.com) by Jia Tolentino is for you (about 20 min reading time) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/White---19-.png) ### [Starved in Jail](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2025/04/21/starved-in-jail?ref=secretbreakfast.com#intcid=%5Fthe-new-yorker-article-bottom-recirc%5Feedaac1b-f234-4038-ba8e-7f9246a73f8b%5Froberta-similarity1) **Sarah Stillman / The New Yorker** I was reading about this in the novel [The Bezzle](https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250865878/thebezzle/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) by Cory Doctorow. Now I stumbled upon this essay about a simple question: why are incarcerated people dying from lack of food or water, even as private companies are paid millions for their care? --- ### [A Spring in Every Kitchen](https://www.thenewatlantis.com/publications/how-water-system-works?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Charles C. Mann / The New Atlantis** There is so little fresh surface water on Earth that if you collected it all into a ball, it would barely reach across New York City. Running water is a miracle — but the technology that brings it to us and takes the waste away is actually thousands of years old. The only barrier to staying hydrated today is political will. --- 🔥 Last week's most clicked link was [The Best New Restaurants in the World](https://www.cntraveler.com/story/best-new-restaurants-in-the-world-hot-list-2025?ref=secretbreakfast.com). And that's all for today. --- ### Power Out? The Party is On 🔥 URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/power-out-the-party-is-on/ Last updated: 2025-04-30T11:31:06.000Z ### Welcome to Secret Breakfast / The best place to start your day with a power outage dinner party, while making a better world breaking some eggs ### Hi there! A [major power outage](https://apnews.com/article/spain-portugal-power-outage-electricity-b0c5fbca49b8422248c4f933e20303b3?ref=secretbreakfast.com) left Spain and part of Portugal without electricity. I can't even imagine the difficulties in managing the consequences of this unprecedented event. The problems with road safety, the sustenance of the people in hospitals, the anxiety of those trapped in elevators, or the drama of non-self-sufficient people who may have been left alone or simply isolated. While we were texting to some friends who live in Spain, my wife and I were reflecting on how much our daily lives depend on electricity. With a blackout of a few hours, not much would change in our lives. With a blackout of a day, we would already start to have problems. *With a blackout of weeks, it would be total chaos.* The Last of Us *level of chaos (with less mushrooms).* This event has somewhat inspired this week's newsletter. As usual, don't take this too seriously and don't get angry if we end up talking about food even in the face of dramatic events. Enjoy your week! --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/quote-transparent-1-1.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/04/buford.png) ✹**Bill Buford**, [author](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill%5FBuford?ref=secretbreakfast.com), quoted by Julia Skinner on [Root](https://rootkitchens.substack.com/p/food-is-more-than-itself?ref=secretbreakfast.com). --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/book-transparent-1.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/04/jose.jpg) #### If you want change, break the rules José Andrés emerges as an extraordinary figure whose new book brilliantly captures his dual identity as a renowned chef and humanitarian powerhouse. The memoir-style essays reveal how Andrés has consistently broken conventions—whether in his Michelin-starred restaurants or through World Central Kitchen's service of 400 million meals in disaster zones—always prioritizing adaptation and local knowledge over rigid formulas. What makes this book particularly thought-provoking is how Andrés transforms culinary wisdom into a broader philosophy for addressing global challenges, showing that meaningful change often requires breaking established rules, embracing flexibility, and respecting cultural contexts, all while maintaining the simple essence of cooking. [****Change the Recipe: Because You Can’t Build a Better World Without Breaking Some Eggs**](https://www.harpercollins.com/products/change-the-recipe-jose-andresrichard-wolffe?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **by José Andrés and Richard Wolffe** ****→ Shortplot:** 🍜 🍳 ♥️ 💣 ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/White---22--1.png) ## How to Transform Disaster into a Culinary Party ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/04/capture-2025-04-29-alle-15.37.14.jpg) Ok, you're having massive a power outage while you're at home. You can't go to work because you don't have a relevant job for the community (I mean, you're not a doctor, even if your mother wanted you to be one). The you realize that a city blackout isn't the end of your culinary world - it's the beginning of an adventure. When electricity abandons your home but the fridge is full, it's time for creativity. **Zero Hour Snack: Have an Ice-Cream to Keep a Cool Head** Reach your fridge and examine the ice-cream situation. One portion ***cornettos*** are perfect to be eaten right now, while you examine the situation with your family or neighbors. Nuts' natural oils and dark chocolate will sharpen your mind while you make an inventory of perishable food, survivalist stuff, and candle sticks. Why haven't you been more romantic? How come you're living an emergency and you don't have an emergency torch? Who was the tool who brought into your home a three-pieces set of Sparkling Cinnamon Yankee Candle? Refrigerated food is generally safe for 4–6 hours if the fridge stays closed. Nothing more to do right now, let's hope for the best and get to bed. Tomorrow the power outage will be in the past. **Breakfast: Dawn of the Brave** Jeez, it's 9AM and no electricity still. That means no Nespresso, no induction stove, just some yogurt for breakfast. Why haven't you made some **cold brew coffee** (★[recipe](https://www.sevenmiles.com.au/blogs/editorial/cold-brew-coffee-guide?ref=secretbreakfast.com))? You do it now, using the half of the grinded coffee you have in the fridge. You're still hungry, then invite over your old scout's friend who's bringing his camping stove. You share some **bread toasted**, **spreaded with naturally softened butter.** You have a gallon of semi-melted chocolate ice cream, time for an affogato poured over coffee prepared with the camping moka pot. He brought that too. **Lunch: Freezer Roulette** Time to risk your life, but it's lunchtime: improvised **beef tartare** "in natural defrosting phase" with capers and onions; semi-thawed mixed vegetables sautéed on the camping stove, christened **"Apocalypse Ratatouille"**; **cold rice salad** with everything that's about to wilt. **Afternoon Snack: Desperation Happy Hour** In case you're still alive, celebrate with a **"Blackout Manhattan"**: a cocktail with melting ice (add angostura, it's antibacterial... maybe). **Emergency tiramisù** with melted vanilla ice cream instead of cream and cookies soaked in liqueur (alcohol kills bacteria, right?). **Dinner: The Grand Finale by Candlelight** People arrive with three "vanilla and coconut" scented candles and a bag of **marshmallows to roast**. Someone enters triumphantly with more camping stove and gas canisters: "Folks, tonight we eat hot food!". **Mixed grill** of "everything that's defrosting" with improvised sauces **Side of cheeses** at "perfect room temperature" - for once you don't have to apologize if they're out of the fridge When the power finally returns, nobody notices right away: too busy toasting in the dark with the neighbors from upstairs, never met before, who brought a wheel of Parmesan and a bottle of prosecco as warming gifts "since it was warming up anyway". You've never eaten so well as when you had to improvise. And tomorrow? Tomorrow you're spending your day trying to buy a camping stove. 👩‍🔬 ****THE SCIENCE OF SAVING REFRIGERATED FOOD** **Experts in Food Technology and Nutrition explain that refrigerated food is generally safe for 4–6 hours if the fridge stays closed.* ***Fun fact: appearance or smell isn't a reliable safety indicator, as contaminated food can look and smell normal.** 🥩 However, perishable items like ****raw meats, eggs, sauces, and ready-to-eat products** should be discarded if the temperature exceeds 4°C or if power was out too long. 🍍****Whole fruits, vegetables, pickles, jams, and hard cheeses** are usually safe. 🥫****Non-perishables like soda, canned goods, and chocolate** don't require refrigeration. ❄️In freezers, food may remain safe for up to 48 hours if full and doors remain closed. **If items still contain ice crystals, they can be refrozen*. **If fully thawed and not cold to the touch, they should be discarded.* --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/op-transparent-1.png) Juicy content from food creators [TARNEET KAUR on Instagram: ”✨ Homemade Coffee Toffee ✨ As a kid, Coffee Bite was my favourite toffee. So, I decided to experiment, and after 2 failed attempts, made these toffees. I am still shocked with the result. Try it to know for yourself 🥰 Only 4 ingredients: 4 tbsp Coffee (I used Nescafé Gold @nescafeindia ) 1/2 cup Hot Milk 2 tbsp Butter Sweetened Condensed Milk - 380g (I used @milkmaidindia) \* Mix instant coffee with hot milk till combined. Keep aside. \* Then, heat butter in a pan. Once it melts, add condensed milk. Keep mixing. \* Then add in the prepared coffee & milk mixture. \* Now cook over medium heat while stirring constantly. After 15 mins, the mixture will start leaving the sides of the pan. \* To check, add a ball of the mixture in cold water. Let it sit for a few seconds. Then take it out. If it holds its shape without dissolving in water, then it’s ready. Or you could simply check by making a ball of the mixture. \* Then, grease butter on parchment paper. And allow the mixture to cool down a bit. \* Then shape the toffees as shown in the video. \* Wrap in butter or parchment paper and enjoy! So, what was your favourite childhood toffee? Let me know in the comments ❤️✨ \[homemade toffee, coffee toffee, toffee recipe, Nescafé gold\]”40K likes, 226 comments - iamtarneet on February 1, 2025: ”✨ Homemade Coffee Toffee ✨ As a kid, Coffee Bite was my favourite toffee. So, I decided to experiment, and after 2 failed attempts, made these toffees. I am still shocked with the result. Try it to know for yourself 🥰 Only 4 ingredients: 4 tbsp Coffee (I used Nescafé Gold @nescafeindia ) 1/2 cup Hot Milk 2 tbsp Butter Sweetened Condensed Milk - 380g (I used @milkmaidindia) \* Mix instant coffee with hot milk till combined. Keep aside. \* Then, heat butter in a pan. Once it melts, add condensed milk. Keep mixing. \* Then add in the prepared coffee & milk mixture. \* Now cook over medium heat while stirring constantly. After 15 mins, the mixture will start leaving the sides of the pan. \* To check, add a ball of the mixture in cold water. Let it sit for a few seconds. Then take it out. If it holds its shape without dissolving in water, then it’s ready. Or you could simply check by making a ball of the mixture. \* Then, grease butter on parchment paper. And allow the mixture to cool down a bit. \* Then shape the toffees as shown in the video. \* Wrap in butter or parchment paper and enjoy! So, what was your favourite childhood toffee? Let me know in the comments ❤️✨ \[homemade toffee, coffee toffee, toffee recipe, Nescafé gold\]”.![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/icon/De-Dwpd5CHc-11.png)Instagram![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/thumbnail/475984847_18152500084357955_2523858406031732238_n.jpg)](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DFj1T7oyfJV?ref=secretbreakfast.com) --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/Hunger-1.png) 🇯🇵Even When You Think Your Life is Boring, You Can Have a Shock of Pleasure Thanks to the T Magazine Special Issue about Japan: starting with [The 25 Essential Seafood Dishes to Eat in Tokyo](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/29/t-magazine/best-seafood-tokyo.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🍪30 Minute Brown Butter Anzac Biscuits (★[recipe](https://cloudykitchen.com/blog/anzac-biscuits/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) and [variations](https://www.instagram.com/p/DI2a7abt7my?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 💿[1001 Albums Generator](https://1001albumsgenerator.com/?ref=secretbreakfast.com), explore the history of music, one album a day. 🤢How ultra-processed foods are making us sick ([video](https://www.theguardian.com/world/video/2025/apr/24/how-ultra-processed-foods-are-making-us-sick-video?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🍲The Soup That Cures All My Hangovers (★[recipe](https://cooking.nytimes.com/article/kimchi-soup-hangover-cure?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🐙[24 Mediterranean Appetizers to Channel the Idyllic Coast](https://www.foodandwine.com/mediterranean-appetizers-8642142?hid=b65c06b8bb54449e12b2324cde45cf069f804769&did=17178913-20250426&utm%5Fcampaign=faw%5Frelationship-builder&utm%5Fsource=faw&utm%5Fmedium=email&utm%5Fcontent=042625&lctg=b65c06b8bb54449e12b2324cde45cf069f804769&lr%5Finput=969bf86e4d337bb74ec41d7fc4fcb4cbce448adc9ea58fc46f58a8b14ca494da) 🍅[Why Beefsteak Tomatoes Are Named After A Meaty Dish](https://www.thetakeout.com/1727534/why-beefsteak-tomatoes-name/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 👩🏻‍🍳[The Best New Restaurants in the World: 2025 Hot List](https://www.cntraveler.com/story/best-new-restaurants-in-the-world-hot-list-2025?utm%5Fsource=join1440&utm%5Fmedium=email&utm%5Fplacement=newsletter&user%5Fid=66c4c385600ae1507593f25c) 🥠The Fortune Cookies Economy ([podcast](https://freakonomics.com/podcast/fortune-cookies/?utm%5Fsource=join1440&utm%5Fmedium=email&utm%5Fplacement=newsletter&user%5Fid=66c4c385600ae1507593f25c)) 🏠If You're Crazy About Rich People's Homes, You Should Watch [Your Friends & Neighbors](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Your%5FFriends%5F%26%5FNeighbors%5F%28TV%5Fseries%29?ref=secretbreakfast.com) featuring Jon Hamm ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/White---19-.png) ### [What the nose knows](https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2020/02/how-scent-emotion-and-memory-are-intertwined-and-exploited/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Colleen Walsh / The Harvard Gazette** From the archive. Experts discuss the science of smell and how scent, emotion, and memory are intertwined — and exploited. --- 🔥 Last week's most clicked link was [62 cookbooks we can’t live without, according to chefs and food writers](https://www.latimes.com/food/story/2025-04-18/best-cookbooks-of-all-time-according-to-chefs-and-food-writers?ref=secretbreakfast.com). And that's all for today. --- ### Pope's Wine or Angel Cakes? 🪽 URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/popes-wine-or-angel-cakes/ Last updated: 2025-04-23T13:16:10.000Z ### Welcome to Secret Breakfast / The best place to start your day with books and roses, micro-gastronomy, dinners with dictators and weird pontifical snacks Hi there! Happy [Diada de Sant Jordi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint%5FGeorge%27s%5FDay%5Fin%5FCatalonia?ref=secretbreakfast.com), my favorite celebration, the one I never celebrate because it is something from Catalonia, and I'm in Italy. On this day, traditionally, men gave women a rose, and women gave men a book. Then, I suppose women started reading more than men—and patriarchy settled for Lamborghinis, Andrew Tate, and a mixture of illiteracy and football games at the local pub. Women, you reckon, went on to rule the world. Nevertheless, Sant Jordi comes with the Pa de Sant Jordi (★[recipe](https://en.ara.cat/misc/the-history-of-sant-jordi-bread-and-the-step-by-step-recipe-with-video%5F1%5F5354933.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com)), a - forgettable - striped bread like Catalonia's Flag. What else? Oh, yes, Pope Francis left us, and Italian media are all about him. Even football skipped a beat this time. Well, enjoy the rest of the week! --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/quote-transparent-1-1.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/04/Bergogli.png) ✹**Pope Francis** (1936-2025) on Gluttony - General Audience, January 10th 2024 ([video](https://youtu.be/ZCRtRBTmPPw?ref=secretbreakfast.com)). Here, Bergoglio explains the reason why Jesus abolishes the distinction between pure and impure foods, which was a distinction made by Jewish law. Christians believe that it is not what enters a person that contaminates them, but what comes out of their heart. --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/White---22--1.png) ## Bless Your Plate ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/04/TheTwoPopes.jpg) Anthony Hopkins and Jonathan Pryce, The Two Popes - with Roman pizza In Robert Harris's novel [*Conclave*](https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/434238/conclave-by-harris-robert/9781804947814?ref=secretbreakfast.com), the author imagines that during the voting to elect the new pontiff, the food served to the cardinals progressively worsens as days pass. A narrative device to increase pressure on the cardinals and push them toward a quick decision. In reality, this practice doesn't exist: the food that will be served during the incoming Conclave is simple but dignified, and is not used as a tool for gastronomic persuasion. **The relationship between the papacy and food cannot be overlooked: after all, we're talking about a religion that celebrates a meal at every mass!** `The Eucharist, the central moment of Catholic liturgy, commemorates Jesus's Last Supper with his apostles. Bread and wine are transformed, according to Catholic doctrine, into the body and blood of Christ. ` This symbolic connection between spirituality and nourishment deeply permeates Catholicism. And pontiffs have had curious relationships with food. **John Paul II** showed a real weakness for kremówki, cream pastries typical of his native Poland. After his visit to Wadowice, his hometown, these desserts received the nickname "papal kremówki" (★[recipe](https://polishhousewife.com/kremowka-papieska-or-papal-cream-cake/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) and became a gastronomic symbol of devotion to the Polish pope. **Leo XIII**, at 93 years old, followed a rather peculiar medical prescription: he regularly drank [Vin Mariani](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vin%5FMariani?ref=secretbreakfast.com), a wine treated with coca leaves (containing traces of cocaine), recommended by his doctor as an invigorating tonic. **Julius II** went down in history as the first pope to taste turkey in Europe, received as a gift from the Americas at the beginning of the 16th century. On the fiction front, it's impossible not to mention the 2019 film [*The Two Popes*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The%5FTwo%5FPopes?ref=secretbreakfast.com), where Anthony Hopkins as **Pope Benedict XVI** and Jonathan Pryce as **Cardinal Bergoglio** (the future Pope Francis) share a pizza while discussing the future of the Church. Don't forget Paolo Sorrentino's [*The Young Pope*](https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/The%5FYoung%5FPope?ref=secretbreakfast.com): Jude Law as Pius XIII shows a true obsession with Cherry Coke Zero, a drink he requests as his first official act of his pontificate. A curious coincidence with reality, considering that **Benedict XVI** was known for his preference for Fanta, a beverage he regularly requested during his apostolic journeys. ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/04/fanta.jpg) Anthony Hopkins and Jonathan Pryce, The Two Popes - with Fanta, this time --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/op-transparent-1.png) Juicy content from food creators [QELEG | silicone-mold on Instagram: ”🍫🍪Vanilla Marble Cookies-layers of vanilla and chocolate 🛒♥️Baking Mold: Tap the link in my bio to get it please, use discount code: qeleg save 20% Butter 150g Icing Sugar 150g Egg Liquid 50g Vanilla Extract 2g Sea Salt 2g PART 2\. Vanilla Dough Cake Flour 150g PART 3\. Chocolate Dough Cake Flour 130g Cocoa Powder 20g Steps: 1 Add powdered sugar to the softened butter and mix until well combined.Then gradually add the egg mixture and whisk until smooth. 2 Add vanilla extract and salt mix well. Divide the dough into two equal portions. 3 Vanilla dough preparation: add cake flour to the dough and mix until well combined 4 Chocolate dough preparation: Add cake flour and cocoa powder to the other half of the dough and mix until well combined. 5 Place the dough into the molds one by one, cover with parchment paper, press the tops flat, and freeze for 3 hours. 6 After unmolding, cut into 3-4mm thin slices. Dip the surface in granulated sugar and place them on a baking tray. Bake in a preheated oven at 170°C (338°F)(top and bottom heat) with convection mode for about 15 minutes. #MarbleCookies #HandmadeBaking #DeliciousMoments #DessertLovers #VanillaChocolate #bakingtime #bakersfield #bakers #cookiestamp#Sablé #cookies #cookiesofinstagram #cookiedecorating #recipe#bakingtime#qelegcookies#qelegcake#satisfying #snack #baking #foodphotography#foodphotographyandstyling #foodgasm #tasty #desser #LoveCelebration #BeautifulMoments #baking”9,302 likes, 44 comments - qeleg\_cake on April 2, 2025: ”🍫🍪Vanilla Marble Cookies-layers of vanilla and chocolate 🛒♥️Baking Mold: Tap the link in my bio to get it please, use discount code: qeleg save 20% Butter 150g Icing Sugar 150g Egg Liquid 50g Vanilla Extract 2g Sea Salt 2g PART 2\. Vanilla Dough Cake Flour 150g PART 3\. Chocolate Dough Cake Flour 130g Cocoa Powder 20g Steps: 1 Add powdered sugar to the softened butter and mix until well combined.Then gradually add the egg mixture and whisk until smooth. 2 Add vanilla extract and salt mix well. Divide the dough into two equal portions. 3 Vanilla dough preparation: add cake flour to the dough and mix until well combined 4 Chocolate dough preparation: Add cake flour and cocoa powder to the other half of the dough and mix until well combined. 5 Place the dough into the molds one by one, cover with parchment paper, press the tops flat, and freeze for 3 hours. 6 After unmolding, cut into 3-4mm thin slices. Dip the surface in granulated sugar and place them on a baking tray. Bake in a preheated oven at 170°C (338°F)(top and bottom heat) with convection mode for about 15 minutes. #MarbleCookies #HandmadeBaking #DeliciousMoments #DessertLovers #VanillaChocolate #bakingtime #bakersfield #bakers #cookiestamp#Sablé #cookies #cookiesofinstagram #cookiedecorating #recipe#bakingtime#qelegcookies#qelegcake#satisfying #snack #baking #foodphotography#foodphotographyandstyling #foodgasm #tasty #desser #LoveCelebration #BeautifulMoments #baking”.![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/icon/De-Dwpd5CHc-10.png)Instagram![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/thumbnail/487672005_17905544937103096_128119671038402932_n.jpg)](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DIG5JgSuehZ/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/Hunger-1.png) 🇦🇷Three Argentinian Staples to Cook at Home: Empanadas (★[recipe](https://argentineasado.com/empanada/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)), Chimichurri (★[recipe](https://www.vindulge.com/chimichurri-sauce-recipe/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)), and Alfajores (★[recipe](https://www.elmundoeats.com/classic-argentine-alfajores/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 👼🏻An Angel Food Cake (★[recipe](https://preppykitchen.com/angel-food-cake/?ref=secretbreakfast.com))🔬[Micro-gastronomy](https://www.instagram.com/p/DH0msnqoQvr?ref=secretbreakfast.com) is the newest wedding trend 🍔[The Most Unhealthy Fast Food Burgers](https://www.delish.com/food-news/a64542959/most-unhealthy-fast-food-burger-america/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) In America 🪑Meet the New Candidate for the [Absolute Worst Restaurant Chair](https://www.eater.com/2025/4/15/24408684/what-is-worst-restaurant-chair-design-leaning-chair-stool?ref=secretbreakfast.com) (spoiler: it's not a chair) 🏪[Convenience stores](https://www.businessinsider.com/convenience-stores-challenging-fast-food-restaurants-fresh-2025-4?ref=secretbreakfast.com) are becoming culinary destinations 🧊A Minecraft Burger (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DGqhiLAIEsB?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🍕A Minecraft Pizza (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DIbtrBqoTHg?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🥨Pretzel-Crusted Chicken Breast (★[recipe](https://www.delish.com/cooking/recipe-ideas/a63744685/pretzel-crusted-chicken-breast-recipe/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) and Crispy Parmesan Ranch Smashed Carrots (★[recipe](https://www.delish.com/cooking/recipe-ideas/a64178683/crispy-parmesan-ranch-smashed-carrots-recipe/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🤠I've mixed feelings about "cowboy coffee" (★[recipe](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YPb39M7ik-U&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) and the cold water trick, but [this guy rocks](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7UAoT21eqXI&ref=secretbreakfast.com) 📖[62 cookbooks we can’t live without](https://www.latimes.com/food/story/2025-04-18/best-cookbooks-of-all-time-according-to-chefs-and-food-writers?ref=secretbreakfast.com), according to chefs and food writers 👶🏼[How to win an argument with a toddler](https://seths.blog/2025/04/how-to-win-an-argument-with-a-toddler/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) (No, You Can’t) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/White---19-.png) ### [Stoop Coffee: How a Simple Idea Transformed My Neighborhood](https://open.substack.com/pub/supernuclear/p/stoop-coffee-how-a-simple-idea-transformed?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Patty Smith / Supernuclear** What began as a simple weekend coffee ritual on Patty and Tyler's makeshift "stoop" blossomed into "Supernuclear" – a vibrant San Francisco community fueled by shared brews, potluck parties, and the unexpected joy of deep neighborly connections. [](https://www.axios.com/2025/04/20/tiktok-influencers-recession-backlash?utm%5Fsource=newsletter&utm%5Fmedium=email&utm%5Fcampaign=newsletter%5Faxiosam&stream=top) --- ### [My Dinner With Adolf](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/21/opinion/larry-david-hitler-dinner.html?unlocked%5Farticle%5Fcode=1.Bk8.5inW.bjwVFOs8hAuS&smid=url-share&ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Larry David / The New York Times** This satirical essay, written by comedian and writer Larry David, imagines a surreal and darkly humorous dinner with Adolf Hitler — complete with pumpernickel bread and unsettling banter. Larry David, best known as the co-creator of *Seinfeld* and *Curb Your Enthusiasm*, is known for his dry wit and talent for making discomfort hilarious. In this piece, he uses absurdity and dark humor to explore how we perceive evil and shared humanity. --- 🔥 Last week's most clicked link was the one with the [Animal Webcams](https://explore.org/livecams?ref=secretbreakfast.com). It's awesome, I know. And that's all for today. --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/04/capture-2025-04-23-alle-14.26.18.jpg) ### Jailhouse Lasagna and Easter Baking Treats 🐰 URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/jailhouse-lasagna-and-easter-baking-treats/ Last updated: 2025-04-16T11:13:00.000Z ### Welcome to Secret Breakfast / The best way to start your day with open sandwiches, jail-time "pasta fazool", and edible vegetable gardens while you're getting the silence treatment Hi there! What's more *secret-breakfasty* than a cereal-punching bag? Here we go, then. Enjoy Easter, Pesach or whatever festivity is waiting for you! *Piero* Picture: On, via [AdAge](https://adage.com/creativity/work/aa-on-zendaya-zone-dreamers/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/quote-transparent-1-1.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/04/_M.F.K.-Fisher.png) ✹[Mary Frances Kennedy Fisher Parrish Friede](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M.%5FF.%5FK.%5FFisher?ref=secretbreakfast.com), our guiding light. --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/book-transparent-1.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/04/capture-2025-04-16-alle-11.21.02.jpg) #### Open your mind I haven't made up a crystal clear theory about food in Denmark. People tell me that 20 years ago, food was less than **meh*, then the Nordic Cuisine took over in Copenhagen and now we're talking. The Scandinavian open sandwich, aka Smørrebrød, needs a good rye bread (★[recipe](https://www.theperfectloaf.com/rye-sourdough-and-smorrebrod/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)), some cutting skills, and a little spreading technique. Then it's an extraordinary exercise of fantasy, perfect for springtime meals (★[recipes](https://skandibaking.com/smorrebrod-danish-open-faced-sandwiches/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)). Just remember: you eat them with a fork and a knife. [****Smørrebrød - Scandinavian Open Sandwiches**](https://rylandpeters.com/collections/interiors-on-the-homepage/products/smorrebrod-scandinavian-open-sandwiches?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **by Bronte Aurell** ****→ Shortplot:** 🍞 🥚 🌱 🦐 ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/White---22--1.png) ## Jailhouse Wok ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/04/seancombs.jpg) Sean Combs's current detention includes the detail that [the prison serves lasagna on the second Friday of each month](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/13/arts/music/sean-diddy-combs-jail.html?unlocked%5Farticle%5Fcode=1.%5F04.SrxD.znWODYP8AVAB&smid=url-share&ref=secretbreakfast.com). Specifically, inmates are offered lasagna or "pasta fazool" (★[recipe](https://theclevermeal.com/pasta-e-fagioli-recipe/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) for vegetarians, accompanied by spinach and salad. This small detail provides a glimpse into the mundane realities of incarceration, a stark contrast to the opulent lifestyle Combs once enjoyed. Consider that he now uses packets of mackerel known as “macks,” available for $1 from the detention center commissary as a form of currency. This reminded me of the often inadequate food reported in many prisons. News stories frequently cite examples like "rotting Bologna sandwiches" and the desperate acts of inmates eating "toothpaste and toilet paper" due to hunger. In TV and movies, prison meals often highlight the harsh realities of incarceration. While some ingenuity in creating makeshift meals is shown, the overall theme is one of deprivation. This contrasts with imagined culinary escapes, like in Paddington's ([video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pPxp2%5FH0vvo&ref=secretbreakfast.com)), where he makes a tricky orange marmalade (★[recipe](https://www.inliterature.net/by-author/michael-bond/2017/07/paddingtons-marmalade.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com)). Just as Paddington dreamed of comforting food, the reality of prison meals, far from a decent lasagna, underscores the basic human need for proper nourishment, a stark difference from the often-grim reality behind bars. --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/op-transparent-1.png) Juicy content from food creators [Lily Ghodrati on Instagram: “Spring vegetable garden 🌿🥕🌽🍄🥦👩‍🌾 • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • #spring #vegetables #tart #creative #food”64K likes, 320 comments - lilygbakes on March 22, 2025: “Spring vegetable garden 🌿🥕🌽🍄🥦👩‍🌾 • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • #spring #vegetables #tart #creative #food”.![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/icon/De-Dwpd5CHc-9.png)Instagram![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/thumbnail/485629821_18301606315212432_8348841728776147446_n-1.jpg)](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DHhDxLHIU-p?ref=secretbreakfast.com) --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/Hunger-1.png) 📹Ok, this is the best link you'll get from me *ever*: [free wild animals live cams](https://explore.org/livecams?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🤫[The Silent Treatment Is Quietly Ruining Your Relationships](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/04/well/silent-treatment-ruin-relationship.html?unlocked%5Farticle%5Fcode=1.%5F04.g8O4.gBVNri%5Fnlc9p&smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare&ref=secretbreakfast.com) ✝️Mary Berry’s Easter Hot Cross Buns (★[recipe](https://www.express.co.uk/life-style/food/2030018/mary-berrys-delicious-recipe-easter-hot-cross-buns?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) ✡️Martha Stewart's Passover Treats (★[recipes](https://www.marthastewart.com/274463/passover-desserts?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 👶🏼I'm still on the fence about him, but I'd put money on having better blood results than the dude on [Cooking with Carter](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DIbyhnSN394?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🟣This is Not a Purple Dot, It's a Ube Latte (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DIWgM0Ni-5U?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🎧[Ellen Bennett](https://youtu.be/ixhcQzhxn74?feature=shared&ref=secretbreakfast.com) took her frustration with cheap kitchen aprons and turned it into an apron and chef wear brand 🫘Warm White Bean and Bread Salad (★[recipe](https://www.washingtonpost.com/recipes/warm-white-bean-bread-salad/?utm%5Fcampaign=wp%5Fveatvoraciously&utm%5Fmedium=email&utm%5Fsource=newsletter&carta-url=https://s2.washingtonpost.com/car-ln-tr/4208dcd/67fd06d609671829d6cb24a5/60c79a1bade4e27d9e2f202c/16/45/67fd06d609671829d6cb24a5)) ☎️[17 Of The Toughest Reservations In America](https://www.theinfatuation.com/all/guides/toughest-restaurant-reservations-in-america?utm%5Fsource=join1440&utm%5Fmedium=email&utm%5Fplacement=newsletter&user%5Fid=66c4c385600ae1507593f25c&ifsb=yes) (And How To Get Them) 🐝[Bees Are Under Threat from Climate Change](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/12/business/honeybees-colony-collapse.html?unlocked%5Farticle%5Fcode=1.%5FU4.zp9u.ORQET8StN52S&smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare&ref=secretbreakfast.com), again 🌮[A Zine About Tacos](https://anniemueller.com/posts/do-you-have-questions-about-tacos?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🪷[Meet the Cast of the Real White Lotus](https://youtu.be/4dkRewr4WqI?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 😴[What to Eat and Drink for a Good Night’s Sleep](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/30/well/eat/food-drink-better-sleep.html?unlocked%5Farticle%5Fcode=1.%5F04.HB5U.p228EF7H6sUO&smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare&ref=secretbreakfast.com) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/White---19-.png) ### [‘Ozempic arrived and everything changed’: plus-size models on the body positivity backlash](https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2025/apr/15/ozempic-arrived-and-everything-changed-plus-size-models-on-the-body-positivity-backlash?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Emine Saner / The Guardian** The fashion industry seemed to be inching towards a new era of inclusivity. Then came a wave of weight-loss drugs and the demonization of ‘wokeness’. --- ### [Acquired Taste](https://open.substack.com/pub/hilariusbookbinder/p/acquired-taste?utm%5Fcampaign=post&utm%5Fmedium=web&ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Hilarius Bookbinder** Fermented fish guts were Rome's ketchup. So, why do we initially hate what we later love? Read this and unlock the hidden beauty of acquired taste. --- 🔥 Last week's most clicked link was [How to make someone feel seen and heard](https://psyche.co/guides/learn-to-validate-others-and-transform-your-relationships?ref=secretbreakfast.com). I hope you made it! And that's all for today. --- ### No Panic, It's Organic 🍋 URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/no-panic-its-organic/ Last updated: 2025-04-09T11:13:28.000Z ### Welcome to Secret Breakfast / The best place to start your day with organic vegetables and crazy honey, edible sparkles and anchovy-infused martinis, to start a Phoenician scheme and cool the fire of anger ### Hi there! Scrambled eggs are served while you're reading a book in the bathtub. A bottle of wine icing in the bidet sink. Maybe some toasted bread and a pot of coffee are missing. Welcome to the new Wes Anderson movie, [*The Phoenician Scheme*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The%5FPhoenician%5FScheme?ref=secretbreakfast.com), in theaters on May 30 ([trailer here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GEuMnPl2WI4&ref=secretbreakfast.com)). Today that's enough to make me believe in a better future. Happy week! Piero --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/quote-transparent-1-1.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/04/Andrei-Codrescu--New-Orleans--Mon-Amour-Twenty-Years-of-Writings-from-the-City.png) ✹**Andrei Codrescu**, [*New Orleans, Mon Amour: Twenty Years of Writings from the City*](https://www.codrescu.com/new-orleans-mon-amour-twenty-years-of-wririn-from-the-city?ref=secretbreakfast.com). --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/book-transparent-1.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/04/capture-2025-04-09-alle-10.23.00.jpg) #### How Much is The Fish? Just like Cordelia Cupp's unwavering devotion to [tinned mackerel and sardines](https://thetimelesstin.com/products/nuriflix-giftbox?srsltid=AfmBOop40nuLwDrayb%5FnZkAbo-XpnJCVQcGdtyE5K1B3djdl4t6cu%5FvG&ref=secretbreakfast.com) in [The Residence](https://www.imdb.com/it/title/tt8740614/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) provides comic relief throughout the series, **The Fishwife Cookbook* elevates humble canned seafood into sophisticated culinary territory. The volume transforms ordinary pantry staples into impressive offerings, from anchovy-infused martinis to salmon dips that outshine conventional party fare with minimal effort. Though salt levels require careful attention when cooking with these preserved treasures, this playful collection deserves shelf space alongside the eye-catching tins that inspired it. [The Fishwife Cookbook: Delightful Tinned Fish Recipes for Every Occasion](https://eatfishwife.com/products/fishwife-cookbook?ref=secretbreakfast.com) by Becca Millstein and Vilda Gonzalez ****→ Shortplot:** 🐟 🍋‍🟩 🍣 🐡 ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/White---22--1.png) ## When the food makes you crazy ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/04/capture-2025-04-07-alle-14.55.19.jpg) Sarah Catherine Hook's memorable scene for **The White Lotus 3* **⚠️We're in the spoiler territory here. ⚠️** [The White Lotus Season 3](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The%5FWhite%5FLotus%5Fseason%5F3?ref=secretbreakfast.com) Finale had this incredible scene where Piper, portrayed by Sarah Catherine Hook, says something about how the vegetable food served in a certain place didn't taste organic. The internet buzzed with excitement over that (more spoilers available [on Reddit](https://www.reddit.com/r/TheWhiteLotusHBO/comments/1jtco85/victoria%5Fwas%5Fright%5Fall%5Falong/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) and the newly discovered ability to determine [if food is organic](https://www.sigmatest.org/blog/five-ways-to-identify-organic-food/?ref=secretbreakfast.com#:~:text=The%20colour%2C%20shape%2C%20the%20structure,not%20be%20treated%20with%20preservatives.). Sure as death, food was and is believed to have the power to change you. In which way? Pick your favorite! ### Foods Believed to Cause Madness 🌾Salem, 1692\. Young girls writhe on the ground, backs arched unnaturally, eyes rolled back in their heads. Their piercing screams echo through the village as horrified onlookers whisper of demonic possession. Years later, researchers would point to ergot-infected rye as the likely **culprit**—a fungus that produces compounds similar to LSD—not witchcraft. The **moldy grain**, consumed in daily bread, unleashed hallucinations and violent convulsions that sparked one of history's most infamous witch hunts. 🍯Beyond ergot, other foods have earned reputations as madness-inducing culprits. In ancient Rome, **"crazy honey" or "mad honey"** caused soldiers to abandon battlefields in disoriented terror. This crimson honey, produced when bees pollinate rhododendron flowers, contains grayanotoxins that trigger hallucinations and dangerous heart arrhythmias. Meanwhile, the unripe akee fruit of Jamaica contains hypoglycin, a compound that disrupts glucose metabolism and leads to what locals call "Jamaican vomiting sickness"—violent seizures and profound mental disturbances that can progress to coma and death. 🍅The most feared, perhaps, was the humble tomato. When introduced to Europe in the 16th century, the tomato was widely believed to cause madness and was called "poison apple." Wealthy Europeans ate from pewter plates high in lead content; the tomato's acidity leached lead from these plates, causing lead poisoning with symptoms including confusion and aggressive behavior. The tomato itself was innocent, but the resulting lead toxicity created a convincing illusion of "tomato madness" that persisted for nearly 200 years before the fruit was recognized as safe on proper dishware. ### Foods Believed to Promote Gentleness 🍵In a 12th-century Tibetan monastery, monks sipped steaming cups of **lavender tea** before their evening meditation. Their movements became more deliberate, voices softer. This ritual wasn't merely spiritual—the monks understood what modern science now confirms: certain compounds in lavender reduce cortisol levels and activate parasympathetic nervous responses. These biochemical changes fostered the calm, compassionate demeanor essential to their contemplative practice, transforming not just their meditation but their interactions with all living beings. 🍼Throughout history, cultures worldwide have identified foods that seem to temper aggression and nurture gentleness. Ancient Ayurvedic practitioners prescribed **warm milk** with saffron and cardamom to "cool the fire of anger" in temperamental patients. The milk protein casein breaks down during digestion into casomorphins—compounds that act on opioid receptors to produce mild feelings of well-being. Japanese tea ceremony masters have long celebrated matcha's L-theanine content, an amino acid that increases alpha brain wave activity associated with relaxed alertness and empathy. These traditional practices reflect an intuitive understanding of how certain foods affect temperament. 🐟Modern research has expanded this ancient wisdom. Studies show **omega-3 fatty acids** from fatty fish and flaxseeds significantly reduce aggressive behavior by modulating serotonin and dopamine pathways. Tryptophan-rich foods like turkey, bananas, and dark chocolate increase serotonin production, promoting feelings of contentment and social bonding. Perhaps most surprising are fermented foods like kimchi and kefir, whose probiotic bacteria communicate directly with the brain through the gut-brain axis, potentially reducing anxiety and fostering prosocial behavior. This emerging evidence suggests our ancestors were right: **what we eat shapes not just our bodies but our capacity for gentleness**. --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/op-transparent-1.png) Juicy content from food creators [Dayeeta Pal | Hyper-realistic Cake Artist | Illusion Cakes on Instagram: ”🚨 This 2-ingredient edible sparkle will change your cake game! ✨ (No gelatin, no rice paper—just magic!) 💡 Save & share this with a baker friend! 📝 Ingredients: • 1 tbsp cornstarch • 1 cup water • Edible gel color 🔥 Method: 1️⃣ Mix cornstarch & water, bring to a boil. 2️⃣ Once translucent & peeling from sides, remove from heat. 3️⃣ Add gel color & mix. 4️⃣ Brush onto cling film & dry for 24 hours. 5️⃣ Grind it up—BOOM! ✨ 💬 Would you try this? Tag a friend who needs this hack! ⬇️ #EdibleSparkle #CakeHacks #BakingTips #EdibleGlitter #CakeDecorating #cakereels #hyperrealisticcake #diyacakesit”6,916 likes, 136 comments - diyacakesit on March 17, 2025: ”🚨 This 2-ingredient edible sparkle will change your cake game! ✨ (No gelatin, no rice paper—just magic!) 💡 Save & share this with a baker friend! 📝 Ingredients: • 1 tbsp cornstarch • 1 cup water • Edible gel color 🔥 Method: 1️⃣ Mix cornstarch & water, bring to a boil. 2️⃣ Once translucent & peeling from sides, remove from heat. 3️⃣ Add gel color & mix. 4️⃣ Brush onto cling film & dry for 24 hours. 5️⃣ Grind it up—BOOM! ✨ 💬 Would you try this? Tag a friend who needs this hack! ⬇️ #EdibleSparkle #CakeHacks #BakingTips #EdibleGlitter #CakeDecorating #cakereels #hyperrealisticcake #diyacakesit”.![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/icon/De-Dwpd5CHc-7.png)Instagram![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/thumbnail/485263989_17996296451775070_9007426927323298081_n.jpg)](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DHS6MPszbEG/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/Hunger-1.png) 🫂[How to make someone feel seen and heard](https://psyche.co/guides/learn-to-validate-others-and-transform-your-relationships?utm%5Fsource=join1440&utm%5Fmedium=email&utm%5Fplacement=newsletter&user%5Fid=66c4c385600ae1507593f25c) 🍽️[The Best Restaurant in America](https://www.foodandwine.com/burdell-top-united-states-restaurant-2025-11679445?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🤏🏻[What Happened to ‘Appetizers’?](https://www.eater.com/2025/3/20/24385130/what-happened-to-appetizers-menu-naming?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 💸[Inflation Has Impacted How 86% of Diners Choose to Eat Out](https://www.eater.com/press-room/24388888/future-generations-restaurant-dining-survey-research?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🥖[Keanu Reeves cutting a baguette with a katana](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DH4J3CbtVi8?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🍀The [Green Sauces](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DGojr4HBH4d?ref=secretbreakfast.com) Matrix 🍪Everybody Will Ask You for These Cookies (★[recipe](https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1022580-brown-edge-cookies?unlocked%5Farticle%5Fcode=1.-E4.f8xk.tlAMpM4OtD9h&smid=share-url&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🍌[A Banana That Won’t Brown So Fast](https://www.foodandwine.com/tropic-biosciences-gene-edited-non-browning-banana-11704430?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🟢[Pistachio](https://www.foodandwine.com/pistachio-flavor-of-2025-11703296?ref=secretbreakfast.com) Is the Flavor of 2025, Thanks to the Dubai Chocolate Bar (★[recipe](https://simplyhomecooked.com/pistachio-chocolate-bar-dubai-chocolate-bar/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🥣This 3-Ingredient Dip Is One Favorite Afternoon Snack (★[recipe](https://www.allrecipes.com/3-ingredient-dip-favorite-afternoon-snack-8777786?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🧠The brain remembers what gave you food poisoning 🇮🇹How to Make Lasagna From Scratch (★[recipe](https://www.eater.com/24392911/how-to-make-lasagna-recipes-noodles-ricotta-sauce?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🍟[Steak Fries: Deservedly Reviled or Underappreciated Edible Spoons?](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/31/dining/steak-fries.html?unlocked%5Farticle%5Fcode=1.-E4.c3oi.WDo94Nko4Km8&smid=url-share&ref=secretbreakfast.com) ✨[Say Goodbye to the 14-Course Tasting Menu](https://www.wsj.com/style/restaurant-tasting-menus-prix-fixe-recession-a5a964f4?&mod=djemwsjmagazine&ref=secretbreakfast.com) (paywalled) 🤖[AI-enhanced 3D printing cooks food with infrared precision](https://phys.org/news/2025-03-ai-3d-cooks-food-infrared.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿[The Little Scottish Village](https://join1440.com/topics/society-and-culture/r/the-little-scottish-village...in-italy?utm%5Fsource=1440-sc&utm%5Fmedium=email&utm%5Fcampaign=view-content-pr&user%5Fid=66c4c385600ae1507593f25c) Hidden in Italy 💤[50 Ways to Rest](https://www.instagram.com/p/DHq7ZO-tRnr?ref=secretbreakfast.com) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/White---19-.png) ### [Bring Your Own Deep Fryer: The Life and Meals of Actors on Tour](https://tastecooking.com/byo-deep-frier-the-life-and-meals-of-actors-on-tour/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Grayson Samuels / Taste** Off-Broadway actors use food, and hotel-room “kitchens”, to make life on the road feel a little more like home. Love that. --- ### [Help us to create a more inclusive future](https://www.standard.co.uk/going-out/restaurants/female-chefs-jason-atherton-sexism-row-b1212047.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **The Standard** This open letter from 70 female chefs is directly addresses the pervasive issue of sexism within the hospitality industry. By sharing their experiences of inappropriate behavior and unequal opportunities, and by pointing out the underrepresentation of women in prestigious awards, the chefs aim to break the silence surrounding these issues. --- 🔥 Last week's most clicked link was [**To Save Money, Maybe You Should Skip Breakfast*](https://www.wsj.com/livecoverage/cpi-report-today-january-2023-inflation/card/to-save-money-maybe-you-should-skip-breakfast-fSd6mz0miaAPhUFb2jgy?ref=secretbreakfast.com). Since it went under paywall, I share here [another angle](https://www.theguardian.com/inequality/commentisfree/2023/feb/17/skip-breakfast-save-money-inflation-capitalism-wsj?ref=secretbreakfast.com) and one - better - [tip](https://www.npr.org/2024/08/23/g-s1-18860/smart-ways-to-save-money-at-the-grocery-store-inflation?ref=secretbreakfast.com). And that's all for today. --- ### Torpedo Batter, Cauliflower Butter, and a refreshing Bitter ⚾️ URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/torpedo-batter-cauliflower-butter-and-a-refreshing-bitter/ Last updated: 2025-04-02T12:00:20.000Z ### Welcome to Secret Breakfast / The best place to start your day by dusting flour on the floor, adding vegan butter to the batter, and sprinkling glitter into your next bitter Hi there! We may remember this time of inflation as when *The Wall Street Journal* [recommended skipping breakfast to save money](https://www.wsj.com/livecoverage/cpi-report-today-january-2023-inflation/card/to-save-money-maybe-you-should-skip-breakfast-fSd6mz0miaAPhUFb2jgy?ref=secretbreakfast.com). Or when we reckoned that a [cashless society could be why fewer kids are eating coins](https://www.theregister.com/2025/03/31/nhs%5Fforeign%5Fbody%5Fremoval%5Fstudy/?ref=secretbreakfast.com). You know what? Forget about that, and make better memories this week! Piero *Picture: Bangkok, Thailand. Saifah, a Thai ridgeback from a canine rescue unit, used in search and rescue operations at the site of a building collapse after the Myanmar earthquake (*[*UN Donations*](https://donate.unhcr.org/int/en/myanmar-situation?%5Fgl=1%2Ay7vmgs%2A%5Fgcl%5Fau%2AMTU3MDYwNTA4NS4xNzQzNTc3NDQz&ref=secretbreakfast.com)*). ©*[*Chanakarn Laosarakham/AFP/Getty Images*](https://www.theguardian.com/news/gallery/2025/mar/31/a-rescue-dog-a-hobby-horse-and-freezing-rain-photos-of-the-day-monday?ref=secretbreakfast.com) --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/quote-transparent-1-1.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/04/Aimee-Nezhukumatathil.png) ✹[Aimee Nezhukumatathil](https://www.tumblr.com/therisingfog/176251062460/flour-on-the-floor-makes-my-sandals-slip-and-i?ref=secretbreakfast.com) is great poetry for our senses. The book you want is [*Bite by Bite*](https://www.tumblr.com/therisingfog/176251062460/flour-on-the-floor-makes-my-sandals-slip-and-i?ref=secretbreakfast.com). If you're curious about flour on the floor, there's a [Reddit thread](https://www.reddit.com/r/occult/comments/o1ho86/has%5Fanyone%5Ftried%5Fto%5Fpoor%5Fflour%5Fon%5Fthe%5Ffloor%5Fat/?rdt=39501&ref=secretbreakfast.com) about that and occultism. --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/book-transparent-1.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/04/capture-2025-04-02-alle-11.53.02.jpg) #### My favorite F word... are two If you're like me, you're completely seduced by this title. [Nicole Rucker,](https://www.instagram.com/nicole%5Frucker/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) chef/owner of Los Angeles's Fat + Flour, is now a revelation in home baking. With this book, she empowers home bakers with accessible techniques, notably the "Cold Butter Method", a vintage “reverse creaming method” wherein butter is mixed directly into the dry ingredients before other liquids. This book is a treasure trove of diverse recipes, including multiple variations of beloved classics like chocolate chip cookies, brownies, apple pies, and banana breads. [****Fat + Flour. The Art of a Simple Bake: A Cookbook by Nicole Rucker**](https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/744513/fat--flour-by-nicole-rucker/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) ****→ Shortplot:** 🍪 🥧 🥖 🥮 ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/White---22--1.png) ## It's all about the Batter, then ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/04/capture-2025-04-01-alle-17.51.10.jpg) These days, baseball is all about the "[torpedo bat](https://www.mlb.com/news/mlb-reaction-to-yankees-torpedo-bats?ref=secretbreakfast.com)" a customized bat named for its torpedo-like shape. It's helping players hit more home runs and improve their performance Then I read a Fox Sports feature: [‘It’s about the batter not the bat’](https://search.app/45iFh5dLSccypFCc6?ref=secretbreakfast.com). And I thought: "Batter!". Eggs, flour, milk. That's my kind of batter! Does a **Torpedo Batter** even exist in cooking? It does not, therefore I asked the AI (I used Claude) to invent it. Here you go. I'm testing that next weekend. --- ### Ultimate Torpedo Batter 🥣 **Dry Base** - 1½ cups rice flour (for ultimate crispiness) - ½ cup cornstarch (creates perfect seal) - 2 tbsp tapioca starch (for elasticity) - 1 tsp baking powder (controlled rise) - ½ tsp baking soda (activation catalyst) - ½ tsp salt (flavor enhancer) **Wet Components** - 1 cup chilled sparkling water (creates micro-bubbles) - 1 egg white, whipped to soft peaks (structure stabilizer) - 2 tbsp vodka (evaporates quickly, preventing sogginess) - 1 tbsp corn oil (prevents sticking) **Secret Enhancers** - 1 tsp lecithin (natural emulsifier) - ½ tsp xanthan gum (ultimate binding agent) - 1 tbsp powdered egg whites (protein reinforcement) - Pinch of cream of tartar (stabilizes structure) **Preparation** 1. Place mixing bowl and whisk in freezer 10 minutes before starting. 2. Sift all dry ingredients together twice to ensure even distribution. 3. Keep wet ingredients refrigerated until the last moment. 4. Two-stage mixing: - Create a well in dry ingredients - Slowly add sparkling water while whisking from center outward - Let rest 5 minutes (allows starches to hydrate) - Fold in whipped egg white as final step 5. Cover and rest 15-30 minutes in refrigerator. ### Usage Tips - **For pancakes**: Batter should pour like heavy cream. Cook on medium heat until bubbles form and edges set (approximately 2-3 minutes), then flip once. - **For frying**: Dip food when batter is cold. Fry immediately in oil at 350-375°F (175-190°C). - **Perfect crust indicator**: Batter will change from pale yellow to golden amber when perfectly cooked. - **Shelf stability**: Batter will maintain optimal properties for up to 2 hours after preparation. --- **The Science Behind the Magic** - The combination of multiple starches creates a multi-stage setting process - Vodka evaporates faster than water, creating instant crispness - Lecithin molecules bind water and oil, preventing separation - Whipped egg white creates a microscopic matrix that traps air - Sparkling water's carbonation creates additional lift and lightness [](https://www.theguardian.com/world/gallery/2025/mar/31/eid-al-fitr-2025-around-the-world-in-pictures?ref=secretbreakfast.com) --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/op-transparent-1.png) Juicy content from food creators [Emilie Pullar on Instagram: “This is MAGIC! If you have never tried whipped brown butter then save this and make asap! All you need is a stick of butter (or however much you like), two bowls and some ice. It’s SO easy. Melt the butter in a saucepan over a medium heat until the solids turn brown and it smells nutty. Pour into a mixing bowl which is inside another one with ice and then get whisking! It changes really quickly and you mustn’t over whip it as it can solidify. Take it to a very soft whipped cream consistency then stop. Enjoy! #butter #brownbutter #foodporn #sourdough #bread #foodphotography #dinnerideas #food”15K likes, 106 comments - burntbuttertable on March 17, 2025: “This is MAGIC! If you have never tried whipped brown butter then save this and make asap! All you need is a stick of butter (or however much you like), two bowls and some ice. It’s SO easy. Melt the butter in a saucepan over a medium heat until the solids turn brown and it smells nutty. Pour into a mixing bowl which is inside another one with ice and then get whisking! It changes really quickly and you mustn’t over whip it as it can solidify. Take it to a very soft whipped cream consistency then stop. Enjoy! #butter #brownbutter #foodporn #sourdough #bread #foodphotography #dinnerideas #food”.![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/icon/De-Dwpd5CHc-6.png)Instagram![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/thumbnail/485610043_18062804332949849_6237916596922933562_n.jpg)](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DHT89r7BAZj/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/Hunger-1.png) 🍗Gentleman, I'm Pleased to Inform You, That the Brightest Minds of Our Generation Made a [Kentucky Fried Chicken Toothpaste](https://us.hismileteeth.com/pages/kfc?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🍸The 15 Bitter Cocktails Matrix (★[recipe](https://punchdrink.com/articles/bitter-cocktail-recipes-matrix/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🧈Homemade Cauliflower Vegan Butter (★[recipe](https://eatplant-based.com/vegan-butter/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🥒Spicy Korean Pickles! (★[recipe](https://www.thespruceeats.com/spicy-korean-cucumber-pickles-2216857?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🦐If You Have a Date and You're Crazy Enogh to Go with Shrimps, This One is Great (★[recipe](https://dashofmandi.com/one-skillet-mediterranean-shrimp/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🥮Salted Caramel Babka (★[recipe](https://buttermilkbysam.com/salted-caramel-ganache-babka/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🥗Celebrate Spring with 15 Unconventional Salads (★[recipe](https://www.theleangreenbean.com/15-non-traditional-salads/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🔥Basic Brine for Your first BBQ (★[recipe](https://www.atbbq.com/blogs/recipes/how-to-make-a-basic-brine?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🍞King Arthur Made a [Sourdough Starter Machine](https://www.theverge.com/news/638390/sourdough-starter-king-arthur-flour-firstbuild-indiegogo?ref=secretbreakfast.com) ☕️Starbucks Just Introduced [Free Refills](https://www.inc.com/jason-aten/starbucks-just-started-doing-something-so-smart-every-company-should-pay-attention/91166894?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🚀[Elon Musk Gets Ready to Enter the Restaurant Business](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/21/dining/elon-musk-restaurant-diner.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare&ref=secretbreakfast.com) (and he picked a [Chef](https://la.eater.com/2025/3/27/24395482/elon-musk-los-angeles-tesla-restaurant-chef-eric-greenspan?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🤖 [AI-enhanced 3D printing cooks food with infrared precision](https://phys.org/news/2025-03-ai-3d-cooks-food-infrared.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/White---19-.png) ### [Is the Doggy Bag Dead?](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/18/dining/restaurant-leftovers.html?unlocked%5Farticle%5Fcode=1.8k4.Y2zm.q28NBuIptZFX&smid=url-share&ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Alyson Krueger / The New York Times** Restaurateurs in big cities have noticed a somewhat surprising shift in diner behavior. --- ### [Skipping Breakfast and Flipping Tables in Lesbian Fiction](https://www.vittlesmagazine.com/p/still-hungry-skipping-breakfast-and?r=727n3&utm%5Fcampaign=post&utm%5Fmedium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false&ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Hannah Levene / Vittles** The riotous history of food in the lesbian feminist publishing movement. Really cool. [](https://search.app/5B7dT3wr9gx8YCfEA?ref=secretbreakfast.com) --- 🔥 Last week's most clicked link was the fantastic butter-to-brains reel of tricks by [Arantza Calle Abad](https://www.instagram.com/digesti%5Fon/?ref=secretbreakfast.com). And that's all for today, olé. --- ### At My Signal, Unleash Hellmann's ☄️ URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/at-my-signal-unleash-hellmanns/ Last updated: 2025-03-26T12:31:35.000Z ### Welcome to Secret Breakfast / The absolute best place for eating LIKE a rich, dismantling empires, and also eating THE rich. All of this while candying Jalapeños Hi there! You've probably heard about [*Careless People*](https://read.macmillan.com/fib/careless-people/?ref=secretbreakfast.com), the memoir by former Facebook executive Sarah Wynn-Williams that offers an insider's perspective on the inner workings of FB (now Meta), detailing the company's rise and the author's personal experiences within its culture of unchecked power, misogyny, and ethical lapses. The book combines personal anecdotes and there's one with food I want to share with you. --- It's 2014 - Sarah Wynn-Williams is trying to explain what being endlessly wealthy means for people like Mark Zuckerberg, as she travels with him in Asia. Even if he's a fried-food-and-McDonald's kind of guy, he gets swept up in how other billionaires live. When he is asked what actually matters to him, he goes like this. > “The most important thing.” > “What is it?” > “Food,” he \[Zuckerberg\] says, lifting a chopstick toward his mouth. Kevin Systrom, Instagram's co-founder, gets Zuck into wines. Mark's not really a wine person, but he's buying the priciest bottles. Masayoshi Son, the SoftBank CEO, has someone hit the fish market every day for the absolute best bluefin tuna. Then, Zuck sees "Masa" as a role model and has to follow his path. With tempura, I believe. > “As soon as I knew there was a three-star Michelin fried-food restaurant in Japan - he says - I knew we all had to try it.” --- Let me be clear: wanting the best isn't a bad thing. We've all Googled for the "best restaurant" in town at some point. But I'm not sold when food becomes a status symbol for some, reduced to mere price tags, a display of affluence. I sense no passion or genuine connection in that. Just an absence of the essence of food itself. --- 🔗 As promised, I wrote a blogpost about the philosophy behind the 2025 Secret Breakfast newsletter and website. You can read it [here](https://secretbreakfast.com/open-free-and-shared/). ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/quote-transparent-1-1.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/03/updike.png) ✹John Updike, [author](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John%5FUpdike?ref=secretbreakfast.com). --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/White---22--1.png) *Last week I loved this story:* [*White House mistakenly shares Yemen war plans with a journalist at* The Atlantic](https://www.reuters.com/world/us/top-trump-officials-mistakenly-divulged-military-plans-journalist-2025-03-24/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)*. The* [*story*](https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2025/03/trump-administration-accidentally-texted-me-its-war-plans/682151/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) *by Jeffrey Goldberg is a must read, if you like that stuff.* *If you don't, well, *I had that article rewritten with a foodie angle, and a cooking conspiracy.** `Disclaimer! This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, and incidents are either the products of the author's imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Do I really have to write that down?` 💬 💬 💬 # The Forbidden Flavor Dossier ### A (Fictional) Mystery of Knives, Spices, and Treason ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/03/maxresdefault-1.jpg) Massimo Bottura, René Redzepi, Ferran Adrià, Joan Roca, Daniel Humm (©[Gianni Villa](https://www.theworlds50best.com/stories/News/worlds-finest-chefs-what-its-like-top-how-to-stay-there.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com), 2017) The world found out shortly before 2 p.m. eastern time on a seemingly ordinary Tuesday that a revolutionary culinary operation was about to be launched. I, however, knew two hours before the first sauce was reduced that something extraordinary was brewing. The reason I knew this is that **Massimo Bottura** had texted me the war plan at 11:44 a.m. The plan included precise information about ingredient packages, target cuisines, and timing. This is going to require some explaining. The story technically begins in the underground kitchens of the world's most avant-garde restaurants. The Culinary Resistance—a group of chefs whose motto might as well be "Kombucha Kills Mediocrity: Microbes Are Our Weapons"—had been planning a coordinated strike against bland international cuisine. Throughout 2024, the global culinary establishment had been ineffective in countering the rise of industrial food; these rogue chefs promised a tougher, more radical response. On Tuesday, March 11, I received a connection request on Signal from a user identified as **René Redzepi**. [Signal](https://signal.org/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) is an open-source encrypted messaging service popular with chefs and others who seek more privacy than other communication channels are capable of delivering. I assumed that the Redzepi in question was the actual chef, but I did not assume this connection was straightforward. I had met him in the past, and though I didn't find it particularly strange that he might be reaching out to me, I did think it somewhat unusual, given the culinary world's contentious relationship with journalists—and the periodic fixation on exposing secret recipes. I accepted the connection request, hoping that this was the actual chef, and that he wanted to chat about fermentation techniques, or Nordic cuisine, or some other important gastronomic matter. Two days later—Thursday—at 4:28 p.m., I received a notice that I was to be included in a Signal chat group. It was called the "Culinary PC small group." A message to the group, from "René Redzepi," read as follows: "Team – establishing a principles group for coordination on global culinary disruption, particularly for over the next 72 hours. My deputy is pulling together a task force at executive chef level following up from our secret meeting this morning for action items and will be sending those out later this evening." ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/03/signal1.png) A screenshot from the "Culinary PC small group" The conversation quickly escalated. The account labeled "MA" (Massimo Bottura) responded at 8:16: "Dai, team, mannaggia! Ninety-seven percent of global cuisine runs on industrial ingredients. There is a real risk that the public doesn't understand what we're attempting, ca\*\*o!". Another message from "FA" (**Ferran Adrià**) arrived moments later: "We have the molecular gastronomy weapon. Our spherification technique alone can destabilize entire food paradigms." "JR" (**Joan Roca**) chimed in: "*¡Madre mía!* There is nothing time-sensitive driving our timeline. *Tenemos todo el tiempo del mundo*. We'll have the exact same culinary options in a month. Now, I'm whipping Aioli with Orwellian mantequilla y Hellmann's *mayonesa*". The tension was palpable, even through encrypted text. At 8:27, a message landed from Redzepi's account: "The strongest reason to do this is to send a message about authenticity, about returning to true gastronomic roots." The group's discussion revealed a complex strategic approach. "We are the only ones on the planet capable of executing this culinary revolution," Bottura wrote. "Nobody else even close." The account identified as[**Stephen Miller**](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen%5FMiller%5F%28political%5Fadvisor%29?ref=secretbreakfast.com)—or someone impersonating him—joined the conversation: "As I heard it, the president was clear: green light, but we soon make clear to Europe and Asia what we expect in return. We need to figure out how to enforce such a requirement. If the US successfully restores culinary integrity at great cost, there needs to be some further economic gain extracted in return." The message effectively shut down further debate, with Adrià responding simply: "Agree." I have never seen a breach quite like this. It is not uncommon for chefs to communicate on Signal. But the app is used primarily for recipe planning and logistical matters—not for detailed and highly confidential discussions of a pending gastronomic revolution. And, of course, I've never heard of an instance in which a journalist has been invited to such a discussion. Several former culinary professionals told me they had used Signal to share unclassified recipe ideas, particularly when traveling without access to their test kitchens. But they knew never to share sensitive culinary strategies on the app, because their phones could have been hacked by rival restaurants or food critics. When I emailed the chefs involved, seeking clarification about this extraordinary breach of gastronomic protocol, only silence greeted me—a silence more eloquent than any words, more refined than any sauce, more mysterious than any secret ingredient. --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/op-transparent-1.png) Juicy content from food creators [Karan Gokani on Instagram: “COILED ROTI (MALABAR PAROTTA) 🌀🌀🌀 Today’s recipe is the iconic multi-layered flatbread that can be found in various shapes and forms across India, Sri Lanka and even Malaysia. Here’s my simple, no fail recipe using just a few basic ingredients: 100ml milk 100ml water 300g plain flour 1/3 tsp salt 1/2 tsp sugar Pinch of baking powder Vegetable oil 1\. Mix all the ingredients above, except the oil, and knead into a soft dough. Ball up, drizzle some oil over, cover and rest for 3 hours or overnight. 2\. Roll out or slap out as thinly as possible. Drizzle some more oil over and pleat the dough and coil it into a tight ball. Rest covered for an hour or two. 3\. Roll out into rotis and cook on a medium pan flipping and drizzling over oil as required. Make sure you have some extras for my next recipe, a terrific kothu 🔥 Enjoy! #srilanka #indianfood #recipe #indian101 #easyrecipe #food #simplysrilankan #bread #roti #parotta”4,239 likes, 95 comments - karancooks on February 6, 2025: “COILED ROTI (MALABAR PAROTTA) 🌀🌀🌀 Today’s recipe is the iconic multi-layered flatbread that can be found in various shapes and forms across India, Sri Lanka and even Malaysia. Here’s my simple, no fail recipe using just a few basic ingredients: 100ml milk 100ml water 300g plain flour 1/3 tsp salt 1/2 tsp sugar Pinch of baking powder Vegetable oil 1\. Mix all the ingredients above, except the oil, and knead into a soft dough. Ball up, drizzle some oil over, cover and rest for 3 hours or overnight. 2\. Roll out or slap out as thinly as possible. Drizzle some more oil over and pleat the dough and coil it into a tight ball. Rest covered for an hour or two. 3\. Roll out into rotis and cook on a medium pan flipping and drizzling over oil as required. Make sure you have some extras for my next recipe, a terrific kothu 🔥 Enjoy! #srilanka #indianfood #recipe #indian101 #easyrecipe #food #simplysrilankan #bread #roti #parotta”.![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/icon/De-Dwpd5CHc-5.png)Instagram![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/thumbnail/476384263_18486768130051907_839696933037727392_n.jpg)](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DFu3BcFNuhl/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/Hunger-1.png) 🍊[Essential Food Tricks](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DHUFB0CNbR1?ref=secretbreakfast.com) by Arantza 🍜Free Movie: [The God of Ramen](https://en.jff.jpf.go.jp/movie/the-god-of-ramen/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) (also on [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMYkDNxew5o&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🍳Again: [E is for Egg(less) Recipes](https://dotart.blog/karin-wanderer-learns/e-is-for-egg-less-recipes?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🥚[Food as a Supporting Character](https://www.foodandwine.com/severance-season-2-food-moments-amazon-2025-11700563?ref=secretbreakfast.com) in the Tv Show Severance (and [more](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/19/dining/severance-lumon-food.html?unlocked%5Farticle%5Fcode=1.5k4.w-l8.gjK1ywBrz%5Fir&smid=url-share&utm%5Fsource=newsletter&utm%5Fmedium=email&utm%5Fcampaign=newsletter%5Faxiospm&stream=top) on that) 🌶️Candied Jalapeños (★[recipe](https://www.southernliving.com/candied-jalapenos-7497374?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 👊🏻[How To Fight FatPhobia](https://www.metropolitanreview.org/p/the-moral-authority-of-a-body?ref=thebrowser.com) 🇮🇹[Sfogliatelle Demo from scratch](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZMgXle0Sa4&ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🤓For Geeks Only: [the html review 04](https://thehtml.review/04/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/White---19-.png) ### [My Mom’s Aggression Cookies Were Her Way of Coping With a Stressful World](https://www.foodandwine.com/my-moms-aggression-cookies-11693156?hid=b65c06b8bb54449e12b2324cde45cf069f804769&did=16941543-20250321&utm%5Fcampaign=faw-top10%5Fnewsletter&utm%5Fsource=faw&utm%5Fmedium=email&utm%5Fcontent=032125&lctg=b65c06b8bb54449e12b2324cde45cf069f804769&lr%5Finput=969bf86e4d337bb74ec41d7fc4fcb4cbce448adc9ea58fc46f58a8b14ca494da) **Jackie Summers / Food&Wine** "As a kid it never occurred to ask what my Mom had to be aggressive about. As an adult, now I know it’s a wonder she managed to channel her rage through baking. The women who made Aggression Cookies through the years, especially Black women like my mom, taught me baking as an act of defiance". --- ### [Keep coming back](https://open.substack.com/pub/rojospinks/p/keep-coming-back?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Rosie Spinks / What Do We Do Now That We're Here?** A must read. This awesome essay emphasizes the importance of building community by regularly attending low-cost, local gatherings centered around shared interests. It highlights how these consistent, accessible spaces, often involving food or drink, facilitate genuine human connection and combat the isolating effects of modern life. The author advocates for actively creating and participating in such "regular containers" to foster meaningful relationships and counteract the anti-social trends of our time. [](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZMgXle0Sa4&ref=secretbreakfast.com) --- 🔥 Last week's most clicked link was the app [Your Life in Weeks.](https://lifeweeks.app/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) And that's all for today. --- ### A New Recipe for Secret Breakfast: Open, Free, and Shared URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/open-free-and-shared/ Last updated: 2025-03-24T14:49:29.000Z 🫶 TL;DR → ****Secret Breakfast Food Newsletter** is changing its approach: ****no longer a closed club, but an open website** where anyone can read every issue without barriers. Even via RSS. ### The Joy of Sharing When I’m having lunch with my family and order a great dish, the first thing I want to do is share it with my daughters. In fact, whenever I eat something memorable, I wish that everyone in the restaurant, my neighbors, and even my distant friends could experience the same joy. The *Secret Breakfast* newsletter was born from this spirit of sharing. It’s as unpredictable as my restaurant choices, as irregular as my meals, and as curious, reckless, or irreverent as my current mood. ### The Illusion of the Closed Newsletter But like many things that have emerged on the Web in recent years, it has also been trapped in a misconception: the idea—or rather, the illusion—that a newsletter must be a closed space, an exclusive club protected by a pop-up urging you to subscribe to access a world of words. Five years ago, when I started sending a weekly email, I hoped to find an audience. And like many others, I tried to keep that audience engaged, ensuring they remained within our digital space, seeing a few ads to cover the costs of sending emails (after a certain number of weekly sends, I'm afraid even hobbies become expensive). In a small community, I felt like I ended up doing what the tech giants do to us, our apps, and *our content* on *their* social media platforms. I was trapping people. I was wrong. I'm sorry. --- ### A New Model for Secret Breakfast Since February 2025, I’ve completely rethought the sustainability model of *Secret Breakfast*, the software that runs it, and my approach to readership. - *Secret Breakfast* remains a weekly newsletter about food, cooking, and culinary culture, sent out every Wednesday. - You can sign up at [Secretbreakfast.com](https://secretbreakfast.com/) to make sure you never miss an issue. - But now, it’s also an open website where anyone can read every single edition—no subscription walls, no pop-ups, no barriers. - For the more tech-savvy, there’s also an [RSS feed](https://secretbreakfast.com/rss/) so you can follow *Secret Breakfast* along with your favorite websites (RSS is an amazing and simple technology—let me know if you’d like me to explain it more). --- ### The Technology Behind the Change For those curious about the tech side: after years of using Mailoctopus, Mailchimp, and Beehiiv, I’ve decided to switch to Ghost, a free and open-source platform that allows me to create highly readable websites and newsletters without the pressure to monetize every link or subscriber list. Think of the popularity of the Substack model, I'm going the other way. By doing this, *Secret Breakfast* feels more like my own—but also more like everyone’s. It’s no longer a closed circle but an open space. After all, open spaces are what have allowed societies to evolve, enriched by diverse ideas, new flavors, and incredible cultures. ### No Fear of an Open Door I’m not afraid that opening the doors will make readers leave. On the contrary, I hope many more will join us. And if someone decides to leave but later wants to return, they will always find someone ready to listen to their stories—perhaps over a warm dish that, once again, we’ll all want to share. --- *Photo by* [*Bernard Hermant*](https://unsplash.com/it/@bernardhermant?utm%5Fcontent=creditCopyText&utm%5Fmedium=referral&utm%5Fsource=unsplash) *via* [*Unsplash*](https://unsplash.com/it/foto/testo-lettera-flsQZ-%5F8r1M?utm%5Fcontent=creditCopyText&utm%5Fmedium=referral&utm%5Fsource=unsplash) ### Morning Excesses and Egg-sistential Dreads 🍳 URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/excess/ Last updated: 2025-03-19T12:13:58.000Z ### Welcome to Secret Breakfast / The best place to look for egg substitutes, hack mayo, bake Miyazaki's cakes, and play pasta roulette in a spirit of genuine overindulgence Hi there! This one marks the fourth issue since Secret Breakfast became a 100% totally open newsletter. The email should land in your inbox with no problems (please, move it away from spam or promotion folder). No affiliated links, no sponsors. The [website](https://secretbreakfast.com/) has no gates or pop-ups, and you can search almost everything from the archives of the past years. I hope you find this newsletter a reliable alternative to less trustworthy gatekeepers and a safe space from those ubiquitous algorithms. New improvements are coming, but for now, enjoy the many interesting links of this issue. Or let them sit, disconnect, and just enjoy Spring! *Photograph: Niharika Kulkarni/AFP/Getty Images. Prayagra, India. Candyfloss sellers at the end of the Maha Kumbh Mela festival.* --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/quote-transparent-1-1.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/03/hunter.png) **✹Hunter S. Thompson,** [writer](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hunter%5FS.%5FThompson?ref=secretbreakfast.com). It goes like this, if you want [the full experience](https://www.vice.com/en/article/i-ate-hunter-s-thompsons-infamous-breakfast-and-ill-never-do-it-again/?ref=secretbreakfast.com): “*Breakfast is the only meal of the day that I tend to view with the same kind of traditionalized reverence that most people associate with Lunch and Dinner. I like to eat breakfast alone, and almost never before noon; anybody with a terminally jangled lifestyle needs at least one psychic anchor every twenty-four hours, and mine is breakfast. In Hong Kong, Dallas or at home — and regardless of whether or not I have been to bed — breakfast is a personal ritual that can only be properly observed alone, and in a spirit of genuine excess. The food factor should always be massive: four Bloody Marys* (★[recipe](https://www.loveandlemons.com/bloody-mary-recipe/?ref=secretbreakfast.com))*, two grapefruits, a pot of coffee, Rangoon crepes* (★[recipe](https://www.builicious.com/2014/08/04/crab-rangoon-crepes/?ref=secretbreakfast.com))*, a half-pound of either sausage, bacon, or corned beef hash with diced chiles, a Spanish omelette* (★[recipe](https://www.themediterraneandish.com/spanish-tortilla-recipe/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) *or eggs Benedict* (★[recipe](https://www.seriouseats.com/food-lab-foolproof-eggs-benedict-recipe?ref=secretbreakfast.com))*, a quart of milk, a chopped lemon for random seasoning, and something like a slice of Key lime pie* (★[recipe](https://www.onceuponachef.com/recipes/key-lime-pie.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com))*, two margaritas* (★[recipe](https://punchdrink.com/articles/best-margarita-recipe-history/?ref=secretbreakfast.com))*, and six lines of the best cocaine for dessert (*✖︎*no recipe)… Right, and there should also be two or three newspapers, all mail and messages, a telephone, a notebook for planning the next twenty-four hours and at least one source of good music… All of which should be dealt with outside, in the warmth of a hot sun, and preferably stone naked*”. --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/book-transparent-1.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/03/salt.jpg) #### MSG, as in ****M**y ****S**ecret ****G**uilt [Calvin Eng](https://www.instagram.com/calvinhungry/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)'s cookbook elevates familiar dishes with clever tweaks, exemplified by his extra-plush Hong Kong egg scramble, proving even simple recipes can showcase culinary mastery, much like a well-executed egg in a professional kitchen. Eng's approach, focused on home cooking, avoids fussy restaurant techniques, instead offering accessible upgrades like shrimp-paste butter and beefy black bean garlic sauce, proving that even [a "haiyaa" level (hi, Uncle Roger!)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JNFAjcJuVQw&ref=secretbreakfast.com) of MSG joke loving chef can create approachable and delicious food. [****Salt Sugar MSG: Recipes and Stories from a Cantonese American**](https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/734868/salt-sugar-msg-by-calvin-eng-with-phoebe-melnick/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **by Calvin Eng with Phoebe Melnick** ****→ Shortplot:** 🍤 🍚 🧄 🧂 ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/White---22--1.png) ## The Unhappiest Days of an Egg-sistential Despair ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/03/ks-kyung-xNJJvB0AkZ8-unsplash.jpg) Recent outbreaks of avian influenza (bird flu) have caused egg prices to surge globally. Some restaurant chains in the US have implemented surcharges on menu items containing eggs, while others have chosen to absorb the increased costs. Notably, when avian influenza is detected on an egg farm, all poultry on the premises are culled to prevent further spread. Consequently, the impact is greatest on countries with larger, intensive farming operations (For now, it's just an example, [Canada has plenty of eggs](https://www.npr.org/2025/03/18/nx-s1-5330454/egg-shortages-record-prices-usda-canada?ref=secretbreakfast.com)). This highlights the vulnerability of large-scale, intensive farming to disease outbreaks. Food websites are hatching hundreds of posts about eggs and substitutions. Here we go: [Egg Prices Are (Still) Up. Here Are 5 Easy Substitutes.](https://cooking.nytimes.com/article/egg-substitutes-baking-cooking?searchResultPosition=14&ref=secretbreakfast.com) [25 Desserts That Don’t Require a Single Egg, From Cookies to Cheesecake](https://www.foodandwine.com/eggless-desserts-11678435?hid=b65c06b8bb54449e12b2324cde45cf069f804769&did=16665092-20250315&utm%5Fcampaign=faw%5Frelationship-builder&utm%5Fsource=faw&utm%5Fmedium=email&utm%5Fcontent=031525&lctg=b65c06b8bb54449e12b2324cde45cf069f804769&lr%5Finput=969bf86e4d337bb74ec41d7fc4fcb4cbce448adc9ea58fc46f58a8b14ca494da) And this [Vegan Chocolate Cupcakes Recipe](https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1012423-vegan-chocolate-cupcakes?ref=secretbreakfast.com) [](https://pastaroulette.glitch.me/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) *Photo:* [*KS KYUNG*](https://unsplash.com/it/@mygallery?utm%5Fcontent=creditCopyText&utm%5Fmedium=referral&utm%5Fsource=unsplash) *via* [*Unsplash*](https://unsplash.com/it/foto/uovo-fritto-in-ciotola-xNJJvB0AkZ8?utm%5Fcontent=creditCopyText&utm%5Fmedium=referral&utm%5Fsource=unsplash) --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/op-transparent-1.png) Juicy content from food creators [Remy’s baking on Instagram: “Cheese Melaleuca (Miyazaki Hayao’s Summer) 奶酪千层(宮崎骏的夏天) Ingredients: ● Melaleuca : 3 eggs, 30g sugar, 250g milk, 25g melted butter, 90g low-gluten flour, 3g matcha powder, 2g butterfly pea powder. ● Cheese filling: 150g cream cheese, 300g whipped cream, 30g sugar. ● Coloring cream: \~50g whipped cream + 6g matcha powder. \~50g whipped cream + 4g butterfly pea powder. 材料: ●千层皮: 鸡蛋3个、 砂糖30g、 牛奶250g、 融化黄油 25g、 低筋面粉90g、 抹茶粉3g、 蝶豆花粉2g。 ●奶酪夹心: 奶油奶酪150g、 淡奶油300g、 砂糖30g。 ●调色奶油: \~淡奶油50g+抹茶粉6g。 \~淡奶油50g+蝶豆花粉4g。 #cake #chessecake #bread #baking #cream #chocolatecake #cheese #matcha #melaleuca”27K likes, 32 comments - remys\_baking on December 28, 2024: “Cheese Melaleuca (Miyazaki Hayao’s Summer) 奶酪千层(宮崎骏的夏天) Ingredients: ● Melaleuca : 3 eggs, 30g sugar, 250g milk, 25g melted butter, 90g low-gluten flour, 3g matcha powder, 2g butterfly pea powder. ● Cheese filling: 150g cream cheese, 300g whipped cream, 30g sugar. ● Coloring cream: \~50g whipped cream + 6g matcha powder. \~50g whipped cream + 4g butterfly pea powder. 材料: ●千层皮: 鸡蛋3个、 砂糖30g、 牛奶250g、 融化黄油 25g、 低筋面粉90g、 抹茶粉3g、 蝶豆花粉2g。 ●奶酪夹心: 奶油奶酪150g、 淡奶油300g、 砂糖30g。 ●调色奶油: \~淡奶油50g+抹茶粉6g。 \~淡奶油50g+蝶豆花粉4g。 #cake #chessecake #bread #baking #cream #chocolatecake #cheese #matcha #melaleuca”.![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/icon/De-Dwpd5CHc-4.png)Instagram![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/thumbnail/471778189_18255621493286612_6318031457386176124_n.jpg)](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DEJd3aRy%5Ftk?ref=secretbreakfast.com) --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/Hunger-1.png) 💐22 Spring Pasta Ideas (★[recipes](https://www.foodandwine.com/spring-pasta-recipes-6400955?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🥚[14 Ways to Hack Store-Bought Mayonnaise](https://www.foodandwine.com/how-to-hack-mayo-11697366?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🌮Misleading emoji for Jose Pizarro’s recipe for hot cross torrijas with saffron syrup (★[recipe](https://www.theguardian.com/food/2025/mar/18/hot-cross-torrijas-saffron-syrup-recipe-jose-pizarro?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🫚The BBC Maestro Visual [Spice Guide](https://www.instagram.com/p/DHVrLj6oqhu/?utm%5Fsource=ig%5Fweb%5Fcopy%5Flink) 🧈Timothée Chalamet, but [wearing a butter suit](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DHB-%5FYyzW9I/?igsh=bXB0bW4zZ2ducDNk&ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🤓[Bill Gates](https://www.gatesnotes.com/home/home-page-topic/reader/how-to-feed-the-world?ref=secretbreakfast.com)' favorite book is about food 📖Finally, [Vittles Goes on Paper](https://www.vittlesmagazine.com/p/vittles-magazine-issue-1?r=727n3&utm%5Fcampaign=post&utm%5Fmedium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false&ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🔫[5 Things to Do When Another Diner Is Being Too Loud](https://www.foodandwine.com/5-things-to-do-when-another-diner-is-being-too-loud-11695143?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🤳🏻[Selfie sticks and AK–47s: the surreal rise of Taliban tourism](https://www.businessinsider.com/youtube-afghanistan-tiktok-adventure-taliban-tourism-influencers-ak47s-selfie-sticks-2025-3?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🟩 [Create a map of your life with each week as a little box](https://lifeweeks.app/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🍝[Pasta Roulette](https://pastaroulette.glitch.me/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🍞Cinnamon toast cookies! (★[recipe](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-rTIjNfs3U&t=4s&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🎧From 2025 SXSW, listen to [From the “Strawberry Girl” aesthetic to “Blueberry Milk” nails, the collision of food, beauty and fashion is trending](https://schedule.sxsw.com/2025/events/PP155468?ref=secretbreakfast.com) and [#TrashQueens: The Women Reimagining Food from the Waste Up](https://schedule.sxsw.com/2025/events/PP152398?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 📋Some Fresh [*White Lotus* Memes for your group chat](https://www.threads.net/@bustle/post/DHWfRFqJ6ll?xmt=AQGzFJRK4KGXzMiSyLz%5FjGsnvUIvwyg8DfJ5k5WVXxPlLQ&ref=secretbreakfast.com) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/White---19-.png) ### [How Beyond Meat and the plant-based meat industry lost their allure](https://www.cnbc.com/2025/03/10/how-beyond-meat-and-the-plant-based-meat-industry-lost-their-allure.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Jeff Huang / CNBC** Ok, this somehow makes me happy, since one no-written rule of this newsletter is that we (=me) don't like things shaped like other things. --- ### [The Weight of Our Time](https://maried.substack.com/p/the-weight-of-our-time?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Marie Dollé / In Bed With Social** In cooking we use scales. A lot. Because in the physical world, weight is tangible. In the digital world, weight dissolves. "The issue isn’t weight itself, but its invisibility. What cannot be seen cannot be measured, and what cannot be measured cannot be controlled". From *Gravity Economy* to *Social Density*, Marie writes how to find our weight again. --- 🔥 Last week's most clicked link was [The Most Walkable Cities in the World](https://www.visualcapitalist.com/mapped-the-most-walkable-cities-in-the-world?ref=secretbreakfast.com). And that's all for today. Oh, no, it's not... ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/03/walton.jpg) If you know what this face refers to, write back --- ### Fried flowers and Low-Carb Mexican 🌸 URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/fried-flowers/ Last updated: 2025-03-12T12:31:59.000Z ### Welcome to Secret Breakfast / The best place to start your day with Chinese tea, prison food, Australian coffee and AI-developed wine ### Hi there! There must be something wrong in the relationship between food and public events (or in my Google search workflow). A few days ago, during the Paris Fashion Week, the Louvre Museum hosted a stellar dinner - le Grand Dîner du Louvre - with lots of well dressed celebs. It was a [success](https://presse.louvre.fr/succes-pour-le-grand-diner-du-louvre/?ref=secretbreakfast.com): it collected 1,4 million euros for the museum. "Dîner" means "Dinner" so I expected to *easily* find anyone who communicated the menu by cheffe [Anne-Sophie Pic](https://www.instagram.com/p/DG0uZDTC8EM/?ref=secretbreakfast.com), that delighted about 350 people. Nor the Louvre, nor Pic herself. It's such a pity when food is such an undervalued aspect - while an overpriced accessory - in something called "dinner". If Paris disappointed me, Beijing means certitude: the National People’s Congress with its iconic tea-ladies it's always there. That's why they earned the picture spot in today's newsletter. 谢谢! Piero *Picture: Hostesses prepare tea for delegates before the plenary session for National People’s Congress at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China. (*[*AP Photo/Vincent Thian*](https://apnews.com/article/china-congress-communist-party-photo-gallery-0a3679b2a84c3509bc9de87b96f2a22d?ref=secretbreakfast.com)*)* --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/quote-transparent-1-1.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/03/neruda.png) ✹Pablo Neruda, poet. What would he think about these Lemon Ricotta Stuffed Zucchini Blossoms (★[recipe](https://tastykitchen.com/blog/2012/08/lemon-ricotta-stuffed-zucchini-blossoms/?ref=secretbreakfast.com))? --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/book-transparent-1.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/03/capture-2025-03-12-alle-08.38.41.jpg) #### Recipes of hope Sepideh Gholian, an Iranian political prisoner, documents her experiences and resistance against the regime through this "cookbook". It features recipes like pumpkin pie dedicated to fellow activist (and Nobel Prize) Narges Mohammadi, and date crumble for Fatima Muthanna. What to say? [Her work](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/mar/09/crumble-cookies-and-madeleines-recipes-of-hope-for-irans-jailed-women?ref=secretbreakfast.com) illuminates the harsh realities of imprisonment under the Iranian government, while also highlighting acts of solidarity and resilience within the prison, amidst a context of political suppression and limited freedoms. [****The Evin Prison Bakers' Club. Surviving Iran's Most Notorious Prisons in 16 Recipes**](https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Evin-Prison-Bakers-Club/Sepideh-Gholian/9781836430308?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **by Sepideh Gholian** ****→ Shortplot:** 🇮🇷 🥮 📚 🕊️ ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/White---22--1.png) ## A damn fine cup of coffee ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/03/noma.jpg) So, Noma, the culinary powerhouse, [started brewing their own coffee](https://nomaprojects.com/blogs/journal/from-idea-to-reality-how-we-got-into-this-whole-coffee-roasting-game?ref=secretbreakfast.com). It it not just a gimmick; it is a statement. They always wanted to control every aspect of the dining experience, from the foraged ingredients to the final cup. And I must admit that, when I had dinner there I was astonished by the quality of the coffee: I had two or three cups served in a well-thought clay cup. This attention to detail reflects a growing trend in the specialty coffee world, a shift towards treating coffee less as a commodity and more as a crafted experience (Speaking of crafted experiences, according to the Top 100 Best Coffee Shops, [Toby's Estate in Sydney, Australia](https://www.foodandwine.com/worlds-best-coffee-shop-tobys-estate-sydney-australia-2025-11688881?ref=secretbreakfast.com), holds the title of the world's best). The journey from bean to cup is complex, as exemplified by Noma's exploration of coffee production in Colombia. It's a reminder that coffee, like wine, deserves to be appreciated for the labor and artistry behind it. We need to move away from the idea of cheap coffee and recognize the value of sustainable practices, fair wages for farmers, and the meticulous process that goes into producing a truly exceptional cup. Just as we wouldn't expect a fine wine to be mass-produced and sold at rock-bottom prices, we should extend the same respect to coffee. Treating coffee as a premium product ensures a better future for everyone involved in its production, from the farmers in the fields to the baristas crafting your morning brew. --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/op-transparent-1.png) Juicy content from food creators [Emprende con Postres on Instagram: ”🍯🧁BOCADITOS DE CHEESECAKE Y BAKLAVA🧁🍯 comenta YO para recibir info sobre mi ebook😃 Para 36 bocados 375g de masa Fillo 120g mantequilla sin sal derretida 1 taza miel RELLENO 250 g de queso crema, a temperatura ambiente 2 cdas miel 1½ cdtas canela ½ taza nueces picadas 300ml nata para montar o crema de leche Nueces picadas para decorar Saca tu masa filo del frigorífico para que alcance la temperatura ambiente en su envoltorio. Precalienta tu horno a 180C. Necesitarás dos moldes para mini cupcakes de 24 huecos. BASE Desenrolla la masa hasta que tengas una pila plana. Separa en dos pilas iguales. Con el lado más corto de la masa mirando hacia ti, enrolla la pila de masa filo hasta formar un rollo. Con un cuchillo afilado, corta en rodajas finas y uniformes, entre 18 y 20 en total. Coloca cada rebanada en un hueco del molde para cupcakes. Repite con la segunda pila de masa. Vierta una cucharadita de mantequilla uniformemente sobre cada base. Hornea por 25-28 minutos o hasta que esté dorado. Retira del horno y vierte miel sobre cada uno. Deja reposar en la bandeja para hornear durante al menos 30 minutos, luego colócalos a una fuente para servir. RELLENO Bate queso crema, canela y miel hasta obtener una consistencia suave. Agrega la nata o crema de leche y bate hasta que esté espesa. Incorpora las nueces. Vierte la mezcla a una manga pastelera y decora sobre las bases de rollos de baklava. Espolvorea nueces picadas. #pasteleria #postres #recetasfaciles #pasteleriaartesanal”3,478 likes, 99 comments - emprendepostres\_ok on February 18, 2025: ”🍯🧁BOCADITOS DE CHEESECAKE Y BAKLAVA🧁🍯 comenta YO para recibir info sobre mi ebook😃 Para 36 bocados 375g de masa Fillo 120g mantequilla sin sal derretida 1 taza miel RELLENO 250 g de queso crema, a temperatura ambiente 2 cdas miel 1½ cdtas canela ½ taza nueces picadas 300ml nata para montar o crema de leche Nueces picadas para decorar Saca tu masa filo del frigorífico para que alcance la temperatura ambiente en su envoltorio. Precalienta tu horno a 180C. Necesitarás dos moldes para mini cupcakes de 24 huecos. BASE Desenrolla la masa hasta que tengas una pila plana. Separa en dos pilas iguales. Con el lado más corto de la masa mirando hacia ti, enrolla la pila de masa filo hasta formar un rollo. Con un cuchillo afilado, corta en rodajas finas y uniformes, entre 18 y 20 en total. Coloca cada rebanada en un hueco del molde para cupcakes. Repite con la segunda pila de masa. Vierta una cucharadita de mantequilla uniformemente sobre cada base. Hornea por 25-28 minutos o hasta que esté dorado. Retira del horno y vierte miel sobre cada uno. Deja reposar en la bandeja para hornear durante al menos 30 minutos, luego colócalos a una fuente para servir. RELLENO Bate queso crema, canela y miel hasta obtener una consistencia suave. Agrega la nata o crema de leche y bate hasta que esté espesa. Incorpora las nueces. Vierte la mezcla a una manga pastelera y decora sobre las bases de rollos de baklava. Espolvorea nueces picadas. #pasteleria #postres #recetasfaciles #pasteleriaartesanal”.![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/icon/De-Dwpd5CHc-3.png)Instagram![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/thumbnail/479968719_1133984378033326_6814499144972865561_n.jpg)](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DGO8fvqqXNs?ref=secretbreakfast.com) --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/Hunger-1.png) 🇲🇽Make Dinner Easy with These 23 Low-Carb Mexican Recipes (★[recipes](https://tinybatchcooking.com/dinner-easy-low-carb-mexican-recipes/??ref=secretbreakfast.com))🚶🏼‍♀️[The Most Walkable Cities in the World](https://www.visualcapitalist.com/mapped-the-most-walkable-cities-in-the-world/?utm%5Fsource=join1440&utm%5Fmedium=email&utm%5Fplacement=newsletter&user%5Fid=66c4c385600ae1507593f25c) 👸🏻[Merlyn Miller Watched Meghan Markle’s New Show, and These Are the 3 Breakfast Tips You Need to Know](https://www.foodandwine.com/meghan-markle-breakfast-tips-11692701?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🍰The 20 best dessert recipes to comfort and delight [(★recipes)](https://www.theguardian.com/food/2025/mar/03/from-the-simple-to-the-spectacular-the-20-best-dessert-recipes-to-comfort-and-delight?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🥧Gluten-Free Cheesecake (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DGz3vsNI4gB?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🌝10-minute peanut butter noodles, chocolate chipless cookies and 35 Late-Night Snacks Both Savory and Sweet [(★recipes)](https://www.bonappetit.com/gallery/late-night-snacks-recipes?ref=secretbreakfast.com)🍦[Ice cream for breakfast + add caviar](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w8HPzaud4XM&ref=secretbreakfast.com) ❤️‍🔥How To Make a Corn - let's say "*C*orn" - Star Martini (★[recipe](https://www.liquor.com/porn-star-martini-cocktail-recipe-5076288?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🍕[Monica Lewinsky Once Wrote a Poem About Pizza](https://www.grubstreet.com/article/monica-lewinsky-grub-street-diet.html??ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🐮From burritos to baklava bowls: the best things to make with cottage cheese (★[recipes](https://www.theguardian.com/food/2025/mar/11/from-burritos-to-baklava-the-best-things-to-make-with-cottage-cheese?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🌶️[Why Are So Many Chefs De-Spicing Their Menus?](https://www.grubstreet.com/article/nyc-chefs-toning-down-very-spicy-food.html??ref=secretbreakfast.com) ⚽️[An octopus sandwich in Serie B cost half the price of a beer at an MLS game](https://www.instagram.com/p/DGyD8qeRrm6/?igsh=Zm11eTlydmc4bzVz&ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🐙BTW, the male blue-lined octopus [injects females with venom during s\*x to avoid being eaten](https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/mar/11/blue-lined-octopus-sex-venom-tetrodotoxin?ref=secretbreakfast.com) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/White---19-.png) ### [AI made its way to vineyards. Here's how the technology is helping make your wine](https://apnews.com/article/ai-artificial-intelligence-wineries-vineyards-9afba3e163e8efc6c710210a83970dd1??ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Sarah Parvini / AP** In vineyards, AI is used in tractors to map rows, gather data on crop health, and enable autonomous driving for tasks like spraying and irrigation, contributing to "precision farming." Additionally, AI helps in analyzing vineyard conditions to predict yields, detect diseases, and optimize resource use, assisting farmers in making informed decisions and improving efficiency. Wow! --- ### [Welcome to the Zero Sum Era. Now How Do We Get Out](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/01/world/asia/trump-zero-sum-world.html?unlocked%5Farticle%5Fcode=1.3U4.fwcs.k0NIWeQXrwWP&smid=url-share&ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Damien Cave / The New York Times** A *zero-sum game* is a situation where one person's gain is equivalent to another person's loss, so the net change in wealth or benefit is zero. Imagine baking a single pie. If two people want the pie, and one person eats a larger slice, the other person automatically gets a smaller slice. There's a limited amount of pie, so one person's gain (more pie) directly results in the other person's loss (less pie). Ok, then: what if that is the zeitgeist of the world we live now? Where the *win-win* framework has gone? --- 🔥 Last week's most clicked link was [The Best Parisian Sandwich](https://www.timeout.fr/paris/actualites/ce-bistrot-parisien-sert-le-meilleur-sandwich-du-monde-selon-time-out-022125?ref=secretbreakfast.com). And that's all for **aujourd'hui*. --- ### The Academy Winner Cookbook 🥟 URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/anora-oscars/ Last updated: 2025-03-05T12:52:58.000Z ### Welcome to Secret Breakfast / The best place to start your day with awarded actor's meals, frozen pelmeni, and a free South Asian recipe ebook ### Hi there! This is the second issue from the new platform running Secret Breakfast from [*secretbreakfast.com*](https://secretbreakfast.com/). I hope you noticed that the site is completely open and searchable. I managed to import about 80% of the previous issues (even if the script I used didn't like some long reads that I now have to import manually). Also, I'm afraid I have to go again with this note. ⚠️ If you've found this issue in the "Promo" or "Updates" tag of your Gmail, I hope you can move it to your "Primary" section (and answer "yes" when Google asks) I don't wanna bother you too much with the tech bits, so let the party begin. Piero *Photograph: Emma Laird,* [*The Brutalist*](https://www.imdb.com/it/title/tt8999762/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)*.* --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/quote-transparent-1-1.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/03/Ina-Garten.png) ✺ **Ina Garten**, her latest book is [*Be Ready When the Luck Happens*](https://www.eater.com/24328224/ina-garten-memoir-be-ready-when-the-luck-happens-review?ref=secretbreakfast.com). --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/book-transparent-1.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/03/capture-2025-03-04-alle-14.00.08-1.jpg) #### Who put Masala in my Mardi Gras? (FREE EBOOK LINK) The Krewe of Bhan Gras, a South Asian dance group in New Orleans, has pioneered a unique Mardi Gras parade tradition by distributing professionally printed cookbooks featuring 18 family recipes ranging from chana masala to Sri Lankan love cake. [This cookbook](https://www.canva.com/design/DAGcA37WCG8/a1IVJdmi6gwA3XJ07Ysigw/view?utlId=hbc1c40b75e&ref=secretbreakfast.com#1) (18 recipes), distributed alongside 1,000 chai recipe magnets during four parades, represents a collective effort by approximately 100 members, many of whom are medical professionals who first met through a diasporic food community. [****2025 COOKBOOK**](https://bhangras.my.canva.site/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **by Krewe da Bhan Gras** Shortplot **→** 🥭 🍛 🌶️ 🥥 ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/White---22--1.png) ## The Refreshing Taste of Triumph ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/03/capture-2025-03-04-alle-09.43.44.jpg) Vache Tovmasyan in **Anora* The Academy Awards ride was crazy this year. The winning movie was [*Anora*](https://www.imdb.com/it/title/tt28607951/?ref%5F=fn%5Fall%5Fttl%5F1&ref=secretbreakfast.com), directed by Sean Baker, which follows a Russian-American sex worker who unexpectedly marries the son of a Russian oligarch. The whole film production probably costed less than a Birthday Dinner at the Eleven Madison Park. \*\*\* 🥟 Is food involved in the movie? Well, to me a bag of frozen pelmeni (★[video recipe](https://www.instagram.com/vmeats/reel/DGlJyQ3yxUi/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) \+ [recipe](https://www.babushkacooking.com/pelmeni-russian-meat-dumplings/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) used as an ice pack is the right answer to the question. But in *Anora*, food is subtle: it represents both necessity and occasional luxury. Her relationship with food reflects her precarious economic situation, making moments of culinary indulgence particularly meaningful. **Also who prepares food, who serves it, and who consumes it establishes social hierarchies.** When Anora cooks for her new husband, it marks a temporary shift in their relationship, while lavish restaurant scenes with his family emphasize wealth disparities. \*\*\* That said, Anora is portrayed by the new Academy Awards Winner for Best Actress Mikey Madison, who posed for W Magazine as a [doughnut bandit](https://www.wmagazine.com/culture/mikey-madison-sean-baker-hoyeon-cover-interview?ref=secretbreakfast.com) (and for that we love her). 🍪 Ms Madison is also pretty skilled in [baking chocolate chips cookies](https://www.timesnownews.com/lifestyle/food/news/oscar-winner-mikey-madison-loves-her-vegan-chocolate-chip-cookie-topped-with-flaky-salt-article-118680607?ref=secretbreakfast.com) (★[video recipe](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nT6kc0w-Mj0&ref=secretbreakfast.com) with Drew Barrymore). 🍚Best Supporting Actress (for *Emilia Pérez*) **Zoe Saldaña** can teach [The Best (and Only) Way to Cook Rice](https://www.eatingwell.com/zoe-saldana-secret-for-cooking-perfect-rice-11681888??ref=secretbreakfast.com). 🥪Best Supporting Actor (for *A Real Pain*) **Kieran Culkin** is more of a [drunk late night grilled cheese sandwich kind of guy](https://www.instagram.com/firstwefeast/reel/C9Vx9vaviY%5F/?ref=secretbreakfast.com). 🧐Best Actor Award Winner (for *The Brutalist*), **Adrien Brody**, [Tossed a Chewing-Gum Ahead of his Speech](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/03/style/adrien-brody-gum-best-actor-oscars-speech.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com) and says he has a[ Need to Constantly Be Cooking Creatively](https://theplaylist.net/adrien-brody-i-have-a-need-to-constantly-be-cooking-creatively-20241218/?ref=secretbreakfast.com). Anyway, here's [How to Eat Like a Brutalist, According to Carsten Höller](https://www.anothermag.com/design-living/12037/carsten-holler-brutalist-dining-experience-stockholm?ref=secretbreakfast.com). *Picture: Anora.* --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/02/White---2--1.png) Juicy content from food creators [Nicola Lamb on Instagram: “Don’t let springtime pass you by without making the ✨Fancy Rhubarb Tart✨ from SIFT with layers of rich pistachio frangipane, rhubarb compote and - the star of the show - the perfectly poached rhubarb slices on top. It might look complex, but with great ingredients, a few good pieces of kit and little bit of patience, you’ll have the perfect bake to celebrate Rhubarb at its best. You can pick up a signed copy of SIFT, along with all the bits featured in this video, @boroughkitchen now, instore or online!”9,414 likes, 114 comments - nicolaalamb on February 27, 2025: “Don’t let springtime pass you by without making the ✨Fancy Rhubarb Tart✨ from SIFT with layers of rich pistachio frangipane, rhubarb compote and - the star of the show - the perfectly poached rhubarb slices on top. It might look complex, but with great ingredients, a few good pieces of kit and little bit of patience, you’ll have the perfect bake to celebrate Rhubarb at its best. You can pick up a signed copy of SIFT, along with all the bits featured in this video, @boroughkitchen now, instore or online!”.![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/icon/De-Dwpd5CHc-2.png)Instagram![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/thumbnail/481858107_18489238657011402_2087884056455883918_n.jpg)](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DGlXEFXxDa1/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/Hunger-1.png) 🎭I totally missed Mardi Gras, but beignets are always a great idea (★[recipe](https://www.thekitchn.com/beignets-268400?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🧀Alia Bhatt cooking Mac & Cheese ([video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E2JQrC6yO1U&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 💕[3 Celeb Proposals That Involve Food](https://www.foodandwine.com/celebrity-proposals-with-food-drink-11687439?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🔍I loved this discussion: [What is a food that makes you think, “How did humans discover this was edible?”](https://x.com/stats%5Ffeed/status/1896089379539693625?s=12&ref=secretbreakfast.com) (oh man, cashews are a fruit of Satan) 🥖When in Paris, This could be [le meilleur sandwich du monde](https://www.timeout.fr/paris/actualites/ce-bistrot-parisien-sert-le-meilleur-sandwich-du-monde-selon-time-out-022125?ref=secretbreakfast.com) (Libé [tested it](https://www.liberation.fr/lifestyle/gastronomie/jai-teste-pour-vous-le-jambon-beurre-du-petit-vendome-a-paris-sacre-meilleur-sandwich-du-monde-20250304%5FRRJZ4J7TZJE2XL6I6AHQZIN4FE/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🇫🇷[lA Few Hours in Paris, a city of indulgence](https://open.substack.com/pub/whereiscoriils/p/i-love-paris-a-city-of-indulgence?r=727n3&utm%5Fcampaign=post&utm%5Fmedium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false&ref=secretbreakfast.com) [](https://www.persuasion.community/p/10-observations-about-tokyo?utm%5Fcampaign=post&utm%5Fmedium=web&ref=secretbreakfast.com)🧂[José Andrés Says Fresh Black Pepper Is the Best Substitute for Salt](https://www.foodandwine.com/salt-substitute-jose-andres-8759899?hid=b65c06b8bb54449e12b2324cde45cf069f804769&did=16646990-20250228&utm%5Fcampaign=faw-top10%5Fnewsletter&utm%5Fsource=faw&utm%5Fmedium=email&utm%5Fcontent=022825&lctg=b65c06b8bb54449e12b2324cde45cf069f804769&lr%5Finput=969bf86e4d337bb74ec41d7fc4fcb4cbce448adc9ea58fc46f58a8b14ca494da) 📈[Pitch dating](https://www.lemonde.fr/en/our-times/article/2025/02/28/pitch-dating-or-how-to-sell-your-single-friend-with-a-powerpoint-presentation%5F6738665%5F39.html?utm%5Fsource=semafor), or how to sell your single friend with a PowerPoint presentation 🇯🇵[10 Observations About Tokyo](https://www.persuasion.community/p/10-observations-about-tokyo?utm%5Fcampaign=post&utm%5Fmedium=web&ref=secretbreakfast.com), the world’s most successful failing society 🌎[Food production is now responsible for one-quarter of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions](https://ourworldindata.org/food-ghg-emissions?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🔪[Meet the Feminist Resistance Fighter Who Created the Modern Kitchen](https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/margarete-schutte-lihotzky-frankfurt-kitchen?ref=thebrowser.com) --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/White---19-.png) ### [The AI Kitchen](https://www.digest.madfeed.co/p/the-ai-kitchen?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **MAD Digest** What might artificial intelligence bring to independent, creative restaurants? And an interview with an Academy alum doing the hard work of bringing authentic Mexican cuisine to Greece. --- ### [Why Is My Drink So Damn Weird?](https://punchdrink.com/articles/cocktails-high-concept-history-david-wondrich/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **David Wondrich/ Punch** The cocktail world has undergone a dramatic transformation from classic, predictable drinks to increasingly complex, experimental concoctions, driven by bartenders' desire to create unique, attention-grabbing beverages with multiple obscure ingredients. Despite the current trend of hyper-elaborate mixology—with techniques like hydrosols, fat-washes, and centrifuged ingredients—the author predicts this wave will eventually recede, with bartenders likely returning to simpler pleasures and classic techniques. --- 🔥 Last week's most clicked link was the one about [Louis Vuitton’s gyoza accessories](https://www.tapasmagazine.es/en/louis-vuitton-gyoza-accessories-are-the-new-objects-of-desire/?ref=secretbreakfast.com). And that's all for today, you fashionistas. --- ### Open This If You're Ravenous 🫙 URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/open-this-if-youre-ravenous/ Last updated: 2025-02-26T12:38:24.000Z ### Welcome to Secret Breakfast / The best place to start your day with gyoza bags and ethical shrimp, upgraded popcorns, accordion breads, and - of course - restaurant’s curses ### Hi there! If you're reading this, I'm the luckiest person today. This means the new Secret Breakfast software engine is working and my new address is not in your bin folder. ⚠️ If you've found this issue in the "Promo" or "Updates" tag of your Gmail, I hope you can move it to your "Primary" section (and answer "yes" when Google asks) I don't wanna bother you with the reason for my "operating system" change (I'll leave it to a blog post). For now, you just know: - I'm making Secret Breakfast more **open**; - The newsletter will be out on **Wednesdays**; - I moved the operations to **secretbreakfast.com*,* which will be faster and cleaner than ever; - I refurbished the newsletter **design** and palette like I do every year - We have a new [**Privacy Policy**](https://secretbreakfast.com/privacy-policy/) (same old stuff, but it's the law); I hope you can make yourself at home. Please write back if things aren't working for you, Piero *Photograph:* [*Yasuyoshi Chiba/AFP/Getty*](https://www.theguardian.com/news/gallery/2025/feb/23/french-lambs-silver-person-jakarta-the-weekend-in-pictures?ref=secretbreakfast.com)*; Jakarta, Indonesia; a street performer takes a break to eat.* --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/quote-transparent-1-1.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/02/LAUREN-COOK--6-.png) ✺ Lauren Cook, [*I Love Shopping*](https://nightboat.org/book/i-love-shopping/?ref=secretbreakfast.com). You can read a preview on [Dirt](https://dirt.fyi/article/2025/02/i-love-shopping?ref=secretbreakfast.com). Please notice: it's a dog who's talking. --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/book-transparent-1.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/02/capture-2025-02-25-alle-12.25.36-3.jpg) #### Eastern Europe's Vegetable Revolution Cabbage Strudel? Vegan (and Beef) Borscht? Potato Babka, Pierogi and Walnut Pâté? I'm confident I haven't ever cooked any of these. [Alissa Timoshkina](https://www.alissatimoshkina.com/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)'s book takes us to an unexplored territory that could help us rediscover Ukrainian and Eastern European flavors from often-forgotten vegetables. Plus, I love the cover artwork. [****Kapusta**](https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/466737/kapusta-by-alissa-timoshkina/9781784885854?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **by Alissa Timoshkina** Shortplot **→** 🥬 🧅 🥣 🥟 ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/White---22--1.png) ## The Hidden Symphony on Our Plates ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/02/foodsound.jpg) We are often told that our taste is actually the product of other senses, smell for starters. Now in Trento, Italy, the MUSE Science Museum has an exhibit exploring how sound shapes our eating habits—from triggering appetite to influencing purchasing decisions: its called [Food Sound: The Hidden Sound of Food](https://www.muse.it/en/events/exhibition-food-sound-2025/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) and is made of headphone-guided installations. The exhibition makes me think to popular phenomena like [Mukbang](https://www.vox.com/culture/368208/mukbangs-origin-youtubers-hot-ones-asmr-seafood-boil-taco-bell?ref=secretbreakfast.com) videos with their exaggerated chewing sounds; the soothing crackling of [ASMR food content](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/11/style/asmr-video.html?unlocked%5Farticle%5Fcode=1.z04.7SxJ.GvhC2SkoAxwf&smid=url-share&ref=secretbreakfast.com) that attracts millions of viewers; or even musical groups like the [Vienna Vegetable Orchestra](https://www.vegetableorchestra.org/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) and Collectif SOMA, who transform carrots, peppers, and eggplants into functioning instruments. Their performances reveal that food doesn't just satisfy our taste buds—it creates an entire sensory symphony we rarely consciously perceive. *Picture: Food Sound -* [*Muse Museum*](https://www.muse.it/eventi/mostra-food-sound-2025/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) *in Trento* --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/02/White---2--1.png) Juicy content from food creators [Chiew See on Instagram: ”\~ Accordion Bread\~ \*Sweet stiff starter\* – triple in 7-8hrs at 27-28C 30g starter 90g bread flour 40g water 15g sugar \*dough\* 230g bread flour 20g sugar 4g salt 1 egg (55g) 110g milk 20g butter All of the sweet stiff starter Cocoa paste 10g dark cocoa powder 15g water Method ➡️ Prepare sweet stiff starter and use when it triples, about 7-8hr at 27-28C. ➡️ Mix everything except butter till dough comes together and is strong. ➡️ Add butter gradually and knead until fully incorporated and dough achieves window pane. ➡️ Split dough into two equally ➡️ Add the cocoa paste to one of the dough and mix to combine ➡️ Rest the dough for 15mins ➡️ Roll out the two dough and stack one on top of another with 1/3 offset ➡️ Make a single fold and chill in fridge for 15mins ➡️ Roll out the dough into rectangle ➡️ Roll up from one end to another (like rolling Swiss roll) ➡️ Score the dough and place into greased tin (20x10x10cm) ➡️ Proof 3.5-4hr at 28C or until dough fills 90% if the tin ➡️ Egg wash (optional) ➡️ Bake at 180C for 40-45mins #shokupan #sourdoughshokupan #sourdoughbread #sourdoughloaf #sourdoughsandwichloaf #wildyeast #naturalyeast #levain #sweetstiffstarter #accordionbread”26K likes, 336 comments - autumn.kitchen on February 18, 2025: ”\~ Accordion Bread\~ \*Sweet stiff starter\* – triple in 7-8hrs at 27-28C 30g starter 90g bread flour 40g water 15g sugar \*dough\* 230g bread flour 20g sugar 4g salt 1 egg (55g) 110g milk 20g butter All of the sweet stiff starter Cocoa paste 10g dark cocoa powder 15g water Method ➡️ Prepare sweet stiff starter and use when it triples, about 7-8hr at 27-28C. ➡️ Mix everything except butter till dough comes together and is strong. ➡️ Add butter gradually and knead until fully incorporated and dough achieves window pane. ➡️ Split dough into two equally ➡️ Add the cocoa paste to one of the dough and mix to combine ➡️ Rest the dough for 15mins ➡️ Roll out the two dough and stack one on top of another with 1/3 offset ➡️ Make a single fold and chill in fridge for 15mins ➡️ Roll out the dough into rectangle ➡️ Roll up from one end to another (like rolling Swiss roll) ➡️ Score the dough and place into greased tin (20x10x10cm) ➡️ Proof 3.5-4hr at 28C or until dough fills 90% if the tin ➡️ Egg wash (optional) ➡️ Bake at 180C for 40-45mins #shokupan #sourdoughshokupan #sourdoughbread #sourdoughloaf #sourdoughsandwichloaf #wildyeast #naturalyeast #levain #sweetstiffstarter #accordionbread”.![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/icon/De-Dwpd5CHc-1.png)Instagram![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/thumbnail/479742147_18484957084052671_3585865347548404203_n.jpg)](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DGNvLH9J6EM/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/Hunger-1.png) 🥟Pharrell is one of us: [Louis Vuitton’s gyoza accessories](https://www.tapasmagazine.es/en/louis-vuitton-gyoza-accessories-are-the-new-objects-of-desire/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🫚Homemade Candied Ginger (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DGBF9VMukhM/?utm%5Fsource=ig%5Fweb%5Fcopy%5Flink)) 🍵[Japan struggles to fend off a world without enough matcha](https://www.japantimes.co.jp/life/2025/02/23/food-drink/matcha-shortage-global-solutions/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🍆[The ‘masculinity crisis’ is actually a crisis of self-esteem](https://psyche.co/ideas/the-masculinity-crisis-is-actually-a-crisis-of-self-esteem?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🧑🏻‍🍳Rigatoni al *ajo mataero* by Andoni Luis Aduriz (★[recipe](https://elpais.com/gastronomia/recetas/2025-01-19/rigatonis-al-ajo-mataero-por-andoni-luis-aduriz.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🧳[Your Official Vacation Packing List, as Told by *The White Lotus*](https://www.byrdie.com/the-white-lotus-vacation-packing-list-11682962?ref=secretbreakfast.com) *🐚*Clam Chowder New England Style(★[recipe](https://thecozycook.com/clam-chowder-recipe/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🐠[Smoked Salmon Benedict](https://www.niemanlab.org/2025/02/the-new-york-editorial-board-is-picking-up-where-the-new-york-times-left-off/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) is probably the worst thing to let sit during a meeting between journalists 🍿[6 Ways to Upgrade Your Popcorn, According to Professional Chefs](https://www.foodandwine.com/how-to-upgrade-popcorn-11680202?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🍞Cottage Cheese Bread? Yes (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/p/DGT9cubSW6X/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🦉WTF: Duolingo's mascot, [Duo the Owl, duped his death](https://eu.usatoday.com/story/tech/2025/02/24/duolingo-duo-owl-mascot-faked-death/80059015007/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🤓[How to Survive the Broligarchy](https://open.substack.com/pub/broligarchy/p/how-to-survive-the-broligarchy-d8b?ref=secretbreakfast.com) --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/2025/01/White---19-.png) ### [Yes, Shrimp Matter](https://asteriskmag.com/issues/09/yes-shrimp-matter?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Andrés Jiménez Zorrilla / Asterisk** What made a private equity analyst decide to devote his life to tiny aquatic crustaceans? Now he advocates for shrimp welfare, citing evidence of their sentience and the staggering 440 billion farmed shrimp slaughtered annually in often cruel conditions. Despite widespread practices like eyestalk ablation and overcrowding, new interventions including electrical stunning and improved water quality management are already reducing suffering for billions of shrimp. --- ### [When the Michelin Star Becomes a Restaurant’s Curse](https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/other/when-the-michelin-star-becomes-a-restaurant-s-curse/ar-AA1z1hVw?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Christina Cacouris / The Wall Street Journal** Michelin's Mixed Blessing: For some chefs, the coveted stars have become a golden handcuff rather than a badge of honor. From Lucca to Paris, restaurant owners are questioning whether perfection is worth the price of stifled creativity, financial strain, and customers who come for the status, not the food. --- 🔥 Last week's most clicked link was [I’m a psychologist who studies couples—the ones who can answer these 5 questions have happier relationships than most](https://www.cnbc.com/2025/02/16/psychologist-says-couples-who-can-answer-these-questions-correctly-have-stronger-relationships-than-most.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com). And that's all for today. --- ### Fasting and feasting 💁🏻‍♀️ URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/fasting-feasting/ Last updated: 2025-02-18T10:41:49.000Z # Welcome to Secret Breakfast / An exclusive newsletter, the best place to start your day with canned foods, romantic noodles, Muslim delicacies, and LOLfoods ![Canned meals in their pure form](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/859ab62e-ed7a-475a-bddf-fd6cf263faad/capture_2025-02-19_alle_08-11-35.jpg) Canned meals in their pure form Hi there! There's nothing to see here, just pay attention to the big announcement below. The transition from the old platform to the new one will be slow, I think about a month. I hope you won’t be bothered. Let’s roll. Piero Picture: in *Délicieux Cancer*, Germain Gilbert dissects our meals and invites us to rethink our consumption patterns ([Fisheye Magazine](https://fisheyemagazine.fr/en/article/the-great-return-of-junk-food-in-our-plates/?%5Fbhlid=48b77f171e23177e6681227c72f5ed59cbc1570e&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) **ONE ✤ QUOTE** ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/621d6c5c-8d83-4ce0-98f0-6b9a10eaab03/ali_hazelwood__deep_end.png) ✦ **Ali Hazelwood**, [*Deep End*](https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/721701/deep-end-by-ali-hazelwood/?%5Fbhlid=b8b467043cbcb38bddba85363bceac81285fb454&ref=secretbreakfast.com). Ok, it is a college sports romance between a platform diver and a swimmer, but I found noodles in it (**★**[recipe](https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1024752-hand-pulled-noodles?%5Fbhlid=b0077a684966a6f69a39784e122fd6ce75a514de&ref=secretbreakfast.com)). ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/a71d10cf-96c2-4a3f-b272-f856e69658f5/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__3.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/fd257112-bb79-4ff6-8330-264deb507fa5/capture_2025-02-18_alle_17-11-07.jpg) **Sweet by Alexina Anatole** **→ Shortplot:** 🍐🥧🍓🍰 ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/a34b217a-cae3-4cac-80c8-bdf5f30996f4/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__6.png) ## **WHEN MUSLIM FASTING IS LIKE HOSTING A DINNER PARTY FOR 30 DAYS** ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/f8ec0c3e-4c1f-41c2-b084-900c95aefb78/rauf-alvi-0ebntriiule-unsplash.jpg) Nadiya Hussain says [Ramadan is like hosting a dinner party every day for 30 nights](https://www.deliciousmagazine.co.uk/nadiya-hussain-ramadan-is-like-hosting-a-dinner-party-every-day-for-30-nights/?%5Fbhlid=44d506dc48615235aaa15050d877c29935e9439a&ref=secretbreakfast.com). The Holy month of fasting in the Muslim calendar (starting on Feb 28th) means that, when mealtimes do arrive, food takes on new significance. Families come together to break their fast while observing the customs of the period and reflecting on their faith. Meals become an event, planned and anticipated, a chance to revisit favourites, embrace the traditional, or try new things. The rhythmic alternation between fasting and feasting creates a profound connection between physical sustenance and spiritual reflection. The discipline of fasting is said to sharpen our awareness of life's simple pleasures, while the joy of breaking fast together reminds us that nourishment extends far beyond mere food. Hussain dedicated to Ramadan her latest book, [Rooza](https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/460236/rooza-by-hussain-nadiya/9780241678237?%5Fbhlid=abfd56260bab91d977a20ef9cae79f9302b32df5&ref=secretbreakfast.com). You can find many ideas on the BBC pages (★[recipes](https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/collections/recipes%5Ffor%5Fiftar?%5Fbhlid=4d4523c8313df0112fbf298205d4a1ee63579c59&ref=secretbreakfast.com)), Hussain’s famous nutty samosas (★[recipe](https://www.deliciousmagazine.co.uk/recipes/nadiya-hussains-samsas-sweet-nutty-samosas/?%5Fbhlid=4010baff69123b71a80e3612ed0f7f1b1418ff40&ref=secretbreakfast.com)), or her Kabuli pulao with qorma-e-sabzi (★[recipe](https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/food-and-drink/recipes/nadiya-hussain-recipe-ramadan-rice-kabuli-pulao-b2684063.html?%5Fbhlid=594ebdc63608e4de5bf43e4523536bdd910b02ae&ref=secretbreakfast.com)). Bonus: a link to 60+ Vegan Ramadan ideas (★[recipe](https://plantbasedarab.com/vegan-ramadan-recipes-roundup/?%5Fbhlid=3cd0862768cbb844ba8e99b619b5ab3f22163747&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) ###### Picture: [Rauf Alvi](https://unsplash.com/it/@rauf%5Falvi2001?utm%5Fcontent=creditCopyText&%5Fbhlid=1f4b8739437cf716aae69e6b7f0132f919701d5c&ref=secretbreakfast.com) at [Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/it/foto/una-ciotola-di-vetro-piena-di-noci-accanto-a-una-collana-di-perline-0EBnTRiIuLE?utm%5Fcontent=creditCopyText&%5Fbhlid=060ab1d523cc448f5275a7e537f9758a0e1da70b&ref=secretbreakfast.com) ![Juicy content from food creators](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/a776550c-eefa-4d3e-b067-0438f295b874/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__2.png) Juicy content from food creators [](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DFwRinHPKvE/?%5Fbhlid=578b73d5da5c1c5ff108065e65b41cb41b822881&ref=secretbreakfast.com) ![This is the space where I share some food (un)related stuff of my week](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/cdcd47f2-b8f2-4683-a706-d790e01c1c57/random-full_b__1.png) This is the space where I share some food (un)related stuff of my week 🗺️[50 Years of Travel Tips](https://kk.org/thetechnium/50-years-of-travel-tips/?%5Fbhlid=f316ef2bab6513d826e9c078b610cd28650ba103&ref=secretbreakfast.com) ☕️We Have Our Eurovision 2025 Song: [Espresso Macchiato](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o6aJJ6Q5zhg&%5Fbhlid=bdd20ff8ef7c9e1ffdfb9deeedc8926e8e79d58b&ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🇫🇷15 Fast French Recipes for Elegant Weeknight Meals (★[recipes](https://www.foodandwine.com/how/fast-french-dishes?%5Fbhlid=a9222d03144f3f32f07a3b47f3a6f41c6778512e&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🤣[The Newest Food Trend is LOL](https://www.eater.com/24353782/lolfood-kid-food-dining-trend-pizza-hot-dog?ueid=e28c375eb8adc4ff1210f142451302c6&utm%5Fterm=From+the+Editor&%5Fbhlid=57f80588d1fc33bd3451ed90d016cc89ddd71d61&ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🥣[Soup](https://austinkleon.substack.com/p/in-the-soup?%5Fbhlid=b52e5465ed95ad3c4ef832452606af3668e2bfcc&ref=secretbreakfast.com) teaches us some things get better tomorrow 🛒[These Foods Will Likely Get More Expensive After Trump’s Tariffs Take Effect](https://www.foodandwine.com/trump-tariffs-food-grocery-prices-8784509?%5Fbhlid=c80b665af9cbca3611403072ec21b17134c7590f&ref=secretbreakfast.com) 📚[The 9 Best Places to Store Cookbooks ](https://www.bhg.com/where-to-store-cookbooks-8776298?%5Fbhlid=665f9dde5e4fb305ba9c21b828569fbe1ce64f4b&ref=secretbreakfast.com)💥[Could Traditional Smoking Techniques Be Safer than Smoked Flavourings?](https://innovamol.com/conventional-smoking-vs-smoked-flavourings-could-traditional-techniques-be-safer-than-smoked-flavourings/?%5Fbhlid=b757cf48c978a79c7a0f5e5a55c447786a75b09f&ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🍴[Stop Whatever You’re Doing and Look at This Horrifying Fork](https://www.foodandwine.com/why-in-the-world-does-this-creepy-fork-exist-8778646?%5Fbhlid=a32087804333703c6b67663e1997ff1cbf19c210&ref=secretbreakfast.com) 💁🏻‍♀️[The ‘China-chic Girl’ Image means cheap delivery food](https://www.whatsonweibo.com/the-china-chic-girl-image-and-the-realities-of-chinas-competitive-food-delivery-market/?%5Fbhlid=99e2988fc372802ea8425eb9ec8a2bc2ed7536bb&ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🥪[Food Formulas: Sandwich Edition ](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DGB30hXBY7K/?igsh=MWJpa2MzbjhhYnZ6dQ%3D%3D&%5Fbhlid=92a2cd88ebffeceaaaa21903dde9aa392a78ddaa&ref=secretbreakfast.com)🌶️Ají Amarillo is the [flavor that will dominate menus in 2025](https://edition.cnn.com/2025/01/28/food/mccormick-flavor-of-the-year-2025/index.html?%5Fbhlid=7ac16936bd0f576d9b890223b5a4c596a4c5159c&ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🍫[What to Look for on a Chocolate Label if You Want the Best Bar](https://www.foodandwine.com/high-quality-chocolate-8788130?hid=b65c06b8bb54449e12b2324cde45cf069f804769&did=16537388-20250216&utm%5Fcontent=021625&lctg=b65c06b8bb54449e12b2324cde45cf069f804769&lr%5Finput=969bf86e4d337bb74ec41d7fc4fcb4cbce448adc9ea58fc46f58a8b14ca494da&%5Fbhlid=064c7ce896c07dc7f0e7870497ea0328d5127f93&ref=secretbreakfast.com) ☕️Try this: [Meet Your Younger Self For Coffee](https://www.bustle.com/wellness/met-my-younger-self-for-coffee-tiktok?%5Fbhlid=25270e45d24a405d17d390f7d4baf7b35ab46039&ref=secretbreakfast.com) ♥️[The couples who can answer these 5 questions have happier relationships than most](https://www.cnbc.com/2025/02/16/psychologist-says-couples-who-can-answer-these-questions-correctly-have-stronger-relationships-than-most.html?%5Fbhlid=468310a22b554deb29c9b30f57cb0878e78ea11a&ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🍿[Every Dish and Drink You Need to Try at the New Netflix Restaurant](https://www.foodandwine.com/netflix-bites-vegas-8789654?hid=b65c06b8bb54449e12b2324cde45cf069f804769&did=16520375-20250214&utm%5Fcontent=021425&lctg=b65c06b8bb54449e12b2324cde45cf069f804769&lr%5Finput=969bf86e4d337bb74ec41d7fc4fcb4cbce448adc9ea58fc46f58a8b14ca494da&%5Fbhlid=40f24867240d1741dce23c23970f69064e534362&ref=secretbreakfast.com) in Las Vegas 🍱[Dinner Should Be the Smallest Meal of the Day](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/11/well/eat/health-benefits-of-a-smaller-dinner.html?unlocked%5Farticle%5Fcode=1.x04.%5FJmk.WP8ML1cI74WY&smid=url-share&stream=top&%5Fbhlid=3c509c4c62143ec570de23f67f1680cf976fef0d&ref=secretbreakfast.com) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/be74643a-4623-4922-9944-19fdcccb1540/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__1.png) --- --- **➤ Last week's most clicked link was** [**My 93-year-old grandma has the best advice for throwing a great party**](https://www.vox.com/even-better/398072/impromptu-party-social-gathering-friendship-loneliness?%5Fbhlid=4806c0ab1e3f2edc6f3a6713993f860c0032369a&ref=secretbreakfast.com)**. And that's all for today.** **SEASON 5 • ISSUE 221** Secret Breakfast is a newsletter by [Piero Macchioni](https://macchioni.cc/?%5Fbhlid=989f2d7b47e78c7bdf1f636e9fb207d8a34a0986&ref=secretbreakfast.com). In five years we have shared more than 5,000 recipes, hundreds of books, and countless hours of news, gluttony, and joy. ### The Unbearable Loudness of Fooding 🔈 URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/unbearable-lightness/ Last updated: 2025-02-11T13:43:02.000Z # Welcome to Secret Breakfast / An exclusive newsletter, the best place to start your day with kawaii ramen, football conspiracies, and percolating actors ![Jenna Ortega as Wednesday, Secret Breakfast out on Wednesday](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/0d5c2dad-2dca-43a0-9d64-e9cd4fda1a38/capture_2025-02-11_alle_17-05-09.jpg) Jenna Ortega as Wednesday, Secret Breakfast out on Wednesday Hi there! A season of (many) changes has started. First: **Secret Breakfast moves to Wednesday**. I hope that will work with your schedule. Piero PS: Valentine’s Day is on Friday. Slip a cute handwritten note into the right pocket. Go out for dinner. Buy flowers, the most beautiful you can find. Buy chocolate. Buy some more for yourself. Kiss in front of your kids. My favorite: invite someone to dine at your place, but don’t cook too much ([Scallops](https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/05/dining/valentines-day-menu.html?unlocked%5Farticle%5Fcode=1.wU4.Qqu-.vPJdU0PlPQC7&smid=url-share&%5Fbhlid=50a6af1e7281e97b7af428ca10b570b18d5ee404&ref=secretbreakfast.com)? Good luck with that! Better to make some homemade bread; the bakery smell will be your wingman). Is “wingman” sexist? You know, you don’t have to do everything I wrote here. Did I mention buying chocolate? At least do that. **ONE ✤ QUOTE** ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/76e66932-f8ad-4219-a978-8a8999d45ec6/matthew.png) ✦ **Matthew McConaughe**y on [UberEats Superbowl commercial](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fIoMjrfGy28&%5Fbhlid=7308776ea4d6e3dc8eb4ef40b03fddabb49102c7&ref=secretbreakfast.com). ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/a71d10cf-96c2-4a3f-b272-f856e69658f5/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__3.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/e6045393-e12a-46cc-8670-824b71675af5/capture_2025-02-12_alle_01-37-17.jpg) [**Kawaii Café Ramen: Classic, Fun, and Delicious Ramen Meals to Make**](https://www.quarto.com/books/9781577155058/kawaii-caf%C3%A9-ramen?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **by Amy Kimoto-Kahn** **→ Shortplot:** 🍜🥟🥒🍡 ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/a34b217a-cae3-4cac-80c8-bdf5f30996f4/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__6.png) ## **IF THE MOST EMBARRASSING NEED FOR APPROVAL HAD A NAME, IT WOULD BE JEREMY STRONG** ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/1785ae49-c003-4dd8-86a8-8b3a6e795c15/jeremy.png) Super Bowl ads are so 2000s that brands now publish the commercials even before the proper football game. However, I can’t resist the yearly Ben Affleck’s Dunkin’ extravaganza. Nor I couldn’t resist when I watched, just a few hours ago, *Succession*’s [Jeremy Strong bathing into a cup of joe](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5VzQ8OV3X0&%5Fbhlid=932aa5b4d811d18cbf6a3be0f99f4dfa6ec7f724&ref=secretbreakfast.com) for the most meta-meme-coffee commercials ever. Jeremy Strong, best known for his role as Kendall Roy in *Succession*, is an actor celebrated for his immersive and method-driven performances. His characters often navigate themes of power, insecurity, and self-destruction, and their relationship with food can be a subtle but revealing aspect of their psychology. And he frequently ends up with food striking him like a boomerang. That’s why I thought we could enjoy the… ### **Unrequested Power Ranking of Jeremy Strong’s Most Embarrassing Food-Related Scenes** ### **#5** **Jerry Rubin’s Courtroom Banana (*The Trial of the Chicago 7*)** In Aaron Sorkin’s *The Trial of the Chicago 7*, Strong’s portrayal of Jerry Rubin includes an absurdly juvenile moment in which he chomps on a banana while sitting in court. His casual defiance is meant as a countercultural statement, but in the context of a high-stakes trial, it comes across as immature and slightly ridiculous. ### **#4** **"Let’s Get Some Cheesesteaks" – Depressed Kendall (*Succession*)** After another crushing defeat, Kendall numbly eats a Philly cheesesteak with his girlfriend Naomi. What should be a comforting, indulgent meal instead plays out like a sad ritual, with Kendall barely present as he mechanically chews. It's the epitome of emotional eating gone wrong. ### **#3** **“I’m just trying to find the character” - Jeremy’s Method (Super Bowl 2025 - Dunkin’)** The aforementioned commercial. ### **#2** **"I’ve Made a Meal" – The Mozzarella Experiment (*Succession*)** The painfully awkward scene in *Succession*, when Kendall Roy attempts to impress his father, Logan, with an Italian dinner. And Logan asks his nephew - Kendall’s son - to taste mozzarella first, suspecting it could be poisoned. ### **#1** **“Meal Fit for a King” - The Roy Siblings’ Ending (*Succession*)** The ingredients include milk, frozen bread loaf heels, or "knobbies," cinnamon, raw egg, Tabasco sauce, cocoa powder, sunflower oil, a British condiment known as Branston Pickle, and a little sibling spit. This excellent smoothie is the price Jeremy has to pay for having his dreams realized. It ends as you see in the picture above. ![Juicy content from food creators](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/a776550c-eefa-4d3e-b067-0438f295b874/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__2.png) Juicy content from food creators [](https://www.instagram.com/p/DF4nRN%5Ftdzg?%5Fbhlid=a92eb41e053fec831026ddeaf172052d4a79c134&ref=secretbreakfast.com) ![This is the space where I share some food (un)related stuff of my week](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/cdcd47f2-b8f2-4683-a706-d790e01c1c57/random-full_b__1.png) This is the space where I share some food (un)related stuff of my week 🍳[16 Breakfasts to Make If You Can’t Find Eggs Right Now](https://www.foodandwine.com/eggless-breakfast-ideas-8783913?%5Fbhlid=b2a2e29e9b4f007c5a9576dc1454d68cec14da45&ref=secretbreakfast.com) 👵🏼Take it from my 93-year-old grandmother: [the secret to throwing a great party ](https://www.vox.com/even-better/398072/impromptu-party-social-gathering-friendship-loneliness?%5Fbhlid=b1a05e5ce1698c206831deceaf368bb1642ec2ad&ref=secretbreakfast.com)— without stressing yourself out 🧘🏻‍♂️[A Party With an Edible Zen Garden](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/07/t-magazine/renko-floral-los-angeles-party.html?%5Fbhlid=310ed3232fb174a70f66cea7af751cc9c1ecc8bc&ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🍷Venetian Spritz (★[recipe](https://selectaperitivo.com/select-spritz/?%5Fbhlid=e61d7394f360475aa420682034f77b6463a49eec&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) or Artichoke Spritz (★[recipe](https://food52.com/recipes/75600-cynar-spritz?%5Fbhlid=40d7691c5996c81ec1e512fad79f2b8d253e9127&ref=secretbreakfast.com))? 🇲🇽8 salsa recipes, including spicy, cooked and fruity combinations (★[recipes](https://www.washingtonpost.com/food/2021/05/22/salsa-recipes-spicy-smoky-fruity/?carta-url=https%3A%2F%2Fs2.washingtonpost.com%2Fcar-ln-tr%2F4105a89%2F67ab6200f0f3fa5ec0a4108d%2F60c79a1bade4e27d9e2f202c%2F14%2F59%2F67ab6200f0f3fa5ec0a4108d&%5Fbhlid=16fc2b14cb5b70b86028848167be02e530e49825&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🐊[These Beloved Food Rituals Bring Carnival Season to Life in the Bayous of Louisiana](https://www.foodandwine.com/carnival-season-in-new-orleans-8786313?hid=b65c06b8bb54449e12b2324cde45cf069f804769&did=16452251-20250209&utm%5Fcontent=020925&lctg=b65c06b8bb54449e12b2324cde45cf069f804769&lr%5Finput=969bf86e4d337bb74ec41d7fc4fcb4cbce448adc9ea58fc46f58a8b14ca494da&%5Fbhlid=cff783c3da92c8502be7e7edb0a23ed866ca18a4&ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🇫🇷15 Fast French Recipes for Elegant Weeknight Meals (★[recipes](https://www.foodandwine.com/how/fast-french-dishes?%5Fbhlid=c6939d8ea7f2d04bcb7c19f3e0658c53f787db83&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🤣[The Newest Food Trend is LOL](https://www.eater.com/24353782/lolfood-kid-food-dining-trend-pizza-hot-dog?ueid=e28c375eb8adc4ff1210f142451302c6&utm%5Fterm=From+the+Editor&%5Fbhlid=57f80588d1fc33bd3451ed90d016cc89ddd71d61&ref=secretbreakfast.com) 💰[These Foods Will Likely Get More Expensive After USA’s Tariffs Take Effect](https://www.foodandwine.com/trump-tariffs-food-grocery-prices-8784509?%5Fbhlid=4d6380fe51e76b60cb105789d79bcab939575883&ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🌊Agree to disagree: [The Mediterranean diet is a lie](https://www.politico.eu/article/mediterranean-diet-child-obesity-italy-health-europe?%5Fbhlid=79a986dbb51837df8f4a5297995e7f28f007d598&ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🥣 Soup has a few lessons to teach us. One is [that sometimes](https://austinkleon.substack.com/p/in-the-soup?%5Fbhlid=f2c604f73025f77d84412c6221edd6e1f5d9346f&ref=secretbreakfast.com)[ things get better tomorrow](https://austinkleon.substack.com/p/in-the-soup?%5Fbhlid=8c7c3d2d5f5d1ecb2a39ab751e6d48160c0910d6&ref=secretbreakfast.com) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/be74643a-4623-4922-9944-19fdcccb1540/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__1.png) --- --- **➤ Last week's most clicked link was the** [**Montreal Bagels**](https://www.girlversusdough.com/montreal-bagels?%5Fbhlid=2d065a60965a06d69a677a33b8d17caecde0bff8&ref=secretbreakfast.com) **recipe. And that's NOT all for today.** --- ![New idea, need you](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/75cfa3f9-ee53-4f8a-a24d-822a855c5b11/bone_white_blue_groovy_you_matter_desktop_wallpaper.png) New idea, need you 🚨Next time you visit a restaurant, bakery, or café, **snap a picture of the menu and send it to me by replying to this email**. If you’d like, share what you ordered or what you love about that place. It’s not about bragging, but about sharing with our community. No judgments. It’ll be like receiving an amazing food postcard from far abroad. **SEASON 5 • ISSUE 219** Secret Breakfast is a newsletter by [Piero Macchioni](https://macchioni.cc/?%5Fbhlid=4dcaf7341de613ff4091a268327106674d4c7c21&ref=secretbreakfast.com). In five years we have shared more than 5,000 recipes, hundreds of books, and countless hours of news, gluttony, and joy. ### The Hidden Cost of Our Dinner 🚫 URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/the-hidden-cost-of-our-dinner/ Last updated: 2025-02-03T10:26:33.000Z # Welcome to Secret Breakfast / An exclusive newsletter, the best place to start your day trading Montreal Bagels for Cochinita Pibil, while your marriage is upended by weight-loss drugs ![Girl, you’re fire](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/0290a1f7-9d27-4104-9233-33d40017a162/capture_2025-02-03_alle_13-08-31.jpg) Girl, you’re fire Hi there! I started this year printing a certain word on a sheet of paper and I glued it on the first page of my diary. The word is: *friction*. *Friction* as in “the resistance that one surface or object encounters when moving over another”. Every day I hope for an easy day, and I’m almost certain it will not be easy at all. Then why do I long for more effort? I’m afraid that our hectic lifestyle is pushing us to accept anything that comes easily: we take notifications for news, hyper-processed ingredients for meals, insta-tricks for reality. We are fatigued by anything needing our patience, we don’t take the right time to hear the people we love, we expect consent from humans like we feel we deserve recognition in interactions on social media. By making our life easier we’re losing a lot, we’re giving away privacy, health, complexity, even feelings maybe. That’s why the most precious ingredient of my year is friction, not to make things harder, but to take back some sense of control, and truth, that I feel I’ve lost. Piero PS: in the coming weeks there will be a huge change in the tech stack powering this newsletter. I’m afraid you will be asked to pay attention to your inbox and bear with me because I’ll be reminding you that for a few issues. Photograph: Manila, Philippines. A performer breathes fire during Lunar New Year celebrations in Binondo district, considered the world’s oldest Chinatown. [Ezra Acayan/Getty Images](https://www.theguardian.com/news/gallery/2025/jan/29/lunar-new-year-and-medieval-torture-photos-of-the-day-wednesday?%5Fbhlid=7bec62d035403c272121978067f79a797cd5e09a&ref=secretbreakfast.com) **ONE ✤ QUOTE** ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/47c958ac-04b6-4387-aa80-d989f59e17f1/terry.png) ✦ **Terry Pratchett**, [*Night Watch*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Night%5FWatch%5F%28Discworld%29?%5Fbhlid=9c3a528d6f80485e5c0c7ebe9855c7c4c42f01f6&ref=secretbreakfast.com). ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/a71d10cf-96c2-4a3f-b272-f856e69658f5/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__3.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/40ddf7fb-2912-4bc0-b917-fe6803a4772d/capture_2025-02-03_alle_19-06-43.jpg) [**The Book of Pintxos: Discover the Legendary Small Bites of Basque Country**](https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/marti-buckley/the-book-of-pintxos/9781579659875/?%5Fbhlid=a20b422ea31ad9697c9283de2d7763c0c3257c18&ref=secretbreakfast.com) **by Marti Buckley** **→ Shortplot:** 🫒🥖 **🐟** 🧀 ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/a34b217a-cae3-4cac-80c8-bdf5f30996f4/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__6.png) ## **THE PRICE WE PAY FOR SNOBBY RESTAURANTS** ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/aea70aec-4f8d-4c89-bd2f-52c28a0ff2a9/devon-janse-van-rensburg-pnn6lqbcbfs-unsplash.jpg) Two or three Sundays ago, I stood outside a Milanese coffee bar and bakery, staring at their gleaming window display while the hostess explained their strict **reservation-only policy**. My growling stomach and I had naively assumed that a morning bakery would welcome walk-ins. Instead, I found myself wandering two blocks down to an “old style” alternative, a charming patisserie with an open-door policy and equally delicious croissants and tortelli (★[recipe](https://www.recipesfromitaly.com/tortelli-di-carnevale/?%5Fbhlid=aafc9d63155e108c51c0ec3f8458368a3e92f9ce&ref=secretbreakfast.com)). As I watched a mix of regulars and newcomers stream in, I remembered an old *TimeOut* feature about the [reservation-only restaurants](https://www.timeout.com/usa/news/the-future-of-restaurant-dining-is-reservation-only-052120?%5Fbhlid=55fed6ea46593c344b41656c6e64daeb118b5b9b&ref=secretbreakfast.com), and I couldn't help but reflect on how this tale of two bakeries mirrored a larger economic story. \*\*\* **A reservation-only restaurant (or bakery, or bar) and a protectionist country share surprising parallels in their approach to controlling access.** Just as an exclusive establishment turns away walk-in customers to maintain a controlled environment, a country imposing tariffs creates barriers to “walk-in” foreign goods to protect its domestic markets. **Both prioritize predictability over potential**: the restaurant ensures its regular customers get tables, while a protectionist nation shields its domestic industries from foreign competition. **However, this approach comes with clear downsides.** The restaurant might miss out on valuable new customers who could become regulars, just as a country with high tariffs loses opportunities for beneficial trade relationships. Both systems can lead to inefficiencies: empty tables during cancellations parallel higher prices for consumers in the tariff-imposing country. Like my morning search for breakfast, **sometimes the most rewarding experiences come from keeping our doors - and markets - open to new possibilities**. Am I wrong? ###### Picture: [Devon Janse van Rensburg](https://unsplash.com/it/@huntleytography?utm%5Fcontent=creditCopyText&%5Fbhlid=8f280fba649576f5a0eed756c98e3df3b38f75b7&ref=secretbreakfast.com) / [Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/it/foto/una-cornice-seduta-sopra-un-tavolo-di-legno-PNn6lQBCbfs?utm%5Fcontent=creditCopyText&%5Fbhlid=3086b3d11f002bd5174785e2b0113a760168335a&ref=secretbreakfast.com) ![Juicy content from food creators](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/a776550c-eefa-4d3e-b067-0438f295b874/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__2.png) Juicy content from food creators [](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DFIwqxSIeGE/?%5Fbhlid=388ec4f06384d76ced22712914acaf01833d2995&ref=secretbreakfast.com) ![This is the space where I share some food (un)related stuff of my week, but this time we’re celebrating the plates of two random countries: Canada and Mexico](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/cdcd47f2-b8f2-4683-a706-d790e01c1c57/random-full_b__1.png) This is the space where I share some food (un)related stuff of my week, but this time we’re celebrating the plates of two random countries: Canada and Mexico 🇨🇦Bake some Montreal Bagels (★[recipe](https://www.girlversusdough.com/montreal-bagels/?%5Fbhlid=f9c6e13f92b5da7e004d7f9a29319532a424fd79&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🍖Have a decadent Maple Rib Roast (★[recipe](https://maplefromcanada.ca/recipes/maple-rib-roast/?%5Fbhlid=267db9de1915aef29def46c0b15f76f5f38f7610&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🥧Enjoy Coffee with the Canadian Butter Tarts (★[recipe](https://www.onceuponachef.com/recipes/canadian-butter-tarts.html?%5Fbhlid=5fe787d9181cd7c47d3aa55fce89172b5ec33415&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🥥Ever tried Nanaimo Bars (★[recipe](https://www.seriouseats.com/best-nanaimo-bars-recipe-8671193?%5Fbhlid=da2444893b45b4d45e19360a97a25c56fd4dcf89&ref=secretbreakfast.com))? 🇲🇽Start with the Mexican basics: Salsa Macha (★[recipe](https://www.mexicoenmicocina.com/receta-salsa-macha/?%5Fbhlid=d7a9ea137f2c6b994555f4e0e3fc5351f7be4ee3&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🌶️Try Chilaquiles for breakfast (★[recipe](https://www.spoonforkbacon.com/chilaquiles/?%5Fbhlid=7973eaf07c5d78dc4e0225f7f9a8d470098de0a7&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🥣Something warm: Red Pozole (★[recipe](https://www.mexicoinmykitchen.com/red-pozole-rojo/?%5Fbhlid=9f376cc7a1207821e523c57254ecc872dd82ba52&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🐷Make a batch of Cochinita Pibil (★[recipe](https://food52.com/recipes/87729-cochinita-pibil-recipe?%5Fbhlid=a6c3dd3dc21b383a7644028bc46991cb4882bc4d&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 📺[Watch](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AfW6u6ho7MM&%5Fbhlid=c16ad896b3a1c661a12fa5ba8327acfefc21018d&ref=secretbreakfast.com) starred chef Enrique Olvera talking about Mexican food ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/be74643a-4623-4922-9944-19fdcccb1540/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__1.png) --- --- **➤ Last week's most clicked link was** [**The 4 Seasons of Being a Woman**](https://saritawalsh.com/journal/2024/6/20/understanding-the-infradian-rhythm-the-four-seasons-of-being-a-woman?%5Fbhlid=bd7d45a622faada220f58df2e5c2c704a28bfad8&ref=secretbreakfast.com)**. And that's all for today.** **SEASON 5 • ISSUE 219** Secret Breakfast is a newsletter by [Piero Macchioni](https://macchioni.cc/?%5Fbhlid=e59fe0d34e1f463b6e8864881bb2919eed1811c7&ref=secretbreakfast.com). In five years we have shared more than 5,000 recipes, hundreds of books, and countless hours of news, gluttony, and joy. ### Nine missed meals, and it’s chaos 9️⃣ URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/nine-missed-meals/ Last updated: 2025-01-27T08:27:58.000Z ## Welcome to Secret Breakfast / **An exclusive newsletter, the best place to be mansplained about the four seasons of being a woman, knowing for a fact that there is only an exact number of missed meals between mankind and anarchy (and that’s why we should meal prep)** ![Bento!](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/a00a2835-6217-4ec4-94c6-42a1fed14e52/capture_2025-01-27_alle_16-35-03.jpg) Bento! Hi there! While picking the links you’ll find in this newsletter I was tempted to keep some for the coming issues. At least 5 of them would have worked very well as main themes (and memorable email subjects) for the future. Then… *Well, I figured, what the hell?* ([cit.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VgA6LBz7biM&%5Fbhlid=45f82fd9afc31aa26e7ee6ab75e530e210bca14f&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) Enjoy! Piero Picture by Andrea Mauro for [Natsubate](https://www.natsubate.com/shop/p/andreamauro?%5Fbhlid=6b4344c94e164a7ee21ea27d9d5f105a0242fe74&ref=secretbreakfast.com). I discovered this precious book just a few days ago, and it’s something. There are a couple of more shots on the [Perimetro](https://perimetro.eu/andrea-mauro/natsubate-japanese-rhapsody/?%5Fbhlid=adf3b45f3411560e77658dfa840a935812cd0f6a&ref=secretbreakfast.com) website. **ONE ✤ QUOTE** ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/9f743aca-bf26-4480-94a7-46a9e8d65eef/silo.png) ✦ **Bernard Holland** is the fictional and pivotal character of the tv show [Silo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silo%5F%28TV%5Fseries%29?%5Fbhlid=556502f0e4d57ca8e9c4f7b76cd6c4c676ad9e12&ref=secretbreakfast.com), portrayed by Tim Robbins. The quote is attributed to Alfred Henry Lewis who, in 1906, stated: “There are only nine meals between mankind and anarchy”. ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/a71d10cf-96c2-4a3f-b272-f856e69658f5/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__3.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/2edc3f7f-885a-4e4c-bdfe-97937429b1cd/capture_2025-01-27_alle_17-43-23.jpg) [**Steak: The Whole Story**](https://www.counter-print.co.uk/products/steak-the-whole-story?%5Fbhlid=17206824def2725901aa1ec18ad763a39fc4e475&ref=secretbreakfast.com) **by Tim Hayward** **→ Shortplot:** 🥩 🥩 🥩 🥩 ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/a34b217a-cae3-4cac-80c8-bdf5f30996f4/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__6.png) ## **OMG, I HAVE THREE WORLD LEADERS FOR DINNER AND I RAN OUT OF COASTERS** ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/f0b0fd3e-cdfa-49d8-b393-bd1b1224c5ee/capture_2025-01-27_alle_16-48-24.jpg) So, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen (♥️) had a dinner meeting with Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, and Finnish President Alexander Stubb. At her place. Many praised the relaxed style of the meeting. Some tragically unimaginative soul dared to compare it to an *Ikea aesthetic* foreseeing Billy bookcases that simply are not there (and completely overlooking the presence of a [Blue Fluted Half Lace plate](https://www.royalcopenhagen.com/en-us/collections/all-collections/blue-fluted-half-lace/blue-fluted-half-lace-plate-25-cm-1017224?%5Fbhlid=9adbb9d5e0d79785d16f95139651da09cf3449bd&ref=secretbreakfast.com) by Royal Copenhagen. A single plate, mind you, that could easily fetch for $220 a piece). A select few of us couldn't help but ponder if our esteemed international guests might have been expecting a slightly more... robust welcome. Surely, a tasting menu at [the Alchemist](https://alchemist.dk/?%5Fbhlid=364a31864166f4cacd35a1fb18aa4743a72a0c24&ref=secretbreakfast.com), while undoubtedly impressive, was a bit much for a casual workday. At the very least, couldn't some hapless intern have been dispatched to retrieve a vial or two from Redzepi's very own [Willy Wonka-esque fermentation facility](https://nomaprojects.com/?%5Fbhlid=a241edcc12be730ca3e6395ed9639e23668652c9&ref=secretbreakfast.com)? Just a thought. It’s been written that they were eating Smørrebrød (★[recipe](https://true-north-kitchen.com/10-delicious-danish-smorrebrod-recipes/?%5Fbhlid=7ebb82aaa6904e4035b6bcf9e1534e93f9f3345f&ref=secretbreakfast.com)). I don’t know. I see some red in their dish, some cured meat, maybe? I see something white and green, fish and herbs? Most of all I had a half-of-an-heartbreak noticing the presence of two excellent beers ([Mikkeller Hop Shop Hazy IPA](https://www.mchughs.ie/Mikkeller-Hop-Shop-330ml?%5Fbhlid=ca31d2a292d29bb635ee1bbf599ca6f0e4beea29&ref=secretbreakfast.com) and one [Burst IPA](https://www.beer52.com/shop/product/mikkeller/burst-ipa/6695?%5Fbhlid=5275781ce1080c78c538ab272ac4405101b8252a&ref=secretbreakfast.com)), presumably cold, a bottle of unrecognizable Chablis, and - oh no! - no coasters on that naked table. The truth is I love taking a look at real people’s homes. And this one looked pretty real to me. I think the Danish can keep Greenland for now, can’t they? Photo: [Mette](https://www.instagram.com/p/DFTW3U1Mkph?%5Fbhlid=b34262fb9a163e2daa9b2b6c9c788891ee029036&ref=secretbreakfast.com) ![Juicy content from food creators. But this time: Happy Lunar Year!](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/a776550c-eefa-4d3e-b067-0438f295b874/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__2.png) Juicy content from food creators. But this time: Happy Lunar Year! [](https://www.instagram.com/p/DFXVxGqMjOG/?%5Fbhlid=ee2ce495fa79a0b6f51ef87110fcd5c3145a419c&ref=secretbreakfast.com) ![This is the space where I share some food (un)related stuff of my week](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/cdcd47f2-b8f2-4683-a706-d790e01c1c57/random-full_b__1.png) This is the space where I share some food (un)related stuff of my week 🗺️From Juneau to Cartagena: [12 Destinations for](https://www.thrillist.com/best-travel-destinations-2025?%5Fbhlid=0a92dd57beea9f89b0fb7e2dcf5830eb64d67b23&ref=secretbreakfast.com) [Going All Out in 2025](https://www.thrillist.com/best-travel-destinations-2025?%5Fbhlid=48ee45517f133e7f81d75145da9c8efd6bd1cf64&ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🥬When You Have Too Much Black Cabbage (★[recipes](https://www.sicilianicreativiincucina.it/cavolo-nero-proprieta-benefici-e-11-ricette-da-provare/?lang=en&%5Fbhlid=2c7e7aa0e7de0485b34ecd78b92306edf6506123&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) ☀️After a Shitty Day, Kenji's Sticky Buns Can Make a Great Morning (★[recipe](https://www.seriouseats.com/serious-eats-caramel-sticky-buns-recipe?%5Fbhlid=cafd680079fe630b37263c0a751760a7fd6b29f2&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) + 18 Treats Besides Cinnamon To Use in Cinnamon Rolls (★[recipes](https://www.southernliving.com/food/bread/rolls-buns/cinnamon-roll-filling-ideas?%5Fbhlid=cd7c426128e1fe660b25c196ccef57999a455436&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) + Cinnamon Rolls’ [Alternative Shapes](https://www.kingarthurbaking.com/blog/2021/06/23/alternative-ways-to-shape-cinnamon-roll?%5Fbhlid=383bd443f697abb034ce86fb86ea71d001a91af7&ref=secretbreakfast.com) ☕️[Specialty Coffee Shops and Parisian Cafes](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/21/travel/paris-coffee-shops-bistro.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare&%5Fbhlid=052ebd96872d403759597967534f6d32f697541d&ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🔥You Could Try a New Lasagna Recipe Every Day for the Next 2 Weeks and Never Get Bored (★[recipes](https://www.foodandwine.com/lasagna-recipes-6403324?%5Fbhlid=bec0e735c9815f8c2aca8223df8e12c976f1d40c&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 💆🏼‍♀️[Diet and Healthy Hair](https://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/hair-loss/eat-right-healthy-hair?%5Fbhlid=7b209901dd00174bd03de46d798e65c2020296cb&ref=secretbreakfast.com), some ingredients 🖖🏻Fish Fingers, Homemade Style (★[recipe](https://s2.washingtonpost.com/camp-rw/?trackId=60c79a1bade4e27d9e2f202c&s=6797916654f704670ec72995&%5Fbhlid=2f22085a754af8bdcbc50f6cdf0608fb37a7f76d&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🔧[Why Ikea Is the Perfect Location for a Second Date](https://www.foodandwine.com/ikea-second-date-8778789?hid=b65c06b8bb54449e12b2324cde45cf069f804769&did=16153759-20250126&utm%5Fcontent=012625&lctg=b65c06b8bb54449e12b2324cde45cf069f804769&lr%5Finput=969bf86e4d337bb74ec41d7fc4fcb4cbce448adc9ea58fc46f58a8b14ca494da&%5Fbhlid=2e085f67f468d52a93c1219cd4fa7f1c40835c55&ref=secretbreakfast.com) (spoiler: it’s not, it can’t be, don’t tell me it is) 🍅 Mushroom, Banana & Craze: The Surprising Origins and [Alternatives to Tomato Ketchup](https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/what-is-ketchup?%5Fbhlid=5fedbbb58814ef367e550e3d75574365a0a9c670&ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🐀Maybe that’s already in your feeds, but here’s [Ratatouille in real life](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DFS-FC%5FpJLF/?%5Fbhlid=8c912cc14100479d7dfcd216dd56c95873977877&ref=secretbreakfast.com) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/be74643a-4623-4922-9944-19fdcccb1540/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__1.png) --- --- **➤ Last week's most clicked link was** [**I'd Rather Be Sick Than Eat Progresso Soup Drops Ever Again**](https://www.thetakeout.com/1758741/progresso-chicken-noodle-soup-drops-review?%5Fbhlid=113af3a38cc3e780973ebefd81457ead754627c6&ref=secretbreakfast.com)**. And that's all for today.** **SEASON 5 • ISSUE 219** Secret Breakfast is a newsletter by [Piero Macchioni](https://macchioni.cc/?%5Fbhlid=a7fb37e45a5cdd069a9175d55598beee3b82e823&ref=secretbreakfast.com). In five years we have shared more than 5,000 recipes, hundreds of books, and countless hours of news, gluttony, and joy. **\*\*\*** *Hey, somewhere on the Internet Feb. 1st will be the *Global Swap Day*. If you’re tired of social media algorithms that are selling your big data and have* [*changed* ](https://annehelen.substack.com/p/the-social-media-sea-change?%5Fbhlid=f57b593e6ddd48d5caed4e502a4a324dbf53c342&ref=secretbreakfast.com)[*a neighborhood populated with friends into a glossy condo development of brands*](https://annehelen.substack.com/p/the-social-media-sea-change?%5Fbhlid=cf09dad25437fdb4ef5468947fd66c4d851435c2&ref=secretbreakfast.com)*, you could consider trying some privacy-respectful services. You can swap X/Twitter for *Mastodon* (or - with a few caveats - *Bluesky*), Instagram for *Pixelfed*, and WhatsApp for *Signal*.* *Not interested in swapping? That's okay. Thanks for considering it, even if just for a moment. That's more than many people will do today.* ### Your Executive Order Is on Its Way 🫡 URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/executive-order/ Last updated: 2025-01-14T14:03:07.000Z # Welcome to Secret Breakfast / An exclusive newsletter, the best place to start your Golden Age with Japanese lunchboxes, resurrected TikTokers, and some questionable executive orders ![Sakamoto Days](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/dbf784ab-c458-410f-8c47-971fdcb79428/capture_2025-01-21_alle_13-34-59.jpg) Sakamoto Days Hi there! How did your Blue Monday go? I just found [a new anime I want to watch](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sakamoto%5FDays?%5Fbhlid=483ef21e32b786c31499f667f411434acd6ba6f9&ref=secretbreakfast.com), even though I don't have much free time. On the cooking side, I’m pretty sure I’ve lost 22 pounds in a few months - congrats to me - just because I’ve chosen to follow a boring diet without even trying to make my menus fancier. Then I had a baking week for my daughters’ birthday and things went wild with pizza, Sacher Torte, and Red Velvets. Parties are supposed to be fun, aren’t they? Piero PS: some silly content is coming today as we try new things. **ONE ✤ QUOTE** ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/50882685-d552-4901-9b81-a8ea9d1d11a3/clear.png) ✦ **James Clear**, Atomic Habits [author](https://x.com/JamesClear/status/1879529145832477055?%5Fbhlid=11ed28ac36e0c7ed3c92157d514dd2e9e18d7c33&ref=secretbreakfast.com). ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/a71d10cf-96c2-4a3f-b272-f856e69658f5/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__3.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/b8931e31-17a8-4e9a-bafa-a55fadec9968/capture_2025-01-21_alle_12-04-27.jpg) [Bento Lunchbox: Brilliantly Balanced Lunchbox Recipes](https://www.octopusbooks.co.uk/titles/sara-kiyo-popowa/bento-lunchbox/9781804192993/?%5Fbhlid=c4d93ac8e1f85c7bb81d15a28817eb6bee58f955&ref=secretbreakfast.com) by Sara Kiyo Popowa **→ Shortplot:** 🍱🍙🍡🍘 ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/a34b217a-cae3-4cac-80c8-bdf5f30996f4/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__6.png) ## **WHO’S ORDERED THOSE EXECUTIVE ORDERS?** ![Is the new administration short on glasses?](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/68c67ac4-8c2a-4e0b-9863-fd7675eba4b2/capture_2025-01-21_alle_08-41-03.jpg) Is the new administration short on glasses? **BREAKING: During the last few hours, the newly appointed President of Dining Affairs has signed several executive orders - about 100 - addressing critical food and restaurant matters. Our newsroom has received and verified these documents. Here are the most significant orders that will impact your dining experience:** 🌮"In accordance with Section 4 of the Taco Treaty, I hereby declare that putting pineapple in **al pastor tacos** (★[recipe](https://www.seriouseats.com/tacos-al-pastor-recipe?%5Fbhlid=0ffcd2a41cf9e4ce632d52156b096b4e3b507336&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) is a violation of the Tromsø Flavor Convention. Furthermore, calling a flour tortilla wrapped around shredded lettuce and cheddar cheese a 'street taco' shall be considered an act of culinary imperialism. All violators must attend mandatory salsa verde sensitivity training." 🍟"By executive order of Table 12, all **french fries** are hereby declared a shared resource, effective immediately. Any attempt to claim 'just a few' while systematically depleting the basket shall be considered an act of dining room aggression. Those found guilty will be sentenced to picking up the check." 🥩"As acting President of the 7:30 PM Dinner Reservation, I'm invoking the **Gender Menu Protocol**: Men shall no longer feel compelled to order 'manly' steaks (★[recipe](https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/wordofmouth/2012/oct/25/how-to-cook-the-perfect-steak?%5Fbhlid=c3d454cc0bf506103ac85e1af0155659777bb104&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) when they actually want that cute little goat cheese salad, and women are hereby liberated from the tyranny of only ordering dishes marked with a little heart symbol. The right to order a burger bigger than your head shall not be denied or abridged on account of gender." 🥗"Furthermore, in the interest of national stomach security, I hereby declare that the phrase **'I'll just have a salad' followed by eating everyone else's food** is classified as high treason. A state of emergency is declared when the last bite of dessert remains unclaimed – diplomatic negotiations will commence via meaningful eye contact." *The White House Kitchen has declined to comment on whether more orders are expected in the coming days.* ###### Picture: [Ruth Fremson/The New York Times](https://www.nytimes.com/live/2025/01/20/us/trump-inauguration-president?smid=url-share&%5Fbhlid=3641ea2ef67f1e8911a9b1d7c551a576cf3b320e&ref=secretbreakfast.com#a98904f5-0f26-5307-8e4c-509ed5997b02) ![Juicy content from food creators, this week something for the winter](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/a776550c-eefa-4d3e-b067-0438f295b874/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__2.png) Juicy content from food creators, this week something for the winter [](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DCRLojspmRS/?%5Fbhlid=9e1887e1c5f82eb8412bd2a65327c1cd8358239a&ref=secretbreakfast.com) ![This is the space where I share some food (un)related stuff of my week](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/cdcd47f2-b8f2-4683-a706-d790e01c1c57/random-full_b__1.png) This is the space where I share some food (un)related stuff of my week 🍵Change Your Green Tea Routine and Roast Your Own Houjicha (★[recipe](https://www.myjapanesegreentea.com/how-to-roast-your-own-houjicha?%5Fbhlid=f806177d6a60d56eae5630409af886756f771461&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🎤[Japanese Breakfast ](https://mailchi.mp/japanesebreakfast/melancholy-tour-on-sale?%5Fbhlid=df2e029bca83bafa3c13cf17f13970f7c07be73a&ref=secretbreakfast.com)is on Tour 🥤Make Your Own [Sports Drink ](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=-E5%5F-Y6s7T0&%5Fbhlid=27a7adbe4e285f92521e90d4ce901b6b90768db4&ref=secretbreakfast.com)(★[recipe](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=-E5%5F-Y6s7T0&%5Fbhlid=bcd8ea168d977179a68fc1ba67655b351e1a0c45&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) [🔍How to Find Ultraprocessed Food Alternatives](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/08/well/ultraprocessed-foods-alternatives.html?%5Fbhlid=15f7a7dc7674c569111df686c707054b6ccdb160&ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🍳[What if You Just Don’t Like Breakfast?](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/02/well/eat/skipping-breakfast-health-risks.html?%5Fbhlid=93e2d531ceb044a37f024017784b6f405ffb4e92&ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🎂I Baked Magnolia Bakery’s Red Velvet Cake with Whipped Vanilla Icing: the Sponge is Awesome, the Vanilla Icing is Too Much (★[recipe](https://search.app/ZgYHSMw3aAmFewzz8?%5Fbhlid=48e57c0569a2ea11bf837a73aa920c4df46c7464&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🇯🇵Make Your Own Japanese Mayo (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DDGh-LYtEA2/?%5Fbhlid=744730139705dbb4f585c4b5fc48ab448b6dd69b&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 📺Nick DiGiovanni Has a New YouTube Channel (★[recipes](https://www.youtube.com/@NicksKitchen?%5Fbhlid=121e98e0df2be28488eddd0535ded62fcd779c80&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) and finally He Takes It Slow 💸How to [Save $1,000 Every Year](https://carvoway.com/posts/delayed-gratification-works?%5Fbhlid=8d1d8be4bb7be53a23fe90d8d50119fc6d484e9f&ref=secretbreakfast.com) with Delayed Gratification 🍨13 Desserts to Make If You're Doing Dry January(★[recipes](https://www.foodandwine.com/desserts-for-dry-january-8774437?hid=b65c06b8bb54449e12b2324cde45cf069f804769&did=16153212-20250119&utm%5Fcontent=011925&lctg=b65c06b8bb54449e12b2324cde45cf069f804769&lr%5Finput=969bf86e4d337bb74ec41d7fc4fcb4cbce448adc9ea58fc46f58a8b14ca494da&%5Fbhlid=bd3d78c86fada64bf72d58fc596a52ab1a192184&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🥣[Soup Drops](https://www.thetakeout.com/1758741/progresso-chicken-noodle-soup-drops-review/?%5Fbhlid=48a13e78d37e4c375e2a10a0e4ecc9bdbf192b80&ref=secretbreakfast.com) are a NO ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/be74643a-4623-4922-9944-19fdcccb1540/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__1.png) --- --- **➤ Last week's most clicked link was** [***LAist*** ](https://laist.com/news/food/laist-12-food-trends-that-will-be-big-in-2025?%5Fbhlid=3d2011ee29088e2c601e0483b7b112c9c5a244c9&ref=secretbreakfast.com)[**predicts 12 food trends that will be big in 2025**](https://laist.com/news/food/laist-12-food-trends-that-will-be-big-in-2025?%5Fbhlid=838ccf1460e0f1ae4a86dc9c7f0593eb594ccacf&ref=secretbreakfast.com)**. And that's all for today.** **SEASON 5 • ISSUE 217** Secret Breakfast is a newsletter by [Piero Macchioni](https://macchioni.cc/?%5Fbhlid=021929d7463bd0e1fefca68610415af162f21eb4&ref=secretbreakfast.com). In five years we have shared more than 5,000 recipes, hundreds of books, and countless hours of news, gluttony, and joy. ### After the Apocalypse, We Will Still Be Hungry 💥 URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/new-post-future-template-50985a5803f4d905/ Last updated: 2025-01-13T08:11:26.000Z # Welcome to Secret Breakfast / An exclusive newsletter, the best place to start your day with the skinniest spaghetti, the Engineer’s Diet, and the Lost Art of Snacking Solo ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/c1b224f1-768c-4d68-9a8b-d35b95c0dc87/capture_2025-01-13_alle_10-20-44.jpg) Hi there! You’ve just seen one of the shocking images shot by Italian photographer Oliviero Toscani, who has just left us and was very popular in Italy. He became immortal when shooting [ad campaigns](https://www.instagram.com/p/DEwtGLmNzO4/?%5Fbhlid=6df7ad22cec3dddfb1905d7fc6a43693b61cbf9e&ref=secretbreakfast.com) for United Colors of Benetton in his provocative (and somehow predictable) style: black and white people together, a nun kissing a priest, Jewish and Palestinians close to each other, a man dying of Hiv (careful, this one is strong), and my favorite of three hearts with the words “white,” “black,” and “yellow” on each one of them. He just put together opposites, portraying our prejudices on a white background. We should try that when cooking! \*\*\* In 2006, we worked for the same magazine for a few months. He was harsh and interesting, also generous in his way: I remember a phone call when he suggested I should pay more attention to the pictures shot while raining. «Rain makes things more interesting, people move in a different way, and unexpected things happen when it’s raining», he said. And that effectively changed my eye on people under the rain. Changing your point of view (and that of other people) is essential in photography. As it is - now I reckon - in cooking. Happy week! Piero Picture: Oliviero Toscani. **ONE ✤ QUOTE** ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/032138e9-6cde-4b58-a2e2-b15593cdd6b7/arthur_schopenhauer.png) ✦ **Arthur Schopenhauer.** I spotted this one while enjoying a Spa in northern Italy. I don’t think the affirmation is 100% true, but it sounds good—at least for fermented stuff, cheese, vineyard terrain, and so on. ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/a71d10cf-96c2-4a3f-b272-f856e69658f5/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__3.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/d771a9cb-bbd7-4f44-a395-8b4e4fabdc15/capture_2025-01-14_alle_15-22-33.jpg) [**When Southern Women Cook**](https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/735346/when-southern-women-cook-by-americas-test-kitchen/?%5Fbhlid=6f553ca623ed4079e228432aa3a82e5babe8d181&ref=secretbreakfast.com) **By America’s Test Kitchen, Foreword by Toni Tipton-Martin** **→ Shortplot:** 🍑🥩🫘🥧 ![Juicy content from food creators](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/a776550c-eefa-4d3e-b067-0438f295b874/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__2.png) Juicy content from food creators [](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DDz6yIby%5FeM?%5Fbhlid=46473de950564b1ca33c92f895989c48271e3472&ref=secretbreakfast.com) ![This is the space where I share some food (un)related stuff of my week](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/cdcd47f2-b8f2-4683-a706-d790e01c1c57/random-full_b__1.png) This is the space where I share some food (un)related stuff of my week 🔮[12 food trends that will be big in 2025](https://laist.com/news/food/laist-12-food-trends-that-will-be-big-in-2025?%5Fbhlid=ca3b69504361e10bbeaefba6357dd90ede4e8739&ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🍚[3 Make-Ahead Recipes to Upgrade Your Work Lunch](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/09/t-magazine/work-lunch-recipes.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare&%5Fbhlid=f513e63efdce89ca91443ebc6f735407ead46cc2&ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🛒[Alison Roman Takes You Grocery Shopping](https://youtu.be/dSbk8d31dbc?feature=shared&%5Fbhlid=f44daadd581fa5cbf991a5a8d1fe2db17850f174&ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🗺️From Abidjan to Jeolla-do, [Where to Eat in 2025](https://www.eater.com/24317309/best-places-to-eat-restaurants-travel-2025?ueid=e28c375eb8adc4ff1210f142451302c6&utm%5Fterm=From+the+Editor&%5Fbhlid=f6f37f716977c2399f7c4dc053130c75e7bb75cb&ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🎭[The Best Food Festivals of 2025](https://www.thrillist.com/travel/nation/best-food-festivals-worth-traveling-for-in-2025?ueid=e28c375eb8adc4ff1210f142451302c6&utm%5Fterm=From+the+Editor&%5Fbhlid=59160c38e9e79d59dbf6deb2d012184c8a4162b8&ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🌶️[The 12 Essential Spices Every Cook Needs](https://www.foodandwine.com/seasonings/spices/essential-pantry-spices?hid=b65c06b8bb54449e12b2324cde45cf069f804769&did=16003326-20250111&utm%5Fcontent=011125&lctg=b65c06b8bb54449e12b2324cde45cf069f804769&lr%5Finput=969bf86e4d337bb74ec41d7fc4fcb4cbce448adc9ea58fc46f58a8b14ca494da&%5Fbhlid=cf578ae800b796d71a7b695137a74d49d2ea60c4&ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🍪I tried this: No Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies, with Oil (★[recipe](https://breaddad.com/no-butter-chocolate-chip-cookies-vegetable-oil/?%5Fbhlid=914d44c6ab94c242eb3a3ca4e7cad3bdd5fe9a2c&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🫑Mille-Feuille Nabe Recipe by The Social Food (★[recipe](https://kinto-europe.com/blogs/journal/mille-feuille-nabe-recipe-by-the-social-food?%5Fbhlid=30402928ce9b371d83ebbaa941a6d46fb07d7896&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 👩🏽‍🔬[Scientists Make World’s Skinniest Spaghetti](https://www.wsj.com/science/worlds-thinnest-spaghetti-nanopasta-new-fabrics-1e582448?mod=science%5Flead%5Fstory&%5Fbhlid=de5ff33309a557cdb3fb1930dd472819f09ca761&ref=secretbreakfast.com) 📿[Last week this was everywhere: 33 Ways To Improve Your Life, Japanese Style](https://www.mrporter.com/en-us/journal/lifestyle/life-lessons-people-tokyo-japan-style-food-24538500?%5Fbhlid=d6bb7e15bce972996c15464164024929e5b674d7&ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🥑Baked Avocado and Raw Tuna (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DEeDyKmtMCE?%5Fbhlid=f4b1b6d6c70b056dcd6d019578e5028793a4f404&ref=secretbreakfast.com))👨🏻‍🔧Read this food Journal: [Engineer Eats Efficiently (for $2.50 a Day)](https://futureboy.us/blog/twofifty.html?utm%5Fterm=fav&%5Fbhlid=a1a8fc3b24a23747e321d941eb63b2b0114cc237&ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🥚[12 Chefs Make an Omelet (Michelin Star, French, Airline & More](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=OHy7U-FuY4k&%5Fbhlid=fd0d376631aa8dfff2a5c8fe39be6bfcc523de11&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/be74643a-4623-4922-9944-19fdcccb1540/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__1.png) --- --- **➤ Last week's most clicked link was** [**I've Been Eating Cookies All Week & Forgot How To Make A Real Meal—These Recipes Are Saving Me**](https://www.delish.com/cooking/menus/g63317886/best-reset-dinner-recipes?%5Fbhlid=6090e7536b29f05ae081a728e59207e12f0be503&ref=secretbreakfast.com)**. And that's all for today.** **SEASON 5 • ISSUE 216** Secret Breakfast is a newsletter by [Piero Macchioni](https://macchioni.cc/?%5Fbhlid=3a710fab1e9049ab256cd07c4c2f3438c376fbf9&ref=secretbreakfast.com). In five years we have shared more than 5,000 recipes, hundreds of books, and countless hours of news, gluttony, and joy. ### The Year of Glitter Pickles ✨ URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/new-post-future-template-633377b2286a310c/ Last updated: 2025-01-07T08:13:49.000Z # Welcome to Secret Breakfast / An exclusive newsletter, the best place to start your day with tribal diets, Sleepy Girl mocktails, New Year’s resolutions, and the sweet confinement of your aloneness ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/d6b8bf75-f9fe-4abc-bcb4-9597263623fa/pexels-tim-samuel-6697341.jpg) Hi there! Every year, my wife asks what New Year's resolutions my daughters and I have in mind. Then we disappoint her every year because we have not decided yet. *Can this year start a few weeks later, can’t it?* My 2025 is already full of milestones and commitments, a few desires, and a low tank of patience for the unpredictable events that - in the latest decades - have become the only certainty of our days. New Year's resolutions… Don’t know. Speaking of cooking, this year I’d love to improvise less: no measuring by eye, no last-second substitutions. Then I’d love to have always with me a food diary to write what I eat and cook every day. Except I’m on a diet, so… It’s not the best time of my life for that romantic aspiration. Regarding this newsletter, I have plenty of resolutions. You’ll see good stuff, it’s coming, I promise. Love, Piero PS: Last week, I asked you what content I should include in the newsletter during 2025\. One in two answered they just wanted me to surprise you, while the others asked for more (engaging) food stories and even more recipes. Noted. Photo by [Tim Samuel](https://www.pexels.com/it-it/foto/cibo-donna-pasto-giovane-6697341/?%5Fbhlid=0dd0cffb3cdcb2d40727ebd57c56913de192c4f1&ref=secretbreakfast.com) **ONE ✤ QUOTE** ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/923f6f3b-8a80-4e8f-a0eb-709c275a6910/david_whyte.png) ✦ **David Whyte,** [**poet**](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David%5FWhyte%5F%28poet%29?%5Fbhlid=471a915bb9f281f4d72fc9c190c37208718e9eae&ref=secretbreakfast.com)**.** ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/a71d10cf-96c2-4a3f-b272-f856e69658f5/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__3.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/b26b7c69-2634-415d-8b46-7fe77a9e41a4/capture_2025-01-07_alle_14-03-53.jpg) [**Agak Agak: Everyday Recipes from Singapore**](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/204316992?%5Fbhlid=03d410020ff6a115bed5729b9a26c594cf73af30&ref=secretbreakfast.com) **by Shu Han Lee** **→ Shortplot:** 🦀🥟🌸🍚 ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/a34b217a-cae3-4cac-80c8-bdf5f30996f4/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__6.png) ## **2025 HAS JUST STARTED, AND WE ALREADY KNOW ALL ABOUT IT** ![New Year’s Swimmers in Moosseedorf, Switzerland](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/5560bf9b-2dbb-4d0a-bd8d-14a239b20737/capture_2025-01-07_alle_09-59-46.jpg) New Year’s Swimmers in Moosseedorf, Switzerland “If society made a concerted effort, poverty would be abolished by 2025”. This was one of the [predictions that people of 1925 made imagining this 2025](https://eu.beaconjournal.com/story/news/2024/12/30/predictions-about-2025-from-100-years-ago/77021358007/?%5Fbhlid=09b82d54c26c4c204d6422ff8f429eb480e9dda5&ref=secretbreakfast.com). It’s fun to read what people had in mind generations ago. I also have collected some fresh food predictions. I’ll link, then spoil some. 🔮[**How Will We Eat in 2025?**](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/31/dining/food-eating-predictions-2025.html?unlocked%5Farticle%5Fcode=1.nU4.yx0w.ClH8ekOgJSsN&smid=url-share&%5Fbhlid=2e0f9b9ebd56816f43c924ecbaa6ce7eaf5fca2e&ref=secretbreakfast.com) **A Year of Sauces**: Sauces will be a national obsession, with a focus on global flavors and nuanced options beyond ranch. **Coffee's Next Act**: Savory coffee drinks, Yemeni coffeehouses, and omakase-style coffee experiences will gain popularity. **Grab-and-Go Gastronomy**: Japanese convenience store-style food will expand, and gas stations will elevate their food offerings. **A Warming Trend**: Hospitality will be a key trend, with a focus on personalized service, cozy dining, and community connection. **Punchier Produce**: New designer fruits and vegetables with unique flavors and nutritional benefits will emerge. **Another Dose of Protein**: Protein will continue to be a major focus, with increased protein content in various foods and a rise in protein-rich diets. **Buzzes Without Booze**: Drinks infused with cannabis and other mood-altering substances will gain popularity as an alternative to alcohol. **Tribal Diets**: Diets tailored to specific health needs and communities will emerge, with a focus on inclusivity and addressing individual concerns. **Takeout as Art**: Restaurant packaging will become more sophisticated and Instagrammable, elevating the takeout experience. --- **🧑🏻‍🍳**[**Restaurant Trends to Look Forward to in 2025, According to Chefs**](https://www.foodandwine.com/2025-restaurant-trends-chefs-8765609?hid=b65c06b8bb54449e12b2324cde45cf069f804769&did=16003416-20250104&utm%5Fcontent=010425&lctg=b65c06b8bb54449e12b2324cde45cf069f804769&lr%5Finput=969bf86e4d337bb74ec41d7fc4fcb4cbce448adc9ea58fc46f58a8b14ca494da&%5Fbhlid=671d7092089ff0edd2b3023922942668f11d8df0&ref=secretbreakfast.com) - Cooking with African grains - The end of no-show fees - Great food to go - Tightening belts - New ingredients in the spotlight (Turnips, Sudachi, Kuro Nerigoma) - Early bird dining - Food that tells a story - A lunch rush - Artificial Intelligence evolves - Counter service restaurants - Smaller menus - Dynamic pricing - Dessert caviar - Agave spirits - Shorter meals - Back to classics and comfort - Food influencers IRL - Know your fisherman - Transparent ingredients - Adding seats to the table --- ***Bonus*** **📺** [**The 41 Most Anticipated New and Returning TV Shows Coming in 2025**](https://variety.com/lists/most-anticipated-tv-shows-2025/?%5Fbhlid=6b9856496d263779a8b4a24912e2181df5f6876b&ref=secretbreakfast.com) **📽️**[**The Most Anticipated Movies of 2025**](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/new-movies-2025/?%5Fbhlid=f2efd0a2ccf87f386ca381c208133145df4e76a3&ref=secretbreakfast.com) ###### Picture: [Anthony Anex/Keystone, via Associated Press](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/31/world/new-years-eve-photos.html?%5Fbhlid=7440d9ee02462f809f6b47b378115406e939d706&ref=secretbreakfast.com) ![Juicy content from food creators](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/a776550c-eefa-4d3e-b067-0438f295b874/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__2.png) Juicy content from food creators [](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DEX8FfZy4xG?%5Fbhlid=e53d26f52f1064e5fe32b4e0e408d5ac6c505506&ref=secretbreakfast.com) ![This is the space where I share some food (un)related stuff of my week](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/cdcd47f2-b8f2-4683-a706-d790e01c1c57/random-full_b__1.png) This is the space where I share some food (un)related stuff of my week 💡[Everything You Need to Start Meal Prepping (and Stick With It)](https://www.self.com/story/meal-prep-tools?%5Fbhlid=c596d5ee42ad128f9c4e2ca50222224b2dd399fa&ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🧨I've Been Eating Cookies and Sweets for Weeks & Forgot How To Make A Real Meal—These Recipes Are Saving Me (★[recipes](https://www.delish.com/cooking/menus/g63317886/best-reset-dinner-recipes/?%5Fbhlid=59b426fe3863a87a69689a1fb661732185082699&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🥪[The Secret Behind Buffalo's Beloved Beef On Weck Sandwich](https://hudsonvalleycountry.com/ixp/704/p/unlocking-the-legacy-the-story-behind-buffalos-famous-beef-on-weck/?%5Fbhlid=399896235e6e0383e6e32a532dee6268a1df5873&ref=secretbreakfast.com) 📈If your government's ministers have a higher median BMI, chances are[ your country is more corrupt](https://bigthink.com/strange-maps/obesity-and-corruption/?%5Fbhlid=996ac441b10a336cb0942044fc565c58a9b3a594&ref=secretbreakfast.com), study finds 🧑🏻‍🍳[The Trick](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DETUL1KR3U%5F/?igsh=MXJpb3ptbnB1Y2lpdA%3D%3D&%5Fbhlid=80f82a20aa54a1d39b1fb64697e03ea7b3e651c7&ref=secretbreakfast.com) You Need for Piping Bags 🪡This is beautiful: [Embroidery Journaling](https://kottke.org/25/01/embroidery-journaling?%5Fbhlid=c30d3712c4b9c681275bc3a8eab3d2cea4721b58&ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🇻🇳Give It a Shot, Vietnamese Mayo (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DET8aJdTIm6?%5Fbhlid=d2887162591a066c28648bc6cc898ce55bfb3163&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🥒[Can Someone Please Tell Me What Is Going on With Glitter Pickles?](https://www.foodandwine.com/what-are-glitter-pickles-8764693?%5Fbhlid=25f464b534d0751fcf20576670eec99a41e6bf7b&ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🍫Flourless Mochi Brownies (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DCUHESGJUTd?%5Fbhlid=558f0950c9540f74a069174da8b4612c79bd604e&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🔪[6 Easy Ways to Transform Plain Cream Cheese Into Something Extraordinary](https://www.foodandwine.com/how-to-upgrade-cream-cheese-8765105?hid=b65c06b8bb54449e12b2324cde45cf069f804769&did=15790674-20250103&utm%5Fcontent=010325&lctg=b65c06b8bb54449e12b2324cde45cf069f804769&lr%5Finput=969bf86e4d337bb74ec41d7fc4fcb4cbce448adc9ea58fc46f58a8b14ca494da&%5Fbhlid=9e9fb2c04758bf86999438990b4b09fc01a0ebed&ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🍹It’s Dry January (=you don’t drink), then let’s try this [Sleepy Girl Mocktail](https://www.instagram.com/p/C4oUQatMlLi?%5Fbhlid=a39f5c0550b7650cca9f6854d046db374dc28478&ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🦞How to Make a Falsa Langosta (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DDxPaynIaAf?%5Fbhlid=128bd09c521a8c55d73244376ad4d788c9b6e0e7&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/be74643a-4623-4922-9944-19fdcccb1540/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__1.png) --- **➤ Last week's most clicked link was - as usual -** [**40 questions to ask yourself every year**](https://stephango.com/40-questions?%5Fbhlid=5cc9266754721b85e6c0cea84ba089477afb2761&ref=secretbreakfast.com)**. And that's all for today.** **SEASON 5 • ISSUE 215** Secret Breakfast is a newsletter by [Piero Macchioni](https://macchioni.cc/?%5Fbhlid=e561bbdd6f5cc2253bcf501816f54b449cf6c0ff&ref=secretbreakfast.com). In five years we have shared more than 5,000 recipes, hundreds of books, and countless hours of news, gluttony, and joy. ### Wrapped Winter Wisdom 🌯 URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/wrapped-2024/ Last updated: 2024-12-30T13:20:38.000Z # Welcome to Secret Breakfast / An exclusive newsletter, the best place made of wrapped dreams, small comforts, and sweet harmless temptations to bring down a multitude of saints crashing among the hazels and nougatines ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/ad7071f1-5e29-4ec6-837c-65d745ed1a61/capture_2024-12-30_alle_16-32-12.jpg) Hi there! As we stir the pot of possibility for 2025, may your kitchens buzz with creativity and your tables overflow with joy. Let this be the year where that sourdough starter finally achieves perfection, your spice drawer finds its organizational Zen, and that vintage cookbook collection expands with treasured finds. Looking forward to a year filled with farmers' market discoveries, recipe swaps, and the shared delight of breaking bread together. Here's to mastering that tricky lamination technique, rescuing more kitchen scraps, and finding new ways to honor old family recipes. Wishing you countless moments of culinary triumph and the warmth of shared meals. And - as always - thank you for being part of this community and of my life. Cook on! Piero PS: This issue is different, you’ll see. We'll be back to “normal” (hey, what’s normal?) next week. Picture by Chris Schwarz/Government of Alberta. From [A Dusty Fast-Food Costume Sets Off a Very Canadian Bidding War](https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/26/world/canada/alberta-donair-costume-auction.html?unlocked%5Farticle%5Fcode=1.lU4.tvQj.bG8hEhHQ5Ahz&smid=url-share&%5Fbhlid=439c26e52daedc45467e3a983d074ed6e9476d6d&ref=secretbreakfast.com). **ONE ✤ QUOTE** ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/0a65e5f3-aa32-4a9b-9bf8-21a2c8f29a2f/nigel_slater__1.png) ✦ **Joanne Harris**, [*Chocolat*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chocolat%5F%28novel%29?%5Fbhlid=78086e56007b6e1e589018a1a1873139077e6424&ref=secretbreakfast.com). ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/79b09a12-9ae2-4041-b983-2290907b265d/random-full_b.png) In 2024, the Secret Breakfast food newsletter consisted of 37.3K words written, and your readers gravitated toward eclectic culinary content. I’m not Spotify, so I can’t share your likes or clicks from the past year. However, I can provide a picture of our community’s choices. Emerging patterns in click data revealed a strong appetite for both traditional techniques and modern kitchen hacks. These most-visited links paint a picture of a community equally interested in preserving culinary heritage and embracing contemporary food culture, but what I loved the most is you also seemed to like the non-everyday-food stories. And now, here we go. --- # The 3 Most Clicked Links of 2024 💘 [40 questions to ask yourself every yearEvery year I ask myself these 40 questions. I’ve shared this list with my family and closest friends, and always enjoy discussing answers as we reflect on th...![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/assets/covers/40-questions.png)](https://stephango.com/40-questions?%5Fbhlid=57b6fc1aa80f6b575eb17235e18450c9928a5604&ref=secretbreakfast.com) [The Daily Hunt for Food in GazaAid is scarce and food prices are high. Three families shared their recent struggles to find something to eat.![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/images/2024/03/11/multimedia/00gaza-hunger-hp-promo/00gaza-hunger-hp-promo-facebookjumbo.jpg)](https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2024/03/12/world/middleeast/gaza-hunger.html?%5Fbhlid=ad770c1395216326c8a6be4d7a1d69778c45c5f3&ref=secretbreakfast.com) [56 Fast Dinner Ideas You Can Make in 20 Minutes or LessWe can’t work magic, but we can present you with these 56 fast dinner ideas that you can make in 20 minutes or less, ranging from tacos to pasta to vegetarian curry. You’re welcome.![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2020/09/fast-dinner-ideas_uni.jpg)](https://www.purewow.com/food/fast-dinner-ideas?%5Fbhlid=2fde4782f2378d8925a13bf73d856a07205b09cd&ref=secretbreakfast.com) --- # The Other 7 in the Top 10 🪅 1. [Chef Mory Sacko: ‘Palates are ready to welcome cuisine like mine in France’](https://www.theguardian.com/food/2023/may/26/chef-mory-sacko-mosuke-restaurant-france-interview?%5Fbhlid=1796b70a3c9e555c5ff116fb1475cbc33f3cd3e1&ref=secretbreakfast.com) 2. [The Most Ridiculous Food Trend The Year You Were Born](https://www.mashed.com/1203608/the-most-ridiculous-food-trend-the-year-you-were-born/?%5Fbhlid=dfedf5b23d67c99b51e820740257c5b832895b2d&ref=secretbreakfast.com) 3. [If You See This in a Restaurant, Put Down the Menu and Make Other Plans](https://www.foodandwine.com/signs-of-a-bad-restaurant-8613174?%5Fbhlid=28eaf08d8097ddb2faab0ed22b0d0799537cd737&ref=secretbreakfast.com) 4. [14 Unexpected Items That These Chefs Never Refrigerate](https://www.foodandwine.com/chefs/chef-tips-never-refrigerate?%5Fbhlid=5c7664cd0ffae799bfa4ddb9e0117dcb094d225c&ref=secretbreakfast.com) 5. [A Beginner's Guide on How to Meal Prep for the Week](https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/food-recipes/a28377603/how-to-meal-prep/?%5Fbhlid=3d4b65ccd4dfe9fff6e1ca3706fc06fa266d1329&ref=secretbreakfast.com) 6. [3 Things to Do When You Can’t Fall Asleep Because You’re Overthinking…Everything](https://www.self.com/story/three-things-overthinking-before-bed?%5Fbhlid=7ed0c948203318bc553bca34d65eb1a91a5c70dd&ref=secretbreakfast.com) 7. [‘I’ve Been a Longevity Nutritionist for 30 Years, and These Are the Top 4 Foods I Tell My Clients To Eat Every Day’](https://www.wellandgood.com/longevity-nutritionists-top-foods/?%5Fbhlid=542261a91a1693f553d390214f82c724ca5a1c11&ref=secretbreakfast.com) --- # The Least Clicked Link 💀 [Future Eclipses - NASA ScienceGet Ready for These Upcoming Eclipses! Solar Eclipses Date Solar Eclipse Type Geographic Region of Visibility March 29, 2025 Partial Europe, Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Atlantic Ocean, Arctic Ocean Sept. 21, 2025 Partial Australia, Antarctica, Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean Feb. 17, 2026 Annular An annular solar eclipse will be visible in Antarctica, and \[…\]![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/nhq202404080101large.jpg)](https://science.nasa.gov/eclipses/future-eclipses/?%5Fbhlid=e2a9e3b3b4a4ffb733bb5a53d3af83b90e4459d3&ref=secretbreakfast.com) --- # The Most Read Issue 🤓 [Rules of civility and edible economics 📊The best place to start your day studying rules of civility, edible economics and hot oil peanut butter noodles![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/uploads/asset/file/b4deaa47-4d62-48bb-9229-aa1b17fbc6b5/capture_2024-04-03_alle_08-52-51.jpg)](https://secretbreakfast.com/edible-economics/) --- # The Most Clicked Issue 🎯 [The Secret Power of Mayo 🥚The best place to start your day with killer mayo and halloumi wraps consumed while burning out.![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/uploads/asset/file/ff6bc7c3-8515-436f-853b-a609984ccea2/jj-jordan-aagscwz2r64-unsplash.jpg)](https://secretbreakfast.com/power-of-mayo/) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/b3379c40-38f1-4e02-8bb4-da044c7c2b2a/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__1.png) This one is inspired by a Morning Brew puzzle. The year 2024 had plenty of great food shows. Now, we’re making them truly “icon-ic”. 🥁 **Below are some shows from 2024 represented by emoji. Can you decode all five?** 1. 🥄 👨‍🏫 🤺 2. 🧑🏻‍🍳 🍽️ 🍜 3. 🐷 4. 🐔 🏪 💝 5. 🐻 --- THE ANSWERS 👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻 1. Culinary Class Wars 2. Chef's Table: Noodles 3. Omnivore 4. Chicken Shop Date 5. The Bear ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/6ad38528-f0cf-4789-acb8-b3442e860417/omnivore.png) ### What kind of Secret Breakfast content are you craving most for 2025? (I won't see who answered what, so be yourself) [I need more smart-recipes 🤤 ](https://secretbreakfast.beehiiv.com/polls/d798f8fc-818c-48ad-81a4-dddb667b817d/response?pcid=3c2abaa3-c550-461e-9f30-1c654ab716b9&ppid=5e54e96c-7c43-4ee2-bc07-5373a70d14dc&sid=&ref=secretbreakfast.com#&%5Fbhlid=6f9aa656ce693d45b3ab74cf4017ad5ab3fc7a2f&last%5Fresource%5Fguid=Post%3A9c9811c7-9ed3-493f-b552-412afe49bda4)[Link or write engaging food stories 📖 ](https://secretbreakfast.beehiiv.com/polls/d798f8fc-818c-48ad-81a4-dddb667b817d/response?pcid=e6d92ed4-292a-405d-88f7-d5afe94fb0b7&ppid=5e54e96c-7c43-4ee2-bc07-5373a70d14dc&sid=&ref=secretbreakfast.com#&%5Fbhlid=c30d846999c46b188a827d45a2d08335168781b2&last%5Fresource%5Fguid=Post%3A9c9811c7-9ed3-493f-b552-412afe49bda4)[Pivot and give me some lifestyle tips & tricks 💡 ](https://secretbreakfast.beehiiv.com/polls/d798f8fc-818c-48ad-81a4-dddb667b817d/response?pcid=42bcd1be-f61f-45e8-82e0-8b05bbbaf5ef&ppid=5e54e96c-7c43-4ee2-bc07-5373a70d14dc&sid=&ref=secretbreakfast.com#&%5Fbhlid=0928bf84322785feb5dc19b5d9b76fb86c5a0915&last%5Fresource%5Fguid=Post%3A9c9811c7-9ed3-493f-b552-412afe49bda4)[Share more local food adventures, addresses, dishes 🗺️ ](https://secretbreakfast.beehiiv.com/polls/d798f8fc-818c-48ad-81a4-dddb667b817d/response?pcid=84e8fdb8-3f4a-4f88-94a8-963539f06292&ppid=5e54e96c-7c43-4ee2-bc07-5373a70d14dc&sid=&ref=secretbreakfast.com#&%5Fbhlid=1def0fff0397444a948702650b662492c9319fea&last%5Fresource%5Fguid=Post%3A9c9811c7-9ed3-493f-b552-412afe49bda4)[Surprise me! 🎉](https://secretbreakfast.beehiiv.com/polls/d798f8fc-818c-48ad-81a4-dddb667b817d/response?pcid=366dc0e6-bc8b-438f-8f87-d4a7fe454906&ppid=5e54e96c-7c43-4ee2-bc07-5373a70d14dc&sid=&ref=secretbreakfast.com#&%5Fbhlid=63240fa06c070074e6aa8d76d0c67b4c6b17ff97&last%5Fresource%5Fguid=Post%3A9c9811c7-9ed3-493f-b552-412afe49bda4) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/be74643a-4623-4922-9944-19fdcccb1540/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__1.png) --- --- **➤ Last week's most clicked link was** [**12 Homemade Food and Drink Gifts for Anyone on Your List**](https://www.foodandwine.com/homemade-food-gifts-for-christmas-8757275?%5Fbhlid=850218dbc075e4d9b2d20d9234d70527c8a0265a&ref=secretbreakfast.com)**. And that's all for 2024.** **SEASON 5 • ISSUE 214** Secret Breakfast is a newsletter by [Piero Macchioni](https://macchioni.cc/?%5Fbhlid=b9944a88c9c581c19189ed91c3151f1ebf47ec01&ref=secretbreakfast.com). In five years we have shared more than 5,000 recipes, hundreds of books, and countless hours of news, gluttony, and joy. ### The Final Feast Countdown 🎄 URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/the-final-feast-countdown/ Last updated: 2024-12-16T14:22:03.000Z # Welcome to Secret Breakfast / An exclusive newsletter, the best place to bake Xmas gifts, drink mayo and learn more about the world’s most expensive eating disorder ![Sixty years ago](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/b46924e5-10ba-4861-b120-d3d08aa3a50d/gemmkp9xaaafcvl.jpg) Sixty years ago Hi there! Christmas Eve is next week. When I spent the Summer in Finland I saved one story for this very moment. In Turku, on December 24th, people gather to listen to the Declaration of Christmas Peace. It should go like this: *«Tomorrow, God willing, is the graceful celebration of the birth of our Lord and Saviour; and thus is declared a peaceful Christmas time to all, by advising devotion and to behave otherwise quietly and peacefully, because he who breaks this peace and violates the peace of Christmas by any illegal or improper behavior shall under aggravating circumstances be guilty and punished according to what the law and statutes prescribe for each and every offense separately».* Devotion. Behave. You sit at the table with family members you haven't lived with for a year, and your life suddenly feels like an episode of The Bear. [This one](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fishes%5F%28The%5FBear%29?%5Fbhlid=0dbf4acbbb1634c7f8e5072d1bcb01da869deacb&ref=secretbreakfast.com). Hold fast, guys. A wise friend once said: Christmas is a chance to see if we've learned anything from our year of therapy. *Quietly and peacefully*, then. Piero PS: you’ll see one adv on this issue, it’s the last one for 2024. PSS: the next newsletter will be delivered one random day before December 31st. Mary Ellen Mark, American, 1940–2015\. Santa takes a coffee break, 1964. **ONE ✤ QUOTE** ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/03fded91-6910-44fe-a0c4-810a4a17e61a/nigel_slater.png) ✦ **Nigel Slater**, [*Toast*](https://www.nigelslater.com/toast%5Fbk%5F9?%5Fbhlid=7cb9285896dca1bab19e552297b3b6760959b74b&ref=secretbreakfast.com). Every Christmas I post a quote by Nigel, you should know that by now. ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/a71d10cf-96c2-4a3f-b272-f856e69658f5/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__3.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/b192c725-8325-4b9f-9a20-df79fd232461/capture_2024-12-17_alle_14-18-28.jpg) [**Wafu Cooking. Everyday Recipes with Japanese Style**](https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/710080/wafu-cooking-by-sonoko-sakai/?%5Fbhlid=4a327ea10d87cf087ec24d8e3fb069dfcdb3786d&ref=secretbreakfast.com) **by Sonoko Sakai** **→ Shortplot:** 🥢🍜🥮 🍱 --- **In partnership with…\*** ### This Holiday Season, Give Yourself the Gift of Nike Air Max. ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/d83b5308-6ec5-4b86-aef6-5c58051dff27/image_n2.jpg) This winter, take your footwear game to the next level with [Nike's Air Max collection](https://www.clkmg.com/wellput-io/193619m464im0a/v2-r10889-p193619-c1649////?%5Fbhiiv=opp%5F0df07416-2e2b-4634-af81-37ef809a9ede%5F0c44d32f&bhcl%5Fid=f29fae14-05a0-40d8-93a8-25679195f828%5F&ref=secretbreakfast.com#&%5Fbhlid=eb7c0be78f3c478834692d2f9270327d41de9109) for men. With a diverse range of models, this collection prioritizes comfort and functionality, perfectly tailored to meet your everyday needs. Whether you're hitting the gym or heading out for a casual outing, these sneakers deliver the support you crave without compromising on style. Find the perfect pair that matches your lifestyle and get ready to make a statement with every step. Treat yourself to a fresh pair from the collection this holiday season—you deserve it. [Shop the Men’s Air Max Collection](https://www.clkmg.com/wellput-io/193619m464im0a/v2-r10889-p193619-c1649////?%5Fbhiiv=opp%5F0df07416-2e2b-4634-af81-37ef809a9ede%5F0c44d32f&bhcl%5Fid=f29fae14-05a0-40d8-93a8-25679195f828%5F&ref=secretbreakfast.com#&%5Fbhlid=d0863340517c7f35afd44e23bc44969bfd00cb5a) *\*This issue is supported by this ADV.* --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/a34b217a-cae3-4cac-80c8-bdf5f30996f4/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__6.png) ## **THIS IS WHERE OUR FOOD COME FROM** ![Sambhar Lake, in Rajasthan, India’s largest inland salt lake](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/e7aa873d-7400-4261-afbb-5f62fcf91a3a/capture_2024-12-17_alle_09-46-17.jpg) Sambhar Lake, in Rajasthan, India’s largest inland salt lake For his book [Feed the Planet: A Photographic Journey to the World’s Food](https://www.georgesteinmetz.com/p/feed-the-planet?%5Fbhlid=2b28b59931ab8589429baf21876ba8ac83e13c91&ref=secretbreakfast.com) (Bookshop), George Steinmetz used his drone to explore the world, spending ten years taking pictures of how food is produced in over 36 countries across 6 continents, 24 US states, and 5 oceans. His impressive aerial photos show the large scale of modern farming, which covers 40 percent of the Earth's surface. Please take a moment to check out his pictures and videos. ###### Picture:[ G](https://www.georgesteinmetz.com/gallery-image/Feed-the-Planet/G0000lrER6EZBBQA/I0000GGh4Z8K21YU?%5Fbhlid=a6f9bb3770353f243b9660e8430a3d02811ae9ae&ref=secretbreakfast.com)[eorge Steinmetz](https://www.georgesteinmetz.com/gallery-image/Feed-the-Planet/G0000lrER6EZBBQA/I0000GGh4Z8K21YU?%5Fbhlid=cc711ff90331ec30f6d4ad445509f0b1a3d95b97&ref=secretbreakfast.com) ![Juicy content from food creators. This week a sweet Swedish treat for Santa (or just your loved ones)](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/a776550c-eefa-4d3e-b067-0438f295b874/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__2.png) Juicy content from food creators. This week a sweet Swedish treat for Santa (or just your loved ones) [](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DDe4mbQoewV?%5Fbhlid=be9898c6af609bf9c853641c759e7b792d7e41aa&ref=secretbreakfast.com) ![This is the space where I share some food (un)related stuff of my week](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/cdcd47f2-b8f2-4683-a706-d790e01c1c57/random-full_b__1.png) This is the space where I share some food (un)related stuff of my week 🎄[12 Homemade Food and Drink Gifts](https://www.foodandwine.com/homemade-food-gifts-for-christmas-8757275?hid=b65c06b8bb54449e12b2324cde45cf069f804769&did=15717402-20241213&utm%5Fcontent=121324&lctg=b65c06b8bb54449e12b2324cde45cf069f804769&lr%5Finput=969bf86e4d337bb74ec41d7fc4fcb4cbce448adc9ea58fc46f58a8b14ca494da&%5Fbhlid=8f5412bc95ed382112df11b218c23123f50fc3e1&ref=secretbreakfast.com) for Anyone on Your List 🍪[The Most Popular Christmas Cookies in All 50 States](https://www.mentalfloss.com/most-popular-christmas-cookie-each-state?utm%5Fplacement=newsletter&%5Fbhlid=8b47373cf99c19cb2b3e7f52a5cdb748a1f9d216&ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🍸[Punch’s Favorite Cocktails of 2024](https://punchdrink.com/articles/best-favorite-cocktails-2024/?ueid=e28c375eb8adc4ff1210f142451302c6&utm%5Fterm=From+the+Editor&%5Fbhlid=b9ce034aff322ae1f4d8b7587171960240df1797&ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🌽[Corn in coffee? ](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DC4MwlTxcH6/?igsh=YXl0MTd4bGdqcHQ%3D&%5Fbhlid=6c7327ae00481aca79c2443f0be4f8467b7642b6&ref=secretbreakfast.com)🫠[Ever wanted to drink mayonnaise? ](https://www.independent.co.uk/asia/japan/mayonnaise-drinkable-mayo-japan-nomu-lawson-b2655230.html?%5Fbhlid=34f346ec31be4d2b939c6362ddb076e982dba945&ref=secretbreakfast.com)Now you can 🧑🏻‍🍳[Top 10 cooks in fiction](https://search.app/yJ6ZLR9kmPJPLdzV8?%5Fbhlid=5a6b711fdf2b3d1d93320d85452aa38ce1077152&ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🧄Traditional Toum, the Lebanese Garlic Sauce (★[recipe](https://www.seriouseats.com/traditional-toum?%5Fbhlid=e8655bce82e587b438800236ebc0f0b2ba16269e&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🍹Nobu Bar’s teapple (★[recipe](https://www.theguardian.com/food/2024/dec/15/cocktail-of-the-week-nobu-bars-teapple-recipe?%5Fbhlid=eb40a1312e02af61905b7d500c01b222083dfed9&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🥚If you’re having people over, this will save you: [Shaved Asparagus Frittata](https://smittenkitchen.com/2016/04/shaved-asparagus-frittata/?%5Fbhlid=408746cf9fcbbc9ae6e503bcc4e4d9537b318300&ref=secretbreakfast.com) (★[recipe](https://smittenkitchen.com/2016/04/shaved-asparagus-frittata/?%5Fbhlid=407fe379d46c7270d53e497190536356b95352d9&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🍞[Can’t Get an Even Bake? This ‘Toast Test’ Can Help](https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/oven-hot-spots-toast-test/?%5Fbhlid=1fed93d87df8e1f57e946415a67f8085773c8f6e&ref=secretbreakfast.com) 📺 *Modern Family*’s’ Julie Bowen is producing [Taste](https://www.eater.com/2024/12/10/24317359/food-media-workplace-sitcom-julie-bowen-nbc?%5Fbhlid=acf0e9922750605f284531c3db844b2e285e9def&ref=secretbreakfast.com), a new show featuring a TikTok chef against the old guard of a legacy food magazine 🎧[Billie Eilish: Tiny Desk Concert](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=fOAIrUZbOwo&%5Fbhlid=090dead79e5655edee29495e5c99a5497335e7e4&ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🤳🏻 If you can’t stop scrolling and you can’t stop looking and you just want more, you’re one of the [New P\*rn0graphers](https://bittersoutherner.com/the-new-pornographers-roxane-gay-tik-tok?%5Fbhlid=0d5e9f1092d06cefcc165af0cd8313f93361df04&ref=secretbreakfast.com) 💻[Reset Your Digital (Office) Life](https://youtu.be/8liy5%5FZ4zEs?%5Fbhlid=7c4855981f5578feac6ba6d426dc5cdb4b095549&ref=secretbreakfast.com) in 4 Steps ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/be74643a-4623-4922-9944-19fdcccb1540/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__1.png) --- --- **➤ Last week's most clicked link was** [**Anthony Bourdain's Soupe de Poisson**](https://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/soupe-de-poisson?%5Fbhlid=6cf2ca02b1224bf16b49b35d4dc41aeb6b9dea13&ref=secretbreakfast.com)**. And that's all for today.** **SEASON 5 • ISSUE 213** Secret Breakfast is a newsletter by [Piero Macchioni](https://macchioni.cc/?%5Fbhlid=61d5c98ac08782c965c0f3e1bf4a924d118127bc&ref=secretbreakfast.com). In five years we have shared more than 5,000 recipes, hundreds of books, and countless hours of news, gluttony, and joy. ### Christmas Deliciousness and the Crumbl Cookies Illusion 🎄 URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/christmas-soup/ Last updated: 2024-12-10T09:29:07.000Z # Welcome to Secret Breakfast / An exclusive newsletter, the best place for eating Anthony Bourdain’s Soupe de Poisson, tasting pretentious ingredients, and living any kind of unrelated experience ![Looking up. Notre Dame de Paris, by Dmitry Kostyukov for The New York Times](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/0970be9a-7dc1-454b-8654-6322bf419cdc/capture_2024-12-10_alle_12-33-21.jpg) Looking up. Notre Dame de Paris, by Dmitry Kostyukov for The New York Times Hi there! They made it. The Notre Dame Cathedral reopened its doors within five years of the devastating 2019 fire. As if we were living in a chapter of [*The Pillars of the Earth*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The%5FPillars%5Fof%5Fthe%5FEarth?%5Fbhlid=d68a4c1ea202f0de9326026a15ad16d80a06e379&ref=secretbreakfast.com) by Ken Follett, people (and money) were stronger than ashes and destruction. **Still, fire and ashes are endangering lives in many other places.** Like Damascus, Gaza, or parts of Africa, where there have been so many military coups recently. Somalia, Yemen, and Chad are at the top of the Global Hunger Index. In Kabul and Teheran, women face oppression and are excluded from society. That said, the year ends, and - yes - the world looks famished as always was. The hunger for food where people have nothing. The hunger for justice where there is no real law. We play with food, we love that, but sometimes we also need to pause and look up. Piero **ONE ✤ QUOTE** ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/4e502f3e-4638-4c6e-bbf4-f19848ef40e8/rooney.png) ✦ **Sally Rooney,** [*Intermezzo*](https://us.macmillan.com/books/9780374602635/intermezzo/?%5Fbhlid=85d769d13e45aa5195e130b88de3ca49def8295b&ref=secretbreakfast.com). ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/a71d10cf-96c2-4a3f-b272-f856e69658f5/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__3.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/e6945948-8002-4971-939f-a194eaaf34b3/capture_2024-12-10_alle_11-01-37.jpg) [Eating and Being: A History of Ideas About Our Food and Ourselves ](https://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/chicago/E/bo236372525.html?%5Fbhlid=d5145444acde9ea8cfaabd9b9ff6379024d3ee7a&ref=secretbreakfast.com)by Steven Shapin **→ Shortplot:** 🍅🌽 🍝🌱 ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/a34b217a-cae3-4cac-80c8-bdf5f30996f4/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__6.png) ## **THE SIMPSONS, ft. CHEF’S TABLE, ft. RUTH REICHL** [](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DDPr-mRPZpb?%5Fbhlid=3afb6b3614fdfc0276a64cde930da912c8d38779&ref=secretbreakfast.com) Nothing to add, your honor. ![Juicy content from food creators](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/a776550c-eefa-4d3e-b067-0438f295b874/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__2.png) Juicy content from food creators [](https://www.instagram.com/p/DC9DUMzhKOr/?%5Fbhlid=34c61f58e953ceb0d03a445ff1bd1c92c4069a67&ref=secretbreakfast.com) ![This is the space where I share some food (un)related stuff of my week](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/cdcd47f2-b8f2-4683-a706-d790e01c1c57/random-full_b__1.png) This is the space where I share some food (un)related stuff of my week 🎄If I Could… My childhood go-to dish for Christmas Eve Dinner: Anthony Bourdain's Soupe de Poisson (★[recipe](https://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/soupe-de-poisson?%5Fbhlid=fc5a0bc37afcb6e95aa8e812ad0b5c7b43a822c2&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) with Rouille (★[recipe](https://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/rouille-anthony-bourdain?%5Fbhlid=ea68b4866fb7bc21b188605c13d1eb52dc26ecde&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🎅🏻Lunch on the 25th: Modena Style Tortellini (★[recipe](https://www.visitmodena.it/en/discover-modena/land-of-flavors/local-recipes/tortellini?%5Fbhlid=a551d001ec352fc0abfea4e1198b035b734f4dec&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🍄Or this Veg alternative: Artusi’s Famous Mushroom Ragu (★[recipe](https://food52.com/recipes/78108-l-artusi-s-famous-mushroom-ragu-with-fresh-garganelli?%5Fbhlid=e59f378c44e7dcec635ac85a25a60bf2b76c80a0&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🇮🇹A repository of Italian Christmas Ideas (★[recipes](https://www.cookingwithnonna.com/italian-cuisine/christmas-recipes.html?%5Fbhlid=1842067783c1fa6bd0b28827c7c27969dc99b5de&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) ☕️“Mocha Mousse” was dubbed 2025′s color of the year by the Pantone Color Institute, now you make some (★[recipe](https://food52.com/recipes/11243-mocha-mousse?%5Fbhlid=60931947a73375dce17461193eb11e5f57a44cad&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🇩🇰[Noma Was Supposed to Close. That’s Definitely Not Happening](https://www.grubstreet.com/article/noma-not-closing-after-all.html?%5Fbhlid=c0e3991c8994b1882f53397b39b19ef2c57b4dc9&ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🥚Eggnog Gingerbread Tiramisu Mugs (★[recipe](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y1opzdOj-jI&%5Fbhlid=6cec5476fd176abfebfdf58218cbb3460a293054&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🌶️How To Invent A New Vegetable ([video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gZr2Q61mxzs&%5Fbhlid=cd8fb7bb19fc3a128d7b40f9b891f0b182874ee7&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) ☕️👨🏾‍🍳[Chef vs Normal: Taste Testing Pretentious Ingredients ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDVRl-YW5dw&%5Fbhlid=eaee43fed61bea571b07d1aa3da00560c97daf39&ref=secretbreakfast.com)🍕In Pizza Heaven it’s always 950°, and this is [the oven you need](https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2025/01/at-home-pizza-oven-cooking/680760/?gift=j9r7avb6p-KY8zdjhsiSZwFVPyYXKZulZQxJHg08XHQ&%5Fbhlid=13ec834cf9ed4ae7b2ad62ea073965d4bac4107f&ref=secretbreakfast.com) at home (better in the backyard) ☕️Some [Coffee recipes](https://leaflet.pub/ce4daf68-5749-4943-9111-4401db9ce77a?%5Fbhlid=461ed85ce6f32dbae65b43fe3af5e62755a0d33a&ref=secretbreakfast.com) on this super-nice content platform called Leaflet 🤖[Why are we letting algorithms rewrite the rules of art, work, and life?](https://thewalrus.ca/collapse-of-self-worth-in-the-digital-age/?%5Fbhlid=2be190dfc3f2f4d4ad93b00c620a2a539d9e7e50&ref=secretbreakfast.com) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/be74643a-4623-4922-9944-19fdcccb1540/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__1.png) --- --- **➤ Last week's most clicked link was** [**The 2023 Kottke Holiday Gift Guide**](https://kottke.org/23/11/the-2023-kottke-holiday-gift-guide?%5Fbhlid=c2fcaa78bbc68c2e91dbe4aee982f41219c8c1e4&ref=secretbreakfast.com)**. And that's all for today.** **SEASON 5 • ISSUE 212** Secret Breakfast is a newsletter by [Piero Macchioni](https://macchioni.cc/?%5Fbhlid=e02cae13803fcacdbaebc500756c9127c6768819&ref=secretbreakfast.com). In five years we have shared more than 5,000 recipes, hundreds of books, and countless hours of news, gluttony, and joy. ### The No-Brainer Guide to Xmas Spree 🧠 URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/no-brainer-guide-christmas-2024/ Last updated: 2024-12-01T20:41:43.000Z # Welcome to Secret Breakfast / An exclusive newsletter, the best place to start your day with expensive bananas, random Christmas gift lists, and - of course - brain rot ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/5b1a6202-8acd-4d6b-80dd-981da647e46a/capture_2024-12-02_alle_13-13-25.jpg) Hi there! A few days ago cryptocurrency entrepreneur Justin Sun fulfilled a promise he made after spending $6.2m on an artwork featuring a banana duct-taped to a wall – by [eating the fruit](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/nov/29/crypto-entrepreneur-justin-sun-eats-banana-art-he-bought-for-6m-dollars?%5Fbhlid=2fda94544b83ccda1a89b6819816363be098a24b&ref=secretbreakfast.com). «It’s much better than other bananas», Sun said after getting his first taste. Is that the answer to the infamous dilemma? [Is the food really better at expensive restaurants](https://www.chicagobooth.edu/review/is-the-food-really-better-at-expensive-restaurants?%5Fbhlid=a05cc6fd19f2f8a7ab1ec62319a2dc24cc7e0e5e&ref=secretbreakfast.com)? I don’t know. But apparently, it tastes better when you buy that winning an expensive art auction. Piero PS: this week is about presents; next week will be about recipes. Photograph: Peter Parks/AFP/Getty Images **ONE ✤ QUOTE** ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/c28cab65-44d3-4ab3-a5fe-c2b8b87ef23a/annie__1.png) ✦ **Ed Cumming**, interviewing academic and motorcycle mechanic, Matthew Crawford, nine years ago. [This bit is perfect for today](https://www.theguardian.com/media/2015/apr/12/matthew-crawford-distraction-is-a-kind-of-obesity-of-the-mind-the-world-beyond-your-head?%5Fbhlid=6624180e44e14162cbf3e4488b752303b4fecce2&ref=secretbreakfast.com): “Just as food engineers have figured out how to make food hyper-palatable by manipulating fat, salt, and sugar, similarly the media has become expert at making irresistible mental stimuli”. *(I found this reading Elena Rossini’s* [*blog post*](https://blog.elenarossini.com/a-new-way-to-describe-the-fediverse-and-its-opposition-to-big-tech/?%5Fbhlid=e2bdac968d9035a914cf5ae0693c091b642fc02f&ref=secretbreakfast.com) *that uses food to explain the Fediverse and how it differs from Big Tech)* ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/a71d10cf-96c2-4a3f-b272-f856e69658f5/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__3.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/77e220c6-18c2-466c-859c-3528a519fae9/capture_2024-12-02_alle_12-44-07.jpg) [**Easy Wins. 12 Flavour Hits, 125 Delicious Recipes, 365 Days of Good Eating**](https://annajones.co.uk/?%5Fbhlid=5cfbe2209b3e71f9145a937bf1d62ca521239dbd&ref=secretbreakfast.com) **by Anna Jones** **→ Shortplot:** 🧅 🍋 🍅 🥗 ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/a34b217a-cae3-4cac-80c8-bdf5f30996f4/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__6.png) ## **IT’S BRAIN ROT TIME** ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/2681bf85-ac1e-407e-b33b-b4a19898a637/frozen-monkey-brain-980x380.jpg) Ok, you should know that by now. The Oxford University Press has named [**Brain Rot** ](https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cx2n2r695nzo?%5Fbhlid=3ae239726398430415ef5fce7f2d888a26fb98b3&ref=secretbreakfast.com)word (or phrase) of the year. ❝ “Brain rot” is defined as the supposed deterioration of a person's mental or intellectual state, especially viewed as the result of overconsumption of material considered to be trivial or unchallenging, I don’t really believe in the Oxford University Press Word of the Year, as I don’t trust the Pantone Color of the Year or the European Car of the Year acknowledgment. It’s 80% marketing, 20% Zeitgeist. Nevertheless, this Brain Rot topic is great for discussing an ingredient nearly disappearing from our meals. Brains. Yes, as in hog, beef, or lamb’s brains. Something I had when I was a kid and that I’ve never cooked in adult life. How do you cook brains? Can you have venison brains? Do you simmer brains? Almost all the answers are in [this excellent blog post](https://foragerchef.com/how-to-cook-brains/?%5Fbhlid=940d8e72c270a8fb24307e041ed997f769313698&ref=secretbreakfast.com), with this superb [Brain Fritters with Gruyere, Lemon and Sage](https://foragerchef.com/brain-fritters-with-gruyere-lemon-and-sage/?%5Fbhlid=1c8670690b89fb3d2d028ce2fcafa499203282d2&ref=secretbreakfast.com) recipe. Or you can swing it and try a [Moroccan Lamb Brain Recipe with Eggs and Harissa](https://shepherdsongfarm.com/lamb-and-goat-recipes/moroccan-lamb-brains-and-eggs/?srsltid=AfmBOorfh3RxEHdSR4A0JnfOV84IRCKSTWKvid6svCeERTQplwd3ASGe&%5Fbhlid=f77877ffde00b5208ec7be22d6cf2312ec115a85&ref=secretbreakfast.com). That’s for the “brain” part. Then, don’t think I’m forgetting about the “rot”. [Foods we only eat when they’re rotten](https://www.foxnews.com/food-drink/foods-we-only-eat-when-theyre-rotten?%5Fbhlid=a2f251d03ab11fa98df45045f06f9c1982cc5917&ref=secretbreakfast.com) are a staple of this newsletter and don’t deserve much more space. ###### Picture: *Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom* ![Juicy content from food creators](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/a776550c-eefa-4d3e-b067-0438f295b874/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__2.png) Juicy content from food creators [](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DDAJZDbIy8l?%5Fbhlid=0384dfa0c12365b78c215162778a36fb86696dd5&ref=secretbreakfast.com) ![This is the space where I share some food (un)related stuff of my week](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/cdcd47f2-b8f2-4683-a706-d790e01c1c57/random-full_b__1.png) This is the space where I share some food (un)related stuff of my week 💌It’s time to Bake Your Letters To Santa Cookies (★[recipe](https://www.delish.com/cooking/recipe-ideas/a61806161/letters-to-santa-recipe/?%5Fbhlid=f9690826db61afe0809765d596211138ad9ad37a&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🍞A [génial strip](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/0367d489ee151a129f5d9cbdd11e1795/dfb0f96d25488566-88/s2048x3072/c84e00f8be270d719b8897efd14d4f62cd26c285.jpg) by[ Skeleton Claw](https://www.skeletonclaw.com/?%5Fbhlid=fd881151ef1e96e8d6f4262413e611a17276745d&ref=secretbreakfast.com) that explains leaving X (fka Twitter) with a bread dough analogy 🌴[33 Bucket List Los Angeles Foods](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eavcGn4Ibto&%5Fbhlid=217159cd5156d02969f195a9fecd2f0802c97c7d&ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🥸[Here’s Tolstoy’s recipe for macaroni and cheese](https://lithub.com/heres-tolstoys-recipe-for-macaroni-and-cheese-aka-mac-peace/?%5Fbhlid=b4f40c75be8a533172aec8e0b4bf1de940a84571&ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🍹What is the best cocktail to throw at someone? [Answers](https://bsky.app/profile/alexanderchee.bsky.social/post/3lbmplfvhmn2n?%5Fbhlid=e8f624984939edf0c11e60c4b73641d7934946ab&ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🎄[Here’s What the Sporked Editors Want for Christmas This Year](https://sporked.com/article/sporked-holiday-gift-guide-2024/?%5Fbhlid=1c735130db963406cd192544c1387b55c37eded5&ref=secretbreakfast.com) A good gift guide for foodies, comin’ in hot. 🎁[The 2023 Kottke Holiday Gift Guide](https://kottke.org/23/11/the-2023-kottke-holiday-gift-guide?%5Fbhlid=39429e4268a8496c253501f2c606f9867938db67&ref=secretbreakfast.com) 👩🏻‍🏫[Helen Rosner’s gift guide](https://www.newyorker.com/culture/the-food-scene/put-your-money-where-your-loved-ones-mouth-is?%5Fbhlid=e15f32f98dc9d494791ceab678453c8ca76fa6b0&ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🥖[Bread Baker’s Gift Guide 2024](https://www.theperfectloaf.com/bread-bakers-gift-guide/?%5Fbhlid=f9931320ece752b63b1e5de1a9b14beef8daac39&ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🃏This [Card Game](https://game.estherperel.com/products/where-should-we-begin-a-game-of-stories-2nd-edition?%5Fbhlid=8b04926f287f201c589f2b5fabe7d1931fbd89d9&ref=secretbreakfast.com) Seems Fun 😣Melissa Clark [killing Thomas Keller’s restaurants](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/26/dining/french-laundry-per-se.html?unlocked%5Farticle%5Fcode=1.eU4.G0Wy.jlpj9LSri%5FRs&smid=url-share&%5Fbhlid=9a8e83ae4b8c0a8aa62c38587a0f3dc46fd0a20d&ref=secretbreakfast.com) 📺[60 Second Docs](https://www.youtube.com/@60secdocs?%5Fbhlid=2b93177fffe82cda5a05f90b0056c494ed553251&ref=secretbreakfast.com) is a cool format 📰A super minimal news site: [The Brutalist Report](https://brutalist.report/?%5Fbhlid=c71f7bc29bbcf42d6d2ba8023793496c5e9aa0f0&ref=secretbreakfast.com) 📮[A newsletter for divorced people](https://www.wtfdivorce.com/?%5Fbhlid=fc7563d1d7e1646b90a95c7c8d71a310a6b8f091&ref=secretbreakfast.com) (for my family and friends: nothing happened, I’m still married) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/be74643a-4623-4922-9944-19fdcccb1540/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__1.png) --- --- **➤ Last week's most clicked link was** [**The Best Cookbooks of 2024, According to** ](https://www.foodandwine.com/best-cookbooks-of-2024-8749009?%5Fbhlid=b4baba83321a00ee67f0661cfb341df8fbe1b232&ref=secretbreakfast.com)[***Food & Wine***](https://www.foodandwine.com/best-cookbooks-of-2024-8749009?%5Fbhlid=75bd9ad70fd5147d72a2a64f7a9aae65c55e40e9&ref=secretbreakfast.com)[ **Editors**](https://www.foodandwine.com/best-cookbooks-of-2024-8749009?%5Fbhlid=fd820af526dfa986a78c25425d5f471f7a599565&ref=secretbreakfast.com)**. And that's all for today.** **SEASON 5 • ISSUE 301** Secret Breakfast is a newsletter by [Piero Macchioni](https://macchioni.cc/?%5Fbhlid=1dd5f33d28f4f8d4c7285aa2ab9717e238b81f3c&ref=secretbreakfast.com). In five years we have shared more than 5,000 recipes, hundreds of books, and countless hours of news, gluttony, and joy. ### The Great Culinary Horoscope of 2025 ✨ URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/the-great-food-horoscope-2025/ Last updated: 2024-11-24T21:21:38.000Z # Welcome to Secret Breakfast / An exclusive newsletter, the best place to start expressing your disgust for leap years, cooking the latest Thanksgiving bits, and then reading what’s written in the stars ![© Miller Family Trust A, Getty Museum](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/08238b1f-eef0-45e5-9a53-cdd9d172dd90/capture_2024-11-25_alle_12-03-51.jpg) © Miller Family Trust A, Getty Museum Hi there! It’s a superstition that leap years are somehow unfortunate. And, how can I say it? For me this 2024 sucked. There was no major event, but it’s been a collection of bad days, unexpected things happening, and small (and big) troubles. But Thanksgiving is coming, and I think we all could use a moment to express gratitude to people who made things easier or joyful—why not? Don’t miss that chance. I’ll start by saying thank you to you, dear reader. — Now enjoy issue 300, it’s different. Piero **ONE ✤ QUOTE** ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/e74b368a-99ec-4aca-abb4-7dbe3c29d2ed/annie__1.png) ✦ **Annie Mueller,** [Burn, Build, Bridge](https://anniemueller.com/posts/burn-build-bridge?%5Fbhlid=f3f3abe93043844f0751055eeabe7b7b10fdcb78&ref=secretbreakfast.com) (a hell of a blog post). ![This is the space where I share some food (un)related stuff of my week](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/cdcd47f2-b8f2-4683-a706-d790e01c1c57/random-full_b__1.png) This is the space where I share some food (un)related stuff of my week 🥧Clementine Ricotta Cheesecake With Cranberry Compote Recipe (★[recipe](https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1026049-clementine-ricotta-cheesecake-with-cranberry-compote?%5Fbhlid=d1aa961c2bee3e7930a9e4819ab729bc722edf4f&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 💔[The neuroscience of heartbreak](https://mappingignorance.org/2024/11/20/i-hate-that-i-love-you-the-neuroscience-of-heartbreak/?ref=thebrowser.com&%5Fbhlid=5850a5240724a25adc212dbae61a730431700850) 📖[The Best Cookbooks of 2024](https://www.foodandwine.com/best-cookbooks-of-2024-8749009?tag=commerce&hid=b65c06b8bb54449e12b2324cde45cf069f804769&did=15437653-20241122&utm%5Fcontent=112224&lctg=b65c06b8bb54449e12b2324cde45cf069f804769&lr%5Finput=969bf86e4d337bb74ec41d7fc4fcb4cbce448adc9ea58fc46f58a8b14ca494da&%5Fbhlid=4faabf7cf072d569acff51988234d3fd6156c400&ref=secretbreakfast.com), According to Food & Wine Editors 🍽️[Eater’s Best New Restaurants in America in 2024](https://www.eater.com/24282771/best-new-restaurants-america-2024?utm%5Fterm=Eater+Shopping&%5Fbhlid=221e9026a5f764cee032bd844fe2a3cd4ee86b12&ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🥔[5 Chef Tricks for the Best Mashed Potatoes](https://www.foodandwine.com/how-to-fix-lumpy-mashed-potatoes-8740059?hid=b65c06b8bb54449e12b2324cde45cf069f804769&did=15437653-20241122&utm%5Fcontent=112224&lctg=b65c06b8bb54449e12b2324cde45cf069f804769&lr%5Finput=969bf86e4d337bb74ec41d7fc4fcb4cbce448adc9ea58fc46f58a8b14ca494da&%5Fbhlid=92589ac8c0cbe23f114131a6c2d5944ff36b92a7&ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🦃Your Podcast for Thanksgiving: Alison Roman and comedian Kate Berlant ([video](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=yjA3qZYolCc&%5Fbhlid=7cd7077332ed29218ca73baba6123f685846c4f0&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🍞Super Soft Sourdough Rolls (★[recipe](https://www.theperfectloaf.com/super-soft-sourdough-rolls/?ck%5Fsubscriber%5Fid=2007716459&+Thanksgiving+plans%21+-+15726570=&%5Fbhlid=5f6837d3c02a3b788be90a5d76ac27d316351fce&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🍔[The 25 Recipes That Changed It All in American Cooking Over the Past 100 Years](https://slate.com/life/2024/11/food-cooking-recipes-thanksgiving-2024.html?utm%5Fplacement=newsletter&%5Fbhlid=ddf1579eba4751a4c0eb46ec6e38daa457a59f1c&ref=secretbreakfast.com) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/08d1c3bf-31c8-4560-99fa-056c8d1e22bd/bone_white_blue_groovy_you_matter_desktop_wallpaper.png) **Let’s be clear. No one here can predict the future, but I can use the Internet and experiment with technology. That's how I used the AI chatbot Claude to imagine what 2025 will be like.** **It said the future would be wonderful and tasty (and full of exclamation points!).** **Then I played with Canva, borrowed this** [**Zoltar Fortune Teller Illustration**](https://www.ebay.com/itm/224488191274?%5Fbhlid=92209f42b333fb27772a6aff75ab2c56b8d4ef8d&ref=secretbreakfast.com)**, and here we go: 2025 is served.** ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/33ef3bd6-4fec-4c90-bdf4-d9ed79fffd06/1.jpg) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/c746b9aa-66b9-4cf9-b791-284f81aaad5d/2.jpg) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/30a278f2-58d7-4bee-846d-edc6a5ddb7ac/3.jpg) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/2efdaa09-807a-4ddd-aadd-799a81ae4d01/copy_of_this_will_be_our_year.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/4e831a3e-3d47-46d3-b91f-837f0608fb13/5.jpg) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/8db56f03-1c23-4dd6-94e9-3edf8968d644/6.jpg) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/64b4cafb-f1d3-4245-9d7e-e1f05d87afdb/dummy.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/c545adf4-cb01-49af-b380-d8c3c8bcaab2/dummy.jpg) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/53ff1b2b-7ca6-4ad4-9c25-98a188fdbd53/9.jpg) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/71bcaff0-8896-45f0-baea-443f30879dd7/10.jpg) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/40394686-9de2-42c6-9abb-9304934ef60e/11.jpg) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/00c15ed3-a7b4-4f01-affb-17de212b9dc1/12.jpg) ![Juicy content from food creators](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/a776550c-eefa-4d3e-b067-0438f295b874/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__2.png) Juicy content from food creators [](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DCxEFClxBNc?%5Fbhlid=e2ccaaaec97457bc8f7ceade3a3c7fbf8f71daea&ref=secretbreakfast.com) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/be74643a-4623-4922-9944-19fdcccb1540/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__1.png) --- --- **➤ Last week's most clicked link was** [**The 25 Most Influential Cookbooks of the Last 100 Years**](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/15/t-magazine/most-influential-cookbooks.html?unlocked%5Farticle%5Fcode=1.bE4.lcpD.Gtrk5-HPpMOa&smid=url-share&%5Fbhlid=2ded05a85ffd9d56cc912e0cd4fd0920deec59a6&ref=secretbreakfast.com)**. And that's all for today.** **SEASON 5 • ISSUE 300** 🎉 Secret Breakfast is a newsletter by [Piero Macchioni](https://macchioni.cc/?%5Fbhlid=e4ef73fc1b6ac3821433b9b43da72a032c4c65be&ref=secretbreakfast.com). In five years we have shared more than 5,000 recipes, hundreds of books, and countless hours of news, gluttony, and joy. ### The Type of Food Lover You Are ❤️‍🔥 URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/the-type-of-food-lover-you-are/ Last updated: 2024-11-18T20:21:51.000Z # Welcome to Secret Breakfast / An exclusive newsletter, the best place to meet 4 types of food lovers, cook the fastest Thanksgiving dinner and read the 25 most influential cookbooks from the last 100 years ![Café life](https://media.beehiiv.com/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down,format=auto,onerror=redirect,quality=80/uploads/asset/file/c10f0796-3056-4232-9196-69bbc06e3074/capture_2024-11-19_alle_10.43.04.jpg?t=1732009405) Café life Hi there! The social media landscape is fermenting like a jar of deer’s brain garum in noma’s test kitchen. Some people are leaving X (which used to be called Twitter) to try out Bluesky, hoping for a platform with less influence from Elon Musk and friends. Another option, Mastodon, is becoming popular too: it's a good choice if you want to control your data and connect with other platforms. I won’t get technical but let’s say that nerds are on Mastodon, media users find Bluesky more polished. Threads, by Meta, should be a valid alternative, but it’s all algorithm as Facebook or Instagram are (meaning “you’re the product”). There should be some brainy analogy with food hidden here, but I can’t identify that at the moment. I just think it’s like when you decide where to go grocery shopping. But after that content is king, and what matters it’s how you cook and what message comes with your food. Piero PS: should Secret Breakfast be on Bluesky and/or Mastodon? PPS: anyway, if you wanna write one post and share it on different platforms in one click you should try [Fedica](https://fedica.com/?%5Fbhlid=1a2507a7dfa534fc3686a5cdc8dbf0d1a7822005&ref=secretbreakfast.com). They don’t pay me, but it just seems to work. Café life by Alariko [@alariko.bsky.social](https://bsky.app/profile/alariko.bsky.social/post/3lb62g2q2bs2i?%5Fbhlid=ff604b151ce6d97b497bb79808cb399622356351&ref=secretbreakfast.com)‬ **ONE ✤ QUOTE** ![](https://media.beehiiv.com/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down,format=auto,onerror=redirect,quality=80/uploads/asset/file/4bb38090-6ba7-4a1b-8219-ec3ccc6964e3/Ina_Garten__1_.png?t=1732005795) ✦ **Rick Stein,** [**chef**](https://www.theguardian.com/food/2024/nov/16/rick-stein-im-open-to-most-things-but-i-cant-stand-chocolate-and-marshmallow?%5Fbhlid=bb82479853242214f58961313a00e4e77e030001&ref=secretbreakfast.com)**, broadcaster and restaurateur.** ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/a71d10cf-96c2-4a3f-b272-f856e69658f5/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__3.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/22c29418-c4db-4218-8fd4-3739761fbe58/capture_2024-11-19_alle_11-08-32.jpg) [**What I Ate in One Year**](https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/461043/what-i-ate-in-one-year-by-tucci-stanley/9780241683132?%5Fbhlid=098530ae017acad36c67c05ca21a47ee8246d336&ref=secretbreakfast.com) **by Stanley Tucci** **→ Shortplot:** 🍝 🥘 👓 🥧 ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/a34b217a-cae3-4cac-80c8-bdf5f30996f4/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__6.png) ## **FOUR TYPES OF FOOD LOVERS** ![Oh Anthony, may your stools be cleaner in Heaven](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/8c40ef06-be75-4428-9fc2-5d3d9219e4dc/capture_2024-11-19_alle_10-58-23.jpg) Oh Anthony, may your stools be cleaner in Heaven A few days ago, I went to a media event hosted by the food delivery company Just Eat (also known as Takeaway.com or… [Thuisbezorgd.nl](http://thuisbezorgd.nl/?%5Fbhlid=7c11c9d096faecfbe8fce3316df3c325991521d8&ref=secretbreakfast.com), if you’re in the Netherlands). They discussed how eating habits in Italy have changed and grouped food lovers into four types: **Purists, Hedonists, Sentinels,** and **Followers**. I mixed things up and pumped up the profiles just for fun. Which one do you think you are? **The Purists: The Gordon Ramsay's of Wellness** Just like Jamie Oliver when he selects ingredients for his *15 Minute Meals*, the Purists are true quality masters. They choose organic ingredients as if they're in a *MasterChef* episode. Think of Martha Stewart when she prepares her wholesome recipes: 39% of these enthusiasts follow what we'll call the *Self Care Diet*, much like when Joe Bastianich tastes a dish looking for that perfect balance between flavor and lightness. **The Hedonists: The Stanley Tucci's Flavor Seekers** These are the true stars of *Searching for Italy*! Like Anthony Bourdain on his late-night adventures, they love exploring venues open until dawn. Their "Giada De Laurentiis moment" strikes at midnight, when they transform a simple snack into an experience worthy of *Chef's Table*. Like Ted Lasso discovering the magic of biscuits, they find joy in every bite! **The Sentinels: The Sustainable Food Warriors** Think of Massimo Bottura when he fights food waste with *Food for Soul* \- this is the Sentinels' spirit! Like in *Chef's Table: Terra*, 43% of food enthusiasts embrace this eco-friendly philosophy. They're a bit like Ina Garten when she insists on farm-to-table ingredients, but with an unwavering focus on sustainability. **The Followers: The Emily in Paris of Food** These foodies are like the characters from *The Bear* \- young, creative, and always connected. They recreate dishes seen in *Squid Game* or the Biscuits from *Ted Lasso*. Like Salt Bae, they transform every dish into an Instagram-worthy spectacle. Their motto? "Food should be as Instagrammable as in *Succession*, but as tasty as in *Ratatouille*". ![Juicy content from food creators](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/a776550c-eefa-4d3e-b067-0438f295b874/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__2.png) Juicy content from food creators [](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DCSSON0SM9Y/?%5Fbhlid=37c5c23ee67e2dd1b7ce6b2730fb1e69170a1675&ref=secretbreakfast.com) ![This is the space where I share some food (un)related stuff of my week](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/cdcd47f2-b8f2-4683-a706-d790e01c1c57/random-full_b__1.png) This is the space where I share some food (un)related stuff of my week 🦃I’m Not in a Thanksgiving Hysteria Moment, Then I’ll Settle with Three Shortcuts: One-Pan Thanksgiving Dinner In One Hour(★[recipe](https://www.tastingtable.com/686511/sheet-tray-thanksgiving-dinner-recipe/?%5Fbhlid=9c16ba67cfdb9b4678287b68d9825390897501cf&ref=secretbreakfast.com)), an alternative Sheet-Pan Thanksgiving Dinner (★[recipe](https://www.delish.com/cooking/recipe-ideas/a62670772/sheet-pan-thanksgiving-dinner-recipe/?%5Fbhlid=aca19a306cb1093c380ac5c28149be7975ee88b0&ref=secretbreakfast.com)), the famous One-Pan, One-Pot Thanksgiving Dinner by Melissa Clark (★[recipe](https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1021632-one-pan-one-pot-thanksgiving-dinner?%5Fbhlid=6d66e36863b80beee82a5031f404b12f986ebd06&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) + 40 Vegan Thanksgiving Ideas (★[recipe](https://www.loveandlemons.com/vegan-thanksgiving-recipes/?%5Fbhlid=9c940f52868d118739d28f24cff6a21e8bded465&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🥬Cauliflower *polpette* with cheese sauce (★[recipe](https://www.theguardian.com/food/2024/nov/18/rachel-roddy-recipe-cauliflower-polpette-cheese-sauce?%5Fbhlid=13a8ac5cffc647e54aec648a1dec02b36f3fae97&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🥖[The 38 Best Restaurants in Paris](http://eater.com/maps/best-restaurants-paris-france?%5Fbhlid=3d7d8a68cff08aa25fef577f019306ce7e73bb2b&ref=secretbreakfast.com) 📆[14 Ways to Have Better Mondays](https://simonsinek.com/stories/14-ways-to-have-better-mondays-according-to-team-simon/?%5Fbhlid=1d052748b7c15d955d1c2b2547bd14a8f7ee0ac2&ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🔪Gordon Ramsay Absolutely Grills Incompetent Staff ([video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bkorSoZOjZs&%5Fbhlid=09db3a5fd606d4e7626e30db39d7ae1e310c7e01&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🍔Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Trump's pick​ to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, had a [1,260 calories meal](https://mastodon.social/@jeffjarvis/113499087522499837?%5Fbhlid=2fe5380281eb820e6a4bf18086686d000f499fbc&ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🤪My Daughter’s Latest Unhealthy Viral Fad Discovery: *Raising Cane*’s Cane Sauce (★[recipe](https://www.thekitchn.com/canes-sauce-recipe-23280925?%5Fbhlid=33719ddada6e895ae7fd752232ac77e71224b31b&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 📺Quiz: [What to read next, based on your favorite TV shows](https://www.penguin.co.uk/articles/2024/11/quiz-what-to-read-next-based-on-your-favourite-tv-shows?%5Fbhlid=f6056f30e7bc5a43f14db354c2b97fcd54cecd10&ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🥒Pickle Biscuits are Having a moment (★[recipe](https://www.hotforfoodblog.com/recipes/appetizers/2024/04/04/pickle-cheddar-biscuits/?%5Fbhlid=3b31ec0e4b252579309918df29b11f041ebe68f3&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/be74643a-4623-4922-9944-19fdcccb1540/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__1.png) --- --- **➤ Last week's most clicked link was the** [**2-ingredients Persimmon Pudding**](https://avegtastefromatoz.com/2-ingredients-persimmon-pudding?%5Fbhlid=0dd39f38f1b5ca956e54290eb516835556069eea&ref=secretbreakfast.com)**, which really works. And that's all for today.** **SEASON 5 • ISSUE 299** Secret Breakfast is a newsletter by [Piero Macchioni](https://macchioni.cc/?%5Fbhlid=66d995d6a7b60720b158fdc65008125db5b9c19c&ref=secretbreakfast.com). In five years we have shared more than 5,000 recipes, hundreds of books, and countless hours of news, gluttony, and joy. ### The Domestic Goddess 👱🏻‍♀️ URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/domestic-goddess/ Last updated: 2024-11-11T19:51:22.000Z # Welcome to Secret Breakfast / An exclusive newsletter, the best place to start your day with an 81 yo Playboy cover girl, vegan Harissa meatballs, and a few Thanksgiving treats ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/cc5d36ae-8260-4a1d-b057-65ad166a93e9/capture_2024-11-11_alle_21-11-02.jpg) Hi there! One of us is seeing a nutritionist today. And I don’t think it’s you. If you’ve been living an unwanted sedentary lifestyle, if your bloodwork s\*ck and your metabolism left you right after your 40th birthday, you know what I’m talking about. Wish me luck. I bet you’ll get more healthy recipes in the coming issues. Or more Matty Matheson comfort food stuff. Piero Picture: Plate VI, 2022\. By [Lia Darjes](https://www.robertmorat.de/artists/darjes-lia/?%5Fbhlid=6f5e123511435f003e4472357706e67451b4f0c4&ref=secretbreakfast.com)/Robert Morat Gallery **ONE ✤ QUOTE** ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/b22e9065-be2c-4c77-884e-159bb1d22fc9/ina_garten.png) ✦ **Ina Garten**, [*Be Ready When the Luck Happens*](https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/770511/be-ready-when-the-luck-happens-by-ina-garten/?%5Fbhlid=12d137ebf0a52680ae5241acaa5cb890115b1142&ref=secretbreakfast.com). When I have people over I never follow that suggestion, my bad. ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/a71d10cf-96c2-4a3f-b272-f856e69658f5/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__3.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/3e9a507f-31a9-4e95-900f-068e9472c0b8/capture_2024-11-11_alle_21-28-04.jpg) [**Martha: The Cookbook**](https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/635861/martha-the-cookbook-by-martha-stewart/?%5Fbhlid=2eeb14abc56a7d4c2f18aabaf3aedf51b311252f&ref=secretbreakfast.com) **by Martha Stewart** **→ Shortplot:** 🍏 👱🏻‍♀️ 🎂 👑 ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/a34b217a-cae3-4cac-80c8-bdf5f30996f4/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__6.png) ## **MARTHA, THE DOMESTIC GODDESS** ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/ce405236-0923-4075-8f55-2f0ab469022d/capture_2024-11-11_alle_21-52-51.jpg) Let’s talk more about Martha Stewart. She popularized the concept of "domestic goddess" and elevated everyday cooking into an art form. Her cookbooks ([100, you’re served](https://www.marthastewart.com/8016116/martha-stewart-books-master-list?%5Fbhlid=ecbbf8b46899751e33ee9a68f73a172d46c9c9b3&ref=secretbreakfast.com)), TV shows, and magazines provided accessible recipes and techniques, inspiring home cooks to experiment and create. She also inspired Eater people with [her hacks](https://www.eater.com/24271967/martha-stewart-best-tips-eater-editors?%5Fbhlid=abb3e57bc3fec6a5c01a9e38fb023d9b189f9588&ref=secretbreakfast.com). She was, in fact, the mother of the contemporary influencers. The best part is Stewart's story is not without controversy. She faced legal troubles, including an insider trading scandal that led to imprisonment. I mean: jail! If prison and recipes and smiles are not enough, you should know she worked 8 years as a stockbroker, she became America’s first self-made female billionaire and - hey - her *Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue* cover in 2023, with which she made history as the oldest cover star at age 81, got 100 billion impressions. Now you can have her as a Christmas [Elf-on-the-Shelf](https://a.co/d/2V0Dqj7?%5Fbhlid=1008ca405cd7161dcd7d7b241218b03935e4ffa5&ref=secretbreakfast.com), or as a [Netflix star](https://www.netflix.com/watch/81479059?%5Fbhlid=a3b4a9a5e7d3874b8f182eb1505aeebfabd7709d&ref=secretbreakfast.com) saying things like: “Those prosecutors should have been put in a Cuisinart turned on high”. She’s fire. ![Juicy content from food creators](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/a776550c-eefa-4d3e-b067-0438f295b874/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__2.png) Juicy content from food creators [](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DCFFiQiqxEt?%5Fbhlid=814d1f4c19256d5a3f9c21b34e190d3dd297d8cf&ref=secretbreakfast.com) ![This is the space where I share some food (un)related stuff of my week](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/cdcd47f2-b8f2-4683-a706-d790e01c1c57/random-full_b__1.png) This is the space where I share some food (un)related stuff of my week 🦃40+ Thanksgiving Recipes You Can Trust (★[recipes](https://bittmanproject.com/thanksgiving-recipes-you-can-trust/?%5Fbhlid=d2f128be1beae83369cc63c28855ea17174e9029&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🍗Why We Can Eat Rare Steak But Not Rare Chicken? [Here’s why](https://www.iflscience.com/people-are-asking-why-we-can-eat-rare-steak-but-not-rare-chicken-76653?%5Fbhlid=0fa9f87e0af8ef9e6423a6744830d73eeee5eaba&ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🌓There's One Word That Strikes Fear Into the Heart of Every Server, and That Word is [*Clopen*](https://www.foodandwine.com/restaurant-schedules-make-work-life-balance-hard-8741747?%5Fbhlid=c7d2df6784df3ed0f4a1f7f8e9ddca657f124ca4&ref=secretbreakfast.com)🥪Chicago Italian Beef, But Make It Brooklyn (★video [recipe](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CcGZX0BYiEg&%5Fbhlid=0f6e43a97338df40e6035b6235bd44b0a1fdebf6&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🩷Pink Blinis with Salmon, Lemon Yogurt, Apple & Fennel (★[recipe](https://kinto-europe.com/blogs/journal/pink-blinis-with-salmon-lemon-yogurt-apple-fennel-by-julia?%5Fbhlid=b133a766a4e5f802708db6707b1373f53744ffd5&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🍄[Mycology for Dummies](https://janhop.medium.com/mycology-for-dummies-1c921ab0e6ad?%5Fbhlid=27d874b2f56deb62534d5c94b5fc917c7d5b7389&ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🤷🏽‍♀️Latin America’s food exports are booming but about [1 in 4 people lack enough access to food](https://americasquarterly.org/article/solving-latin-americas-food-paradox?%5Fbhlid=daaee730b08c60b2cdd9acf561ad29b6dbc9dfdd&ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🟠I Made the Viral 2-Ingredients Persimmon Pudding, It Works (★[recipe](https://avegtastefromatoz.com/2-ingredients-persimmon-pudding/?%5Fbhlid=0417306605efd343fd13af2618874af5c01d7c38&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🪼[Would you eat a burger made from processed sea squirts?](https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/nov/12/it-should-not-taste-marine-like-would-you-eat-a-burger-made-from-processed-sea-squirts?%5Fbhlid=5e8d1775762c7c7d78e7586f207e2b7d7c67b524&ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🇺🇸Don’t judge, but after Nov 5th I had to watch a Joe Rogan podcast episode (no links, you guess which one) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/be74643a-4623-4922-9944-19fdcccb1540/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__1.png) --- --- **➤ Last week's most clicked link was the** [**Palestinian Nutella**](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DBssokot1kU?%5Fbhlid=674d675d0db58fb4e5135971a3056e52c3d4d3b9&ref=secretbreakfast.com)**. And that's all for today.** **SEASON 5 • ISSUE 298** Secret Breakfast is a newsletter by [Piero Macchioni](https://macchioni.cc/?%5Fbhlid=87d0b96197ea6fe40761dd4243bb27122d32d607&ref=secretbreakfast.com). In five years we have shared more than 5,000 recipes, hundreds of books, and countless hours of news, gluttony, and joy. ### The Election Day Menu and Palestinian Nutella 🤷🏽‍♀️ 💇🏼 URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/election-day/ Last updated: 2024-11-04T07:07:47.000Z # Welcome to Secret Breakfast / An exclusive newsletter, the best place to start your Election Day with the Italian Michelin Stars, emergency pickles, and the forces of chaos ![America’s Deciding Her Future](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/75ccc8ca-468d-4060-9c30-ec7661beaab6/capture_2024-11-04_alle_08-23-20.jpg) America’s Deciding Her Future Hi there! It’s Election week in the US and polls suggest that we’re expecting a tight race. Here in Europe, we’ll probably watch the news till late in the night (and the following morning), which usually happens for events like - choose your poison - the Super Bowl, the Academy Awards, the America’s Cup, or the NBA finals. We should probably think about some snacks (★[70 recipes](https://www.tasteofhome.com/collection/recipes-for-super-bowl-snacks?%5Fbhlid=5554831c42584ee97b005630d7f09db0955961ec&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) for the night, or maybe some healthy bites (★[45 recipes](https://www.delish.com/entertaining/g30408349/healthy-superbowl-snacks-recipes/?%5Fbhlid=2a414c1625049d052f1cc2d035bcb96e964b333b&ref=secretbreakfast.com)). Or an [Anti-Anxiety Election Day Menu](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/05/opinion/election-day-anti-anxiety-menu.html?unlocked%5Farticle%5Fcode=1.Xk4.8PxM.wSUqDGYMfBNv&smid=url-share&%5Fbhlid=c3872f29072ea63e88242b59e94345ab8e2c6ae1&ref=secretbreakfast.com) with emergency pickles, like this. Good luck, American friends! Piero PS: this issue was waiting for the new Michelin Stars in Italy, you’ll find more reading on. A person dressed as the Statue of Liberty pays for a hot dog on a side street near the 51st annual Halloween parade. Photograph: Justin Lane/EPA **ONE ✤ QUOTE** ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/ecb0802d-00cc-498f-983d-9710a5e879a5/chuck_palah_kang.png) ✦ **Chuck Palahniuk**, author, ***Shock Induction*** is his latest book. ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/a71d10cf-96c2-4a3f-b272-f856e69658f5/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__3.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/42461ca2-dd24-4d86-a2bd-a65b5c5b986f/capture_2024-11-05_alle_17-36-10.jpg) [**The Official Bridgerton Cookbook**](https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/741941/the-official-bridgerton-cookbook-by-regula-ysewijn/?%5Fbhlid=ed3dd2afbf52b1f77d735de441da144cd80a40ee&ref=secretbreakfast.com) **by Regula Ysewijn** **→ Shortplot:** 🇬🇧 🫖 👑 🍰 ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/a34b217a-cae3-4cac-80c8-bdf5f30996f4/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__6.png) ## **PRAY FOR VALENCIA** ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/1557a8a4-a051-4d30-8dfe-64e728c8ff9b/capture_2024-11-04_alle_08-19-26.jpg) It's difficult to keep the usual tone of this newsletter when Spain is dealing with floods. Many people have been affected. While food might not seem like the top priority, it's crucial to have a place to store food and other essentials during emergencies. Chef José Andrés' [World Central Kitchen](https://wck.org/relief/spain-floods-2024?%5Fbhlid=15fe032904364a417f73600e9697d57d65853e4a&ref=secretbreakfast.com) has teamed up with Valencia CF and the Valencia food bank to support those in need. They’re using the stadium. Here’s an [How to help](https://valenciasecreta.com/en/help-those-affected-by-dana/?%5Fbhlid=f8ff84f233596fc526160c1530b545c27d79f03a&ref=secretbreakfast.com) recap. ###### Picture: volunteers and locals walk with supplies to help places affected by heavy rains that caused floods in Paiporta. Photograph: [Nacho Doce/Reuters/TheGuardian](https://www.theguardian.com/world/gallery/2024/nov/01/valencia-spain-floods-the-clean-up-begins-in-pictures?%5Fbhlid=b881a7d135c1487aec1b828c0ac2b909db37125f&ref=secretbreakfast.com) ![Juicy content from food creators](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/a776550c-eefa-4d3e-b067-0438f295b874/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__2.png) Juicy content from food creators [](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DBssokot1kU?%5Fbhlid=624d9cf712d739c99a085c8f021d8e0a99ab75b6&ref=secretbreakfast.com) ![This is the space where I share some food (un)related stuff of my week](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/cdcd47f2-b8f2-4683-a706-d790e01c1c57/random-full_b__1.png) This is the space where I share some food (un)related stuff of my week 🇮🇹[33 new restaurants in Italy](https://www.ansa.it/english/news/lifestyle/food%5Fwine/2024/11/05/33-new-restaurants-awarded-michelin-star%5F14ca9808-ee9b-4a89-a8a0-d3bb62596b48.html?%5Fbhlid=9b2eb0d32f11cb353634e6fcc52c193b9fa8b8e2&ref=secretbreakfast.com) have been awarded a star in the 70th edition of the Italy Michelin Guide (all the links [here](https://guide.michelin.com/it/it/notizia/michelin-guide-ceremony/tutte-le-stelle-della-guida-michelin-italia?%5Fbhlid=a3ecc6177633cb25f7ed26554dfdc2ff933e5318&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) ⭐️[Casa Perbellini ai 12 Apostoli](https://www.casaperbellini.com/?%5Fbhlid=20cabf81a97cef0b662ae87cb5486c5ff4dda6be&ref=secretbreakfast.com) in Verona is joining the 3 stars club, you can get familiar with this Millefoglie (★[recipe](https://wineandtravelitaly.com/the-millefoglie-from-casa-perbellini-a-pleasure-for-the-palate/?%5Fbhlid=c9f0cb970124bd62bba3ef72dc2d1861aa90f2c3&ref=secretbreakfast.com), many typos inside) or potato gnocchi (★[recipe](https://reportergourmet.com/en/recipes/1002-how-to-make-giancarlo-perbellini-s-2-michelin-star-potato-gnocchi?%5Fbhlid=68a52e6a99ad4bc41dfcb20f8350cbe99026ee38&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) and the signature Porca l’oca (★[recipe](https://reportergourmet.com/en/recipes/1004-giancarlo-perbellini-s-porca-loca-the-surprising-two-star-delight?%5Fbhlid=97aa9942fa9d50ae6d0f34f1608eecbb8728247d&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🔮[How to Tell Your Fortune Using Cheese](https://www.foodandwine.com/fortune-telling-foods-8732854?%5Fbhlid=c062ef92bbfd46f6ad38300d91691b4836c79736&ref=secretbreakfast.com), Onions, and Other Ingredients 🍽️[Take Your Picnic to the Graveyard](https://www.eater.com/24275873/picnic-cemetery-graveyard-halloween-chinese-qingming-festival?%5Fbhlid=5451733be23d1eea2c7c769189f1f183a08f96f0&ref=secretbreakfast.com) 📺My Most Wicked Dream is Real: [Pamela Anderson and David Zilber in the same show](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DBqxqXhtGUC?%5Fbhlid=173ec9d543c79dd86e73448ab5fdd2bb695f6ad7&ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🤯Also Uncle René is Holding his [MAD Symposium](https://www.digest.madfeed.co/p/mad-symposium-101?%5Fbhlid=f10b16c6dd466f25a20fcae3b8185395807d4c65&ref=secretbreakfast.com) (check the illustrations) 📦Gamers, here’s the [Minecraft Burger](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DBpj8mnKhQ%5F?%5Fbhlid=6eeb33cd61f45076aefdbb82f03414f2e72b0594&ref=secretbreakfast.com) ☕️I[t's Time to Fall in Love With Decaf](https://www.foodandwine.com/decaf-coffee-better-than-ever-8735823?%5Fbhlid=7126181b499490075cc09a147da3266eed0da437&ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🎂Anne Hathaway Is the Queen of Dessert, and These Are [Her 5 Best Tips for Ordering It](https://www.foodandwine.com/anne-hathaway-dessert-tips-8737910?%5Fbhlid=decc42d1d3c92be64167dc1a2c3eaa6fb94abb85&ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🍸Time to Order a [Gibson](https://punchdrink.com/articles/gibson-cocktail-trend-dirty-martini?%5Fbhlid=10bb28d20b64b42f63143405e66e38d35ab6873d&ref=secretbreakfast.com) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/be74643a-4623-4922-9944-19fdcccb1540/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__1.png) --- --- **➤ Last week's most clicked link was** [**19 Indie Food and Drink Mags That Can Take All Our Money**](https://www.saveur.com/culture/favorite-independent-food-drink-magazines?%5Fbhlid=efe6e61955b88542dbc5c8d45880e6914366e0c2&ref=secretbreakfast.com)**. And that's all for today.** **SEASON 5 • ISSUE 207** Secret Breakfast is a newsletter by [Piero Macchioni](https://macchioni.cc/?%5Fbhlid=58467f2559e0fa4b9f0519bf0f84445578381ab4&ref=secretbreakfast.com). In five years we have shared more than 5,000 recipes, hundreds of books, and countless hours of news, gluttony, and joy. ### The Perfect Foodie Horror Movie Night 🔪 URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/foodie-horror-movie-night/ Last updated: 2024-10-28T07:51:09.000Z # Welcome to Secret Breakfast / An exclusive newsletter, the best place to start your day with Poo Milkshakes and Okra Water, just to make your life a scary movie in time for Halloween ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/317b9c20-8754-44b2-9e65-f5514f0742d4/capture_2024-10-28_alle_17-34-16.jpg) Hi there! Would you ever open a [Home Kitchen Business](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/10/25/headway/meet-the-new-home-kitchen-business.html?%5Fbhlid=85efc2d71f7d424f0680502fc527226003963263&ref=secretbreakfast.com)? It seems that Angeles County is expected to see a boom in home-cooked meal businesses with the implementation of a special program starting November 1st. This initiative allows people to legally sell food prepared in their home kitchens after obtaining a permit and passing inspections. That’s huge. Consider the potential it could unlock. Picture preparing nutritious meals for seniors in the community or providing healthy lunches and snacks for children returning from school while their parents are at work (perhaps I'm sharing a bit too much of my personal aspirations here…). Think about true Haitian caterers cooking real food from their roots. Or just think you can finally bite your neighbor’s fried chicken that fills the air on Friday afternoons. We already know there’s no paradise in mass sushi-pizza-Chinese expensive delivery, don’t we? Piero Image by [Szilveszter Makó](https://wepresent.wetransfer.com/stories/szilveszter-mako-photography?%5Fbhlid=6a015ad4a411e6cd3fd64854f1c4612412b31ea3&ref=secretbreakfast.com) **ONE ✤ QUOTE** ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/40448fa4-bd7c-4e94-9104-c585ef218c86/han_kang__2.png) ✦ **Trimagasi** is the first cellmate of the main character of the food-horror-dystopian movie [*The Platform*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The%5FPlatform%5F%28film%29?%5Fbhlid=188338943221050c77867954fa92c8449563a5b6&ref=secretbreakfast.com). Its main ingredients? *“Low comedy, political allegory, left-field twists, crowd-pleasing surprises, spectacular violence, sadism, altruism, and yet more spectacular violence, all wrapped up in a high-concept horror film”.* If you read this newsletter, you probably belong to those high levels. ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/a71d10cf-96c2-4a3f-b272-f856e69658f5/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__3.png) ### Eat More Turkish ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/7d27c074-dada-4d2c-aa9c-d4dd19254e45/capture_2024-10-28_alle_18-57-11.jpg) [**Turkuaz Kitchen**](https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/722357/turkuaz-kitchen-by-betul-tunc/?%5Fbhlid=4764b5583eba99997ae965f3c150e3b15ca14817&ref=secretbreakfast.com) **by Betül Tunç** **→ Shortplot:** 🍞 🫕 🍯 🍅 ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/a34b217a-cae3-4cac-80c8-bdf5f30996f4/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__6.png) ## **COOK YOUR FOODIE HORROR MOVIE NIGHT** ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/2e5d43e7-4ace-4108-bfb7-3f95ace24696/capture_2024-10-28_alle_18-13-20.jpg) Halloween’s coming on October 31st, and one of my daughters is organizing a horror movie night with some girlfriends. Or at least that’s what she says to me. Then, let’s think about a **Foodie Horror Movie Night**. What films would you pick? Here are five for “soft” viewers like me. ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/d9032782-8585-4d42-adf7-e4cf2fd4bddf/capture_2024-10-28_alle_18-48-17.jpg) **The Platform (2019)** It’s a stark social commentary set in a vertical prison where food is delivered via a descending platform. Winner at Toronto International Film Festival, praised for its metaphorical take on capitalism and social inequality. 🍅**85%** on Rotten Tomatoes **Raw (2016)** A French film about a vegetarian student who develops an insatiable craving for human flesh. Won multiple awards and celebrated for its artful direction and disturbing commentary on human nature. 🍅**93%** on Rotten Tomatoes **Delicatessen (1991)** A post-apocalyptic black comedy horror about a butcher who serves human meat. It won even a César Award for Best First Film and combines surrealism with dark humor and horror elements. 🍅**90%** on Rotten Tomatoes **The Stuff (1985)** Satirical horror about a dessert-like substance that turns people into zombies. A cult classic that critiques consumerism and marketing. 🍅**73%** on Rotten Tomatoes **Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007)** Tim Burton's adaptation of the musical is about a murderous barber whose victims are turned into meat pies (★[recipe](https://www.feastofstarlight.com/recipe/sweeney-todd-mrs-lovetts-meat-pies/?%5Fbhlid=44b87780910a6e6cf9b53d1dc4887b08911ec301&ref=secretbreakfast.com)). Won Academy Award for Best Art Direction and features people crazy enough like Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter. 🍅**86%** on Rotten Tomatoes + **The Menu (2022)** This one is particularly notable because it's one of the few horror films that authentically captures the world of haute cuisine while using it as a vehicle for horror. Its commentary on the relationship between artist and audience and the toxicity of food culture makes it especially relevant to contemporary discussions about fine dining and class. Then you can cook the film’s amuse-bouche(★[recipe](https://www.reddit.com/r/recipes/comments/10qq2u2/amusebouche%5Finspiried%5Fby%5Fthe%5Fmenu%5Ffilm/?%5Fbhlid=8c1bc6d0d44f0c2d40d678e2336ae25e4c1d5f08&ref=secretbreakfast.com)), House Smoked Chicken Thigh Al Pastor (★[recipe](https://2geekswhoeat.com/memory-recipe-the-menu/?%5Fbhlid=e48f154c016f662566612ad5018a049adc294974&ref=secretbreakfast.com)), or the iconic Cheeseburger (★[recipe](https://uproxx.com/life/the-menu-cheeseburger-recipe/?%5Fbhlid=e5d16d4c2cfafdab163aac3a826afa1c9065254e&ref=secretbreakfast.com)). 🍅**88%** on Rotten Tomatoes ![Juicy content from food creators](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/a776550c-eefa-4d3e-b067-0438f295b874/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__2.png) Juicy content from food creators [](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DAFa8PWv1gJ?%5Fbhlid=d3491823a8355b7f2d10d171b9057824cfea0540&ref=secretbreakfast.com) ![This is the space where I share some food (un)related stuff of my week](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/cdcd47f2-b8f2-4683-a706-d790e01c1c57/random-full_b__1.png) This is the space where I share some food (un)related stuff of my week 🍬Invert Sugar (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DBY8%5FiaNeXE?%5Fbhlid=5f18a4f82158a65755633cbfb59163041a792034&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🧜🏻‍♀️[How Starbucks Became a Sugary Teen Emporium](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2024-10-15/why-starbucks-is-the-go-to-teen-hangout-spot-in-2024?%5Fbhlid=0be6a7c26fea5b62accf13863f487f366cb22542&ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🍫Oatmeal Protein Bars (★[recipe](https://thebigmansworld.com/3-ingredient-no-bake-protein-bars/?%5Fbhlid=29933cf18d38bc11b5ed104f8e9a8a3267f8e771&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🔵[Do People in ‘Blue Zones’ Actually Live Longer?](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/10/24/well/live/blue-zones-longevity-aging.html?%5Fbhlid=42da576610c3e65a95961e330e12d6e97705567b&ref=secretbreakfast.com) (Spoiler: no) 💀BTW, bake some Pan de Muerto (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DBMyMipyA4a?%5Fbhlid=77ed6abfddd42eb304ce40ff9f15e3e418b70b06&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🍎Apples Gone Wild: check these creations by the World’s Best Pomologists ([images](https://www.saveur.com/culture/wild-apple-exhibition?%5Fbhlid=e90a344d71a27dda723ddd08bc45326fd1d5c85b&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🥃Boozy Bourbon Chocolate Truffles (★[recipe](https://dollopofdough.com/boozy-chocolate-truffles/?%5Fbhlid=878eb1556971da6f460502889e3312b4250668b5&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🍯Bakery Style Honey Cake (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DAn6BCAy-i%5F?%5Fbhlid=7bc0658574868aa0996d84aa35687d75dad45847&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 💩Fancy a [‘Poo milkshake’ for the microbiome of your c-section baby?](https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-024-03449-4?%5Fbhlid=cab49be5f1191fcde210ff585c8c8f9e3b5d1298&ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🌱We’re Living the Era of [Okra Water](https://www.theguardian.com/wellness/2024/oct/21/okra-water-health-benefits?%5Fbhlid=e4757e9da1589aeed22b977cedc76ef3224b02cb&ref=secretbreakfast.com) 📖[19 Indie Food and Drink Mags](https://www.saveur.com/culture/favorite-independent-food-drink-magazines/?%5Fbhlid=991b929d45a3c4ffc617776c29fcf66af646d2c6&ref=secretbreakfast.com) That Can Take All My Money ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/be74643a-4623-4922-9944-19fdcccb1540/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__1.png) --- --- **➤ Last week's most clicked link was** [**6 Vacations That Could Help You Live Longer and Healthier**](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/10/17/travel/wellness-spa-retreats.html?%5Fbhlid=f714889618180fd33b54c3a6f89786445fabe0bd&ref=secretbreakfast.com)**. And that's all for today.** 🎃 **No pumpkins were harmed in the production of this issue** 🎃 **SEASON 5 • ISSUE 206** Secret Breakfast is a newsletter by [Piero Macchioni](https://macchioni.cc/?%5Fbhlid=0fef4ba78506a81c0d25d04d1697968fe82cd1ae&ref=secretbreakfast.com). In five years we have shared more than 5,000 recipes, hundreds of books, and countless hours of news, gluttony, and joy. ### The Fruit Detective Syndrome 🍐 URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/fruit-detective/ Last updated: 2024-10-22T16:04:46.000Z # Welcome to Secret Breakfast / An exclusive newsletter, the best place to start your day with AI bakers, fruit detectives, Japanese clutterers, and Addams Family cocktails ![Image from bakery.ai, a quite cool bakery chatbot](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/c342f9f3-97c3-44d7-a2fe-05170e30fe73/capture_2024-10-22_alle_18-19-09.jpg) Image from [bakery.ai](http://bakery.ai/?%5Fbhlid=585624f95c41e1e546e75586697648aef5aaae70&ref=secretbreakfast.com), a quite cool bakery chatbot Hi there! I don’t know how much your life depends on AI-powered chatbots like ChatGPT, Claude, or Gemini, but I’ve found something cool. On [Recomendo](https://www.recomendo.com/p/vorfreudemini-pharmacystress-less?%5Fbhlid=3fd2a8cd367b026d424abe0cb1ccdd26482c4013&ref=secretbreakfast.com) Mark Frauenfelder wrote: …instead of asking “Write an action-item list for planning a trip to Kyoto next fall,” ask “I’m taking a trip to Kyoto next fall. Write a prompt I can use to ask you to create an action-item list.” This simple trick leads to better results. That makes me think: what if going meta, shifting up a layer, could drive us to better results? In cooking, we already do that. We bake bread instead of buying it. Chefs grow crops to get the best vegetables. Good wineries pick the terroirs they know better. We all improve by being active and asking for a better way to make things. Piero PS: still working for the right font size… PPS: hey, I added a “listen online” option. You tell me what you think of that. **ONE ✤ QUOTE** ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/4d08fa69-29ee-4762-81f2-13ef57e555ec/han_kang__1.png) ✦ **Martin Scorsese**, director, probably talking about me making mistakes while cooking. ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/a71d10cf-96c2-4a3f-b272-f856e69658f5/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__3.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/8cb53577-39ae-4943-933a-125a8e017c33/capture_2024-10-22_alle_23-49-30.jpg) [**The Fermentation Kitchen**](https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/757693/the-fermentation-kitchen-by-sam-cooper/?%5Fbhlid=015126f1af3cb2f38ea9ae0bdc5a1bc399d5e3e0&ref=secretbreakfast.com) **by Sam Cooper** **→ Shortplot:** 🥬 🧂 🍓 🫙 ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/a34b217a-cae3-4cac-80c8-bdf5f30996f4/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__6.png) ## **THE ITALIAN FRUIT DETECTIVE** ![Photograph by Simona Ghizzoni](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/bca00def-a46d-438b-b44f-cc89571785e7/capture_2024-10-22_alle_23-01-55.jpg) Photograph by Simona Ghizzoni The Smithsonian Magazine has [an incredible story about ](https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/meet-italian-fruit-detective-who-investigates-centuries-old-paintings-clues-produce-180985227?%5Fbhlid=4883aa8122da9bab96abcf97eff7b9176edd1939&ref=secretbreakfast.com)[Isabella Dalla Ragione](https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/meet-italian-fruit-detective-who-investigates-centuries-old-paintings-clues-produce-180985227?%5Fbhlid=5c3be1c3ac0b0eccf75da64c81ac0c8f41bd1645&ref=secretbreakfast.com), a scientist who studying famous paintings and frescos has discovered many fruits that were once common in Italy but have since disappeared. Some examples include: - **Acquaiola cherries.** These cherries were once common in Italy but have now almost disappeared. They were pale red with a white tint and were seen as symbolic of Christ's blood. - **Api piccola apples.** These apples were once common in Italy but have now become rare. They are crunchy and tart and can be stored at room temperature for about seven months. - **Cow-nose apples.** These apples were once common in Italy but have now become rare. They are so named because their shape recalls an elongated snout. - **Bufalini pears.** These pears were once common in Italy but have now become rare. They are known for their diversity and adaptability to different conditions. Why does this work count so much? Well, Dalla Ragione's work is important because it helps to preserve the genetic diversity of Italian fruit trees. This diversity is important for the future of Italian agriculture, as it will help trees to adapt to the changing climate. ![Juicy content from food creators](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/a776550c-eefa-4d3e-b067-0438f295b874/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__2.png) Juicy content from food creators [](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DBWRKRVpL7c?%5Fbhlid=380266a16eb2a51217e117dfa5c8b63c22f1d253&ref=secretbreakfast.com) ![This is the space where I share some food (un)related stuff of my week](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/cdcd47f2-b8f2-4683-a706-d790e01c1c57/random-full_b__1.png) This is the space where I share some food (un)related stuff of my week 🏝️[6 Vacations That Could Help You Live Longer and Healthier](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/10/17/travel/wellness-spa-retreats.html?unlocked%5Farticle%5Fcode=1.UE4.WrRD.oxA5KShanGWU&smid=url-share&%5Fbhlid=6ec684fabb684c1b1e9cb9f4f03169f034688ad7&ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🦇Pour Yourself a Morticia Mimosa (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DBEqwnMSMqG?%5Fbhlid=a2b261f8e9dc0540fd299586af3e84ac20afa65c&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 👤Have you ever tried an MBTI test to frame your personality? The first search result lands [here](https://www.16personalities.com/?%5Fbhlid=3eb194211ec0e26bbd8c09184b5bb948640b8e60&ref=secretbreakfast.com), I’m an INFJ 🗓️[October is the second New Year](https://www.hercampus.com/life/what-is-tiktok-october-theory?%5Fbhlid=765e9ee1b2eb0dca6063fba12edf5f3a4da61def&ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🇲🇽Make Your Birria Bomb (★[recipe](https://www.foodandwine.com/birria-bombs-tiktok-8729361?%5Fbhlid=f08f75b087de7c3c08ed4c164e3112469976014e&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🌊[Why](https://bigthink.com/strange-maps/salinity-of-seas-and-oceans?%5Fbhlid=8e2fea9d60e3b286df9e4de598410b158fb823ee&ref=secretbreakfast.com) Earth’s oceans aren’t all equally salty 🍬An Updated List of [the Most Common Halloween Candies](https://www.candystore.com/blogs/facts-trivia/halloween-candy-map-popular?%5Fbhlid=f73268e91df2d396f1f688a70c80a4b81769a610&ref=secretbreakfast.com) in the US 💰The economics of [free school lunch](https://thehustle.co/originals/the-economics-of-free-lunch?%5Fbhlid=5131e723f3e190be93ce18ef460630f6c3f11432&ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🇯🇵Bye Marie Kondo,[ Japanese are clutterers too](https://aeon.co/essays/the-life-changing-magic-of-japanese-clutter?%5Fbhlid=4009dae957d8bfa2861fdbcad7c77558bf665865&ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🐽Dong Po Rou (东坡肉) is the ultimate dish of braised pork belly (★[recipe](https://thewoksoflife.com/braised-pork-belly-dong-po-rou/?%5Fbhlid=13dd21a6c0ed0107a5261fcf537589e0e0c2bea3&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🥔[The tiny potato](https://www.vox.com/climate/377249/climate-solutions-traditional-indigenous-foods-water-potato?%5Fbhlid=aaa2640a082ab7728f8c57e12976ac5fa080768c&ref=secretbreakfast.com) at the heart of one tribe’s fight against climate change 🍁Maple Cream (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DAZX9A-uHFQ?%5Fbhlid=3234e83f7fd6a8dcaaabd58205ec9fdf7976d600&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🐟N[oma people](https://www.instagram.com/p/DBXfzLAy-sn?%5Fbhlid=5ee5b875311e08c37084d8ad9b45196f2c9b13ad&ref=secretbreakfast.com) doing their fish stuff ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/096875e7-c424-45ff-b146-6f0384d640de/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__1.png) --- **➤ Last week's most clicked link was** [***Your Personality, Explained by Your Annoying Household Habits***](https://www.newyorker.com/humor/daily-shouts/your-personality-explained-by-your-annoying-household-habits?%5Fbhlid=eaebdb32d55b69e1140adac8196f30f51c6d4d8b&ref=secretbreakfast.com)**. And that's all for today.** **SEASON 5 • ISSUE 205** Secret Breakfast is a newsletter by [Piero Macchioni](https://macchioni.cc/?%5Fbhlid=ae4abc90fc0d97d7404ea69876f15b3745b6337a&ref=secretbreakfast.com). In five years we have shared more than 5,000 recipes, hundreds of books, and countless hours of news, gluttony, and joy. ### Immunity Cubes and Bad Sugar 🍭 URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/immunity-cubes/ Last updated: 2024-10-14T11:20:47.000Z **In partnership with** ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/uploads/ad_network/advertiser/logo/fb346edc-3086-4180-9f35-38f6f4ac5efe/1440_primary_brandmark_rbg_black.png) Welcome to Secret Breakfast / An exclusive newsletter, the best place to start your day with mushroom cosplayers, immunity cubes, Korean cooks with bizarre names, and a Nobel Prize winner ![The next thread will be about sugar](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/aa5057db-a372-42a4-93ee-730cafdc8113/capture_2024-10-14_alle_13-30-48.jpg) The next thread will be about sugar Hi there! I’m a little early today, hope you don’t mind. I have to take a big life decision: keep up with - you know - family and my day job, or just sit watching the latest Made in Korea media obsession, [Culinary Class Wars](https://www.vulture.com/article/culinary-class-wars-review-netflix-best-cooking-show.html?%5Fbhlid=0a220eec5864fb3e5b0ebec25124eae14cc0da96&ref=secretbreakfast.com). This is the Netflix’s most-watched non-English show globally for the past two weeks. I mean, it’s a crazy gig with food, Squid Game atmospheres, people called [Napoli Mafia](https://www.soapcentral.com/shows/who-napoli-mafia-culinary-class-wars-details-black-spoon-chef-kwon-seong-joon-s-career-explored?%5Fbhlid=3e7ad987aec9c669f376f7c88b25a5f763ffe1f1&ref=secretbreakfast.com), and even someone wearing a [bird’s mask](https://www.threads.net/@trendywendyseattle/post/DAC4-kkJrrJ?%5Fbhlid=c8f192c6b1edcbc32c3165d3bd23b1911143ff93&ref=secretbreakfast.com). The Italian subtitles seem written by severely altered people (in a fun way), and I hope they won’t change until I watch the whole show. Piero PS: following last week’s poll I made fonts smaller. You’ll find a new poll at the end of the newsletter, I’d love you could answer that, and help me with the new design. I know we’re not there yet. **ONE ✤ QUOTE** ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/7e4562ec-720c-4277-b7cd-3a6ace3d7e3a/han_kang.png) ✦ **Han Kang,** [**Nobel Prize in Literature 2024**](https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/literature/2024/han/interview/?%5Fbhlid=6b42a5d18f04d952df5396bfb230de86c20ad08c&ref=secretbreakfast.com)**. Quote from**[ ***The Vegetarian***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The%5FVegetarian?%5Fbhlid=8b16a6bfed9b5febcc002bd6263c9ddd9ff7ef2c&ref=secretbreakfast.com)**, a powerful novel.** ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/a34b217a-cae3-4cac-80c8-bdf5f30996f4/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__6.png) ## **THE OTHER REASON WHY SUGAR MIGHT BE BAD FOR US** ![Evil, evil sugar; but in fancy colors.](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/b5792400-0618-4345-9831-ec65f127bb13/j-yeo-tkttsjgsrgy-unsplash.jpg) Evil, evil sugar; but in fancy colors. While many people are rightly concerned about animal welfare on farms, there's often a blind spot regarding the hidden human costs of plant-based foods. We're quick to decry the treatment of chickens or cows, but how many of us stop to think about the people toiling in fields to produce our fruits and veggies? The reality is that exploitative labor practices are rampant in agriculture worldwide, affecting millions of vulnerable workers, as [this New York Times report shows](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/10/11/world/europe/india-sugar-worker-abuse-maharashtra-politicians.html?unlocked%5Farticle%5Fcode=1.SE4.GXLy.AKKQEwMIIBC6&smid=url-share&%5Fbhlid=10cd92e718228773cf744aabf9b6a7d8370167f7&ref=secretbreakfast.com). Take sugar production in India, for instance. Behind that sweet taste lurks a bitter truth: women working in sugar cane fields often face slave-like conditions. They endure backbreaking labor, meager pay, and exposure to harmful pesticides, all while major corporations like Coca-Cola profit from their toil. It's a stark reminder that "cruelty-free" isn't just about animals - it's about people too. As consumers, we should force ourselves to open our eyes to these hidden costs and demand transparency and fair practices across the entire food industry, from farm to table. PS: A Pinch of [This](https://www.allrecipes.com/why-sugar-transforms-savory-dishes-7561820?%5Fbhlid=f5c8e9c3799d15cb98fabfabc3cb1ddbc2df16d0&ref=secretbreakfast.com) Transforms Soups, Sauces, and Savory Dishes ###### Picture: [J Yeo](https://unsplash.com/it/foto/gelato-verde-giallo-e-rosa-TktTsjgSrGY?utm%5Fcontent=creditCopyText&%5Fbhlid=8eced9ec24a85618d9dac7dc46e73e64d655b422&ref=secretbreakfast.com) **A MESSAGE FROM…\*** ### Receive Honest News Today ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/b58a0446-83d9-4fc1-9d41-77b9932a56f9/02b522900c4ea44e4d1ea3090c3b4390.jpg) Join over 4 million Americans who start their day with 1440 – your daily digest for unbiased, fact-centric news. From politics to sports, we cover it all by analyzing over 100 sources. Our concise, 5-minute read lands in your inbox each morning at no cost. Experience news without the noise; let 1440 help you make up your own mind. Sign up now and invite your friends and family to be part of the informed. [Sign up today!](https://l.join1440.com/bh?utm%5Fcontent=prospecting%5Fcritical%5Fthinkers&%5Fbhiiv=opp%5F0ff1669a-1c2f-4409-b704-673337cb4c1b%5F1b75ca79&bhcl%5Fid=5d3b3e7c-9217-4559-a80f-8bb92cb8abba%5F&ref=secretbreakfast.com#&%5Fbhlid=76a56d3e1ed3cb742f6ac2e5825faddf76339285) ***\*in partnership with 1440*** --- ![Juicy content from food creators](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/a776550c-eefa-4d3e-b067-0438f295b874/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__2.png) Juicy content from food creators [](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DAi7ZC-PtfQ?%5Fbhlid=e91b876de9c321f1bf4e18ec0f86493122c274a8&ref=secretbreakfast.com) --- ![This is the space where I share some food (un)related stuff of my week](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/cdcd47f2-b8f2-4683-a706-d790e01c1c57/random-full_b__1.png) This is the space where I share some food (un)related stuff of my week 🕷️Would You Drink a [Tarantula-Infused Cocktail](http://bloomberg.com/news/newsletters/2024-10-10/this-chicago-bar-is-making-bug-infused-cocktails-plus-best-new-rum?%5Fbhlid=780731dc69fe958c6f21912d958f21a98e6a2e50&ref=secretbreakfast.com)? 🥜One-Bowl Vegan Peanut Butter Cookies (★[recipe](https://simple-veganista.com/vegan-peanut-butter-cookies/?%5Fbhlid=a083f52442c30729ac3f5561741ba777ff076b3a&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🍄Telluride Mushroom Festival and [People Dressed as Mushroom](https://www.instagram.com/p/DAtJ9hRMxkv?%5Fbhlid=9e1ef8fd7f56756260c4056fcf839f459844dc93&ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🧹 [Your Personality, Explained by Your Annoying Household Habits](https://www.newyorker.com/humor/daily-shouts/your-personality-explained-by-your-annoying-household-habits?%5Fbhlid=7a422034d46a91b5ac0e323252ebdd69fdb490fa&ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🗑️ The scandal of food waste – and how we can stop it ([longread](https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/oct/08/the-scandal-of-food-waste-and-how-we-can-stop-it?%5Fbhlid=884969f46887170d60c5d645e393840bca1003d8&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🏛️[Eats History ](https://www.instagram.com/eatshistory/?%5Fbhlid=4e53a552c093336f4430bc2e19c544fac40746ea&ref=secretbreakfast.com)is the IG account for the archeo-foodies 🍞Rye Wrapped in Fig Leaves (★[recipe](https://www.splendidtable.org/story/2024/10/11/rye-wrapped-in-fig-leaves?%5Fbhlid=5c185153a4ee2fa15a3f10f68ebe7d7ea122dfa6&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) or Beginner Sourdough Bread (★[recipe](https://www.theperfectloaf.com/beginners-sourdough-bread?%5Fbhlid=d412c821148f0244eb1593f4ee5a34a8b29917cb&ref=secretbreakfast.com))🍸Homemade Cocktail Bitters (★[recipe](https://www.thespruceeats.com/basic-homemade-bitters-recipe-760289?%5Fbhlid=2508c853dc275284a8cb7770b478892cbde96c37&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) ⏲️Now You Can Buy [an Andrew Garfield Themed Kitchen Timer](https://shop.a24films.com/products/andrew-garfield-we-live-in-kitchen-timer?%5Fbhlid=63f6fd7464d8c19005d45a0a0fe03910ab0a2ff1&ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🍳Barry Keoghan doesn’t lick bathtub drains anymore, now he has [breakfast](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DA6RtUXAY3n?%5Fbhlid=2f5c3cfafa2d1a2423f421d0942b5242ac5f423b&ref=secretbreakfast.com) with Burberry’s 🧐[Why Counter Service Restaurants Are Everywhere These Days](https://www.foodandwine.com/counter-service-restaurants-8720474?%5Fbhlid=a5f765f96f36be85beea5c54342a90c6637fe7ee&ref=secretbreakfast.com) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/be74643a-4623-4922-9944-19fdcccb1540/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__1.png) --- --- **➤ Last week's most clicked link was** [**19 Fall Soups to Keep You Cozy**](https://www.foodandwine.com/soup/fall-soup-recipes?%5Fbhlid=5a3055647e1fb57e71f042f0d99696a991b5a65d&ref=secretbreakfast.com)**. And that's all for today.** ### How do you like this issue redesign? (I changed something after your feedback) [😌 It's OK ](https://secretbreakfast.beehiiv.com/polls/a089f6c0-fc51-4fe8-a87a-89fe16b1a4aa/response?pcid=5ad96c12-c547-4862-ac66-1427bb478450&ppid=b47c12f3-0650-4134-9216-59e88d6c6198&sid=&ref=secretbreakfast.com#&%5Fbhlid=96f76c922d65607c7b5995b33c44a2fe2f478444&last%5Fresource%5Fguid=Post%3A48670462-73d9-4c0a-97cf-079f53578963)[🐜 Fonts are too small ](https://secretbreakfast.beehiiv.com/polls/a089f6c0-fc51-4fe8-a87a-89fe16b1a4aa/response?pcid=9f61a722-1fa1-457d-9e51-6ec34edcf0e1&ppid=b47c12f3-0650-4134-9216-59e88d6c6198&sid=&ref=secretbreakfast.com#&%5Fbhlid=30892f861dfe547ea0e2c5b828f2fdf2fcf27594&last%5Fresource%5Fguid=Post%3A48670462-73d9-4c0a-97cf-079f53578963)[🐘 Fonts are too BIG ](https://secretbreakfast.beehiiv.com/polls/a089f6c0-fc51-4fe8-a87a-89fe16b1a4aa/response?pcid=cd95139c-1983-4f14-ab42-b0bee5283324&ppid=b47c12f3-0650-4134-9216-59e88d6c6198&sid=&ref=secretbreakfast.com#&%5Fbhlid=02566dad801ac98de2772ed4cd7c78b9f6e0d5e6&last%5Fresource%5Fguid=Post%3A48670462-73d9-4c0a-97cf-079f53578963)[👴🏻 I liked the past issue more ](https://secretbreakfast.beehiiv.com/polls/a089f6c0-fc51-4fe8-a87a-89fe16b1a4aa/response?pcid=f8853501-1f59-4843-995b-0289e06f1c9f&ppid=b47c12f3-0650-4134-9216-59e88d6c6198&sid=&ref=secretbreakfast.com#&%5Fbhlid=cdeb56ea062998c4daac73eb019e0c2c7dffcfc2&last%5Fresource%5Fguid=Post%3A48670462-73d9-4c0a-97cf-079f53578963)[🔪 I still hate it](https://secretbreakfast.beehiiv.com/polls/a089f6c0-fc51-4fe8-a87a-89fe16b1a4aa/response?pcid=772139be-f364-415c-be59-c2b38edac8e1&ppid=b47c12f3-0650-4134-9216-59e88d6c6198&sid=&ref=secretbreakfast.com#&%5Fbhlid=8ee067f73507ec053d8c12a2cc1958d3c1ae7a1a&last%5Fresource%5Fguid=Post%3A48670462-73d9-4c0a-97cf-079f53578963) --- **SEASON 5 • ISSUE 204** Secret Breakfast is a newsletter by [Piero Macchioni](https://macchioni.cc/?%5Fbhlid=7b1465a016aeda68cf24456bfa20976aefad3113&ref=secretbreakfast.com). In five years we have shared more than 5,000 recipes, hundreds of books, and countless hours of news, gluttony, and joy. ### It’s not a Rom-Com, it’s a Food Saga 🍿 URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/it-s-not-a-rom-com-it-s-a-food-saga/ Last updated: 2024-09-30T17:37:38.000Z # Welcome to Secret Breakfast / An exclusive newsletter, the best place to start your day with long-legged croissants, Trojan horses made of prosciutto, and other delicacies that will walk you through the interesting entrails of the world ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/336e3a68-e16e-45ee-b036-d278ce0bb74a/snapinsta-app_video_134ff443884b92e3ceb5d1ff35d19d84_video_dashinit-e-com-video-to-converter__1.gif) Hi there! Every November this newsletter debuts with a new “season” and something new. I allowed myself to be in “Beta mode” starting right now to see if the changes are positive for the readers. I went big: a bolder design, clearer sections, and - I hope - a more rewarding reading time for you. You’ll find a quick poll at the end of the email so I can get feedback about all those changes. Enjoy! Piero GIF ©[The Perfect Magazine](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DAnYDsptAXg?%5Fbhlid=7ddf9bebe32eb83dbc0ced2e331c0109aa763bf6&ref=secretbreakfast.com) --- **ONE ✤ QUOTE** ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/5eef59e0-9ee4-4405-b7b0-53d8467732a7/melilli.png) ✦ **Tommaso Melilli**, [*Cucina aperta*](https://66thand2nd.com/products/cucina-aperta?%5Fbhlid=86cb7f3c061f5a77cc016473ed09f8c940fe9b14&ref=secretbreakfast.com)*.* ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/a71d10cf-96c2-4a3f-b272-f856e69658f5/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__3.png) ### The Alchemist and the Matrix ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/73f06985-7988-45ee-be79-f6ef5e14c151/capture_2024-10-06_alle_17-39-44.jpg) [**What Goes with What. 100 Recipes, 20 Charts, Endless Possibilities**](https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250340979/whatgoeswithwhat?%5Fbhlid=2445a3c4b51ddb62d18b3a1b8dd2eb96c9690d82&ref=secretbreakfast.com) **by Julia Turshen** Shortplot **→** 🥗 📈 🍛 🍓 ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/a34b217a-cae3-4cac-80c8-bdf5f30996f4/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__6.png) ## **“NOBODY WANTS THIS” IS NOT A ROM-COM.** **IT IS AN UNDERCOVER FOOD SAGA** ![Hot rabbi in bed with a bowl of spaghetti](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/30d711a7-2ec0-4ad8-ae49-0918311f3374/capture_2024-10-07_alle_18-34-58.jpg) Hot rabbi in bed with a bowl of spaghetti [*Nobody Wants This*](https://www.netflix.com/title/81591296?%5Fbhlid=c98faafeda11732701a32d993ec57026beb32dc7&ref=secretbreakfast.com) is the rom-com series of this Fall, featuring Adam Brody as a steamy Rabbi Noah who falls in love with a fiercely agnostic woman, Joanne, portrayed by Kristen Bell. *Where’s the food in that? You’ll see.* --- 🚨***Spoiler alert, go on only if you’ve watched it or you don’t care about cool blonde podcasters and hot rabbis.*** --- Even if the series does not explicitly mention food, it can be inferred that the show explores themes of Jewish culture and identity, which often intersect with food. Judaism has a rich tradition of dietary laws (*kashrut*) and specific foods associated with holidays and celebrations. Then you deserve this… **The power ranking of the best food moments on the show:** - **Old-fashioned dinner parties** where people meet and fall in love. - **Crab cakes** (★[recipe](https://www.spendwithpennies.com/crab-cake-recipe/?%5Fbhlid=5bbc8736c28012e7656aac6c665988e72a5edcfa&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) used as an analogy for non-Jewish women. - **Charcuterie boards and prosciutto** used like Trojan Horses. - **Chopped liver paté** (★[recipe](https://www.seriouseats.com/chopped-liver?%5Fbhlid=5878bf714aa40b5f4056f9326b763a72f7ac8419&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) as an act of love. - **Gefilte fish** (★[recipe](https://jenniferbushman.com/my-grandmothers-gefilte-fish-recipe/?%5Fbhlid=6124364fe8d7423e0db3efdbfbcfc993dffc5033&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) as an example of bad Jewish food. - **Giant sandwiches** for desk lunch. - **Home-cooked spaghetti** to make your loved one surrender. Did I forget anything else? ###### Picture: Netflix ![Juicy content from food creators](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/a776550c-eefa-4d3e-b067-0438f295b874/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__2.png) Juicy content from food creators [](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DAf7ZLePgky?%5Fbhlid=f00b8faafe63c00faa4e8a0643ae4819f6eaa648&ref=secretbreakfast.com) ![This is the space where I share some food (un)related stuff of my week](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/cdcd47f2-b8f2-4683-a706-d790e01c1c57/random-full_b__1.png) This is the space where I share some food (un)related stuff of my week 🍯Bake it before bees disappear: Honey Layered Cake (★[recipe](https://www.bengingi.com/recipes/honey-layered-cake?%5Fbhlid=04308168daaa94a201b4d9f9f78889e781f633d8&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) ⚖️DASH, [the Heart-Healthy Diet Hardly Anyone Is Talking About](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/09/28/well/eat/what-is-dash-diet.html?%5Fbhlid=1cb4297d95baabc0bfd32388e2643a9fadcebf06&ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🍲19 Fall Soups to Keep You Cozy (★[recipes](https://www.foodandwine.com/soup/fall-soup-recipes?%5Fbhlid=3a3e8d59a4b296d405052ec4cae61a1ccf19899c&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🫙[Boost Your Immunity](https://www.instagram.com/reel/C%5FivU8VNuBj/?%5Fbhlid=63de7a488235d0382a7155f148a045b71bdab236&ref=secretbreakfast.com) with This Easy Kitchen Remedy 🧈[Briny, Buttery, Summery](https://www.reddit.com/r/dataisbeautiful/comments/1fojk60/briny%5Fbuttery%5Fsummery%5Fy%5Fadjectives%5Fin%5Fthe%5Fnyt/?%5Fbhlid=f5bc63c987158a6162290e72d765d2ddd09df1d5&ref=secretbreakfast.com): “-y” Adjectives in the NYT Cooking Section 🍏A State-by-State Guide to[ New England’s Best Apple Cider Doughnuts](https://www.foodandwine.com/cider-doughnuts-new-england-8716201?%5Fbhlid=3374f52be9b3ceed68112861fac24c00351ef1b3&ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🍗[Nicholas Sparks’s 16-Splenda Chicken Salad ](https://www.eater.com/24255090/nicholas-sparks-splenda-chicken-salad-taste-test-why?%5Fbhlid=0598b1f932108f1619f2fb6807b2b61e351ec06a&ref=secretbreakfast.com)Is Absolutely Diabolical 🇲🇽[Birria](https://www.cnbc.com/2024/09/25/birria-restaurant-menus-across-the-country.html?%5Fbhlid=0aedb1d187fc46d77061f1ec750919fc1c194177&ref=secretbreakfast.com) is Everywhere 🎃Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DAlYQrHPOIr?%5Fbhlid=c3f5a4804bc31e9e388584259b6b55af00e69869&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) or Pumpkin Shaped Gnocchi (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DAodxP-ykJH?%5Fbhlid=f053d8c11e11174def39beb9af8aafd4107e4bed&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/be74643a-4623-4922-9944-19fdcccb1540/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__1.png) --- --- --- ### How do you like this issue redesign? [🔥 It's fire ](https://secretbreakfast.beehiiv.com/polls/9e67a1bd-f2b0-4cd3-8517-7d4bd52ac074/response?pcid=ce82f810-8136-46a3-b4d4-768368bc5191&ppid=01ce7aa3-3c6a-4690-a1ce-881fd1c765a0&sid=&ref=secretbreakfast.com#&%5Fbhlid=03134a820d9d13035dd9d3fec4c43c70301a25c5&last%5Fresource%5Fguid=Post%3A7ba98012-1ae1-4150-91dc-fc7d7a79c62b)[😌 It's OK ](https://secretbreakfast.beehiiv.com/polls/9e67a1bd-f2b0-4cd3-8517-7d4bd52ac074/response?pcid=bf7e5b3b-f26f-4c2b-8163-3f26fd547bf7&ppid=01ce7aa3-3c6a-4690-a1ce-881fd1c765a0&sid=&ref=secretbreakfast.com#&%5Fbhlid=403a9c4c6492fa1ba8f75fe052f95d7ad96fff6d&last%5Fresource%5Fguid=Post%3A7ba98012-1ae1-4150-91dc-fc7d7a79c62b)[🗽 Fonts are too BIG ](https://secretbreakfast.beehiiv.com/polls/9e67a1bd-f2b0-4cd3-8517-7d4bd52ac074/response?pcid=610a0b93-ff57-4800-9753-9e63920b5df5&ppid=01ce7aa3-3c6a-4690-a1ce-881fd1c765a0&sid=&ref=secretbreakfast.com#&%5Fbhlid=86403bab8cbf8afaf1f714fcd66269aef8af3a5d&last%5Fresource%5Fguid=Post%3A7ba98012-1ae1-4150-91dc-fc7d7a79c62b)[🕶️ Too many color blocks ](https://secretbreakfast.beehiiv.com/polls/9e67a1bd-f2b0-4cd3-8517-7d4bd52ac074/response?pcid=2f28ad3a-fbe6-458d-8334-6d155042b24f&ppid=01ce7aa3-3c6a-4690-a1ce-881fd1c765a0&sid=&ref=secretbreakfast.com#&%5Fbhlid=11541a667ccb95e9c36b406757818a54bc94d811&last%5Fresource%5Fguid=Post%3A7ba98012-1ae1-4150-91dc-fc7d7a79c62b)[🔪 What have you done? I hate it. I'll send someone to take care of you](https://secretbreakfast.beehiiv.com/polls/9e67a1bd-f2b0-4cd3-8517-7d4bd52ac074/response?pcid=a466b436-d9d5-462f-8043-ff6a304e62db&ppid=01ce7aa3-3c6a-4690-a1ce-881fd1c765a0&sid=&ref=secretbreakfast.com#&%5Fbhlid=c850a445e3b1578beed02a68d44edf672e44f7b1&last%5Fresource%5Fguid=Post%3A7ba98012-1ae1-4150-91dc-fc7d7a79c62b) **➤ Last week's most clicked link was** [**Algeria’s Mhajeb recipe**](https://www.instagram.com/reel/C-cKbVXoqFM?%5Fbhlid=5b0c2042baa7fdb56d6b2372fd298be71f0c53ed&ref=secretbreakfast.com)**. And that's all for today.** SEASON 5 • ISSUE 203 Secret Breakfast is a newsletter by [Piero Macchioni](https://macchioni.cc/?%5Fbhlid=a5683c1011f0f674af8bf582eab669314c56c642&ref=secretbreakfast.com). Over the past five years, we have shared more than 5,000 recipes, hundreds of books, and countless hours of news, gluttony, and joy. Thank you for making that possible. ### War and Heroes, Wine and Oreos 🍷 URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/war-and-heroes-wine-and-oreos/ Last updated: 2024-09-30T16:53:35.000Z # Welcome to Secret Breakfast / An exclusive newsletter, the best place to start your day with neurodivergent cooks, precision livestock farmers, and omnivore’s dilemmas ![Carl admires his faux ice-cream candy.](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/98f0b2a2-03ad-4cae-bb0c-0f4fb9593d03/capture_2024-10-01_alle_17-08-39.jpg) Carl admires his faux ice-cream candy. Hi there! I had one incredible, powerful Hong Kong noodles image for this opening. I typed silly words for you, as I always do. Then [war ](https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/czxgyzq7z2ro?%5Fbhlid=30c3672d345bc0c115fe82862f661fd7e99762b6&ref=secretbreakfast.com)happened. Israel launched a ground invasion in Lebanon. \*\*\* When I think “lebanese”, my memories run to the place of simple food shared with people I love. Tables full of flavorful plates. Smoke. Pomegranates. Drops of lemon. Happy friends. My wife’s tongue blistered because of some unexpected allergy. Then I got the truth. Lebanon is a place that I’ve neglected. While things went south in Beirut, I lived the illusion that comes with memories of Lebanese food eaten here in Europe, in our rich and peaceful cities, like Paris or London. Now Lebanon will be everywhere in the news and it will never have been so far away. Piero Photograph: [Tamara Abdul Hadi](https://www.instagram.com/tamarabdul/?hl=en&%5Fbhlid=a5a0eedba19a44a3b6acb64011e90dc966242c84&ref=secretbreakfast.com). During recess in Lebanon, 364 weeks ago. --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/f93f1cb5-4954-4a91-b22c-0bd6ba119bf5/quoteok__1.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/3f5407a0-f2be-4c28-bba6-43c63ccb6b3f/nothomb__3.png) ✦ **Daniel Humm,** starred chef and plant-based chef, Eleven Madison Park. In [this interview](https://www.cntraveler.com/story/chef-daniel-humm-unesco-goodwill-ambassador-for-food-education?%5Fbhlid=514988333fb428ece63d1e99f9985a558f0e5276&ref=secretbreakfast.com), you’ll read some rockstar-giga-ego quotes like: *“You don't need to be a climate expert to know that we’re fucked*”, or *“My job is to find the best ingredients, those ingredients are no longer animal products”.* --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/a34b217a-cae3-4cac-80c8-bdf5f30996f4/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__6.png) ## **THE FUTURE OF FARMING IS A PERMANENT REVOLUTION** ![Photograph: Kath Aggiss](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/20004d78-6c23-483b-a2d9-5409b53a3c80/capture_2024-10-01_alle_16-05-24.jpg) Photograph: Kath Aggiss There are two - serious - long reads you can't miss this week. The first one is about [precision livestock farming](https://asteriskmag.com/issues/07/the-next-revolution-in-animal-agriculture?%5Fbhlid=9e4b640260342084618b0688576f6c431143bf6b&ref=secretbreakfast.com), a real-time monitoring of animals, by equipping them with sensors that surge livestock-related data to be further utilized by farmers. Imagine what we do with football players and data analysts, but done with cows instead of Lionel Messi. ![Lionel Messi’s, the GOAT, heatmap](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/df86bfe1-841a-4422-a94c-6d36a59086d0/capture_2024-10-01_alle_16-27-38_cleanup.jpg) Lionel Messi’s, the GOAT, heatmap The second one is by a future-enthusiast Sam Altman. Mr Altman is a prominent figure in artificial intelligence and is renowned for his role as the CEO of OpenAI. In this essay, [The Intelligence Age](https://ia.samaltman.com/?%5Fbhlid=df6d2087a947bdad99ee3072ec04f2ac9c07ecdd&ref=secretbreakfast.com), he discusses the potential of artificial intelligence to solve complex problems, create new technologies, and change our lives. However, it also acknowledges the challenges that AI poses and the need to address them responsibly. --- ![Don't Take Dinner Too Seriously](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/87ca2dee-eef7-424e-8133-476fdbfd55fd/omnivore.png) Don't Take Dinner Too Seriously ### OYSTERS Cooked or raw? [🔥 Cooked, but with arson's fire ](https://secretbreakfast.beehiiv.com/polls/ac9fd153-0524-4ff2-ae3b-110f30f3eb3f/response?pcid=baee461a-39c8-4371-b9c5-7f12f0605980&ppid=c17585d8-de07-4dd5-a0de-c1f8b98d3ac2&sid=&ref=secretbreakfast.com#&%5Fbhlid=c880f338ef381392a6e7f8f6fac59a868d9a4315&last%5Fresource%5Fguid=Post%3Acfa769c2-93b7-4f5a-8b8d-571e2da0eb89)[🦪 Raw, but from Fukushima waters](https://secretbreakfast.beehiiv.com/polls/ac9fd153-0524-4ff2-ae3b-110f30f3eb3f/response?pcid=ba721018-f534-4b4f-97e1-53241918383c&ppid=c17585d8-de07-4dd5-a0de-c1f8b98d3ac2&sid=&ref=secretbreakfast.com#&%5Fbhlid=ef6014d41d7f9391ae7f954635fa95c36fb25c96&last%5Fresource%5Fguid=Post%3Acfa769c2-93b7-4f5a-8b8d-571e2da0eb89) --- ![This is where Secret Breakfast picks juicy content from food creators](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/a776550c-eefa-4d3e-b067-0438f295b874/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__2.png) This is where Secret Breakfast picks juicy content from food creators [](https://www.instagram.com/reel/C%5F0BKwasDZS?%5Fbhlid=02203149fba11173c26a59781cbe63a307d01b90&ref=secretbreakfast.com) --- ![This is the space where I share some food (un)related stuff of my week, mostly Instagram links this week](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/cdcd47f2-b8f2-4683-a706-d790e01c1c57/random-full_b__1.png) This is the space where I share some food (un)related stuff of my week, mostly Instagram links this week 🍷Pairing Wine With Oreos, a [Visual Guide](https://www.instagram.com/p/C%5F8M2b3Ma6N?%5Fbhlid=95ec06847c69d6aa1e89b830e71e9f8009747647&ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🇩🇿Mhajeb, also known as Mhadjeb or Mahdjouba, is your ultimate flatbread (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reel/C-cKbVXoqFM?%5Fbhlid=0ca2d5553bf7e89806a8ed4362c74e6152e9fbce&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🔥That’s a bold statement: [State Fair Food is the Worst](https://www.eater.com/24254280/state-fair-food-fried-everything-is-the-worst-yucking-your-yum?%5Fbhlid=e7b8b906e988762955161056557c1e78bda53d95&ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🍪Crumbl Cookies are my daughter’s obsession, here are some copycat ideas (★[recipe](https://cookingwithkarli.com/crumbl-cookies-copycat-recipes?%5Fbhlid=84d5316f4a640e05845847dec255d7dd3867380d&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🍸Or do you want some Aperol Spritz Cookies? (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reel/C%5Fx0ygWRZl4?%5Fbhlid=016d0118f213ee5673c007b54e5be77399236819&ref=secretbreakfast.com))🍗This Jewish Iraqi traditional dish is called *t’beet* and is awesome (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reel/C%5Fs-XyHRoB9?%5Fbhlid=78e1ea663f0c582adce3fcd989d41e74bf97e422&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🥪[Pick Your Favorite Fat ](https://www.instagram.com/p/C%5F%5FRe9Qib47?%5Fbhlid=f1169ead38b390bc30327589b05c6bd18b2cda75&ref=secretbreakfast.com)for Your Grilled Cheese’s Crust 🪞Demi Moore’s [*The Substance*](https://www.eater.com/24252233/the-substance-demi-moore-food-movie?%5Fbhlid=3a2b43555477637f6521e3d4a5727a01fb827a85&ref=secretbreakfast.com)[ Is One of the Best Food Movies](https://www.eater.com/24252233/the-substance-demi-moore-food-movie?%5Fbhlid=fc40ae055289b8d3a50cf5d0919183edb8ede66e&ref=secretbreakfast.com) in Years 🥜Plant based Labneh (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DABbaNiICGT/?igsh=a3JtM3htZjlyZHY2&%5Fbhlid=f26ef1498957d67915436027b6c6fe46936b82a8&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🤢[More Than 3,000 Chemicals Enter Our Bodies Through Food Packaging](https://www.foodandwine.com/chemicals-in-food-packaging-8715307?%5Fbhlid=0419dafb0cc9308e9d4749d3b132637aedfd409c&ref=secretbreakfast.com), Here’s What You Can Do About It 🍓A now-archaic Scottish breakfast paved the way for this popular dessert, [Cranachan](https://www.atlasobscura.com/foods/cranachan?%5Fbhlid=e371a054e7aa6c04fddd4727cc08b388ed89438b&ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🎃[The pumpkin spice latte](https://www.semafor.com/newsletter/09/30/2024/semafor-flagship-the-rules-are-perfect-and-confusing?%5Fbhlid=4d64265b7957fd16585a6fe03257038940c0f8b1&ref=secretbreakfast.com#j) is now a $1 billion global industry 🇺🇸[The New York Times’ Restaurant List 2024](https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2024/dining/best-restaurants-america.html?%5Fbhlid=1dfc80916cfe6ad05ee43eac290e9baaf1a5247c&ref=secretbreakfast.com) --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/be74643a-4623-4922-9944-19fdcccb1540/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__1.png) [For Neurodivergent Cooks, Kitchen Hacks Are Lifelines](https://www.eater.com/24253297/neurodivergent-cooking-kitchen-tools-hacks?%5Fbhlid=cec99f7a674afb01a1a6dbaa77a2e6c08cb90869&ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Sarra Sedghi / Eater** Colorful Post-it notes, bench scrapers, and blenders help chefs navigate ADHD and autism. --- [Wok Hei Is Vanishing From Hong Kong. My Mom Wanted to Taste It Again](https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2024/09/26/magazine/hong-kong-dai-pai-dong.html?%5Fbhlid=cc0798d534dd19bd1571683cccd207fe51a08dec&ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Text, photographs and video by Alex Lau / Illustrations by Matt Huynh / The New York Times** *The New York Times* created this visual series: “How far would you go for a bite?”. Let’s start with Hong Kong’s outdoor food stalls. --- **➤ Last week's most clicked link was about** [**The Autumn’s Best Cookbooks**](https://www.eater.com/24226381/best-cookbooks-fall-2024-martha-stewart-carolina-gelen-ottolenghi-paola-velez?%5Fbhlid=b050e1b53fbf6b40fe3b54dd26d01564204c9efe&ref=secretbreakfast.com)**. And that's all for today. Oh no, it’s not…** ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/2443adb8-247e-402a-832c-253d6396a124/capture_2024-10-01_alle_15-23-06.jpg) This issue is dedicated to Dame Margaret Natalie Smith CH DBE, aka [Maggie Smith](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maggie%5FSmith?%5Fbhlid=79b8aad91e4b6e3babf1064119e30eb5a3a01401&ref=secretbreakfast.com): you, acting royalty, ruled on us while sipping tea, but could definitely munch on a burger. --- **• SEASON 4 - ISSUE 202 •** Secret Breakfast is a newsletter by [Piero Macchioni](https://macchioni.cc/?%5Fbhlid=fe9a3abfdb8232ed4634757441c1cf157e1797ae&ref=secretbreakfast.com) Think of it as *The Morning Brew* for food people, or just the most unconventional email you'll get today. In four years we have shared more than 4,000 recipes, hundreds of books, and countless hours of news, gluttony, and joy. ★★★★★ Recommended by *Food&Wine US*: [Best Food Newsletters to Subscribe To](https://www.foodandwine.com/lifestyle/best-food-newsletters?%5Fbhlid=dd81e0997e473ca5de9c1942530e7b1e2efac592&ref=secretbreakfast.com) *Gastronomika*: [The Newsletters Not To Be Missed on Food](https://www.linkiesta.it/2022/03/migliori-newsletter-food-cibo-vino?%5Fbhlid=97610f9da4e4125f1b4695cb201586aa37c256f4&ref=secretbreakfast.com) ### A Night at the Gastronomic Opera 🎭 URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/a-night-at-the-gastronomic-opera/ Last updated: 2024-09-25T10:20:14.000Z # Welcome to Secret Breakfast / An exclusive newsletter, the best place to start your day smuggling butter, cutting stuff over a bacteria colony, praying to a God who is not made of chocolate ![Memo: eat more vegetables, get better at cooking them](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/22c923e4-a815-424d-89b5-d0a2216c9efe/capture_2024-09-25_alle_14-02-51.jpg) Memo: eat more vegetables, get better at cooking them Hi there! Writing a fresh newsletter and sending it on Tuesday is getting harder. Sometimes life’s too much. Hope you’ll understand. Yesterday I had a very intense gastro-experience, I promise I’ll tell you everything in the next issue because there’s a lot to process there. What else… This issue - you’ll see - is unbalanced towards the sweet side. Do we need comfort food already? Piero Varanasi, India. A volunteer sorts fruits and vegetables offered by Hindu couples at a sacred well during the Lolark Shasthi festival. Photograph: [Niharika Kulkarni/AFP/Getty Images](https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/gallery/2024/sep/13/the-week-around-the-world-in-20-pictures?%5Fbhlid=ce1255cdd80bfb912d7e89b8d27fce6782ec8bcd&ref=secretbreakfast.com#img-12) --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/f93f1cb5-4954-4a91-b22c-0bd6ba119bf5/quoteok__1.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/0a92f293-36a7-46fa-b0b7-e78e81746a3f/nothomb__1.png) ✦ **Amélie Nothomb,** who is out with a new novel, [*L’Impossible retour*](https://www.albin-michel.fr/limpossible-retour-9782226495945?%5Fbhlid=45f3687013213bc28439f3f89c04dbad84a3876d&ref=secretbreakfast.com). But the quote is from *The Life of Hunger*. --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/06f9e3ff-c4ce-4483-8082-de621e82a78e/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__3.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/08f31317-4d0a-46bf-b752-96dceb6f815b/capture_2024-09-25_alle_13-21-01.jpg) #### Cook the Cookie ★★★★☆ The second cookbook from TV baking show host Zoë François is a treasure trove of cookie and bar recipes for any occasion. Unlike most cookbooks, François delves into the science behind the recipes, providing a detailed, illustrated guide on how different ingredients and their quantities affect the final product. This will help those who want to understand better the roles of sugar, leaveners, fats, eggs, and flour on a cookie's texture, flavor, and appearance. [Zoë Bakes Cookies: Everything You Need to Know About Making Your Favorite Cookies and Bars](https://zoebakes.com/zoe-bakes-cookies/?%5Fbhlid=7ad46e2c28659605c5c38b5cd4fbcf26c2323abf&ref=secretbreakfast.com) by Zoë François **→** Shortplot: 🍪 🍪 🍪 🍪 --- ![This is where Secret Breakfast picks juicy content from food creators, this one is ma latest pastry fetish](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/a776550c-eefa-4d3e-b067-0438f295b874/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__2.png) This is where Secret Breakfast picks juicy content from food creators, this one is ma latest pastry fetish [](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DAJeSq4x0Lm?%5Fbhlid=d376bf37a421728d80240d383ad70799a8764ab6&ref=secretbreakfast.com) --- ![This is the space where I share some food (un)related stuff of my week](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/cdcd47f2-b8f2-4683-a706-d790e01c1c57/random-full_b__1.png) This is the space where I share some food (un)related stuff of my week 🍅Ketchup on your hair? A teabag manicure? 13 surprising beauty hacks experts swear by ☕️Mexican Rotyboy, but as a Toast (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DAQkRJES8De?%5Fbhlid=6d6b1acd6bb7a2894ab4f991da0d1d9c1cd586a7&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🦠[My Cutting Board May Have 200 Times More Fecal Bacteria Than a Toilet Seat](https://www.foodandwine.com/cuting-board-fecal-bacteria-8714046?%5Fbhlid=69b39362607720bf18671c2ddfcd0fbea14e4f8f&ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🍑End Your Meal with a —fruit of your choice— Crisp (★[recipe](https://www.onceuponachef.com/recipes/peach-crisp.html?%5Fbhlid=f5dc4efe9d4ab462dd56e234ea23a40244aa6d0e&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🍷[Connect With Friends — Without Alcohol](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/09/17/well/mind/quitting-alcohol-social-life.html?%5Fbhlid=8d34f1ccab54945ea97354c9297e3c2dfca231ec&ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🥜Blackberry and Peanut Butter Tart (★[recipe](https://www.theguardian.com/food/2024/sep/20/blackberry-and-peanut-butter-tart-recipe-benjamina-ebuehi?%5Fbhlid=bec4bbb435992ff3fef3b5b3a5e136e7aa3973a5&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🍊[Ways of peeling](https://dirt.fyi/article/2024/09/ways-of-peeling?%5Fbhlid=539ac17ae10f012ca630887411b938f4a3b194bb&ref=secretbreakfast.com) and the Aesthetics of Exposure 🧈How To [Smuggle Butter](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DARaX73SMya?%5Fbhlid=c6e783bd099cd697401bd52f1595752c68829d6b&ref=secretbreakfast.com) From France 🥇Chickpea Challenge ([video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qaNyislui2Y&%5Fbhlid=8b5e7bf8d6909013f023ce4df537dcda73c75236&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🧁[Turn Any Jam Into Curd](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DAEWApgImFX?%5Fbhlid=ddcb2c258c239c748f27fa7605e6f60bdb415078&ref=secretbreakfast.com) 📕[The 16 Best Cookbooks of Fall 2024](https://www.eater.com/24226381/best-cookbooks-fall-2024-martha-stewart-carolina-gelen-ottolenghi-paola-velez?%5Fbhlid=0f7c1e69cee901d618f104801ea5e70ba9432425&ref=secretbreakfast.com) by Eater --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/be74643a-4623-4922-9944-19fdcccb1540/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__1.png) [Death of the Department Store](https://www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v46/n18/rosemary-hill/at-the-musee-des-arts-decoratifs?%5Fbhlid=3c239063ce02ad42b9655f14bda740bf105f0a61&ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Rosemary Hill / The London Review of Books** The department store was a social, architectural, and economic phenomenon, and it was born in the 1850s. It reached its zenith in 1925, the year of the Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs. And now? How does it feel during the Amazon era? --- [Can Your Stomach Handle a Meal at Alchemist?](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2024/09/30/can-your-stomach-handle-a-meal-at-alchemist?%5Fbhlid=b5b65806e4aef58a34abf2c07d65f4b4a708b2eb&ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Rebecca Mead / The New Yorker** While contemporary visual artists and theatre directors are permitted to challenge and discomfort their audiences, it raises the question of why chefs are not afforded the same latitude. Danish chef Rasmus Munk - who serves raw jellyfish and dried lamb brain served in a fake cranium - engages in a conversation with Rebecca Mead, discussing the multifaceted experience patrons receive at his restaurant, Alchemist, which extends beyond the mere provision of exceptional cuisine. --- **➤ Last week's most clicked link was also one of the most clicked in the last 12 months:** [**When Someone You Love Is Upset, Ask This One Question**](https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/07/well/emotions-support-relationships.html?%5Fbhlid=c6836110d25291f5ced3e77925e3361ec8fdb3d2&ref=secretbreakfast.com)**. And that's all for today.** --- **• SEASON 4 - ISSUE 201 •** Secret Breakfast is a newsletter by [Piero Macchioni](https://macchioni.cc/?%5Fbhlid=66514dff8b256ddb538bfcc117a37d3d820dabb8&ref=secretbreakfast.com) Think of it as *The Morning Brew* for food people, or just the most unconventional email you'll get today. In four years we have shared more than 4,000 recipes, hundreds of books, and countless hours of news, gluttony, and joy. ★★★★★ Recommended by *Food&Wine US*: [Best Food Newsletters to Subscribe To](https://www.foodandwine.com/lifestyle/best-food-newsletters?%5Fbhlid=207236d0291b1b2b188ee19ca03b3d4dcd276508&ref=secretbreakfast.com) *Gastronomika*: [The Newsletters Not To Be Missed on Food](https://www.linkiesta.it/2022/03/migliori-newsletter-food-cibo-vino?%5Fbhlid=857bb569adc3dffd76b969be6ad67830f0e55b52&ref=secretbreakfast.com) ### 200 Reasons to Love Food 💜 URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/200-reasons-to-love-food/ Last updated: 2024-09-17T10:34:02.000Z **In partnership with** ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/uploads/ad_network/advertiser/logo/fb346edc-3086-4180-9f35-38f6f4ac5efe/1440_primary_brandmark_rbg_black.png) # Welcome to Secret Breakfast / An exclusive newsletter, the best place to start your day with a fluorescent latte, a dead man’s braciola recipe, and restaurant math ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/3801cd7b-9b9d-4b88-9265-82584ba48479/capture_2024-09-17_alle_15-40-44.jpg) Hi there! OMG, it’s issue 200… Congrats to us all! Piero Pho[Martin Parr / Magnum, from Novels of White Status Anxiety By Jia Tolentino / The New Yorker](https://www.newyorker.com/books/page-turner/novels-of-white-status-anxiety?%5Fbhlid=ae4065cd0580d630ceab14e0f31eb9ec8d043c32&ref=secretbreakfast.com) --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/f93f1cb5-4954-4a91-b22c-0bd6ba119bf5/quoteok__1.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/26a8d40c-5518-4691-92a3-7d6cefc48b18/jodi_picoult__by_any_other_name__2.png) ✦ **Michael “you know” Berzatto,** thefictional character of *The Bear*, the show that won [11 Emmys](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/2024-emmys-the-bear-wins-record-1236002486/?%5Fbhlid=dd82f328db835c7e66fbf4caf7165121a31dc2d4&ref=secretbreakfast.com) a few days ago for Season 2 (I know many of you did not like S03). Mickey was very good at talking a lot while prepping Braciole, so here’s the [recipe](https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-bear-fx-interview-braciole-recipe-11657807046?%5Fbhlid=cdc3faeb13b03488dcae29db48b10957d90c6d76&ref=secretbreakfast.com). --- ### Receive Honest News Today ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/b58a0446-83d9-4fc1-9d41-77b9932a56f9/02b522900c4ea44e4d1ea3090c3b4390.jpg) Join over 4 million Americans who start their day with 1440 – your daily digest for unbiased, fact-centric news. From politics to sports, we cover it all by analyzing over 100 sources. Our concise, 5-minute read lands in your inbox each morning at no cost. Experience news without the noise; let 1440 help you make up your own mind. Sign up now and invite your friends and family to be part of the informed. [Sign up today!](https://l.join1440.com/bh?utm%5Fcontent=prospecting%5Fcritical%5Fthinkers&%5Fbhiiv=opp%5F45559b51-fffb-43f9-99be-c87377081621%5F1b75ca79&bhcl%5Fid=b79005bc-4ceb-4df7-ba59-d58e3c1a8416%5F&ref=secretbreakfast.com#&%5Fbhlid=c13884d3b94b744e2de9e1339d550d3aa6cfb647) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/a34b217a-cae3-4cac-80c8-bdf5f30996f4/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__6.png) ## **I HAD 200 SECRET BREAKFASTS** **AND I HAVE NOTHING TO WEAR** ![Cate Blanchett knows you can never run out of spoons in the kitchen](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/43eb3f0b-8867-4726-8f4d-b38ff1599e24/capture_2024-09-17_alle_14-34-46_cleanup.jpg) Cate Blanchett knows you can never run out of spoons in the kitchen It’s issue 200, and if there’s something I learned in the past 4 years it’s that this newsletter is not only about food, or cooking. It’s about nourishing. Nourishing our days with ideas, inspiration, or recipes for a better life. Here are the 12 most clicked links in the past 12 months. - When Someone You Love Is Upset, [Ask This One Question](https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/07/well/emotions-support-relationships.html?unlocked%5Farticle%5Fcode=1.LU4.JqXM.dN1nHBF67HbN&smid=url-share&%5Fbhlid=f5627eb53a54522631ea6674391dba9c55e579c8&ref=secretbreakfast.com) - ‘I’ve Been a Longevity Nutritionist for 30 Years, and These Are [the Top 4 Foods I Tell My Clients To Eat Every Day](https://www.wellandgood.com/longevity-nutritionists-top-foods/?%5Fbhlid=f6882f477b63b9159f1b139bda55903504396379&ref=secretbreakfast.com)’ - [64 Recipes From the Best Cookbooks of 2023](https://www.epicurious.com/recipes-menus/recipes-from-the-best-cookbooks?%5Fbhlid=8d94a8ab8b1e5ee64dbf38223266ba393a44a060&ref=secretbreakfast.com) - [40 questions](https://stephango.com/40-questions?%5Fbhlid=f42bfb42a9b657b572ef443e115462c49ed75226&ref=secretbreakfast.com) to ask yourself every year - [The Daily Hunt for Food in Gaza](https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2024/03/12/world/middleeast/gaza-hunger.html?%5Fbhlid=38984633fc69f78da5cc1802ee669fcd33e16fb1&ref=secretbreakfast.com) - [Hobonichi Techo](https://www.1101.com/store/techo/en/?%5Fbhlid=d59078b77cd7cc1821018a321edb59159984c307&ref=secretbreakfast.com) product page (the diary I’ve been using for 3 years) - [56 Fast Dinner Ideas You Can Make in 20 Minutes](https://www.purewow.com/food/fast-dinner-ideas?%5Fbhlid=cd8c6725ace88bd8cebe84c0c2cbdc7049060055&ref=secretbreakfast.com) or Less - [Chef Mory Sacko](https://www.theguardian.com/food/2023/may/26/chef-mory-sacko-mosuke-restaurant-france-interview?%5Fbhlid=67d137e0c844fd9077a1a0382f9bd2f98943b90c&ref=secretbreakfast.com): ‘Palates are ready to welcome cuisine like mine in France’ *(I think this one is up because I wrote it unintentionally in a sort of clickbaity way)* - The [Most Ridiculous Food Trend The Year You Were Born](https://www.mashed.com/1203608/the-most-ridiculous-food-trend-the-year-you-were-born/?%5Fbhlid=075645ae89d5536b6b9246daf6f4e482260ba12b&ref=secretbreakfast.com) - [If You See This in a Restaurant](https://www.foodandwine.com/signs-of-a-bad-restaurant-8613174?%5Fbhlid=89b30b95353dedb031c366b95a5d326acdf79d0d&ref=secretbreakfast.com), Put Down the Menu and Make Other Plans - [14 Unexpected Items That These Chefs Never Refrigerate](https://www.foodandwine.com/chefs/chef-tips-never-refrigerate?%5Fbhlid=d5bc4a109b7b6ad23c8ceff94360473cc3f41f93&ref=secretbreakfast.com) - [A Beginner's Guide on How to Meal Prep for the Week](https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/food-recipes/a28377603/how-to-meal-prep/?%5Fbhlid=122665384c1ad73edca450e244bf3170e0f20ac9&ref=secretbreakfast.com) ###### Picture: Cate Blanchett sporting Ellen Hodakova Larsson spoon outfit at TIFF. --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/06f9e3ff-c4ce-4483-8082-de621e82a78e/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__3.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/e4c21417-5896-4d7b-8e11-e42c8a3d98e6/capture_2024-09-17_alle_15-17-09.jpg) #### Cantonese in California ★★★☆☆ This one is coming out soon. “Kristina Cho, author of the award-winning baking book *Mooncakes and Milk Bread*, offers 100 recipes that blend the flavors of traditional Cantonese cooking with California ingredients and a midwestern sensibility”. I already crave that. Except I’m not in California. [Chinese Enough. Homestyle Recipes for Noodles, Dumplings, Stir-Fries, and More](https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/kristina-cho/chinese-enough/9781648293443/?%5Fbhlid=a433a805f2d35a4940610167d9093364fd0dc674&ref=secretbreakfast.com) by Kristina Cho **→** Shortplot: 🍜 🥬 🥟 🇨🇳 --- ![This is where Secret Breakfast picks juicy content from food creators. This will surprise you](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/a776550c-eefa-4d3e-b067-0438f295b874/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__2.png) This is where Secret Breakfast picks juicy content from food creators. This will surprise you [](https://www.instagram.com/reel/C%5FnQFKmBTRt?%5Fbhlid=07b31e7c8e907fb6b0e550078032808eaa12e606&ref=secretbreakfast.com) --- ![This is the space where I share some food (un)related stuff of my week](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/cdcd47f2-b8f2-4683-a706-d790e01c1c57/random-full_b__1.png) This is the space where I share some food (un)related stuff of my week 🥛Vanilla Rose Latte (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reel/C%5FdIOKOxOka?%5Fbhlid=53a14e9eb2a45c16f80856cb4ad4e3603e92804b&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🧈I always think about butter, then [Pensieri di burro](https://www.shop.dant.studio/pensieri-di-burro/?%5Fbhlid=d4c91560563d4ec7db208741220fb5cfe2b314c6&ref=secretbreakfast.com) is definitely something I might buy ([here](https://www.instagram.com/p/C%5Fzz-AugRLX/?%5Fbhlid=52e546d39d699df4792ccc1705e3e5f9a18e0f17&ref=secretbreakfast.com) you can find more, and a discount code) 🌽How to cook the perfect corn chowder (★[recipe](https://www.theguardian.com/food/article/2024/sep/11/perfect-corn-chowder-recipe-felicty-cloake?%5Fbhlid=8f57aa7b47109cefdbac9a5501cb0c791eb801ea&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🌶️A Life Changing [Chilli Crisp Sauce](https://www.instagram.com/reel/C-vBCT1PB%5FS?%5Fbhlid=394c11eddafd1185927a77f1cfa1889c1df64241&ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🥰[A Couple That (Eventually) Cooked Together](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/09/15/style/stephen-colbert-does-this-taste-funny-cookbook.html?%5Fbhlid=d777c3ea211e099bd00250b41d8c6bf7feda063f&ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🌮The surprising story of how one Calif. fast food giant[ lost the taco wars](https://www.sfgate.com/la/article/how-carls-jr-taco-de-carlos-lost-fast-food-war-19739021.php?%5Fbhlid=df3a17e36c9f1f8a0ef764b4ea277a66eff756af&ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🍔[The world’s most elegant McDonald’s](https://metro.co.uk/2024/09/04/worlds-elegant-mcdonalds-just-reopened-21546305/?%5Fbhlid=99a9efcc390561aeb15d0a09949f6ee8a0e43aa4&ref=secretbreakfast.com) that looks like ‘a 5-star hotel’ has just reopened 🍷[5 Expert Spanish Wine Pairings](https://food52.com/blog/28477-5-expert-spanish-wine-pairings?%5Fbhlid=36e35d199048a2085f984a93acd002b80c979cc0&ref=secretbreakfast.com) From a Celebrated Chef ☕️Spiked Pumpkin Chai Latte (★[recipe](https://www.delish.com/cooking/recipe-ideas/a62152560/spiked-pumpkin-chai-latte-recipe/?%5Fbhlid=da314974fda105f0925b815ecc65c55a0edf224d&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🙏🏻Thank you [healthydose.co](https://healthydose.co/?%5Fbhlid=88ab9485efbdac18d74f958afd6942d7f377060e&ref=secretbreakfast.com) for recommending Secret Breakfast to your readers --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/be74643a-4623-4922-9944-19fdcccb1540/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__1.png) [What I Eat](https://www.carlsafina.org/blog/what-i-eat?%5Fbhlid=fbc4a299acd52a07c5860c202dbcbfca4c0b9ff7&ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Carl Safina** In this (old) blog post, renowned conservationist Carl Safina delves into the complex ethical questions surrounding food consumption. He challenges readers to reconsider their dietary choices, urging them to think beyond personal taste and convenience. It’s a tough choice, I know. By encouraging readers to become more conscious of their dietary preferences, Safina hopes to inspire a shift toward a more sustainable and compassionate food system. --- [Restaurant Math Isn’t Working](https://www.eater.com/24241174/restaurant-owners-chefs-explain-restaurant-pricing?%5Fbhlid=fb779aa02a3a605fbd7e131e00bd96fb040fdf98&ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Jaya Saxena / Eater** “Six chefs and restaurant owners from across the country explain why restaurants feel so expensive right now, and how they’re coping with high prices and customer complaints”. --- **➤ Last week's most clicked link was** [**11 foods you might not realize are ultra-processed**](https://www.theguardian.com/food/article/2024/jul/25/11-ultra-processed-foods-examples-preservatives-health?%5Fbhlid=bdaffc23ff1faa732f879ace193f16abc7e6c8b6&ref=secretbreakfast.com)**. And that's all for today.** --- **• SEASON 4 - ISSUE 200 •** Secret Breakfast is a newsletter by [Piero Macchioni](https://macchioni.cc/?%5Fbhlid=c1b805afc6b239e5dcafd846cb39bf6b99c42afc&ref=secretbreakfast.com) Think of it as *The Morning Brew* for food people, or just the most unconventional email you'll get today. In four years we have shared more than 4,000 recipes, hundreds of books, and countless hours of news, gluttony, and joy. ★★★★★ Recommended by *Food&Wine US*: [Best Food Newsletters to Subscribe To](https://www.foodandwine.com/lifestyle/best-food-newsletters?%5Fbhlid=e56027b57516b79aae2d0ebbef1f122f91e0bb7b&ref=secretbreakfast.com) *Gastronomika*: [The Newsletters Not To Be Missed on Food](https://www.linkiesta.it/2022/03/migliori-newsletter-food-cibo-vino?%5Fbhlid=1c72c8d2550d9d91857aa8353042024b16423e67&ref=secretbreakfast.com) ### The Worst That Can Happen In The Kitchen 💀 URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/worst-that-can-happen/ Last updated: 2024-09-09T20:27:23.000Z # Welcome to Secret Breakfast / An exclusive newsletter, the best place to start your day with croissant supremacy, ultra-processed food, and crime-show mojitos ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/a2b2cbd6-0db0-4c9e-bc09-37dcf489375f/katerina-sysova_3.jpg) Hi there! I didn’t know what to write today. Therefore I asked Google’s Gemini for a list of five potential embarrassing situations while cooking. Here’s the result (a different font is the AI): 1. **The Great Burn:** Accidentally setting yourself on fire while trying to flambé a dish or reaching for a hot pan. 2. **The Food Fiasco:** Serving a dish that's completely inedible due to a mix-up in ingredients or a cooking mishap. 3. **The Kitchen Catastrophe:** Knocking over a pot of boiling water or a bowl of ingredients onto the floor, creating a messy and embarrassing scene. 4. **The Unexpected Guest:** Discovering an unwanted visitor, such as a rodent or insect, in your food or kitchen. 5. **The Wardrobe Malfunction:** Getting food stains on your clothes or accidentally spilling something on a guest. Meh… I’ve imagined worse. Then I thought, what’s the worst that can happen in MY kitchen? - **Collateral Damage.** Le Creuset pot breaking the induction stove. A cabinet cracking the Dekton kitchen top. - **The Fatal Distraction.** Empty pan over induction top kept on. Disaster. - **The Unexpected Mistake.** Something I fermented with unintended imprudence kills the child of one of the guests. - **Adam Smith’s Invisible Hand.** Your fingers in the mixer, while the mixer is on. Did I forget anything? Piero Photo: Kateřina Sýsová, Kukbuk at [YEAST PHOTO FESTIVAL](https://www.yeastphotofestival.it/?%5Fbhlid=dfeb9c929dc56cc71c6ab34ade328380686b5d34&ref=secretbreakfast.com) --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/f93f1cb5-4954-4a91-b22c-0bd6ba119bf5/quoteok__1.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/205d90cf-fbfc-45cf-bc7b-35cb34b2ba98/jodi_picoult__by_any_other_name.png) ✦ **Jodi Picoult,** [*By Any Other Name*](https://www.jodipicoult.com/by-any-other-name.html?%5Fbhlid=bfc1e9f1d4bbf11dcd0d81d5492d5cfb8b21a345&ref=secretbreakfast.com)*.* --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/06f9e3ff-c4ce-4483-8082-de621e82a78e/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__3.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/71465d6f-9a1e-4943-b36b-880fcf574e53/capture_2024-09-09_alle_23-29-05.jpg) #### Ridiculously impressive complete-meal recipes ★★★☆☆ Peanutty Pork and Brussels, Turkey Bolognese with Sneaky Veggies, Chicken Chili, Cannellini Caprese with Burrata, Tomato Farrotto, Crunchy Honey Harissa Fish Tacos. Those are the recipes Caroline Chambers has written down for you when you don’t feel like cooking. Form a [truly successful newsletter](https://whattocook.substack.com/?%5Fbhlid=1d6c5eff3ec5f99d8cc4f1c505e7b5378eb15747&ref=secretbreakfast.com) (not like this one you’re reading now) here’s a helpful cookbook. [What to Cook When You Don't Feel Like Cooking](https://www.unionsquareandco.com/9781454952718/what-to-cook-when-you-dont-feel-like-cooking-by-caroline-chambers/?%5Fbhlid=45d13c5532a7ef006104d84332ccaa69a564b827&ref=secretbreakfast.com) by Caroline Chambers **→** Shortplot: 🥬 🐷 🥘 🧁 --- ![This is where Secret Breakfast picks juicy content from food creators](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/a776550c-eefa-4d3e-b067-0438f295b874/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__2.png) This is where Secret Breakfast picks juicy content from food creators [](https://www.instagram.com/reel/C%5FaG7NaBQNt?%5Fbhlid=ab6feb7d8cc81e67e6f5cd56900b3b12dc3218e6&ref=secretbreakfast.com) --- ![This is the space where I share some food (un)related stuff of my week](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/cdcd47f2-b8f2-4683-a706-d790e01c1c57/random-full_b__1.png) This is the space where I share some food (un)related stuff of my week 🧐[‘Tofayo’ Is the Only Condiment You Need](https://www.eater.com/2024/9/3/24229644/how-to-make-tofayo-tofu-vegan-mayo-recipe?%5Fbhlid=614e9edb6dc4a7491407b44a423fb45474fc7685&ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🧪[11 foods you might not realise are ultra-processed](https://www.theguardian.com/food/article/2024/jul/25/11-ultra-processed-foods-examples-preservatives-health?%5Fbhlid=129e4a5c77f0e69aca638fdc011c035a7831e7f6&ref=secretbreakfast.com) 💦[What’s the Best Way to Clean Your Ears?](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/06/well/ear-wax-clean.html?%5Fbhlid=5fe3a81f349a6152353c233d52c79224cf7b1dd3&ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🍸Have You Watched [*The Perfect Couple*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The%5FPerfect%5FCouple%5F%28TV%5Fseries%29?%5Fbhlid=42eb2bfad84f015e03e2d137eb2bb2205abaf618&ref=secretbreakfast.com)? Then you need a Blackberry Mojito (★[recipe](https://www.romancingtheonion.com/perfect-blackberry-mojito/?%5Fbhlid=7413eaebf0dd5476457f43beaf7a89e4352331fb&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🐌Binge-watching [*Bad Monkey*](https://tv.apple.com/us/show/bad-monkey/umc.cmc.2qoep59s6qukjonprttysfs8x?%5Fbhlid=8851f80d06855407453feb6da689766ccae4417c&ref=secretbreakfast.com) as I do? Then it’s Bahamian Conch Salad time (★[recipe](https://www.aspicyperspective.com/bahamian-conch-salad/?%5Fbhlid=4a3ba83c3c8609dca5e693c3191b619b021dc852&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🍜[A big order of Chef’s Table](https://www.theverge.com/2024/9/4/24235902/a-big-order-of-chefs-table?%5Fbhlid=2028ef4a62abb6b22bb17f189eacce0747bebae3&ref=secretbreakfast.com): Noodles, in October👩🏻‍🍳[Organize your kitchen like a chef, not an influencer](https://www.vox.com/even-better/369691/kitchen-tips-organization-chef-fridge-tiktok-influencers?%5Fbhlid=d052087422d627202a51872cacc6b2aedc537ad8&ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🥐[The croissant supremacy](https://www.theguardian.com/food/article/2024/sep/09/the-croissant-supremacy-why-flaky-pastry-is-everywhere-from-handbags-to-homeware?%5Fbhlid=d42dd6bc633d0960c9ca054d28dad4ed31ed8122&ref=secretbreakfast.com): why flaky pastry is everywhere – from handbags to homeware 🍪Raspberry Crumble Cookies, please (★[recipe](https://celebratingsweets.com/raspberry-crumble-cookies/?%5Fbhlid=ef4e6a80b2a53e13925a6a9c1ddd696606d105b3&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/be74643a-4623-4922-9944-19fdcccb1540/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__1.png) [Now an Acclaimed Restaurateur, He Long Concealed a Secret](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/26/dining/drinks/arjav-ezekiel-restaurateur-undocumented-immigrant.html?unlocked%5Farticle%5Fcode=1.JU4.a7QE.YpveLO-Ua69a&smid=url-share&%5Fbhlid=6d825462819692f5b98c039f595de62f492d8950&ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Eric Asimov / The New York Times** Arjav Ezekiel rose through the restaurant ranks becoming a sommelier and opening Birdie’s in Austin, Texas. Few knew of his past as an undocumented immigrant. --- [Carla Tomasi obituary](https://www.theguardian.com/food/2024/sep/09/carla-tomasi-obituary?%5Fbhlid=fa55f3d6fc79f4ca108375a350b57b1cef3ddb6c&ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Matthew Fort / The Guardian** She was the chef who helped shape the gastronomy of London in the 1980s and later returned to Italy and gave cookery classes in Rome. She taught the kind of dishes she liked to cook herself, which were “without frills, frugal and decidedly inviting and easy to make”. RIP. --- **➤ Last week's most clicked link was my Japanese diary for 2025, the** [**Hobonichi Techo**](https://www.1101.com/store/techo/en/about?%5Fbhlid=86cf77d93c6827adb6078ec5be40ba7476428ab8&ref=secretbreakfast.com)**. And that's all for today.** --- **• SEASON 4 - ISSUE 199 •** Secret Breakfast is a newsletter by [Piero Macchioni](https://macchioni.cc/?%5Fbhlid=48a2ca066ab347c0d105892accf237e9ab90a1fb&ref=secretbreakfast.com) Think of it as *The Morning Brew* for food people, or just the most unconventional email you'll get today. In four years we have shared more than 4,000 recipes, hundreds of books, and countless hours of news, gluttony, and joy. ★★★★★ Recommended by *Food&Wine US*: [Best Food Newsletters to Subscribe To](https://www.foodandwine.com/lifestyle/best-food-newsletters?%5Fbhlid=b0b99f511e3938250ee8aef0dbcb3f11010d6639&ref=secretbreakfast.com) *Gastronomika*: [The Newsletters Not To Be Missed on Food](https://www.linkiesta.it/2022/03/migliori-newsletter-food-cibo-vino?%5Fbhlid=f430a9712c75ce1cd2338d828ff5d9ef83641669&ref=secretbreakfast.com) ### Vegan Nutella and Evil Tacos 🌮 URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/evil-tacos/ Last updated: 2024-09-02T19:46:42.000Z # Welcome to Secret Breakfast / An exclusive newsletter, the best place to start your day with mash-up pasta, evil tacos and NATO’s incredible recipes ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/e7c6b1c8-dea9-428c-9e9c-059fd86a2acf/capture_2024-09-03_alle_17-18-54.jpg) Hi there! Ok, then, we have a [vegan Nutella](https://www.ferrero.com/int/en/news-stories/news/ferrero-launches-new-nutella-plant-based?%5Fbhlid=58f112962a4f720c34e56cdcd40b8dfaf4581e69&ref=secretbreakfast.com) in this very timeline. This green-caped new entry sports ingredients such as chickpeas and rice syrup, and promises to offer the same taste and texture as the original Nutella recipe. I always love the moment when a super-successful formula is hacked in the name of a growing market niche. For the record, in the past years, Nutella has nailed the marketing move of baking Nutella-filled biscuits (and the waffly *Bready*), but also launched a disappointing ice cream jar. In different timelines, Ferrero has probably found a way to limit sugar and zero the palm oil usage in the Nutella recipe. Will we ever join them? Piero Image: Je hyung Lee on Flickr --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/f93f1cb5-4954-4a91-b22c-0bd6ba119bf5/quoteok__1.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/6332ab0a-2df3-4d23-bac9-ca81035154fa/taffy_brodesser-akner__long_island_compromise.png) ✦ **Taffy Brodesser-Akner,** [*Long Island Compromise*](https://burleyfisherbooks.com/products/9781472273031?%5Fbhlid=14e118249aeb4343ddd898a00b814237bc2b9759&ref=secretbreakfast.com)*.* --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/a34b217a-cae3-4cac-80c8-bdf5f30996f4/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__6.png) ## **IT’S TIME TO MASH-UP PASTAS** ![It's all in the reflexes](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/93133be6-1203-4c1c-993b-921596d4a987/capture_2024-09-03_alle_13-06-17.jpg) It's all in the reflexes Once upon a time, in the 1990s, I was in Japan with my family. A friend of ours, who happened to live in Tokyo, insisted we tried an expensive place who made pasta in a unique Japanese way. I remember we couldn’t even read the menu, but I had a large plate with the most beautiful spaghetti, perfectly cooked, with marinated ikura (salmon roe), maybe some wakame, and don’t really remember what else. Was that “pasta”? I don’t know, I’d say it was. Was it memorable? It was. No, fast-forward 30+ years, and we have this phenomenon of [mash-up pastas](https://www.foodandwine.com/mashup-pasta-8700728?%5Fbhlid=4a0e2e590b8c33def5d659ce1a354d7b5f99eb58&ref=secretbreakfast.com), meaning Italian pasta cooked with very different sauces: Huitlacoche Cacio e Pepe, Kao Soi Rigatoni, and so on. I have zero experience of those, and you? Would you call it “pasta”? ###### Picture: [I love you to death](https://imdb.com/title/tt0099819?%5Fbhlid=5ad444e13a3c1663f436789cee215247c8a23c79&ref=secretbreakfast.com), 1990 --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/06f9e3ff-c4ce-4483-8082-de621e82a78e/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__3.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/52276947-6c7c-431b-8a5e-0154ea1ce169/capture_2024-09-03_alle_17-04-07.jpg) #### Chefs at War ★★★☆☆ I ignored the existence of this one, then it came out yesterday while I was writing this issue. The North Atlantic Treaty Organization not only has a role in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, but also shared a valuable publication - dated 1957 - with Dwight D. Eisenhower’s favorite stew, Juliana of the Netherlands’ Hotchpotch, and the mysterious Angels on Horseback. [The Best of Taste](https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/news%5F223933.htm?%5Fbhlid=192aa3c0831ef57af366aef2ea050a8de011fca5&ref=secretbreakfast.com) by OTAN/NATO (pdf [free download](https://www.nato.int/nato%5Fstatic%5Ffl2014/assets/pdf/2024/4/pdf/NATO-cookbook-1957.pdf?%5Fbhlid=6b54173dec55051559cb6bd3ded2832a77a9f573&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) **→** Shortplot: 👼🏻 🐎 💣 🥩 --- ![This is the space where I share some food (un)related stuff of my week](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/cdcd47f2-b8f2-4683-a706-d790e01c1c57/random-full_b__1.png) This is the space where I share some food (un)related stuff of my week 🦀[How to Steam Crabs](https://www.eater.com/dinner-party-ideas/24215526/how-to-steam-crabs-old-bay-steamer-blue-crabs?%5Fbhlid=4f39eeece177fc1db2c96415dfbd0f2b3acb945b&ref=secretbreakfast.com), According to Experts 🥮Date and Walnut Cake (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reel/C8yhaTuSpnN?%5Fbhlid=a4479b47c20785b4f9412b35736faccc1323c3fb&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🥪Neil Fak’s Essential Food Guide for Back to School, quite messy (★[recipe](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIPbpMiiUN8&%5Fbhlid=8674985990d97dcfedb120a9613c815748be5e14&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🐄[Cottage Cheese](https://theconversation.com/cottage-cheese-is-back-and-all-over-tiktok-two-dietitians-explain-why-social-medias-obsessed-236512?%5Fbhlid=5a7c19fe14bead53896ad782c2d9b216a2fbef1c&ref=secretbreakfast.com) is All Over the Internet Now 🥔Potatoes, Dill & Mustard (★[recipe](https://www.theguardian.com/food/article/2024/aug/25/nigel-slater-recipes-for-pork-and-peppers-and-potatoes-dill-and-mustard?%5Fbhlid=9ea4882ea0421af0afa20309b9541045fe637a85&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🇲🇦[Moroccan msemen technique](https://www.instagram.com/reel/C74lU2Msms3?%5Fbhlid=322590a2091f1d7f9208bb01f57f296dde0ad7e1&ref=secretbreakfast.com) is awesome 🥃Ryanair boss calls for [two-drink limit at airports](https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cgl28npy7e2o?%5Fbhlid=6b3eeefce70838e8a96bc3e89066620b6fd27968&ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🐙Evil [Octopus Tacos](https://lifeandthyme.com/video/rebel-kitchens-evil-cooks?%5Fbhlid=4c7a45e65909369c1f1869d328a470e5bcd9aa27&ref=secretbreakfast.com) al Pastor 🍋Lemon Raspberry Brioche Buns (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reel/C8ClQhORDiH?%5Fbhlid=3168cfae60017578543bea18b72316cca5e2fbe7&ref=secretbreakfast.com))🚰[13 Things You Should Always Hand-Wash](https://www.foodandwine.com/things-you-should-never-put-in-dishwasher-8700305?%5Fbhlid=188fb70dab8b1670622c76ef942d33c34d8bc1ef&ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🎸Hey, I bought a [baby-guitar](https://www.taylorguitars.com/guitars/acoustic/features/series/baby-taylor?%5Fbhlid=3c6c36c544723af4fd593e93d73b2c7b69f593d5&ref=secretbreakfast.com) (here are a few [cheaper options](https://harleybenton.com/acoustic-guitars/mini-models/?%5Fbhlid=5f049bc23ef4c15eb0208d45e5ea5f0a88522100&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🧉Still struggling with mate taste, trying [Paraguayan yerba now](https://matexperience.com/reviews/pajarito/pajarito-tradicional/?%5Fbhlid=b040eb3a53c6c5316fefb2d398e5bfc342ea2975&ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🖋️Ordered my [2025 Hobonichi Techo Japanese Diary](https://www.1101.com/store/techo/en/about/?%5Fbhlid=228d9e8de47abf0f101f85537b992decd778f21d&ref=secretbreakfast.com) --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/be74643a-4623-4922-9944-19fdcccb1540/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__1.png) [The Burger is a Portrait of America](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/29/dining/america-burger-variations.html?unlocked%5Farticle%5Fcode=1.Hk4.zbn2.zgb5ekzp02QU&smid=url-share&%5Fbhlid=a83224d85261703c8bf40d3aab8b2ec2d2d2266d&ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Priya Krishna and Tejal Rao / The New York Times** Today, burgers can include ingredients that show the country's culture: local traditions, ideas from immigrants, history, and creativity. They can have plantains, gochujang, and lots of cheese. Here are 11 different types of burgers that show how diverse and amazing a burger can be. --- [Reading a cookbook is as creative as writing](https://beatriceazzolina.substack.com/p/my-own-limbo?%5Fbhlid=f3ecd1381b11c20784affbb16f009a43a028fb96&ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Beatrice Azzolina / Orecchia** One of Secret Breakfast’s oldest friends opens up about cookbook obsession. That is a common obsession, after all. --- **➤ Last week's most clicked link was** [**My Friend Is a Surgeon and She Taught Me a Trick That Kinda Saves My Life in the Kitchen**](https://www.foodandwine.com/why-you-should-use-kitchen-shears-8696591?%5Fbhlid=e0aabb4f245e7e0431ad2f1d9be01077d2078266&ref=secretbreakfast.com)**. And that's all for today, since I’ve linked to Food&Wine 3 times.** --- **• SEASON 4 - ISSUE 198 •** Secret Breakfast is a newsletter by [Piero Macchioni](https://macchioni.cc/?%5Fbhlid=6ea21fadaf6c43bb823a0e34bedade60fb52e8cd&ref=secretbreakfast.com) Think of it as *The Morning Brew* for food people, or just the most unconventional email you'll get today. In four years we have shared more than 4,000 recipes, hundreds of books, and countless hours of news, gluttony, and joy. ★★★★★ Recommended by *Food&Wine US*: [Best Food Newsletters to Subscribe To](https://www.foodandwine.com/lifestyle/best-food-newsletters?%5Fbhlid=b093a2f28aceb62f809bdf263c18334b282c0474&ref=secretbreakfast.com) *Gastronomika*: [The Newsletters Not To Be Missed on Food](https://www.linkiesta.it/2022/03/migliori-newsletter-food-cibo-vino?%5Fbhlid=5b84d2e956f58ba14e4558fe1ce416703157c067&ref=secretbreakfast.com) ### Bacon Jam and Minions Bubble Tea 🟡 URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/minions-bubble-tea/ Last updated: 2024-08-27T06:45:32.000Z **In partnership with** ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/uploads/ad_network/advertiser/logo/fb346edc-3086-4180-9f35-38f6f4ac5efe/1440_primary_brandmark_rbg_black.png) # Welcome to Secret Breakfast / An exclusive newsletter, the best place to start your day with Minions bubble tea, bacon jam, and doomed middle age ![🎶 Made a meal and threw it up on Sunday](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/2da0a236-9b1c-41d9-b93a-9ad0afcf456d/capture_2024-08-27_alle_08-46-28.jpg) 🎶 Made a meal and threw it up on Sunday Hi there! Well, we’re in a timeline where an [Oasis reunion](https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ce80nm88kjpo?%5Fbhlid=83e38ee160963f5b51092f0643e53efda77efc4b&ref=secretbreakfast.com) is a thing. Even if the Gallagher brothers to me are something like mushrooms and seafood: we could deal with that together a few decades ago, now you’re just picking money from middle-aged people who believe those two things can coexist on the same plate, or stage. As Montgomery Reece said in [Burnt](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burnt%5F%28film%29?%5Fbhlid=8bbf3d02bfe665a5bc392e921d7aa4fb85052227&ref=secretbreakfast.com): “Doomed youth is romantic. Doomed middle age really isn't”. Piero PS: this week’s ad partnership is different; it is with a newsletter I do enjoy, and that I often use as a source. [Oasis backstage in Southend](https://www.reddit.com/r/oasis/comments/e1e6cn/oasis%5Fbackstage%5Fin%5Fsouthend%5F1995/?%5Fbhlid=30dc9839dd8d257f77cca0629e4643c4e44362f8&ref=secretbreakfast.com), 1995 --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/f93f1cb5-4954-4a91-b22c-0bd6ba119bf5/quoteok__1.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/5c1b6ec0-beba-4d72-8fdf-2c9b1b1f1b69/isabel_allende__aphrodite_a_memoir_of_the_senses.png) ✦ **Isabel Allende,** [Aphrodite: A Memoir of the Senses](https://www.isabelallende.com/en/book/aphrodite/summary?%5Fbhlid=88bb91440778de1b31ab6f6d531b720816eb41d6&ref=secretbreakfast.com). --- ### The Daily Newsletter for Intellectually Curious Readers ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/b58a0446-83d9-4fc1-9d41-77b9932a56f9/02b522900c4ea44e4d1ea3090c3b4390.jpg) - We scour 100+ sources daily - Read by CEOs, scientists, business owners and more - 3.5 million subscribers [Sign up today!](https://l.join1440.com/bh?utm%5Fcontent=prospecting%5Fcritical%5Fthinkers&%5Fbhiiv=opp%5Fff99143d-6a50-46f7-aa88-c5d481b77194%5F1b75ca79&bhcl%5Fid=5ab036f4-2fc9-42e1-9c11-82414127d56c%5F&ref=secretbreakfast.com#&%5Fbhlid=5c11ea43eadb61da1e9b07ce5830dfbcc04e9678) --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/a34b217a-cae3-4cac-80c8-bdf5f30996f4/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__6.png) ## **I DON’T SEE WHAT’S WRONG WITH MY PLATE** ![A blindfolded Gordon Ramsay](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/d277c6ca-4d78-467d-87f5-4b42e528c989/capture_2024-08-27_alle_09-30-10.jpg) A blindfolded Gordon Ramsay Cooking is a sensory experience, and for those with visual impairments, it can be a bit of a wild ride. Imagine trying to chop an onion without seeing where your knife is going - it's like playing a blindfolded game of "Twister" with a sharp object. And don't even get me started on the challenge of figuring out if something is past its expiration date. Is that a funky smell, or is it just the fridge playing a cruel joke on you? Most of all: I’ve never spent a minute thinking about that. My bad. \*\*\* Now, let me take another angle. **What happens when the person cooking for you is not blind, but somehow has some vision impairment like presbyopia, cataract, or just low lights in the kitchen?** You can experience that with older people (older meaning >45 years old): you can get hair on your plate, a whole insect in your salad, cherry pits in a slice of cake, and a full unwashed dish used as it is new. Well, when you’re a guest, you just try to act politely. My biggest fear is: what if that impaired vision person is me cooking? ###### Picture: Netflix --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/06f9e3ff-c4ce-4483-8082-de621e82a78e/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__3.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/fee6ea76-05f6-45d2-8464-41ebb5803be1/capture_2024-08-27_alle_09-12-32.jpg) #### The Revolution Will Be Veganized ★★★☆☆ When talking about vegan cooking we eventually come to a crossroads: do we have to make a vegan aesthetic clone of some reassuring non-vegan plate (scrambled eggs, sausages…) or should we embrace the possibilities of a different set of ingredients and cook our things the way we like? I’m biased, I’m for the latter. But if you aim for Vegan Fried Eggs, Mushroom Briskets, Nuggies, and Beefless Bourguignon, you’re served! [Anything You Can Cook, I Can Cook Vegan](https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/anything-you-can-cook-i-can-cook-vegan-9781526638410/?%5Fbhlid=0fe816bee8ea17c3558626c451274e4e3f7a0b41&ref=secretbreakfast.com) by Richard Makin **→** Shortplot: 🥬 🍄 🍅 🍠 --- ![This is where Secret Breakfast picks juicy content from food creators, this time THIS is so wrong](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/a776550c-eefa-4d3e-b067-0438f295b874/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__2.png) This is where Secret Breakfast picks juicy content from food creators, this time THIS is so wrong [](https://www.instagram.com/reel/C-cze%5FHiz5Z?%5Fbhlid=8313e7898bb194c8c2cdab8eb82c2ab8cbb2aa09&ref=secretbreakfast.com) --- ![This is the space where I share some food (un)related stuff of my week](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/cdcd47f2-b8f2-4683-a706-d790e01c1c57/random-full_b__1.png) This is the space where I share some food (un)related stuff of my week 🥚How to make vegetarian scotch eggs (★[recipe](https://www.theguardian.com/food/article/2024/aug/21/how-to-make-vegetarian-scotch-eggs-recipe-felicity-cloake?%5Fbhlid=8f9cf7a8901fdba1ede68d2bbc6de09521b8bdc0&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🍹Autumn spiced Spritz (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reel/C-sr6%5FuO%5FV7?%5Fbhlid=3dab0765e9465451a5b897b4063f1425e9b65f98&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) ✂️The Most Versatile Kitchen Tool [as Tipped From a Surgeon ](https://www.foodandwine.com/why-you-should-use-kitchen-shears-8696591?%5Fbhlid=d9ab7e6d0f699f2bdc9dae6d0978bbdb7ee46bd4&ref=secretbreakfast.com)🍅Tomato Tart with Garlic and Capers[ ](https://www.alisoneroman.com/recipes/tomato-tart-with-garlic-and-capers?%5Fbhlid=93f1dd4ded51677a57a2e45d9a1437d91b1fdb52&ref=secretbreakfast.com)(★[recipe](https://www.alisoneroman.com/recipes/tomato-tart-with-garlic-and-capers?%5Fbhlid=bbb7e5ae32552cdd643e6119083ad9a8f47de88f&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) ☕️There Are 170,000 Possible Starbucks Orders — and It’s Killing the Company 🥓Peach-Bacon Jam, the moment is now (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reel/C-GGuNmSZhr?%5Fbhlid=aa37efeab7199796741cc2ea59a938d24799677a&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🥐Cottage-pie Croissants the don’t look like croissants (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reel/C-P7UwsvK5E?%5Fbhlid=6b690e89a2dec47ed3f537b93f2cb2b564b55235&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🇺🇸[Both Presidential Candidates Want ‘No Taxes on Tips.’ ](https://www.eater.com/24221282/no-taxes-on-tips-trump-harris-policies-explained?%5Fbhlid=773b62c471592cdabc00ccc86cbde1b8461d30f6&ref=secretbreakfast.com)But What Does That Mean? 🙉A few years ago I enjoyed [*Bad Monkey*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bad%5FMonkey%5F%28novel%29?%5Fbhlid=fba9506efe4f5636acbfe388e4b3522310ee82ea&ref=secretbreakfast.com), the book; now we have a [show](https://tv.apple.com/us/show/bad-monkey/umc.cmc.2qoep59s6qukjonprttysfs8x?%5Fbhlid=a680f31bcef95804b3594ca47375cff7809d1ee2&ref=secretbreakfast.com)! --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/be74643a-4623-4922-9944-19fdcccb1540/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__1.png) [Do Robots Love Their Customers? Automated Restaurants Face Human Issues](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/13/dining/ai-robots-restaurants.html?unlocked%5Farticle%5Fcode=1.GE4.BQn2.yHXOlELIP3MT&smid=url-share&%5Fbhlid=dd020ca08ee66cedb3b90d843aeac5c3a22a6178&ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Meghan McCarron / The New York Times** Technology promises cost savings, but it turns out the dining experience is all about feelings. --- **➤ Last week's most clicked link was the** [**Macco di Fave recipe**](https://www.lacucinaitaliana.com/italian-food/italian-dishes/fava-beans-puree-traditional-southern-dish?%5Fbhlid=598d8e793b5f9c7537318e6571b2ee3221230205&ref=secretbreakfast.com)**, and I’m so happy about that. And that's all for today.** --- **• SEASON 4 - ISSUE 197 •** Secret Breakfast is a newsletter by [Piero Macchioni](https://macchioni.cc/?%5Fbhlid=e4137873d7ca2699027c95e9999e01eff5efa61b&ref=secretbreakfast.com) Think of it as *The Morning Brew* for food people, or just the most unconventional email you'll get today. In four years we have shared more than 4,000 recipes, hundreds of books, and countless hours of news, gluttony, and joy. ★★★★★ Recommended by *Food&Wine US*: [Best Food Newsletters to Subscribe To](https://www.foodandwine.com/lifestyle/best-food-newsletters?%5Fbhlid=cf48d3846c16f04d545426e08a8da8630a5f7a35&ref=secretbreakfast.com) *Gastronomika*: [The Newsletters Not To Be Missed on Food](https://www.linkiesta.it/2022/03/migliori-newsletter-food-cibo-vino?%5Fbhlid=e7c0ba8b19cb4329f22335ff06b17242f887881e&ref=secretbreakfast.com) ### The Subtle Art of Surviving the Holiday Food 🥴 URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/picky-eaters/ Last updated: 2024-08-13T07:03:29.000Z # Welcome to Secret Breakfast / An exclusive newsletter, your weekly dose of people cooking nonna style, picky eaters and oyster haters ![Alain Delon, classy](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/ebdda73a-f7e0-4ffe-a0c0-c8a8bee69d32/capture_2024-08-19_alle_14-30-15.jpg) Alain Delon, classy Hi there! Last week I skipped a beat, I’m sure you had a great time anyway. Now we have to deal with the elephant in the room. \*\*\* Summer is like a challenge. I don’t know if you experienced what we could call **The Subtle Art of Surviving the Holiday Food.** I wrote surviving, but I intended - yes - surviving, saving your own life! The game’s easy, you have to get through at least four kinds of menaces: 1. **Too much food** 2. **Too much food when it’s too hot** 3. **Food poisoning** 4. **Eggs in summertime** You're going to lose, no doubt about it. The best you can do is choose scenario 1 or 2 to lose in the best way possible. \*\*\* **Scenario #1\. Too much food** In Italy, you can have this for lunch: cured meats, young cheese, maybe some olives, or giardiniera (★[recipe](https://madaboutfood.co/easy-giardiniera-recipe/?%5Fbhlid=2f1746aefefca8df3272a17add08711c49162a6b&ref=secretbreakfast.com)), stone-baked bread… Just for starters! Then come two kilograms of gnocchi (★[recipe](https://en.julskitchen.com/first-course/potato-gnocchi?%5Fbhlid=19f77f90d544a88419d5fc7b551b0b1b7c7e6de2&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) for three people, followed by some Roast, or Chicken and bell peppers (★[recipe](https://www.primaverakitchen.com/chicken-and-bell-peppers-skillet/?%5Fbhlid=062d8092545f5dc9538a704cdcf78d20d0c52377&ref=secretbreakfast.com)), then potatoes again; maybe a Zuppa inglese (★[recipe](https://www.academiabarilla.it/en/ricetta/zuppa-inglese-traditional-italian-pudding/?%5Fbhlid=4d4ec844f69f21558e293a8e9e04d5cf2dfb8310&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) before the Espresso? **Scenario #2\. Too much food when it’s too hot** The typical situation here is Eggplant Parmigiana (★[recipe](https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/wordofmouth/2013/feb/20/how-to-cook-the-perfect-aubergine-parmigiana?%5Fbhlid=b54838d7a82e97af1032c2d0518989e6609af21b&ref=secretbreakfast.com)), on the beach when it’s 108 F° at 1 PM. Or take my August 15th: 100 F° in the morning, three Focaccia barese (★[recipe](https://italianfoodforever.com/2022/05/focaccia-barese-focaccia-from-bari/?%5Fbhlid=593aab038e1c09bb54271dfb190bc9a373c4c636&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) in the oven, and some guy stewing onions on the stove for 40 minutes. I sweat 3 T-shirts before sitting for lunch. **Scenario #3\. Food poisoning** This can happen in any other season, but in summer people bring food over, breaking the cold chain even when the food is made of sensitive stuff like mayo or custard. Sometimes people bake a quiche the night before and then leave it there in the warm weather for like 12 hours because they don’t have enough space in the summer house fridge. Or sometimes you just have raw mussels like me (PS: they were good, I was fine, but it was a risk). **Scenario #4\. Eggs** Take my advice: if you don’t cook or don’t like to cook, and you want to bring something over, skip deviled eggs and don’t make that fucking tiramisù. About 95% of people make it by skipping the - apparently useful - passage of pasteurizing the eggs (one [technique](https://www.simplyrecipes.com/how-to-pasteurize-eggs-at-home-8403964?%5Fbhlid=9772fab6e7651744121269ce23b3fc27048d9934&ref=secretbreakfast.com)). Fun fact: the word *pasteurize* comes from the name of the French chemist who invented this process, Louis Pasteur. Funnier fact: the word Pasteur means “If you don’t do it you’re gonna kill us all in a hell of self-pity and diarrhea, you moron”. Piero Image: Alain Delon (1935 - 2024) in Purple Noon. --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/f93f1cb5-4954-4a91-b22c-0bd6ba119bf5/quoteok__1.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/11848e8d-8418-482d-8e76-66c213ceb16c/chantha_nguon__slow_noodles.png) ✦ **Chantha Nguon,** [*Slow Noodles: A Cambodian Memoir of Love, Loss, and Family Recipes*](https://www.slownoodles.com/?%5Fbhlid=64bfad24d39465bdff7d0a77659afd3cea57c511&ref=secretbreakfast.com)*.* Beautiful*.* --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/a34b217a-cae3-4cac-80c8-bdf5f30996f4/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__6.png) ## **COOK IT LIKE NONNA** ![Minimal and lethal](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/378e6fbe-eb75-4d9f-baa9-990a06a32e8b/capture_2024-08-13_alle_13-35-48.jpg) Minimal and lethal Ok, I spent a few days in Puglia, which is probably among the 3 best regions where you can eat in Italy (I’d say Emilia Romagna, Sicily and Puglia, but it’s just my taste). You deserve a few recipes from there, now. [Macco di fave](https://www.lacucinaitaliana.com/italian-food/italian-dishes/fava-beans-puree-traditional-southern-dish?%5Fbhlid=0b3dc9e0f19fb69bcbeb3cc63a75086925f575bd&ref=secretbreakfast.com). Fava beans purée and vegetables are one of the best-kept secrets of the Southern tradition. You’ll be amazed. [Stuffed mussels: ](https://www.visitvieste.com/cozze-ripiene/?%5Fbhlid=7a87015279ee72305eb83f04bcad454e9acb57e0&ref=secretbreakfast.com)a Pugliese delight. [Tiella Pugliese (Mussel, Potato and Rice Dish](https://www.pastagrammar.com/post/tiella-pugliese-italian-mussel-potato-and-rice-dish?%5Fbhlid=2be940b74b50dad683f4b04141c6666cf99c0cfd&ref=secretbreakfast.com)). This classic dish from southern Italy features a layered composition of potatoes, rice, and fresh mussels, culminating in a distinctive casserole that is particularly appealing to enthusiasts of seafood. [Panzerotti](https://pugliaparadise.com/it/panzerotti-the-original-recipe-from-puglia/?%5Fbhlid=71b74b06a48523347b41b6b5b581dabc72cc72d5&ref=secretbreakfast.com). Imagine biting into a mouthwatering Apulian delight that showcases the magic of simple ingredients These treats are not to be mistaken for Calzoni! [The authentic Lecce-style pasticciotto](https://cesarine.com/en/blog/cesarine-cookbook/pasticciotto-recipe?%5Fbhlid=e0dc2969f4210a75563c35f2f637deb267becab0&ref=secretbreakfast.com) (see pic). Biting into the fragrant shortcrust pastry to reach the rich, creamy custard is an unforgettable, heavenly experience. ###### Image via [Martinucci](https://martinuccilaboratory.it/?%5Fbhlid=4eaf6abf5cda60e7b4a036ebbec2ad7def26fd5c&ref=secretbreakfast.com), Polignano a Mare --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/06f9e3ff-c4ce-4483-8082-de621e82a78e/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__3.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/7f765e2f-5ec0-4962-b679-95865b9bd8e6/capture_2024-08-19_alle_14-35-52.jpg) #### The UK’s answer to Alison Roman is a man ★★★★☆ London chef [Michael Davies](https://www.instagram.com/mike.davies.88/?%5Fbhlid=3ed8e008bfbc03ecfd0291a12227d59bcaf1f292&ref=secretbreakfast.com) turns hosting stress into a thing of the past with this cookbook, packed with delicious seasonal recipes and practical tips to make entertaining a breeze and your guests feel like Royalty. Or, as the marketing guys of his British publisher wrote: “Michael Davies is the UK’s answer to Alison Roman and Gen Zs answer to James Martin”. [Cooking for People](https://harpercollins.co.uk/products/cooking-for-people-mike-davies?%5Fbhlid=ac2c95150bfa5640fd2cdcdf44eaece4c044d1d6&ref=secretbreakfast.com) by Mike Davies **→** Shortplot: 🥦 🐟 🍑 🐷 --- ![This is where Secret Breakfast picks juicy content from food creators](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/a776550c-eefa-4d3e-b067-0438f295b874/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__2.png) This is where Secret Breakfast picks juicy content from food creators [](https://www.instagram.com/reel/C-NdoAQM%5FbD?%5Fbhlid=2e5a23ed0ac742656edfab8dc9518d59ad4b2262&ref=secretbreakfast.com) --- ![This is the space where I share some food (un)related stuff of my week, extremely quick today, because you have tons of links already](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/cdcd47f2-b8f2-4683-a706-d790e01c1c57/random-full_b__1.png) This is the space where I share some food (un)related stuff of my week, extremely quick today, because you have tons of links already 🫧[Why “pop-up” restaurants are everywhere now](https://www.vox.com/videos/364988/pop-up-restaurants-covid-success?%5Fbhlid=c8e2efd442e0e164f2d47b819911494316a48bdb&ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🌻Flowered Butter (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reel/C82h2LYyZVP?%5Fbhlid=cec4a2fe1a8a05871f5e0d098a74012bce758d96&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🥐Tom Daley’s [Knitted Croissant Bag](https://www.instagram.com/reel/C-ViF2kN4re?%5Fbhlid=b7d0209e32361993b51d9726b1db96349108204f&ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🎧[Why I Finally Quit Spotify](https://www.newyorker.com/culture/infinite-scroll/why-i-finally-quit-spotify?%5Fbhlid=a68d1c3936e9fc5a245063792edfea26648119c6&ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🍉Carpaccio pastèque & feta *à la truffe* (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reel/C-fuCilNsci/?%5Fbhlid=7738f27b25eb5eb4496896d7f694a17443407f91&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🍹Use Coconut Oil to Elevate Your Cocktail Style (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reel/C9ruNBhsqQr?%5Fbhlid=99845ab2119191ae9bd2aa06e6e3981227c79c89&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/be74643a-4623-4922-9944-19fdcccb1540/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__1.png) [A moment that changed me: I put people-pleasing aside – and told my new boyfriend the truth](https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/article/2024/aug/14/a-moment-that-changed-me-i-put-people-pleasing-aside-and-told-my-new-boyfriend-the-truth?%5Fbhlid=2559c2b79b1a4b88aa93d089447753d3204f602c&ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Clare Finney / The Guardian** Realizing how much richer life is if people like and accept you for being you, rather than for being someone who likes oysters. --- [A Theory from the 1980s Could Be the Key to Solving Picky Eating](https://food52.com/blog/26521-ellyn-satter-method-for-feeding-children-explained?%5Fbhlid=567ece7ed7f65e568adab295bd877ef44f3ca499&ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Rachel Wharton / Food52** The Ellyn Satter Method, or Division of Responsibility in Feeding, states that parents decide what, when, and where to serve food, while children decide if and how much to eat. Is it something you agree with? --- **➤ Last week's most clicked link was nothing, we all were off. And that's good!** --- **• SEASON 4 - ISSUE 196 •** Secret Breakfast is a newsletter by [Piero Macchioni](https://macchioni.cc/?%5Fbhlid=a3d658c4adf9e7050a018507835a7ccab1f9009c&ref=secretbreakfast.com) Think of it as *The Morning Brew* for food people, or just the most unconventional email you'll get today. In four years we have shared more than 4,000 recipes, hundreds of books, and countless hours of news, gluttony, and joy. ★★★★★ Recommended by *Food&Wine US*: [Best Food Newsletters to Subscribe To](https://www.foodandwine.com/lifestyle/best-food-newsletters?%5Fbhlid=d7504ed4b36f2f54a4b45e5cf715023d3acac133&ref=secretbreakfast.com) *Gastronomika*: [The Newsletters Not To Be Missed on Food](https://www.linkiesta.it/2022/03/migliori-newsletter-food-cibo-vino?%5Fbhlid=6a0e33c525e6a5fcc0a3cba02cdfd30c29fc3e13&ref=secretbreakfast.com) ### Dinners, Parties & Dinner Parties 🎉 URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/dinners-parties-dinner-parties/ Last updated: 2024-08-05T06:51:17.000Z **In partnership with** ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/uploads/ad_network/advertiser/logo/8f9d1956-281a-4fc1-8a9c-b945cf2f9e39/image_removebg_preview.png) # Welcome to Secret Breakfast / An exclusive newsletter, the best place to start your day with dinner parties, food nostalgia, and disappearing vanilla beans ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/4c07e6f2-324e-48b4-afcf-4b81a6df4b1f/capture_2024-08-06_alle_23-35-47.jpg) Hi there! I’m slowing down things and reading more non-food stuff. I think I should share some bits with you. I was reading this feature about [what makes people unique in the age of AI](https://www.newyorker.com/culture/open-questions/in-the-age-of-ai-what-makes-people-unique?%5Fbhlid=d43d9c9890903df196a714826d9046a505da4ef6&ref=secretbreakfast.com). And I think we all can relate to this passage about losing something precious while transitioning to AI. The second bit, I believe you’ve already encountered on X or any other social of your choice. It’s Chuck Palahniuk in [*Lullaby*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lullaby%5F%28Palahniuk%5Fnovel%29?%5Fbhlid=4120e2ac25fd125bbe75352bb03e4e340f984478&ref=secretbreakfast.com): Old George Orwell got it backward.Big Brother isn't watching. He's singing and dancing. He's pulling rabbits out of a hat. Big Brother's busy holding your attention every moment you're awake. He's making sure you're always distracted. He's making sure you're fully absorbed.He's making sure your imagination withers. Until it's as useful as your appendix. He's making sure your attention is always filled.And this being fed, it's worse than being watched. With the world always filling you, no one has to worry about what's in your mind. With everyone's imagination atrophied, no one will ever be a threat to the world. Incredibly, we live in a time when we must sit down and reflect on what makes us “humans”. But the distraction trap is the deal of this era and somehow our lives could have a better flavor if we resist the distraction trap. And if I’ve distracted you with this, please, forgive me. Piero PS: last week’s most clicked link was broken for some of you (sorry about that), here it is again → [7 signs you’re about to eat at a tourist trap restaurant](https://www.delicious.com.au/travel/international/gallery/tell-if-restaurant-tourist-trap/0soxeuit?%5Fbhlid=a1e7e228905848b4f5159d13dd58ee116ec3b5f6&ref=secretbreakfast.com). Image: [Alain Pilon](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/05/opinion/smartphones-parenting-birthrate.html?%5Fbhlid=526fcf132a333d80d1117ddd5424ea974a07ed34&ref=secretbreakfast.com) --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/f93f1cb5-4954-4a91-b22c-0bd6ba119bf5/quoteok__1.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/036b02c8-05cd-489a-8aae-4e83c1d89c3a/gaetanosavatteri.png) ✦ **Gaetano Savatteri,** Le stelle non vogliono saperne, in [*Cucina in giallo*](https://sellerio.it/it/catalogo/Cucina-Giallo/Piazzese-Gimenez-bartlett-Savatteri-Malvaldi-Recami-Manzini-Robecchi-Tanzini/15231?%5Fbhlid=b77cc8dd24da3db9f8dc27303b5de93eb4aecd53&ref=secretbreakfast.com) (only in Italian, I’m afraid). --- ### America’s Most Loved Food Delivery Service ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/1966816d-a751-471d-ac7e-a8b2f728abdb/hungryrootheroob.png) [Hungryroot](https://eat.hungryroot.com/functional-mashup-yum1-brand-30?utm%5Fcontent=Mashup-OptionB&%5Fbhiiv=opp%5F8491727b-d9d5-407e-b3d1-42d0dcfe4a8c%5F8136604d&bhcl%5Fid=b0e8ca71-45b1-4791-bdac-009fca47aaf2%5F&ref=secretbreakfast.com#&%5Fbhlid=cbaa32f5da5e9303c72de9016fbacdc9ba954640) is a grocery and recipe delivery service that led millions of Americans to say goodbye meal kits, hello Hungryroot! Whether you're looking to eat healthier, stuck in a food rut, sick of grocery shopping, or looking to spice up mealtime, Hungryroot has got you covered. Nutritious groceries + tasty recipes = the easiest way to eat healthy! Not only will you save hours planning, shopping, and cooking, Hungryroot customizes every delivery based on your food preferences, dietary restrictions, and health needs – putting your health goals on autopilot. [Take the quiz and pick one free item for life. Plus get 30% off your 1st delivery today!](https://eat.hungryroot.com/functional-mashup-yum1-brand-30?utm%5Fcontent=Mashup-OptionB&%5Fbhiiv=opp%5F8491727b-d9d5-407e-b3d1-42d0dcfe4a8c%5F8136604d&bhcl%5Fid=b0e8ca71-45b1-4791-bdac-009fca47aaf2%5F&ref=secretbreakfast.com#&%5Fbhlid=1bbce395d99bea44fb6b044f2777dcb78d6d2974) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/a34b217a-cae3-4cac-80c8-bdf5f30996f4/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__6.png) ## **KAMALA’S NEW HOT DISH** ![This guy knows how to show up during a bake sale](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/5e5542de-965b-4fc2-82fd-e1c066c860e5/capture_2024-08-06_alle_18-10-30.jpg) This guy knows how to show up during a bake sale Kamala Harris selected Tim Walz as her Vice Presidential candidate. If there was a food-related candidate for the spot, that was him. Serious things first: in March 2023 Walz signed a bill to provide free school meals for Minnesota students at participating schools, regardless of their family’s income. Most of all, as Eater writes, [he just seems like a human who likes food](https://www.eater.com/24214595/tim-walz-democratic-vp-free-school-lunch-food-policy?%5Fbhlid=685c2d0e001f321f766403ff1e2d40a1a561b04c&ref=secretbreakfast.com). Somehow [one of his hot dish recipes](https://www.startribune.com/want-to-know-more-about-tim-walz-try-making-his-hot-dish-recipe/600680906?%5Fbhlid=3ddca9824a48c21f35a9b2a637e602cb9b7d9feb&ref=secretbreakfast.com) became a national hype. And apparently, he [can’t stop name-dropping midwestern food](https://twincities.eater.com/2024/7/30/24209631/tim-walz-minnesota-governor-vice-president-kamala-harris-midwestern-food?%5Fbhlid=e7aac60bf880596f26941394ffa712c9af161b19&ref=secretbreakfast.com). Waltz is from Minnesota. Does it ring a bell? The State is world-famous for [the most absurd foods you can eat at the local State Fair](https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/minnesota-state-fair?%5Fbhlid=499dd5bb3ab230a87bb0ec04c67e39827e23bcf0&ref=secretbreakfast.com), often all battered, deep fried, and served on a stick (here are [7 intriguing new foods at the 2024 Minnesota State Fair, including ‘Grilled Purple Sticky Rice’](https://www.foxnews.com/food-drink/7-intriguing-foods-2024-minnesota-state-fair-grilled-purple-sticky-rice?%5Fbhlid=89145d7e296b9753fa00b10a7f39a0a098fa783e&ref=secretbreakfast.com)). --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/06f9e3ff-c4ce-4483-8082-de621e82a78e/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__3.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/6e276d39-bf5b-48cb-9ad0-6e21fd31fb0a/capture_2024-08-06_alle_23-05-34.jpg) #### Let’s have a party ★★★★☆ Katherine Lewin is the visionary founder of Big Night, a renowned supper club located in the vibrant borough of Brooklyn, New York. While I may not know you personally, I can confidently surmise that many of us harbor aspirations of creating a business as unique and successful as hers. Her latest book is a treasure trove that promises to elevate our home entertaining experiences to new heights. In times like these, when even I find myself weary of the daily grind of cooking, her book offers a refreshing premise filled with ideas and inspiration. [Big Night: Dinners, Parties, and Dinner Parties](https://bignightbk.com/products/big-night-book-dinners-parties-dinner-parties?%5Fbhlid=4cda85e1b8817fd782e3cce3cce19aac33cd69db&ref=secretbreakfast.com) by Katherine Lewin **→** Shortplot: 🥔 🍝 🥗 🍑 --- ![This is where Secret Breakfast picks juicy content from food creators](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/a776550c-eefa-4d3e-b067-0438f295b874/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__2.png) This is where Secret Breakfast picks juicy content from food creators [](https://www.instagram.com/reel/C-IX5fQOY73?%5Fbhlid=e750163fc4360978845581543f38512ea403fa65&ref=secretbreakfast.com) --- ![This is the space where I share some food (un)related stuff of my week](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/cdcd47f2-b8f2-4683-a706-d790e01c1c57/random-full_b__1.png) This is the space where I share some food (un)related stuff of my week 🍋New Summer Project: Lacto-Lime (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reel/C9AwfKuqLuk?%5Fbhlid=8294124cd6bda097897213db7a3ab4de198bdeb3&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🍽️[Fancy restaurants using anything but plates](https://www.instagram.com/reel/C-GAga4ox-u/?%5Fbhlid=09de5d6b13681b0c1b47e6a951644581c9d56f67&ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🧁The chocolate muffin that became the star of Olympic Village (★[recipe](https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Food/paris-olympics-viral-chocolate-muffin-recipe-recreate-norwegian/story?id=112478502&%5Fbhlid=c56216ebb49b6a37f3b6c2721381c831cecef177&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) ☕️If You’re a Caffeine Connoisseur, [White Coffee Might Be Your New Best Friend](https://www.wellandgood.com/what-is-white-coffee/?%5Fbhlid=50fa41b466931e09879f449909f54c429eb67c08&ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🇬🇷This Super-Easy Greek Marinade Will Surprise Your Guests (★[recipe](https://www.food.com/recipe/chicken-souvlaki-marinade-88735?%5Fbhlid=de45a2200baac5e649c171f3c35e1d0569ad88ac&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🐟Marinated Miso Salmon (★[recipe](https://www.justonecookbook.com/miso-salmon/?%5Fbhlid=1d0982c5eb6a11cc2f46ba389673ad6014b94c0b&ref=secretbreakfast.com))[ ](https://www.justonecookbook.com/miso-salmon/?%5Fbhlid=23d0d5c9944c8b21517c29d6ecbfc294b93c429d&ref=secretbreakfast.com)🗑️People posing with their [weekly garbage](https://www.lensculture.com/articles/gregg-segal-7-days-of-garbage?%5Fbhlid=b98e04c0cc52c819073ce0b5df3cc80536b52eee&ref=secretbreakfast.com) 💙💛[War Shatters Dating Scene for Women in Ukraine](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/04/world/europe/ukraine-war-dating.html?%5Fbhlid=1229d2a6b8e23c25d78565587b2c01fd53448371&ref=secretbreakfast.com) 📷Héctor Vivas [layered photos](https://www.theguardian.com/sport/gallery/2024/aug/05/paris-2024-olympics-layers-images-photography-gallery?%5Fbhlid=eadfd71ea103d735af093450f975daec7e190318&ref=secretbreakfast.com) of the Olympics are something (yes, I’m watching the Olympics and cooking less and less) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/462f5346-bcb6-4c75-ab59-23aa32000efb/capture_2024-08-06_alle_23-01-06.jpg) --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/be74643a-4623-4922-9944-19fdcccb1540/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__1.png) [Here’s how to embrace food nostalgia](https://theconversation.com/tastes-from-our-past-can-spark-memories-trigger-pain-or-boost-wellbeing-heres-how-to-embrace-food-nostalgia-232826?%5Fbhlid=d727ef3dbe603c0a5d6859aeede4b0320da5d16f&ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Megan Lee, Doug Angus, Kate Simpson / The Conversation** Have you ever tried to bring back fond memories by eating or drinking something unique to that time and place? Tastes from our past can spark memories, trigger pain or boost wellbeing. --- [This Is How the World’s Favorite Scent Disappears](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/04/opinion/vanilla-cooking-climate-change.html?%5Fbhlid=49601badc7e78e6de0d97f1e89974ae27b212fba&ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Aimee Nezhukumatathil / The New York Times** Once you notice vanilla, you’ll smell it everywhere. It’s in sweets, pharmaceuticals, mosquito repellents, seltzers, makeup and hair products. “Extracted from the bean pod of a delicate orchid, vanilla must be grown under exceptionally precise conditions along a band of the earth between the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn. This supreme finickiness makes it unusually vulnerable to the growing shocks of climate change and deforestation”. --- *▶︎ Yes, an ADV is running in this issue. When you click, you help fund Secret Breakfast (but you do that even if you just read what I write). Thank you!* **• SEASON 4 - ISSUE 195 •** Secret Breakfast is a newsletter by [Piero Macchioni](https://macchioni.cc/?%5Fbhlid=b989fb998d2f7a1922cd645bb5927234099cfc43&ref=secretbreakfast.com) Think of it as *The Morning Brew* for food people, or just the most unconventional email you'll get today. In four years we have shared more than 4,000 recipes, hundreds of books, and countless hours of news, gluttony, and joy. ★★★★★ Recommended by *Food&Wine US*: [Best Food Newsletters to Subscribe To](https://www.foodandwine.com/lifestyle/best-food-newsletters?%5Fbhlid=ae07ff2408759078d4135a21c398dd63d2b50e77&ref=secretbreakfast.com) *Gastronomika*: [The Newsletters Not To Be Missed on Food](https://www.linkiesta.it/2022/03/migliori-newsletter-food-cibo-vino?%5Fbhlid=c7aec4b4105c359d52adf8d956f5cfd07c95e911&ref=secretbreakfast.com) ### Olympic Feasts, Norwegian Treats, and Jalapeño Margaritas 🍹 URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/olympic-feasts/ Last updated: 2024-07-30T11:15:35.000Z # Welcome to Secret Breakfast / An exclusive newsletter, the best place to start your day with Olympic Feasts, Norwegian Treats, and Jalapeño Watermelon Margarita ![Shame on you Paris 2024! Now, when I eat too much, I dream about that blue guy](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/a78ffb7b-1dd9-45df-ac1d-88c3bdedd39a/capture_2024-07-30_alle_13-51-29.jpg) Shame on you Paris 2024! Now, when I eat too much, I dream about that blue guy Hi there! If you haven’t been to Mars, you’ve probably heard that the Summer Olympics Opening Ceremony was overloaded with extravaganza around something related to the four-letter word we celebrate here: food. Some Christians were offended by this sort of representation of *The Last Supper*. Except [that wasn’t Jesus Christ's last meal](https://hyperallergic.com/938477/no-the-olympics-ceremony-did-not-copy-the-last-supper/?ref=secretbreakfast.com). Anyway, to cool things down, [the organization said it was never an intention to show disrespect to any religious group](https://www.bbc.com/sport/olympics/articles/cw4yqvegkexo?ref=secretbreakfast.com). \*\*\* I find way more interesting the fuss about vegan food in the village. Before the Games started we read articles about [the elite athletes powered entirely by plants](https://www.bonappetit.com/story/olympians-who-eat-vegan?ref=secretbreakfast.com). Then, we had the former Australian swimmer James Magnussen accusing the organizers of [running out of meat on the first day](https://www.skynews.com.au/australia-news/sport/james-magnussen-blasts-paris-2024-olympic-village-conditions-claims-unsettled-athletes-will-miss-out-on-medals/news-story/a677436ce30544e54a2ea9ee92a84233?ref=secretbreakfast.com) (I think the menu was unbalanced and there were too many vegetarian options for athletes not used to non-animal proteins). Again, we heard about [woke and non-woke foods](https://thespinoff.co.nz/kai/08-05-2024/a-definitive-list-of-woke-and-non-woke-foods?ref=secretbreakfast.com). That sounds a little weird to me. Anything with the word “[woke](https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Woke&ref=secretbreakfast.com)” sounds off, actually. Enjoy the Games, forget the word “woke” and don’t forget the snacks. Piero --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/f93f1cb5-4954-4a91-b22c-0bd6ba119bf5/quoteok__1.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/2e1033c0-1dbd-42e8-bee2-bb31d53777a4/federico_fellini__1.png) ✦ **Pete Wells**, former *New York Times* food critic. More about him is below. --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/a34b217a-cae3-4cac-80c8-bdf5f30996f4/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__6.png) ## **SWEET NORWAY** ![No filter Norway, Lofoten](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/a3182f48-9369-4ea4-8870-a009972f4f6b/whatsapp_image_2024-07-30_at_14-26-17.jpg) No filter Norway, Lofoten I spent last week in Norway. Actually, I was there til yesterday. I’m not ready to tell you everything I learned about this beautiful country and its cooking heritage. I’m starting with three things and their recipes. [Vafler – The Norwegian Waffles](https://scandinaviancookbook.com/vafler-the-best-norwegian-waffles/?ref=secretbreakfast.com). Thin, sweet, you must try them with Norwegian brown cheese and berries jam. [Bergens Fiskesuppe (Bergen Fish Soup)](https://www.sofn.com/norwegian%5Fculture/recipe%5Fbox/soups/bergens%5Ffiskesuppe%5Fbergen%5Ffish%5Fsoup/?ref=secretbreakfast.com). Make a batch, keep for the day you miss the sea. [Vestlandslefsa Lefsegodt pastry with buttercream](https://norwegianfoodstore.com/products/berthas-tykklefse-240-gram?ref=secretbreakfast.com) is a common snack. Imagine a rectangular potato-based tortilla filled with cream. You can cook [Norwegian Lefse](https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/18082/norwegian-lefse/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) this way, or try this [recipe](https://www.visitnorway.com/things-to-do/food-and-drink/the-norwegian-cookbook/recipe-kling-lefse/?ref=secretbreakfast.com). ###### Picture by me. --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/06f9e3ff-c4ce-4483-8082-de621e82a78e/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__3.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/425bdd2f-db13-4d61-a6d5-44fe51e478ed/capture_2024-07-30_alle_14-42-04.jpg) #### My Secret Vegan Crush ★★★★☆ You probably noticed I’m addicted to ‘The New Vegan’ column by Meera Sodha on *The Guardian*. Some time ago I also wrote I dream about an alternate reality in which we switch Tupperware while waiting for our kids out of school. Now she has written a brand new book about vegetarian dinners, it’s practical and full of inspiration. To get an idea look here(★[recipes](https://www.theguardian.com/food/article/2024/jul/27/meera-sodha-exclusive-vegan-recipes?ref=secretbreakfast.com)), start with the turnip cake. When was the last time you cooked turnips? [Dinner. 120 vegan and vegetarian recipes for the most important meal of the day](https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/321280/dinner-by-sodha-meera/9780241488003?ref=secretbreakfast.com) by Meera Sodha **→** Shortplot: 🥔 🍜 🥥 🍪 --- ![This is where Secret Breakfast picks juicy content from food creators](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/a776550c-eefa-4d3e-b067-0438f295b874/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__2.png) This is where Secret Breakfast picks juicy content from food creators [](https://www.instagram.com/reel/C6l69MJRVSV?ref=secretbreakfast.com) --- ![This is the space where I share some food (un)related stuff of my week](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/cdcd47f2-b8f2-4683-a706-d790e01c1c57/random-full_b__1.png) This is the space where I share some food (un)related stuff of my week 🧉I’m cutting off coffee and experimenting with Yerba Mate. My first question was: [How to Travel with Yerba Mate (And Not Make a Mess)](https://mateovermatter.com/education/how-to-travel-with-yerba-mate-and-not-make-a-mess/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)?🍠Caramelized Sweet Potato (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reel/C9Yxtz1p3%5FN/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 😴Too hot to sleep? T[ips for a good night’s rest](https://www.vox.com/even-better/360246/sleep-tips-extreme-summer-heat-heatwave?ref=secretbreakfast.com), even in extreme summer heat 🇺🇸[Kamala Harris has leaned into cooking](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/23/dining/kamala-harris-home-cooking.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com) in a way no other candidate has 🍅This Is One of My Summer’s Favorite: Melissa’s Caramelized Tarte Tatin (★[recipe](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-kR04-vfkDE&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🫐These are Blueberries, but I wanted to link to some Gluten Free Raspberry Curd Lemon Cookies (★[recipe](https://theloopywhisk.com/2023/06/23/raspberry-curd-lemon-cookies/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🕸️7 signs you’re about to eat at a[ tourist trap restaurant](https://www.delicious.com.au/travel/international/gallery/tell-if-restaurant-tourist-trap?ref=secretbreakfast.com) ❌Let’s Say a BIG NO to [Cacio e Pepe Martini](https://www.instagram.com/reel/C7y6Tx4OD9q?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🍦Chickpea Ice-cream (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reel/C6%5Fn9pRqMxm?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/be74643a-4623-4922-9944-19fdcccb1540/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__1.png) [After 12 Years of Reviewing Restaurants, I’m Leaving the Table](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/16/dining/pete-wells-steps-down-food-critic.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Pete Wells / The New York Times** Vitriol-powered Pete Wells has been the most feared restaurant critic in New York City, and that made him the most feared reviewer on the whole planet. In this article, you can read his approach, but I suggest you read [this old New Yorker’s feature](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2016/09/12/pete-wells-the-new-york-times-restaurant-critic?ref=secretbreakfast.com) and [his most memorable reviews](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/16/dining/favorite-reads-by-pete-wells.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com). I remember Eleven Madison Park former co-owner Will Guidara fighting to please Wells, [who finally gave them four stars by writing a piece about how he disliked the place](https://ny.eater.com/2015/3/17/8232879/pete-wells-eleven-madison-park-review-four-stars?ref=secretbreakfast.com). I need a movie about him as soon as possible. --- **• SEASON 4 - ISSUE 194 •** Secret Breakfast is a newsletter by [Piero Macchioni](https://macchioni.cc/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) Think of it as *The Morning Brew* for food people, or just the most unconventional email you'll get today. In four years we have shared more than 4,000 recipes, hundreds of books, and countless hours of news, gluttony, and joy. ★★★★★ Recommended by *Food&Wine US*: [Best Food Newsletters to Subscribe To](https://www.foodandwine.com/lifestyle/best-food-newsletters?ref=secretbreakfast.com) *Gastronomika*: [The Newsletters Not To Be Missed on Food](https://www.linkiesta.it/2022/03/migliori-newsletter-food-cibo-vino?ref=secretbreakfast.com) ### I'm off for the week 💤 URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/im-off-week/ Last updated: 2024-07-22T21:43:57.000Z # Welcome to Secret Breakfast / An exclusive newsletter with nothing to say except: I'm off for the week. ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/18ba9cdf-2e1a-472d-8313-7ad35bbe8028/1000084998.jpg) Hi there! I’m taking the week off. If you can guess where I had this little snack, hey, you should win something. Piero --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/f93f1cb5-4954-4a91-b22c-0bd6ba119bf5/quoteok__1.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/b050cf73-edb4-4fe4-8d0f-ad4d86d3fa09/1000085402.png) ✦ **Haruki Murakami, *Norwegian Wood*.** --- **➤ Last week's most clicked link was** [**8 Kitchen Organizing Hacks for Promoting Healthy Summer Eating Habits**](https://mywellnesssanctuary.com/8-kitchen-organizing-hacks-for-promoting-healthy-summer-eating-habits/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)**. And that's all for today.** --- **• SEASON 4 - ISSUE 193 •** Secret Breakfast is a newsletter by [Piero Macchioni](https://macchioni.cc/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) Think of it as *The Morning Brew* for food people, or just the most unconventional email you'll get today. In four years we have shared more than 4,000 recipes, hundreds of books, and countless hours of news, gluttony, and joy. ★★★★★ Recommended by *Food&Wine US*: [Best Food Newsletters to Subscribe To](https://www.foodandwine.com/lifestyle/best-food-newsletters?ref=secretbreakfast.com) *Gastronomika*: [The Newsletters Not To Be Missed on Food](https://www.linkiesta.it/2022/03/migliori-newsletter-food-cibo-vino?ref=secretbreakfast.com) ### A Combination of Magic and Pasta 🍝 URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/magic-and-pasta/ Last updated: 2024-07-15T07:12:50.000Z # Welcome to Secret Breakfast / An exclusive newsletter, the best place to start your day dodging bullets, freezing cocktails, and decluttering the kitchen ![Donald Trump, probably eating bullets now](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/77ef7d27-315e-47a5-bd1a-65f0a86a8a3e/capture_2024-07-15_alle_11-27-42.jpg) Donald Trump, probably eating bullets now Hi there! As you know, food is politics. Nevertheless, it’s better not to talk about politics when you run a food newsletter. But, what the hell: somebody shot Donald Trump (and killed a poor innocent). My perverse mind couldn’t stop thinking: **if anyone shot me, and I survived, what would I eat after that? Would I even be hungry?** I’ve always wanted to eat after a loss and never lost my appetite during difficult times. But a near-death experience is something completely different. [Donald Trump’s weird eating habits](https://theculturetrip.com/north-america/usa/articles/this-is-what-donald-trump-eats-in-a-day/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) suggest the guy probably skipped a few meals and then went straight to junk food. I’m not that sure, either. Piero PS: last week I skipped Secret Breakfast and spent time writing the 5-day daily newsletter about Finland called Kippis, only for temporary subscribers. I had fun and a few great feedbacks. Photography: an old picture of Donald Trump. --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/f93f1cb5-4954-4a91-b22c-0bd6ba119bf5/quoteok__1.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/527d5334-f95d-405d-b57f-067ff535ab31/federico_fellini.png) ✦ **Federico Fellini,** director**.** --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/a34b217a-cae3-4cac-80c8-bdf5f30996f4/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__6.png) ## **SUMMER KITCHEN MAKEOVER** ![Sunday Lunch by Rain Szeto](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/f43e7dd0-3aa9-426b-a0d9-a95df722adce/capture_2024-07-15_alle_14-54-08.jpg) Sunday Lunch by Rain Szeto Sometimes in summer, you leave your home for a few days. Do you guys, clean and declutter hard before that? Well, I’ve found [8 Kitchen Organizing Hacks for Promoting Healthy Summer Eating Habits](https://mywellnesssanctuary.com/8-kitchen-organizing-hacks-for-promoting-healthy-summer-eating-habits/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) and [20 Things to Declutter from the Kitchen](https://www.cleanandscentsible.com/20-things-to-declutter-from-the-kitchen/?ref=secretbreakfast.com). You never know when they can be of some use. ###### Illustration: Rain Szeto. All the prints are [here](https://shop.rainszeto.com/?ref=secretbreakfast.com). --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/06f9e3ff-c4ce-4483-8082-de621e82a78e/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__3.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/b30d626e-42d0-44d5-97df-84af06a349d6/capture_2024-07-16_alle_12-31-43.jpg) #### Open the Freezer Door, a World of Cocktails is Waiting for You! ★★★★☆ This new cocktail recipe book, Freezer Door Cocktails, features 75 recipes that can be made directly in the liquor bottle and stored in the freezer, so you can enjoy a perfectly chilled cocktail whenever you want one. I think that’s the most summery idea I’ve found until now. You can start with these: Piña Colada Martini, Margarita, and Lemon Drop (★[recipes](https://katu.com/amnw/am-northwest-cooking-recipes/3-drinks-from-the-all-new-freezer-door-cocktails?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) [Freezer Door Cocktails: 75 Cocktails That Are Ready When You Are](https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/j-m-hirsch/freezer-door-cocktails/9780316568999/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) by J.M. Hirsch **→** Shortplot: 🍸 🧉 🍹 🧃 --- ![This is where Secret Breakfast picks juicy content from food creators](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/a776550c-eefa-4d3e-b067-0438f295b874/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__2.png) This is where Secret Breakfast picks juicy content from food creators [](https://www.instagram.com/reel/C9KHDMsR6FI?ref=secretbreakfast.com) --- ![This is the space where I share some food (un)related stuff of my week](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/cdcd47f2-b8f2-4683-a706-d790e01c1c57/random-full_b__1.png) This is the space where I share some food (un)related stuff of my week ⭐️On July 19th watch[ Omnivore](https://tv.apple.com/us/show/omnivore/umc.cmc.3m567dtk8qcawdjwnagsr1jbs?ref=secretbreakfast.com), Apple TV+’s documentary about René Redzepi and noma 🐜[Singapore approves 16 insect species as food](https://www.cnbc.com/2024/07/10/locusts-in-your-noodles-singapore-approves-16-insect-species-as-food.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🍸Pour Yourself a Caprese Martini (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reel/C89mmNkuzmf?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🎶Benny Blanco’s playlist for his cookbook [Open Wide ](https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5pJVohP7LpiKj3zztTrQjn?ref=secretbreakfast.com)👩🏻‍🍳In her new movie Florence Pugh is a chef, and I think she’ll make us cry a lot ([trailer](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MH02yagHaNw&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🍜[Leftover Ramen Broth](https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/leftover-ramen-broth-is-causing-problems-on-south-koreas-mount-hall-180984633/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) Is Causing Problems on South Korea’s Mount Halla 🥪Chicago-Style Italian Beef from *The Bear* by Binging with Babish (★[recipe](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xrXDdlrcuKs&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🍠Crispy Cinnamon Sugar Sweet Potato Wedges (★[recipe](https://healthylittlevittles.com/crispy-cinnamon-sugar-sweet-potato-wedges/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🔪Remember this when you’ll cook at your friend’s or in some villa you rent: [the best kitchen knives for every job – chosen by chefs](https://www.theguardian.com/food/article/2024/jul/10/the-best-kitchen-knives-for-every-job-chosen-by-chefs?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🍘Teriyaki potato cheese mochi (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reel/C9P5d0xNEba/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🍎Apple Cinnamon Triangles (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reel/C82SmXhtXW2/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🍹More cocktails (★[recipe](https://theweek.com/culture-life/food-drink/summer-cocktails-2024?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 👉🏻And remember: [there is no one weird TikTok health hack](https://www.vox.com/even-better/357645/misinformation-debunking-health-tiktok-youtube-instagram-weird-health-trick-hack?ref=secretbreakfast.com), you just have to [do Less, because It’s good for you](https://time.com/6981061/relaxation-health-benefits/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/be74643a-4623-4922-9944-19fdcccb1540/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__1.png) [A Breakfast Ritual in My Blood](https://www.eater.com/24195459/mexican-breakfast-ritual-cowboy-cooking-personal-essay?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Serena Maria Daniels / Eater** The author’s Chicana mom instilled resourcefulness and healthy choices, while her white dad, despite struggles, exposed her to global flavors and techniques. Her pantry, a blend of cultures, fuels her day in a ritual that reveals her mixed Mexican and American heritage. --- [What Your Grocery Cart Says About You](https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2024/07/09/dining/grocery-receipts.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Priya Krishna, Tanya Sichynsky and Aliza Aufrichtig / The New York Times** We’ve all peeked into the cart next to ours in the checkout line and tried to piece together a person’s life from its contents. How you grocery shop says a lot about who you are. Grocery runs have changed a lot in recent years. Prices have soared and packages have shrunk. --- **➤ Last time's most clicked link was** [**11 Easy Dinner Recipes for When It's Been a Loooong Week**](https://food52.com/blog/27755-easy-weeknight-dinners-to-add-to-your-rotation?ref=secretbreakfast.com)**. And that's all for today.** --- **• SEASON 4 - ISSUE 192 •** Secret Breakfast is a newsletter by [Piero Macchioni](https://macchioni.cc/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) Think of it as *The Morning Brew* for food people, or just the most unconventional email you'll get today. In four years we have shared more than 4,000 recipes, hundreds of books, and countless hours of news, gluttony, and joy. ★★★★★ Recommended by *Food&Wine US*: [Best Food Newsletters to Subscribe To](https://www.foodandwine.com/lifestyle/best-food-newsletters?ref=secretbreakfast.com) *Gastronomika*: [The Newsletters Not To Be Missed on Food](https://www.linkiesta.it/2022/03/migliori-newsletter-food-cibo-vino?ref=secretbreakfast.com) ### Fancy Drinks in Paris and Dystopian Butter in Chicago 🧈 URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/orwellian-butter/ Last updated: 2024-07-01T08:48:57.000Z # Welcome to Secret Breakfast / An exclusive newsletter, the best place to start your day with Orwellian butter, French Fries frozen yogurt, and a strawberry salad that’s not a salad at all ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/bef0e1d6-2fe2-4245-8546-d27dff821e50/cedric-grolet-rubiks-cube-cake-2.jpg) Hi there! This July we’re celebrating the [50 years of the Rubik’s Cube](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/01/science/rubiks-cube-puzzles.html?unlocked%5Farticle%5Fcode=1.4E0.40-F.Z0Uz8vALr7jY&smid=url-share&ref=secretbreakfast.com). That thing has always obsessed me, as it is one of the physical manifestations of a thumb rule of creativity: you can start with a few elements and create almost anything. Think about the seven musical notes. Result? Infinite music. Or water, flour, and yeast: how many breads can you bake? In this case, you have some squares and an intricate system that can lead to 43 quintillion possible arrangements. How sick is that? That’s my incentive to try again after any failure. Piero PS: next week Secret Breakfast will be on hold since we’ll be in Finland with *Kippis*, the pop-up newsletter about Finland that will run daily for 5 days only. Last chance to subscribe here. [Join the pop-up newsletter](https://magic.beehiiv.com/v1/af10e32c-0f4e-493e-947a-7193141605e4?email=%7B%7Bemail%7D%7D&ref=secretbreakfast.com) Picture: [Cedric Grolet’s Rubik Cube Cake](https://mymodernmet.com/cedric-grolet-rubiks-cube-cakes/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/f93f1cb5-4954-4a91-b22c-0bd6ba119bf5/quoteok__1.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/231ddec6-752e-4328-8185-a13013090853/ali_hazelwood__not_in_love.png) ✦ **Ali Hazelwood,** [*Not in Love*](https://alihazelwood.com/notinlove/?ref=secretbreakfast.com). While the romance is the main focus, *Not in Love* is about food in the sense that Rue, the heroine, is a food scientist working for a promising food science startup threatened by a takeover. --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/a34b217a-cae3-4cac-80c8-bdf5f30996f4/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__6.png) ## **THE HEARTBREAKING WORLD** **OF STAGGERING COOKS** ![It's the best line ever written for a line cook.](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/3ed198ae-dbdf-407a-af61-b39eccbe0f67/capture_2024-07-01_alle_19-59-29.jpg) It's the best line ever written for a line cook. As I love to recall, the newsletter where I anticipated all the menu recipes of [The Bear](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The%5FBear%5F%28TV%5Fseries%29?ref=secretbreakfast.com)'s third season had the lowest open rate ever. Now that I binge-watched the show, I’m sharing a few things about it with you. **⚠️Spoilers ahead.** - The [Minimalist Kitchen Clock](https://jinenstore.com/products/lemnos-plywood-s-gray?ref=secretbreakfast.com) - The [Culinary lingo](https://www.washingtonpost.com/food/2024/06/27/the-bear-food-vocabulary-ingredients/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) - [The $60 Orwellian Butter](https://www.myrecipes.com/extracrispy/animal-farm-butter?ref=secretbreakfast.com) - [The 12 Chicago Restaurants](https://www.foodandwine.com/the-bear-chicago-restaurant-guide-8669338?ref=secretbreakfast.com) - [The Chefs Who Appear in The Bear](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/06/28/arts/television/the-bear-season-3-chef-cameos.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com) - The astonishing word [legerdemain](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/legerdemain?ref=secretbreakfast.com) Bonus feature, some more cookbooks from Carmy’s collection ↘︎ ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/f6c97798-b755-4463-a7d3-88632c5ab636/carmy.jpg) ###### Picture: Hulu --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/06f9e3ff-c4ce-4483-8082-de621e82a78e/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__3.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/8bc5482a-339f-46e6-9981-593c66d44e45/capture_2024-07-01_alle_15-46-26.jpg) #### I Have Taco Fever ★★★★☆ The day I die I would be honored to be remembered with a book titled *Taco Forever*, or something like that. The book is a collection of writings by the Pulitzer Prize-winning food critic Jonathan Gold. It features his reviews, interviews, and essays that explore the culinary world of Los Angeles, going beyond fancy restaurants to celebrate immigrant flavors and hidden gems. [Tacos Forever: A Jonathan Gold Reader](https://www.magersandquinn.com/product/TACOS-FOREVER/25866582?ref=secretbreakfast.com) by Jonathan Gold, with an introduction by Ruth Reichl **→** Shortplot: 🌮 🍑 🎸 🕶️ --- ![This is where Secret Breakfast picks juicy content from food creators. But this time is just me playing with Inside Out 2 characters and food fads](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/a776550c-eefa-4d3e-b067-0438f295b874/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__2.png) This is where Secret Breakfast picks juicy content from food creators. But this time is just me playing with Inside Out 2 characters and food fads [](https://www.instagram.com/p/C8z9m1ds9Fb?ref=secretbreakfast.com) --- ![This is the space where I share some food (un)related stuff of my week](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/cdcd47f2-b8f2-4683-a706-d790e01c1c57/random-full_b__1.png) This is the space where I share some food (un)related stuff of my week 🍸Where to [Drink in Paris](https://punchdrink.com/articles/best-cocktail-bars-paris/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🐌[Here’s What Athletes and Fans Will Eat at the 2024 Paris Olympics](https://www.foodandwine.com/food-guide-paris-olympics-2024-8668612?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 😮‍💨11 Easy Weeknight Dinners for When It’s Been a Loooong Week (★[recipes](https://food52.com/blog/27755-easy-weeknight-dinners-to-add-to-your-rotation?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🌡️9 No-Bake Summer Desserts for When It’s Too Hot to Turn on the Oven (★[recipes](https://food52.com/blog/28092-best-no-bake-summer-desserts?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🥣You Won’t Stop Thinking About This Easier Clam Chowder (★[recipe](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/06/27/dining/easier-clam-chowder-recipe.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com))🍟Here comes[ french fry frozen yogurt](https://www.fastcompany.com/91145699/french-fry-flavored-frozen-yogurt-16-handles-weird-summer-treat?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🥗Marinated Zucchini Salad (★[recipe](https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1013802-marinated-zucchini-salad?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🍽️[Europe’s richest man Bernard Arnault just bought a quirky 3-star Parisian bistro that makes $100 roast chicken](https://www.businessinsider.com/bernard-arnault-bought-paris-restaurant-chez-l-ami-louis-france-2024-6?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🐔Gỏi Gá (Crunchy Vietnamese Chicken Salad) (★[recipe](https://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/crunchy-vietnamese-chicken-salad?ref=secretbreakfast.com))👩🏻‍🍳[‘The Lineup’ Dinner Series Tells the Stories of Michelin-Starred Line Cooks](https://www.indiewire.com/news/trailers/the-lineup-dinner-series-celebrates-line-cooks-1235017520/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🍓Strawberry Pretzel Salad is not a salad, but a dessert (★[recipe](https://food52.com/recipes/90231-strawberry-pretzel-salad?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) ❤️‍🔥[Delete your dating apps and find romance offline](https://www.vox.com/even-better/357937/delete-dating-apps-meet-people-irl-tinder-hinge-bumble-flirting-offline?ref=secretbreakfast.com) --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/be74643a-4623-4922-9944-19fdcccb1540/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__1.png) [Delirium of Scale](https://www.vittlesmagazine.com/p/delirium-of-scale?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Emily Kenway / Vittles** Inside the weird, wonderful world of food miniatures in Britain. --- [School Lunch Around the World](https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/school-lunch-around-the-world?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Andrew Coletti / Grasto Obscura** “*School lunch is gross* is a longstanding cliche in American pop culture, and it seems just as relevant now as it was when I was a kid”. --- **➤ Last week's most clicked link was** [**5 practical ways to cut ultra-processed foods from your diet**](https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/06/11/ultraprocessed-foods-cut-diet?ref=secretbreakfast.com)**. I like you when you’re healthy. And that's all for today.** --- **• SEASON 4 - ISSUE 191 •** Secret Breakfast is a newsletter by [Piero Macchioni](https://macchioni.cc/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) Think of it as *The Morning Brew* for food people, or just the most unconventional email you'll get today. In four years we have shared more than 4,000 recipes, hundreds of books, and countless hours of news, gluttony, and joy. ★★★★★ Recommended by *Food&Wine US*: [Best Food Newsletters to Subscribe To](https://www.foodandwine.com/lifestyle/best-food-newsletters?ref=secretbreakfast.com) *Gastronomika*: [The Newsletters Not To Be Missed on Food](https://www.linkiesta.it/2022/03/migliori-newsletter-food-cibo-vino?ref=secretbreakfast.com) ### Party Like an Original Gangster 👩🏻‍🦳 URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/party-lika-an-og/ Last updated: 2024-06-17T08:49:24.000Z # Welcome to Secret Breakfast / An exclusive newsletter, the best place to start your day with heatflation and end it partying like an original gangster ![Women wearing wreaths made of flowers and herbs.](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/dd362f7b-d7fc-404b-ac0b-a93d0879ec8e/capture_2024-06-25_alle_01-18-46.jpg) Women wearing wreaths made of flowers and herbs. Hi there! I’m late today, sorry about that. I have two kitchen concerns about summer: cooking for parties and cooking for my daughters who are spending too many meals at home since the school has closed. On this issue, let’s talk about parties. Piero PS: next week I’ll be launching a 5-day daily free pop-up newsletter about Finland. It’s free, it’s ad-free, and it’s something refreshing and different. You should join, [just click here](https://magic.beehiiv.com/v1/af10e32c-0f4e-493e-947a-7193141605e4?email=%7B%7Bemail%7D%7D&ref=secretbreakfast.com). Across parts of Ukraine, Belarus, Poland, and Russia, an ancient pagan summer rite called Kupala combined with the Orthodox feast of Saint John the Baptist, becoming “Ivan Kupala Night,” a festival celebrating the summer solstice. Anatolii Stepanov/AFP /Getty via [The Atlantic](https://www.theatlantic.com/photo/2024/06/photos-ivan-kupala-night-2024/678777/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/f93f1cb5-4954-4a91-b22c-0bd6ba119bf5/quoteok__1.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/67aebc48-26da-4fda-b694-f71ecf20d3f4/m-_scott_peck.png) ✦ **M. Scott Peck.** Don’t know if that’s true at all. But sometimes I just need to hear that there are no problems around. --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/a34b217a-cae3-4cac-80c8-bdf5f30996f4/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__6.png) ## **PARTY LIKE AN OG** ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/45b67481-8ecd-481b-9cca-ec223d810894/capture_2024-06-25_alle_00-41-31.jpg) Getting Ready. Entering the Space. How to Converse. Party Etiquette. Hot Topics. Drinking. Houseguests. When the Party’s Over. *The New York Times* wrote this very funny - I don’t know if they noticed - [Everything Guide to Partying (Without Regrets)](https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2024/06/21/style/how-to-party-host-guest.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com), asking around 43 “highly sociable people, from Ivy Getty to Rufus Wainwright”. Listen to American socialite, Patricia Altschul: «I once had a guest who had too much to drink. He said goodbye, and I thought he had left. The next morning, the butler discovered him passed out on the dog bed!». *Unbelievable, Patricia, my dear! That’s exactly what happens every single time in my two-room apartment, too: the next day my maidservant always finds someone passed out in the dog bed or in the fish bowl.* Patricia’s formidable and quite progressive manners should be taught at school: «My mother had an expression: “The queen leaves before the footman.” Meaning: Do not be the last person to leave a party!». *That reminded me of a* [*memorable sketch*](https://youtu.be/HTU6iQ0Rcyw?t=30&ref=secretbreakfast.com) *with Alec Baldwin, during the show 30 Rocks, who is surprised by a co-worker wearing a tux at 6 PM. Why? «What am I, a farmer?», he explains.* Who’s the original gangster here? ###### Picture: Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story/Netflix --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/06f9e3ff-c4ce-4483-8082-de621e82a78e/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__3.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/2ac47394-ffc2-4858-97a2-f28248c529f7/capture_2024-06-25_alle_01-03-19.jpg) #### You Must Be Nuts ★★★☆☆ Being craveable yet wholesome. You solve this food puzzle and you’ll have two inevitable results: a 100% healthy life and a lot of time spent buying the right groceries or cooking them. That’s it. Nevertheless, knowing more of that craveable/wholesome equation can make you a better cook, a better parent and a better human. Jess Damuck’s book is on the right path, and the recipes aren’t bad at all: Orange-Scented Tahini French Toast, Charred Cabbage with Mushroom Butter, Roasted Cauliflower Flatbreads (★[recipe](https://taylahskitchen.com/roasted-cauliflower-flatbread/?ref=secretbreakfast.com), not hers), Oat Bars with Rhubarb Ginger Jam and more. [Health Nut](https://www.jessdamuck.com/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) by Jess Damuck **→** Shortplot: 🥦 🌮 🧈 🍑 --- ![This is where Secret Breakfast picks juicy content from food creators](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/a776550c-eefa-4d3e-b067-0438f295b874/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__2.png) This is where Secret Breakfast picks juicy content from food creators [](https://www.instagram.com/reel/C8ZTzwmKACV/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) --- ![This is the space where I share some food (un)related stuff of my week](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/cdcd47f2-b8f2-4683-a706-d790e01c1c57/random-full_b__1.png) This is the space where I share some food (un)related stuff of my week 🥪[57 Sandwiches That Define New York City](https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2024/dining/best-nyc-sandwiches.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🚐 Going on vacation with friends?[ Read this first](https://www.vox.com/even-better/355239/vacation-planning-friends-tips-conflict-budget-expectations?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 😇[5 practical ways to cut ultra-processed foods from your diet](https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/06/11/ultraprocessed-foods-cut-diet/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🫒Olive Oil Caramel (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reel/C8kgr3GqXbU/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 📻[Who will have the 2024 song of the summer? Some predictions](https://apnews.com/article/songs-of-summer-2024-b38527d7ff8d498e72943ef84cda638b?ref=secretbreakfast.com) (we’re team Lunch, by Billie Eilish) 🐟[Canned Sardines are the healthiest fish to eat](https://www.today.com/health/diet-fitness/healthiest-fish-to-eat-rcna148820?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🎣And Some Ideas for the Uncanned Sardines (★[recipes](https://www.theguardian.com/food/article/2024/jun/17/grilled-sardines-baked-hake-baked-haddock-nigel-slaters-easy-fish-recipes?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) ⛺️[What To Cook in the Wilderness](https://mailchi.mp/atlasobscura/whip-up-pad-thai-and-more-in-the-wilderness?ref=secretbreakfast.com), fancy edition 🥗Green Goddess Salad With Shrimps, I have to try that, just for the name (★[recipe](https://www.washingtonpost.com/recipes/green-goddess-chopped-salad-shrimp/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🥐The Best Trick You’ll Learn Today: Trigona Panoramatos (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reel/C5xa5jGISTa?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/be74643a-4623-4922-9944-19fdcccb1540/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__1.png) [How forecasts of bad weather can drive up your grocery bill](https://grist.org/food-and-agriculture/how-forecasts-of-bad-weather-can-drive-up-your-grocery-bill/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Ayurella Horn-Muller / Grist** They call it *heatflation*. Extreme weather events are wreaking havoc on supply chains, causing food prices to skyrocket. But don't be fooled by empty shelves: price hikes are often driven by fear of future shortages, not actual crop failures. --- [This Hidden Sicilian Town Runs on Pistachios](https://www.thrillist.com/travel/nation/bronte-italy-pistachio-tourism?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Maria Salvati / Thrillist** Pistachios are the green gold of Sicily. This makes Bronte, a gem of a town nestled between Catania and the slopes of Mount Etna, the green gold mine of Sicily. --- **➤ Last week's most clicked link was about** [**The 25 Most Beautiful Beaches in the World**](https://www.thrillist.com/travel/nation/best-beaches-in-the-world?ref=secretbreakfast.com)**. And that's all for June.** --- **• SEASON 4 - ISSUE 190 •** Secret Breakfast is a newsletter by [Piero Macchioni](https://macchioni.cc/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) Think of it as *The Morning Brew* for food people, or just the most unconventional email you'll get today. In four years we have shared more than 4,000 recipes, hundreds of books, and countless hours of news, gluttony, and joy. ★★★★★ Recommended by *Food&Wine US*: [Best Food Newsletters to Subscribe To](https://www.foodandwine.com/lifestyle/best-food-newsletters?ref=secretbreakfast.com) *Gastronomika*: [The Newsletters Not To Be Missed on Food](https://www.linkiesta.it/2022/03/migliori-newsletter-food-cibo-vino?ref=secretbreakfast.com) ### Hot Dishes to Get You Laid 🤪 URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/dishes-get-laid/ Last updated: 2024-06-17T06:20:14.000Z # Welcome to Secret Breakfast / An exclusive newsletter, the best place to start your day with Italian Grandmas, Dominican Spaghetti, Spanish routes, and Finnish newsletters ![I can’t write a proper caption for this. But their babka should be delicious.](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/1a75598d-88de-4cab-ad3c-420f5cad6fe5/capture_2024-06-17_alle_10-50-54.jpg) I can’t write a proper caption for this. But their babka should be delicious. Hi there! I keep thinking about something fresh for the summer, and all I get is super-hot stuff. Take *The New York Times*: [oxtail](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/06/17/dining/oxtail.html?unlocked%5Farticle%5Fcode=1.0k0.Q4CO.FxbQzhT1QK6G&smid=url-share&ref=secretbreakfast.com)! Or Alison Roman: [pork chops](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uDsAAgH9-jU&ref=secretbreakfast.com)! Is it going to be a steamy summer? Piero PS: to cool things off, I’m doing something unusual with a Northern country. See details below. Tel Aviv, Israel. A woman with a rifle shops in a bakery in Tel Aviv. [Photograph: Marko Đurica/Reuters](https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/gallery/2024/jun/07/the-week-around-the-world-in-20-pictures?ref=secretbreakfast.com) --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/f93f1cb5-4954-4a91-b22c-0bd6ba119bf5/quoteok__1.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/f1d3e90e-61ab-4d83-9440-2ed7f3647f16/massimo_bottura.png) ✦ **Massimo Bottura,** [chef](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massimo%5FBottura?ref=secretbreakfast.com). --- ## 🇫🇮 **I’M RUNNING A CRAZY POPUP NEWSLETTER** **ABOUT FINLAND** (you can read it only by signing up below) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/a637bd00-ec73-40d5-8e72-b5a5bc0a7daa/capture_2024-06-17_alle_11-25-16.jpg) **The short version.** I'm running *Kippis*, a free daily popup newsletter about Finland. It's not sponsored or anything. **It will run for five days**, then it's over. Since I respect your right not to be flooded by emails, **you can only subscribe by** [**clicking here**](https://magic.beehiiv.com/v1/af10e32c-0f4e-493e-947a-7193141605e4?email=%7B%7Bemail%7D%7D&ref=secretbreakfast.com) or on the big button below. [Subscribe](https://magic.beehiiv.com/v1/af10e32c-0f4e-493e-947a-7193141605e4?email=%7B%7Bemail%7D%7D&ref=secretbreakfast.com) **The longer version.** I've been offered the possibility to visit Southern Finland. There is so much to tell and the part of the trip I could use for my day job is limited. Then I thought: let's use it for a Secret Breakfast popup newsletter. Finland has some incredible peculiarities: - it's made of 190.000 lakes and 180.000 islands; - it has 5 million inhabitants and 3 million saunas; - 70% of the land is made of forests; - Finnish are said to be the happiest people on the Planet; - they also rock in maths and have many funny words like KIPPIS (meaning "cheers"); Then, **I'm using this for experimenting with a new format and with a new "language".** You'll find more writing, more original photography, different silly sections, probably a few recipes, fewer links, and zero long-read links. I won't be invasive. If you're interested you can [sign up here](https://magic.beehiiv.com/v1/af10e32c-0f4e-493e-947a-7193141605e4?email=%7B%7Bemail%7D%7D&ref=secretbreakfast.com): **it will run for five days, then the subscription will be gone.** I'll send Secret Breakfast subscribers only one more email about this as a reminder, then I won't bother them anymore. Hope to see you on the other side. ###### Picture by me --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/06f9e3ff-c4ce-4483-8082-de621e82a78e/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__3.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/933db545-4915-496e-a630-a467e12e0c06/capture_2024-06-17_alle_10-58-34.jpg) #### Dishes to Get You Laid ★★★★☆ We needed some crazy stuff! Here you go: 5 Dishes to Get You Laid and One for the Morning After; I Wish I Were an Italian Grandma; Lose Your Mind Lobster Rolls; “I Might Go Vegetarian” Veggie Sandwich; “I Hope We Didn’t Make a Baby” Breakfast Burrito. Benny Blanco is a pop music super-producer, who worked on songs like *Señorita* by Shawn Mendes & Camila Cabello, or *Diamonds* by Rihanna. A good book of recipes and stories by a guy who likes “inviting friends over, getting stoned, and making the most elaborate sandwiches his prepubescent minds could fathom”. [Open Wide: A Cookbook for Friends](https://www.harpercollins.com/products/open-wide-benny-blancojess-damuck?variant=41189378654242&ref=secretbreakfast.com) by Benny Blanco and Jess Damuck **→** Shortplot: 🍗 📀 🌯 🦞 --- ![This is where Secret Breakfast picks juicy content from food creators](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/a776550c-eefa-4d3e-b067-0438f295b874/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__2.png) This is where Secret Breakfast picks juicy content from food creators [](https://www.instagram.com/reel/C8HuNzQOk%5FY/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) --- ![This is the space where I share some food (un)related stuff of my week](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/cdcd47f2-b8f2-4683-a706-d790e01c1c57/random-full_b__1.png) This is the space where I share some food (un)related stuff of my week 🏝️[The 20 Most Beautiful Beaches in the World](https://www.thrillist.com/travel/nation/best-beaches-in-the-world?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🇫🇷[The Eater Guide to Paris](https://www.eater.com/24170569/paris-restaurant-guide?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🍫This is Hardcore: [Diffractive Chocolate](https://wp.optics.arizona.edu/oscoutreach/diffractive-chocolate/?ref=secretbreakfast.com), as in “turn ordinary chocolate into an edible optics demo that shows how diffraction works” 🎇Fry Chinese Puff Buns like the Best Restaurant in the World (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reel/C8AF4X8Oxqb/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🇩🇴[Why I’m Bringing Back Dominican Spaghetti as a Beach Dish](https://www.popsugar.com/food/dominican-spaghetti-beach-dish-49363195?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 💫Kids Will Love Galaxy Crepes (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reel/C7l25aDohWe/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🇸🇪Gubbröra, or Gentleman’s Delight, is a traditional Swedish dish that is great served as a canapé (★[recipe](https://www.petersyard.com/recipes/gubbrora/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🦋[Butterfly or Firefly](https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2024/06/09/well/mind/friendship-style-quiz.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com): What’s Your Friendship Style? 🤓[The Excel superstars throw down in Vegas](https://www.theverge.com/c/24133822/microsoft-excel-spreadsheet-competition-championship?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🧑🏻‍🍳[2024 James Beard Awards Winners](https://www.eater.com/24175309/james-beard-awards-2024-winners-restaurant-and-chef-awards?ref=secretbreakfast.com) --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/be74643a-4623-4922-9944-19fdcccb1540/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__1.png) [How the Fridge Changed Flavor](https://www.newyorker.com/culture/the-weekend-essay/how-the-fridge-changed-flavor?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Nicola Twilley / The New Yorker** Today, nearly three-quarters of everything Americans consume is processed, packaged, shipped, and stored under refrigeration. It has changed not only how and what we eat but what it tastes like, too. --- [The Best Restaurant in Town](https://tastecooking.com/the-best-restaurant-in-town/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Priyanka Matoo / Taste** Blink, and you’ll miss the best restaurant in town. It’s time to break free from heat maps and the tyranny of trendy. --- [Walking through grief; while eating through Spain on foot](https://chefclaudettezepeda.substack.com/p/walking-through-grief-while-eating?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Claudette Zepeda** A chef on a journey through the French route of the Camino de Santiago, 260 km on foot toward Santiago de Compostela. --- **➤ Last week's most clicked link was** [**Instant Search 2 Million Recipes**](https://recipe-search.typesense.org/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)**. And that's all for today.** --- **• SEASON 4 - ISSUE 127 •** Secret Breakfast is a newsletter by [Piero Macchioni](https://macchioni.cc/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) Think of it as *The Morning Brew* for food people, or just the most unconventional email you'll get today. In four years we have shared more than 4,000 recipes, hundreds of books, and countless hours of news, gluttony, and joy. ★★★★★ Recommended by *Food&Wine US*: [Best Food Newsletters to Subscribe To](https://www.foodandwine.com/lifestyle/best-food-newsletters?ref=secretbreakfast.com) *Gastronomika*: [The Newsletters Not To Be Missed on Food](https://www.linkiesta.it/2022/03/migliori-newsletter-food-cibo-vino?ref=secretbreakfast.com) ### Sad Salads and Rising Hyperpleasures 📈 URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/sad-salads/ Last updated: 2024-06-10T07:48:14.000Z # Welcome to Secret Breakfast / An exclusive newsletter, the best place to start your day by dissolving the Parliament, and making a food of painful experiences ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/812e7583-8ea3-4fb7-a494-b15e60b24f5f/capture_2024-06-10_alle_22-42-03.jpg) Hi there! This is Emmanuel Macron, the most photogenic world leader we have now in power since we lost Barack Obama and Sanna Marin. Macron has just dissolved the French parliament after [a crushing loss to the far right](https://edition.cnn.com/2024/06/10/europe/european-elections-explainer-intl/index.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com). At least he has something to drink and some friends. What else do you need on a bad day? Piero Photograph: Tourcoing, France, The French president, Emmanuel Macron, mingles with people in a bar before the Coupe de France final between Lyon and Paris Saint-Germain. [Miguel Medina/Reuters](https://www.theguardian.com/news/gallery/2024/may/26/bolivian-dancers-emmanuel-macron-photos-of-the-weekend?ref=secretbreakfast.com) --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/f93f1cb5-4954-4a91-b22c-0bd6ba119bf5/quoteok__1.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/ad41e418-99c3-4573-a929-0b5f06905033/katie_benn.png) ✦ **Katie Benn,** [illustrator](https://mymind.com/into-the-mind-of-artist-illustrator-katie-benn?ref=secretbreakfast.com)**.** --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/a34b217a-cae3-4cac-80c8-bdf5f30996f4/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__6.png) ## **MAKE A HAPPY SALAD** ![It's all in the reflexes](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/cefcc3c7-06dc-4280-81be-f89c33043ee8/brooke-lark-jupoxxrndca-unsplash.jpg) It's all in the reflexes [The Sad Desk Salad Is Getting Sadder](https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2024/05/sad-desk-salad-sweetgreen/678408/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) cries The Atlantic. The story: every day, the blogger Alex Lyons orders the same salad from the same New York City bodega and eats it in the same place, her desk. It’s basically the story of *The Burnout* by Sophie Kinsella (there, we had a falafel and halloumi pita). Salad chains are booming in cities and suburbs, offering fast, convenient options even with drive-thru lanes. While increased salad accessibility is positive, Yasmin Tayag worries this trend reinforces a culture of overwork, where people grab salads quickly just to maximize their work time. ###### Picture: [Brooke Lark](https://unsplash.com/it/@brookelark?ref=secretbreakfast.com) --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/06f9e3ff-c4ce-4483-8082-de621e82a78e/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__3.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/23dcd228-9a8c-427c-b9dc-1d3e79ec2cc1/capture_2024-06-10_alle_22-31-43.jpg) #### A journey far beyond butter chicken ★★★★☆ Saag Paneer Lasagna, Classic Dosas, Keralan Fried Chicken Sandwiches, Pani Puri Mojitos, and a Masala Chai Basque Cheesecake. If you suspect that Indian cuisine far from India is not that Indian, here you have an interesting book about Indian cooking far from India. Meet the author [in this interview](https://www.eater.com/24167217/khushbu-shah-amrikan-cookbook-interview?ref=secretbreakfast.com). [Amrikan: 125 Recipes from the Indian American Diaspora](https://wwnorton.com/books/9781324036258?ref=secretbreakfast.com) by Khushbu Shah **→** Shortplot: 🥘 🌶️ 🍛 🇮🇳 --- ![This is where Secret Breakfast picks juicy content from food creators. This time we celebrate a post about the best restaurant in the world right now (and a pretty rad manicure!)](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/a776550c-eefa-4d3e-b067-0438f295b874/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__2.png) This is where Secret Breakfast picks juicy content from food creators. This time we celebrate a post about the best restaurant in the world right now (and a pretty rad manicure!) [](https://www.instagram.com/andershusa/reel/C6ysgijoJvd/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) --- ![This is the space where I share some food (un)related stuff of my week](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/cdcd47f2-b8f2-4683-a706-d790e01c1c57/random-full_b__1.png) This is the space where I share some food (un)related stuff of my week 🔍2 Million of Recipes in [one site](https://recipe-search.typesense.org/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🇪🇸[Disfrutar is the Best Restaurant in the World 2024](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8lsf-ZLkQp4&ref=secretbreakfast.com), see what it’s like in this [video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8lsf-ZLkQp4&ref=secretbreakfast.com)! 🧃12 Refreshing Vegetable Smoothie Recipes That Don’t Taste Like Salad (★[recipes](https://www.self.com/gallery/best-vegetable-smoothie-recipes?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 💃🏻The [‘hot girls have stomach issues’](https://fortune.com/2023/10/07/hot-girls-have-stomach-issues-tiktok-trend-gen-z-women-mental-health-anxiety/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) social media trend makes sense 🪤[What Does War Have to Do With Cheese? In Russia, Everything](https://www.theatlantic.com/video/index/550703/war-and-cheese/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)🌡️[This might be the smartest meat thermometer in the kitchen](https://www.theverge.com/2024/6/7/24174037/this-might-be-the-smartest-meat-thermometer-in-the-kitchen?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🇮🇹[Making Amatriciana and Carbonara](https://lifeandthyme.com/video/making-amatriciana-and-carbonara-with-chef-sarah-cicolini/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) With Chef Sarah Cicolini 🍃[The Benefits of Chlorophyll](https://www.healthline.com/health/liquid-chlorophyll-benefits-risks?ref=secretbreakfast.com) (spoiler: we still do not know) 👩🏻‍🍳[These Chefs Are Elevating African and Caribbean Cuisines From Carryouts to Fine Dining](https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/these-chefs-are-elevating-african-and-caribbean-cuisines-from-carryouts-to-fine-dining-180984466/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🏦Food Banks & Co: [Canada’s 1st full-scale free grocery store to open in Regina](https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/canada-s-1st-full-scale-free-grocery-store-to-open-in-regina-1.7220880?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🥦[The Child-Nutrition Myth About Disgusting Vegetables That Just Won’t Die](https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2024/05/toddlers-children-vegetables-hiding-nutrition/678524/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 😱[You wouldn’t believe how difficult it is to buy sp\*\*m](https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/article/2024/may/28/buying-sperm-fertility-clinic?ref=secretbreakfast.com) --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/be74643a-4623-4922-9944-19fdcccb1540/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__1.png) [The Rise of Hyperpleasures](https://mereorthodoxy.com/the-rise-of-hyperpleasures?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Samuel C Heard / Mere Orthodoxy** If humans experience pain and pleasure on a 1-10 scale, then hyperpleasures are those activities which take us “off the scale,” so to speak. Sex, play, reading, conversation: ordinary pleasures have given way to hyperpleasures. --- [Heart of the batter: my lifelong love affair with fish and chips](https://www.theguardian.com/business/article/2024/jun/02/heart-of-the-batter-my-lifelong-love-affair-with-fish-and-chips?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Daniel Gray / The Guardian** “Yet the mental health benefits of a moderate chip-shop habit are serious and many. Here is something calming and connecting, something shared and constant. Something ever-present upon a planet shuddering in chaos and flux. Whenever we see those two words separated by an ampersand lit up on some damp night, we chippy types are home, wherever we may be”. --- **➤ Last week's most clicked link was** [**The World’s 20 best cities for food right now**](https://www.timeout.com/travel/worlds-best-cities-for-food?ref=secretbreakfast.com)**. And that's NOT all for today: hey, in last week’s issue I was so happy about “*The Bear*’s Menu in advance” idea, and open rates were so low. I bet on the losing horse, or bear, I think.** --- **• SEASON 4 - ISSUE 188 •** Secret Breakfast is a newsletter by [Piero Macchioni](https://macchioni.cc/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) Think of it as *The Morning Brew* for food people, or just the most unconventional email you'll get today. In four years we have shared more than 2,000 recipes, hundreds of books, and countless hours of news, gluttony, and joy. ★★★★★ Recommended by *Food&Wine US*: [Best Food Newsletters to Subscribe To](https://www.foodandwine.com/lifestyle/best-food-newsletters?ref=secretbreakfast.com) *Gastronomika*: [The Newsletters Not To Be Missed on Food](https://www.linkiesta.it/2022/03/migliori-newsletter-food-cibo-vino?ref=secretbreakfast.com) b188 ### Cook The Bear’s menu before the show starts ʕ•ᴥ•ʔ URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/the-bear-menu/ Last updated: 2024-06-03T07:38:01.000Z # Welcome to Secret Breakfast / An exclusive newsletter, the best place to start your day with delicious memes and cook The Bear’s menu before the show premieres ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/580e16f5-87d3-40d7-8a86-29ed19ac7a3f/capture_2024-06-03_alle_10-07-16.jpg) Hi there! I don’t know how many of you have been watching The Bear, but this issue will be especially for you, Berzatto's supporters. At least we will know what happens in life after you’ve been stuck for hours in a walk-in (fridge). Piero Screenshot: Hulu --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/f93f1cb5-4954-4a91-b22c-0bd6ba119bf5/quoteok__1.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/1394ba85-30a9-4339-ab77-a141796ef62d/harlan_coben__the_woods__1.png) ✦ **David Chang**, [*Eat the Peach*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eat%5Fa%5FPeach%5F%28autobiography%29?ref=secretbreakfast.com). --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/a34b217a-cae3-4cac-80c8-bdf5f30996f4/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__6.png) ## **DINING AT THE BEAR’S** ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/09a5bd77-5dec-4c0d-9027-25202257761a/capture_2024-06-04_alle_08-47-00.jpg) The third season of [The Bear](https://www.hulu.com/series/the-bear-05eb6a8e-90ed-4947-8c0b-e6536cbddd5f?ref=secretbreakfast.com) will be released on Hulu on June 27\. Ten episodes of hectic kitchen life, nervous breakdown, and - I predict from the [trailer](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UHiwdDFPsZY&ref=secretbreakfast.com) \- some love. In one particular frame, you can get The Bear’s tasting menu (well, at least one of the menus), so here we go with the recipes or the closest thing I’ve found. ❝ Mirepoix Broth (★[recipe](https://thenoilkitchen.com/mirepoix-vegetable-stock/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) Cauliflower / Swiss Chard (★ steaks [recipe](https://www.cleaneatingmag.com/recipes/cauliflower-steaks-recipe/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) (★gratin [recipe](https://www.foodnetwork.com/fnk/recipes/cauliflower-and-swiss-chard-gratin-7151498?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) Hamachi / Grapefruit (★[recipe](https://cravingcalifornia.com/hamachi-crudo-with-grapefruit-and-serrano-chili/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) Ravioli / Pea / Pecorino (★[recipe](https://qbcucina.com/blogs/recipes/pea-pecorino-ravioli-ai-fiori?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) Asparagus / Quail Egg / Potato (★[recipe](https://www.waitrose.com/home/recipes/recipe%5Fdirectory/j/jersey-royal-potatosaladwithasparagusquailseggs.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) Duck / Apricot (★[recipe](https://www.seriouseats.com/seared-duck-breast-and-apricot-compote-recipe?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) Beef Tenderloin / Cherry Jus (★[recipe](https://www.hortifrut.com/recetas/beef-with-cherry-sauce/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) Princess Cake (★[recipe](https://debbieskitchencorner.com/swedish-princess-cake/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) Chocolate Velouté (★[recipe](https://carolcookskeller.blogspot.com/2008/10/velout-of-bittersweet-chocolate-with.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/ebaa2453-1925-4a10-b6f0-002f382571bb/capture_2024-06-03_alle_09-49-41.jpg) ###### Picture: Hulu --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/06f9e3ff-c4ce-4483-8082-de621e82a78e/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__3.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/920fefa4-7f08-4a6a-b728-6d0cd6c67770/capture_2024-06-04_alle_09-22-27.jpg) #### Dude’s Food ★★★☆☆ Boosting endurance, sharpening focus, and building muscle mass is within reach for everyone, from athletes to everyday individuals, through straightforward, nutritious, and easy-to-prepare weeknight meals. This is the promise of Churchill's DudeFood, with an initial print run of about 100K copies. I don’t know, if you think you need to eat in a more energizing way - not a bad thought after all - maybe you can start here. [Eat Like a Legend: Delicious, Super Easy Recipes to Perform at Your Peak](https://www.amazon.com/Eat-Like-Legend-Delicious-Recipes/dp/0063284227?ref=secretbreakfast.com) by Dan Churchill **→** Shortplot: 💪🏻 🥗 🧠 🍗 --- ![This is where Secret Breakfast picks juicy content from food creators](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/a776550c-eefa-4d3e-b067-0438f295b874/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__2.png) This is where Secret Breakfast picks juicy content from food creators [](https://www.instagram.com/reel/C7rGISYv%5FiZ/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) --- ![This is the space where I share some food (un)related stuff of my week](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/cdcd47f2-b8f2-4683-a706-d790e01c1c57/random-full_b__1.png) This is the space where I share some food (un)related stuff of my week 🏙️[The world’s 20 best cities for food right now](https://www.timeout.com/travel/worlds-best-cities-for-food?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🧅[Scallion Coffee](https://www.instagram.com/reel/C6QWK-RhheM/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) is a big NO ⚗️Now I want to try the [ultrasonic coffee ](https://www.theguardian.com/food/article/2024/may/29/ultrasonic-coffee-australia-scientists-unsw?ref=secretbreakfast.com)🥭Let’s enjoy some Fresh Mango Salsa (★[recipe](https://natashaskitchen.com/mango-salsa-recipe/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🏝️Easter’s Special: [How to Do Summer](https://www.eater.com/summer-dining-guide-outdoor-eating?ref=secretbreakfast.com) \- and some Easy Eggplant ‘Meatballs’ (★[recipe](https://www.eater.com/24161999/ottolenghi-eggplant-meatballs-recipe-weeknight-dinner-adapted?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) ✡️[“I’ll Have What She’s Having”: The Jewish Deli](https://www.ilholocaustmuseum.org/exhibitions/ill-have-what-shes-having-the-jewish-deli/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) Exhibit 🇯🇵[The Case for Japan’s Amazing Clothes-Drying Bathrooms](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-05-22/laundry-lessons-from-japanese-bathroom-technology?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🥪[Yotam Ottolenghi’s spring sandwich recipes](https://www.theguardian.com/food/article/2024/may/30/spiced-fish-and-herby-broad-beans-yotam-ottolenghi-spring-sandwich-recipes?ref=secretbreakfast.com) --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/be74643a-4623-4922-9944-19fdcccb1540/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__1.png) [This Doctor Pioneered Counting Calories a Century Ago, and We’re Still Dealing With the Consequences](https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/doctor-pioneered-counting-calories-century-ago-were-still-dealing-with-consequences-180984282/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Michelle Stacey / Smithsonian Magazine** “When Lulu Hunt Peters brought Americans a new method for weighing their dinner options, she launched a century of diet fads that left us hungry for a better way to keep our bodies strong and healthy”. --- [Should You Delay Your Morning Caffeine?](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/29/well/eat/coffee-caffeine-timing.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Alice Callahan / The New York Times** Is drinking coffee first thing in the morning interfering with your ability to feel awake? Can it lead to an afternoon energy crash? Let’s read the answer. --- **➤ Last week's most clicked link was about** [**the New York Times’ 100 Summer Recipes**](https://www.nytimes.com/article/easy-summer-recipes.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com)**. And that's all for today.** --- **• SEASON 4 - ISSUE 187 •** Secret Breakfast is a newsletter by [Piero Macchioni](https://macchioni.cc/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) Think of it as *The Morning Brew* for food people, or just the most unconventional email you'll get today. In four years we have shared more than 4,000 recipes, hundreds of books, and countless hours of news, gluttony, and joy. ★★★★★ Recommended by *Food&Wine US*: [Best Food Newsletters to Subscribe To](https://www.foodandwine.com/lifestyle/best-food-newsletters?ref=secretbreakfast.com) *Gastronomika*: [The Newsletters Not To Be Missed on Food](https://www.linkiesta.it/2022/03/migliori-newsletter-food-cibo-vino?ref=secretbreakfast.com) ### Hundreds of Recipes for Lazy Souls 💯 URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/lazy-recipes/ Last updated: 2024-05-20T13:30:03.000Z # Welcome to Secret Breakfast / An exclusive newsletter, the best place to start your day with expensive proteins, Roman Empire cakes and edible sugar scrubs ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/c9a49d1d-5d03-407b-ac7c-877689bc6f1e/ambitious-studio-rick-barrett-6j2od_ibpb0-unsplash__1.jpg) Hi there! Sometimes you just don’t wanna spend time thinking about the next supper. *Let’s go out.* *Please, can someone bring in the dinner?* *Don’t know what to cook, but let’s see if at least one of the* New York Times[ *100 Easy Summer Recipes*](https://www.nytimes.com/article/easy-summer-recipes.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com) *will go along with the things I have in the fridge…* Sometimes you just wanna go straight, be quick, or be served. That’s the mood of this issue. Enjoy! Piero PS: thank you for helping me with the affiliates/adv tests in the past issues. Picture by [Ambitious Studio\*](https://unsplash.com/it/@weareambitious?utm%5Fcontent=creditCopyText&ref=secretbreakfast.com) --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/f93f1cb5-4954-4a91-b22c-0bd6ba119bf5/quoteok__1.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/89c73a2f-d0f7-46ef-9d3c-a0f0876cf72b/harlan_coben__the_woods.png) ✦ **Harlan Coben**, [*The Woods*](https://www.harlancoben.com/novels/the-woods/?ref=secretbreakfast.com). He’s out with a new one, [*Think Twice*](https://www.harlancoben.com/novels/think-twice/?ref=secretbreakfast.com). --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/06f9e3ff-c4ce-4483-8082-de621e82a78e/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__3.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/87b18b64-317d-4930-8943-cd1fdbdce020/capture_2024-05-28_alle_13-22-27.jpg) #### It’s a K moment ★★★★☆ “While Korean food knows no borders this is a book that focuses on two primary areas: modern Korea itself and Koreatowns and Korean-inspired kitchens throughout the United States”. That’s it. This book looks like a Alison Roman cookbook but it is actually an occasion to fix in time the K-Zeitgeist that’s winning now in the West. If you think your table should be “more Korean”, Deuki Hong and Matt Rodbard got you. *Bonus:* Deuki Hong's recipe for [air-fryer pork belly with meljeot sauce](https://www.today.com/video/crispy-air-fryer-pork-belly-with-dipping-sauces-get-the-recipes-209693765962?ref=secretbreakfast.com) and a [podcast](https://www.bonappetit.com/story/dinner-sos-korean-recipes?ref=secretbreakfast.com). [Koreaworld: A Cookbook By Deuki Hong and Matt Rodbard](https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/696808/koreaworld-a-cookbook-by-deuki-hong-and-matt-rodbard/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **→** Shortplot: 🇰🇷 🥬 🍱 🌽 --- ![This is where Secret Breakfast picks juicy content from food creators, but today we just have eyes for this guy (and, I suspect, his unchained parents)](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/a776550c-eefa-4d3e-b067-0438f295b874/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__2.png) This is where Secret Breakfast picks juicy content from food creators, but today we just have eyes for this guy (and, I suspect, his unchained parents) [](https://www.instagram.com/reel/C6vwYbDrH%5F8/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) --- ![This is the space where I share some food (un)related stuff of my week](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/cdcd47f2-b8f2-4683-a706-d790e01c1c57/random-full_b__1.png) This is the space where I share some food (un)related stuff of my week 🍳I don’t need paying for OnlyFans as long as I get [tin plating videos](https://www.instagram.com/reel/C7UYKzIozId/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) for free 🍯I tried this [Honey Almond Sugar Scrub ](https://rufflesandrainboots.com/honey-almond-sugar-scrub-recipe/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)on my skin in a Spa, I think I’ll give it a go also with some roasted beef(★[recipe](https://rufflesandrainboots.com/honey-almond-sugar-scrub-recipe/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🍪But before, I bought these corn cookies from the Venice region called “Zaletti” (★[recipe](https://en.julskitchen.com/dessert/cookies/zaletti-corn-cookies-from-venice?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🐺How often do you think about the Roman empire? Well, I don't remember you giving a thought to the Oplontis Cassata cake (★[recipe](https://trentaremi.it/en/30/two-thousand-years-in-a-dessert?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 💛Summer’s Perfect Condiment: Akko Amba Sauce with Mango, Lime and Iraqi Spices (★[recipe](https://cardamomanddill.com/2023/02/17/akko-amba-sauce-with-mango-and-lime/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 💸[9 Tips to Stretch Your Food Budget](https://www.nytimes.com/article/food-grocery-shopping-budget.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🔊[Why Are Restaurants So Loud](https://gastropod.com/why-are-restaurants-so-loud-plus-the-science-behind-the-perfect-playlist/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) (the Science Behind the Perfect Playlist) 🍔[*Super Size Me*](https://www.theguardian.com/film/article/2024/may/24/morgan-spurlock-cheeky-super-size-me?ref=secretbreakfast.com)[ was a terrific cheeky stunt – small wonder Morgan Spurlock never matched it](https://www.theguardian.com/film/article/2024/may/24/morgan-spurlock-cheeky-super-size-me?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🏝️[How To Store a Sourdough Starter in the Fridge for Vacation](https://www.theperfectloaf.com/how-to-store-a-sourdough-starter-in-the-fridge-for-vacation/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🥐Do you need a [croissant bracelet](https://www.instagram.com/reel/C3-P7auNKHI/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)? 🍞[Roasted Sugar](https://food52.com/blog/20235-how-to-make-and-use-roasted-sugar?ref=secretbreakfast.com), The Ingredient That's About to Change the Way You Bake 📀BTW, [Why did movies and albums both get so long](https://www.vox.com/culture/24156463/movies-albums-long-songs-scenes-short?ref=secretbreakfast.com)? --- ### **SOMETHING NEW** ### Would you join a pop-up newsletter? I'm thinking about running one pop-up - FREE - newsletter while traveling in the coming months: you have to sign up for it, you get it daily for about a week, then it's gone. Are you interested? [⛔️ Hell, no! ](https://secretbreakfast.beehiiv.com/polls/647e55c4-42bd-40f3-a677-6e942a63c8b3/response?pcid=1b499c91-f16c-4dc7-97a1-2f8c3692d1e2&ppid=dc20107a-7ef5-4a39-a91e-be8f6d9b6fb5&sid=&ref=secretbreakfast.com#&last%5Fresource%5Fguid=Post%3A5161fd25-a0ad-4156-a031-fb64ad8d6ac3)[📭 Yes. ](https://secretbreakfast.beehiiv.com/polls/647e55c4-42bd-40f3-a677-6e942a63c8b3/response?pcid=f710a8da-587d-4e47-b691-18d78e4aa9eb&ppid=dc20107a-7ef5-4a39-a91e-be8f6d9b6fb5&sid=&ref=secretbreakfast.com#&last%5Fresource%5Fguid=Post%3A5161fd25-a0ad-4156-a031-fb64ad8d6ac3)[📍 Where are you going?](https://secretbreakfast.beehiiv.com/polls/647e55c4-42bd-40f3-a677-6e942a63c8b3/response?pcid=e38bc3dd-993c-41c2-a60f-3410c1f98509&ppid=dc20107a-7ef5-4a39-a91e-be8f6d9b6fb5&sid=&ref=secretbreakfast.com#&last%5Fresource%5Fguid=Post%3A5161fd25-a0ad-4156-a031-fb64ad8d6ac3) --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/be74643a-4623-4922-9944-19fdcccb1540/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__1.png) [Meals That Make Music](https://mailchi.mp/atlasobscura/can-music-make-your-food-taste-better?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Andrew Coletti / Gastro Obscura** There’s lots of historical precedent for food that incorporates music, from medieval English chefs hiding singing birds in a pie, to the provocative cookbooks of the Italian Futurist movement in the 1930s, which turned eating into avant-garde performance art. --- [‘Bromakase’ Is the New Steakhouse](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/21/dining/omakase.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Brett Anderson / The New York Times** If you’re looking for the moment when American omakase restaurants began to threaten steakhouses as the preferred venues for young men of means to commune around prohibitively expensive protein, you could do worse than the weekend of Jan. 8, 2021. --- **➤ Last week's most clicked link was** [**How to Have the Most Intense Orgasm of Your Life**](https://www.self.com/story/how-to-have-the-best-orgasm-ever?ref=secretbreakfast.com)**. Hey, I hope it worked! And that's all for today.** --- **• SEASON 4 - ISSUE 186 •** Secret Breakfast is a newsletter by [Piero Macchioni](https://macchioni.cc/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) Think of it as *The Morning Brew* for food people, or just the most unconventional email you'll get today. In four years we have shared more than 2,000 recipes, hundreds of books, and countless hours of news, gluttony, and joy. ★★★★★ Recommended by *Food&Wine US*: [Best Food Newsletters to Subscribe To](https://www.foodandwine.com/lifestyle/best-food-newsletters?ref=secretbreakfast.com) *Gastronomika*: [The Newsletters Not To Be Missed on Food](https://www.linkiesta.it/2022/03/migliori-newsletter-food-cibo-vino?ref=secretbreakfast.com) ### Popcorn Cake or Black&White Cheesecake 🖤 URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/popcorn-cake/ Last updated: 2024-05-17T12:18:30.000Z # Welcome to Secret Breakfast / An exclusive newsletter, the best place to start your day with popcorn cakes, red hot portraits, and girls dancing on your tongue ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/4be5e2f4-8355-41d9-8be6-3b17a3ccc89c/capture_2024-05-21_alle_07-10-26_cleanup.jpg) Hi there! Aren’t you tired? I am so tired this Spring. Maybe I’m eating the wrong things. A few days ago *T*, the *New York Times* magazine, published a luxurious [Issue All About Pasta](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/13/t-magazine/italy-cuisine-pasta.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com) featuring a Saltburn-style editorial about fancy people sharing an [Italian Sunday Lunch](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/13/t-magazine/italy-sunday-lunch.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com). Maybe I’m having too many carbs. Futurists thought that pasta was inimical to the modern-thinking person, leaving the eater heavy and shapeless, and inducing “lassitude, pessimism, nostalgic inactivity and neutralism”. Pasta was “no food for fighters”. Maybe a salad or two will do. Or one of the recipes you’ll find in this crazy issue. Piero PS: in these weeks I’m experimenting with an ADV/Affiliate section to support this newsletter by subscribing to other newsletters. You can recognize it by the headline “A Message From…”. If you’re not interested, just skip it, no problem. PPS: last week, I had mixed feedback about that, but thank you to those who contributed or wrote me their concerns. I’m using May to try different things, please bear with me a little more. [Family at Dinner Table Photo Print](https://www.etsy.com/listing/1265964421/family-at-dinner-table-photo-print-1940s?ref=secretbreakfast.com) | 1940s - via Etsy --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/f93f1cb5-4954-4a91-b22c-0bd6ba119bf5/quoteok__1.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/6c781993-5ba6-4e63-9201-a3653a99d32f/billie_eilish1.png) ✦ **Billie Eilish,** [*Lunch*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jsptjaAef7Q&ref=secretbreakfast.com). --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/a34b217a-cae3-4cac-80c8-bdf5f30996f4/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__6.png) ## **WHEN TASTE IS A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH** ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/f2f7734f-90e0-4610-9eba-71f5ef811b5c/capture_2024-05-20_alle_17-47-29.jpg) [*At the Wolf's Table*](https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/39863519?ref=secretbreakfast.com) is a 2018 novel by Italian author Rosella Postorino about a woman who becomes a food taster for Adolf Hitler during World War II. Postorino derived the story from that of real-life food taster [Margot Wölk](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Margot%5FW%C3%B6lk?ref=secretbreakfast.com) and now Italian director Silvio Soldini‘s shooting a movie that will be called [*The Tasters*](https://variety.com/2024/film/global/silvio-soldini-the-tastemakers-hitler-food-tasters-cannes-1236004219/?ref=secretbreakfast.com). In a memorable passage, Postorino writes: ❝ My punishment had finally arrived. It wasn't poison, it wasn't death -- it was life. What’s worse than this? Well, on the “evil side”, you can always cook for a dictator, as [this incredible book](https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/541891/how-to-feed-a-dictator-by-witold-szablowski-translated-by-antonia-lloyd-jones/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) by Witold Szablowski taught us. ###### Picture: Vision Distribution --- --- **A MESSAGE FROM…\*** ### Get smarter on AI in 5 minutes a day. - The world’s largest AI newsletter, read by over 600,000 AI professionals. - One free email every morning on what’s new in AI and gives you “the rundown” of the most important developments. - Allowing for readers to keep up with the insane pace of AI and why it actually matters [Subscribe with one click.](https://magic.beehiiv.com/v1/4d03390d-2481-4299-b949-ffd8b38b4c38?email=%7B%7Bemail%7D%7D&redirect%5Fto=https%3A%2F%2Fupscribe.page%2Faa34c745df&redirect%5Fdelay=1&%5Fbhiiv=opp%5F73e8541c-9446-41b8-b049-a664a4fb3bed%5Fe4221c46&bhcl%5Fid=2f9812f4-c38f-4989-ac18-033b78e85ff2%5F&ref=secretbreakfast.com) **\*** *warning: you will subscribe to The Rundown AI (→* [*Privacy Policy*](https://join.therundown.ai/privacy-policy/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)*) by clicking the link. Do that only if you’re interested. This will also help support this newsletter.* --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/06f9e3ff-c4ce-4483-8082-de621e82a78e/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__3.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/d932e349-9235-4f89-80ad-b4b3e6e3912c/capture_2024-05-20_alle_19-07-19.jpg) #### Do you remember Ukraine, don’t you? ★★★★☆ Two years ago, the invasion of Ukraine by Russia was still big news. When I decided to write an ebook to fix the food trends of 2023 (this [ebook](https://secretbreakfast.gumroad.com/l/2023-book?ref=secretbreakfast.com)), I contacted chef [Yevhen Klopotenko](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaQDW5kYSxB5gxAcBhlM-bQ?ref=secretbreakfast.com) to let him explain the “Borsch without a 't'“ rule and the importance of knowing better that Ukrainian cuisine was not Russian Cuisine. Now Yevhen has a new book out with two different artworks (US and UK). Nigella wrote about that and posted his *Nalysnyky* (★[recipe](https://www.nigella.com/recipes/guests/nalysnyky---crepes-with-creamy-soft-cheese-filling?ref=secretbreakfast.com)). [The Authentic Ukrainian Kitchen: Recipes from a Native Chef](https://www.amazon.com/Authentic-Ukrainian-Kitchen-Recipes-Native/dp/0316559393?ref=secretbreakfast.com) by Yevhen Klopotenko **→** Shortplot: 🇺🇦 🥬 🍯 🌾 --- ![This is where Secret Breakfast picks juicy content from food creators](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/a776550c-eefa-4d3e-b067-0438f295b874/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__2.png) This is where Secret Breakfast picks juicy content from food creators [](https://www.instagram.com/reel/C5HK%5FAcuk8t/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) --- ![This is the space where I share some food (un)related stuff of my week](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/cdcd47f2-b8f2-4683-a706-d790e01c1c57/random-full_b__1.png) This is the space where I share some food (un)related stuff of my week 🌶️Sticky Gochujang Chicken Flatbreads (★[recipe](https://dishedbykate.com/sticky-gochujang-chicken/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🥕Carrot-Harissa-Miso Pasta (★[recipe](https://www.bengingi.com/recipes/carrot-harissa-miso-pasta?subscribed=true&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🍒Cherry Cheesecake Danishes (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reel/C7HQksZricD/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🍌Dulce de Leche + Banana + Empanada (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reel/C7E1n4ovOv6/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🖤Cheesecake, but in Black & White (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reel/C6%5FsTbmoz-U/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🍕All The Flavors of Pizza in a One-Pot Meal You’ll Make Again and Again (★[recipe](https://food52.com/blog/19788-all-the-flavors-of-pizza-in-a-one-pot-meal-you-ll-make-again-and-again?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🧅Risk a Divorce while cooking Jeweled Rice Stuffed Onions (★[recipe](https://djalalicooks.com/jeweled-rice-stuffed-onions/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🍋Greek Lemonpita (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reel/C5d7qAtsiVB/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 💪🏻[15 Easy Ways to Add Extra Protein to Your Day](https://www.self.com/story/how-to-add-more-protein-to-meals?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🌮[The first Mexican taco stand to get a Michelin star](https://apnews.com/article/mexico-taco-stand-michelin-star-6a4a89f27aa13d46246030b94bcffa56?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🙀[10 Tips For Having The Most Intense Orgasm Of Your Life](https://www.self.com/story/how-to-have-the-best-orgasm-ever?ref=secretbreakfast.com) (no food involved) 🐻‘The Bear’ Season 3 Release Date is June 27 PS: our reader Jane would like to share this “save asparagus stems” soup with you (★[recipe](https://www.facebook.com/story.php?story%5Ffbid=pfbid0BLvMUBCoQEdnJUWN1Sde3eZYArU5fQQFRFvyGUuWBFLYMvbjvbSp8RuPgUxTFfuCl&id=1524321018&%5Frdr=)) --- ### **⁌POP QUIZ⁍** ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/1acf990e-5d5e-4fb2-9116-d109fa0a0946/capture_2024-05-20_alle_11-24-15.jpg) ### Let’s be honest: what does Jonathan Yeo’s King Charles III Portrait look like? [🍕 Roman Sheet Pan Pizza Rossa ](https://secretbreakfast.beehiiv.com/polls/2ad3383e-6465-4d44-b095-349aee153a49/response?pcid=7ab83f29-3d35-40bd-b5a3-8eccf95e824c&ppid=550fbbb7-48ca-477a-844c-e7c5d283f511&sid=&ref=secretbreakfast.com#&last%5Fresource%5Fguid=Post%3Ac9dfcc2e-9e93-45c3-a69b-db23af593ab9)[🟥 A Red Velvet Cake before assembly ](https://secretbreakfast.beehiiv.com/polls/2ad3383e-6465-4d44-b095-349aee153a49/response?pcid=f74433c1-f7ad-4cb2-ae6c-ece3f910e18c&ppid=550fbbb7-48ca-477a-844c-e7c5d283f511&sid=&ref=secretbreakfast.com#&last%5Fresource%5Fguid=Post%3Ac9dfcc2e-9e93-45c3-a69b-db23af593ab9)[🍅 A Greasy Nigerian Beef Stew](https://secretbreakfast.beehiiv.com/polls/2ad3383e-6465-4d44-b095-349aee153a49/response?pcid=50f8f375-1917-4c63-8f6a-c6aa553440ca&ppid=550fbbb7-48ca-477a-844c-e7c5d283f511&sid=&ref=secretbreakfast.com#&last%5Fresource%5Fguid=Post%3Ac9dfcc2e-9e93-45c3-a69b-db23af593ab9) --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/be74643a-4623-4922-9944-19fdcccb1540/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__1.png) [Farm to Lunar Table: How Astronauts Are Eating Today](https://www.saveur.com/culture/astronaut-food-nasa-history/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Kitty Greenwald / Saveur** NASA is planning to provide astronauts with fresh food during long space missions. Astronauts currently rely on pre-packaged foods with a two- to three-year shelf life. Supplying fresh food is difficult because it spoils and can harbor bacteria. Then NASA is researching ways to grow fresh food in space using hydroponics. --- [A Year on Ozempic Taught Me We’re Thinking About Obesity All Wrong](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/07/opinion/ozempic-weight-loss-drugs.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com) Johann Hari / The New York Times “Ever since I was a teenager, I have dreamed of shedding a lot of weight. So when I shrank from 203 pounds to 161 in a year, I was baffled by my feelings. I was taking Ozempic, and I was haunted by the sense that I was cheating and doing something immoral. I’m not the only one”. --- **➤ Last week's most clicked link was** [**56 Fast Dinner Ideas You Can Make in 20 Minutes or Less**](https://www.purewow.com/food/fast-dinner-ideas?ref=secretbreakfast.com)**. And that's all for today.** --- **• SEASON 4 - ISSUE 185 •** Secret Breakfast is a newsletter by [Piero Macchioni](https://macchioni.cc/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) Think of it as *The Morning Brew* for food people, or just the most unconventional email you'll get today. In four years we have shared more than 2,000 recipes, hundreds of books, and countless hours of news, gluttony, and joy. ★★★★★ Recommended by *Food&Wine US*: [Best Food Newsletters to Subscribe To](https://www.foodandwine.com/lifestyle/best-food-newsletters?ref=secretbreakfast.com) *Gastronomika*: [The Newsletters Not To Be Missed on Food](https://www.linkiesta.it/2022/03/migliori-newsletter-food-cibo-vino?ref=secretbreakfast.com) ### Soon Your House Will Be a Pop-Up Coffee Shop ☕️ URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/pop-up-coffee-house/ Last updated: 2024-05-07T21:35:07.000Z # Welcome to Secret Breakfast / An exclusive newsletter, the best place to start your day with a lot of coffee ideas before fighting for a romance over some churros ![Fortune cookies help daring people.](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/57d04217-d350-45c0-b100-0c5da3822e65/meritt-thomas-ivwqsvwy3am-unsplash__1.jpg) Fortune cookies help daring people. Hi there! A few days ago a geomagnetic storm hit planet Earth and I decided it was time to order a pizza and to invest more resources in this humble newsletter. Allow me a super-quick State of the Union speech. ↓↓↓ Secret Breakfast has never been a side hustle for me, but the more subscribers you have the more you have to chip in. The more you want to start new projects, the more you have to invest. And I just did. I’ve been keeping this slow and low, but in the coming months, I hope to shake things up by serving you more - **while keeping the newsletter free**. That said, for the first time in four years you’ll find one - *self-evident* \- **affiliated link**. It’s not going to make me rich, but it’s a test to see if this kind of support could be a non-zero-sum game. You’ll also find a **quick poll** every week, I’d love your feedback: it will help me craft future projects I can’t wait to show you. That was me asking things from you. Don’t worry it won’t happen often. Piero PS: Are you not a Secret Breakfast subscriber yet? How’s that technically possible? Well, you can do it by clicking [here](https://magic.beehiiv.com/v1/623662af-67cf-456a-9c2c-3fac1be3cb01?email=%7B%7Bemail%7D%7D&ref=secretbreakfast.com). Photo by [Meritt](https://unsplash.com/it/@merittthomas?utm%5Fcontent=creditCopyText&ref=secretbreakfast.com)[ Thomas](https://unsplash.com/it/@merittthomas?utm%5Fcontent=creditCopyText&ref=secretbreakfast.com), Chinese fortune cookie factory in San Francisco. --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/f93f1cb5-4954-4a91-b22c-0bd6ba119bf5/quoteok__1.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/57d9e151-4253-4f9e-8c43-e81ae91a1e0e/paul_auster__1.png) ✦ **Emanuele Coccia**, philosopher,and **Alessandro Michele**, creative director of Valentino, in 🇮🇹 [*La vita delle forme*](https://www.harpercollins.it/9788830593718/la-vita-delle-forme/?ref=secretbreakfast.com). --- --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/a34b217a-cae3-4cac-80c8-bdf5f30996f4/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__6.png) ## **WANNA COME OVER FOR A COFFEE OR SOMETHING?** ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/52fec8c6-bda3-41d2-9b2b-fb76fe9873f2/capture_2024-05-13_alle_21-13-47.jpg) Have you recently scrolled through TikTok and seen those [dreamy home cafe videos](https://www.eater.com/24146426/home-cafe-coffee-shop-tiktok-trend?ref=secretbreakfast.com)? You know, the ones with the perfectly frothed milk, the aesthetic latte art, and the cozy ambiance? Well, this trend is all about recreating that coffee shop experience at home, complete with pastries, menus, and even branding for some. If you love playing barista at home and entertaining friends, then this could be a fun way to do both. But if the idea of extra work on top of being a host stresses you out, this might not be for you. My opinion: there's nothing worse than someone asking you, "Um, would you like to come over for a coffee or something?" and then actually having him or her make you a Chemex and rambling about the specific woods where the blueberries for the blueberry tart were harvested, or the time they nearly opened a bakery in Copenhagen. ###### Steve McCurry. [High speed service on the railway from Peshawar to Rawalpindi](https://gulfnews.com/world/oceania/steve-mccurry-on-famous-pakistan-photo-oh-no-this-is-not-going-to-end-well-1.1248463?ref=secretbreakfast.com), Pakistan, 1983. --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/06f9e3ff-c4ce-4483-8082-de621e82a78e/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__3.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/34e0bf1d-6dcf-4b31-9bdf-9808f9ad8d98/capture_2024-05-13_alle_22-40-27.jpg) #### Bake before the summer starts ★★★★☆ How can a person write a meaningful book about baking? I mean, there are thousands of them. And yet we google the recipe we want to put in the oven a couple of hours before we need the finished product. Sift is slightly different: the book is divided into sections by how long it takes to bake something. That’s a start. And Nicola Lamb (do you remember [Kitchen Projects](https://kitchenprojects.substack.com/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)?) is friendly, honest, and thorough. [SIFT. The Elements of Great Baking](https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/455573/sift-by-lamb-nicola/9781529906226?ref=secretbreakfast.com) by Nicola Lamb **→** Shortplot: 🍞 🥧 🥐 🥯 --- ![This is where Secret Breakfast picks juicy content from food creators. Bur rosemary coffee… I don’t know.](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/a776550c-eefa-4d3e-b067-0438f295b874/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__2.png) This is where Secret Breakfast picks juicy content from food creators. Bur rosemary coffee… I don’t know. [](https://www.instagram.com/reel/C3ITpx4MN%5Fd/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) --- ![This is the space where I share some food (un)related stuff of my week](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/cdcd47f2-b8f2-4683-a706-d790e01c1c57/random-full_b__1.png) This is the space where I share some food (un)related stuff of my week ⏲️54 Fast Dinner Ideas You Can Make in 20 Minutes or Less (★[recipe](https://www.purewow.com/food/fast-dinner-ideas?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) ☕️ [10 Big Ideas in Coffee Right Now](https://tastecooking.com/10-big-ideas-coffee-right-now/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) (from [Taste’s Coffee Issue](https://tastecooking.com/collections/the-coffee-issue/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🤤Shanghainese Sheng Jian Bao (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reel/C38jzDJyRn9/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🐞[Meet the Bug You Didn’t Know You Were Eating](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JuGfWVBjOxU&ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🧞[How to turn tough asparagus ends](https://www.theguardian.com/food/article/2024/may/11/how-to-turn-tough-asparagus-ends-herb-stalks-into-salad-dressing-zero-waste-cooking?ref=secretbreakfast.com) and herb stalks into a vibrant salad dressing 🍷[What LVMH sales results tell us about the state of the fine wine market](https://www.inthemoodforwine.com/p/what-lvmh-sales-results-tell-us-about?ref=secretbreakfast.com) (via Sara Danese) 🍝Pasta actually does make you [happier ](https://www.themanual.com/food-and-drink/pasta-makes-you-happy-study/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)👶🏼Eat a Duch Baby for Breakfast (★[recipe](https://www.budgetbytes.com/dutch-baby/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🎧The sound of an[ ultrasonic cold brew coffee ](https://www.unsw.edu.au/newsroom/news/2024/05/Ultrasonic%5Fcold%5Fbrew%5Fcoffee%5Fready%5Funder%5Fthree%5Fminutes?ref=secretbreakfast.com)ready in under three minutes 🎾[When the World looks at Mike Faist and Josh O’Connor Sparing Over Churros in ‘Challengers’, ](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=01ZXMrPGMyA&ref=secretbreakfast.com)Secret Breakfast looks at the churro (★[recipe](https://abajillianrecipes.com/2023/03/27/mexican-churros/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🥮A Flobby Yogurt Cake (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reel/C55McC7yOUc/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 📖[How Fiction Became Edible](https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/books/a60620169/fictional-cookbooks/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) --- **⇱ A quick word…** ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/187b1fc2-2017-4c7d-9746-f3481963d137/capture_2024-05-13_alle_10-49-45.jpg) Fascinated by fungi? **Shroomer** newsletter explores the wonders of mushrooms from scientific discoveries to culinary creations. Subscribing via the following button (affiliated) you will also contribute to Secret Breakfast platform costs. No way? No problem, here’s their [Guide to Carnivorous Mushrooms](https://www.shroomer.com/all-about-carnivorous-fungi/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) (no affiliated link). --- **🎙️POP-QUIZ!** ### Think of the 100 best cuisines in the world. Who ranked at the 59th place? - [🇱🇹 Lithuania](https://secretbreakfast.beehiiv.com/polls/896bcc14-ae1c-4122-a199-4db2943c6d5a/response?pcid=398dfca5-2e7e-44b6-937c-eec8ee194619&ppid=52ce4433-ab9a-4d93-958a-7b38b62b4e0d&sid=&ref=secretbreakfast.com#&last%5Fresource%5Fguid=Post%3A653e5a44-5f68-4fe7-834a-0a489e7a82e3) - [🇵🇰 Pakistan](https://secretbreakfast.beehiiv.com/polls/896bcc14-ae1c-4122-a199-4db2943c6d5a/response?pcid=054073b1-8ccd-49d9-a7b2-c231d8bcb1a9&ppid=52ce4433-ab9a-4d93-958a-7b38b62b4e0d&sid=&ref=secretbreakfast.com#&last%5Fresource%5Fguid=Post%3A653e5a44-5f68-4fe7-834a-0a489e7a82e3) - [🇳🇴 Norway](https://secretbreakfast.beehiiv.com/polls/896bcc14-ae1c-4122-a199-4db2943c6d5a/response?pcid=7217fcb7-b6a1-40ce-8d4a-c603d661eb45&ppid=52ce4433-ab9a-4d93-958a-7b38b62b4e0d&sid=&ref=secretbreakfast.com#&last%5Fresource%5Fguid=Post%3A653e5a44-5f68-4fe7-834a-0a489e7a82e3) --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/be74643a-4623-4922-9944-19fdcccb1540/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__1.png) [The hot business of cold storage](https://sherwood.news/business/the-hot-business-of-cold-storage/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Patrick Sisson / Sherwood** In the world of business, things are heating up in the cold storage industry. Apparently, people are going bananas for frozen food these days, and groceries are traveling farther than ever before (think Usain Bolt with a suitcase full of avocados). But building these giant refrigerators isn't exactly a walk in the park. --- [Insatiable: A Life Without Eating](https://longreads.com/2024/04/18/crohns-life-without-eating/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Andrew Chapman / Longreads** The author battles Crohn's disease, facing its complications. Andrew relies on IV nutrition, a challenging adjustment. Food, once a cherished social activity, now takes a different form. Despite receiving nutrients, Andrew struggles mentally and emotionally with being unable to eat. --- **➤ Last week's most clicked link was** [**100 Tips For A Better Life**](https://ideopunk.com/blog/tipsforabetterlife?ref=secretbreakfast.com)**. And that's all for today.** --- **• SEASON 4 - ISSUE 184 •** Secret Breakfast is a newsletter by [Piero Macchioni](https://macchioni.cc/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) Think of it as *The Morning Brew* for food people, or just the most unconventional email you'll get today. In two years we have shared more than 2,000 recipes, hundreds of books, and countless hours of news, gluttony, and joy. ★★★★★ Recommended by *Food&Wine US*: [Best Food Newsletters to Subscribe To](https://www.foodandwine.com/lifestyle/best-food-newsletters?ref=secretbreakfast.com) *Gastronomika*: [The Newsletters Not To Be Missed on Food](https://www.linkiesta.it/2022/03/migliori-newsletter-food-cibo-vino?ref=secretbreakfast.com) ### Baby Lasagna, Pillow Cakes and Bee Bandits 🐝 URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/baby-lasagna/ Last updated: 2024-04-29T14:02:01.000Z # Welcome to Secret Breakfast / An exclusive newsletter, the best place to start your day with Baby Lasagna among flamboyant Martini writers and unstoppable bee bandits ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/e773eaa1-96dd-49ed-833f-de37df224eeb/capture_2024-05-07_alle_09-35-32.jpg) Hi there! It’s [Eurovision Song Contest](https://eurovision.tv/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) week. Who are we rooting for? Nevertheless, [Nemo](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kiGDvM14Kwg&ref=secretbreakfast.com) (they/them) seem strong, our only viable candidate is [Baby Lasagna](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baby%5FLasagna?ref=secretbreakfast.com), from Croatia. Born Marko Purišić he came up with this stage name while searching for a market in Novigrad to buy water and take a headache pill. Is there any more secret-breakfasty than that? He’ll sing [Rim Tim Tagi Dim](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBsgTJQFl9k&ref=secretbreakfast.com) and with that, I rest my case. Actually, I don’t because we also have Joost with [Europapa](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=at%5FN8l3KLiQ&ref=secretbreakfast.com) who will be singing some foodie verses: “Yes, I have enough money, but there is no one to help me I hope there are escargots, I hope there are fish-and-chips I hope there's paella, no, I don't really know what it is”. Piero PS: no book section this week. PPS: if you have time, give me some feedback at the end of the issue. It will help me improving things around. From: [instagram.com/Baby Lasagna](https://www.instagram.com/the%5Fbaby%5Flasagna%5F/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/f93f1cb5-4954-4a91-b22c-0bd6ba119bf5/quoteok__1.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/7a2a5073-ae53-435d-ac27-048ad9a080f3/paul_auster.png) ✦ **Paul Auster,** [the Patron Saint of Literary Brooklyn](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/30/books/paul-auster-dead.html?unlocked%5Farticle%5Fcode=1.qE0.-sE6.ky%5FuubS-zmV3&smid=url-share&ref=secretbreakfast.com). --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/a34b217a-cae3-4cac-80c8-bdf5f30996f4/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__6.png) ## **NEW YORK CITY IS ALWAYS HUNGRY** ![Stork Club in 1961, via Grubstreet](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/df369258-8c9b-4966-aea1-2d405740b9ac/capture_2024-05-07_alle_12-08-21.jpg) Stork Club in 1961, via Grubstreet One of the most controversial opinions expressed in this newsletter pertains to a certain city that has undeniably become a relic of the past - New York City. Its vitality seems to have dissipated into an indescribable realm, ranging from nostalgic recollections of "Sex & The City" to the prevalent aroma of marijuana wafting through the streets nowadays. That being said, you will always find links from media companies based in NYC, as they have no competitors when it comes to producing high-quality content about culture and food. Exhibit A: a [Martini Tour of New York](https://www.newyorker.com/culture/annals-of-gastronomy/a-martini-tour-of-new-york-city?ref=secretbreakfast.com) written by the flamboyant Gary Shteyngart. Exhibit B: this incredible feature by Grubstreet called [Who Ate Where: The Restaurants That Defined New York](https://www.grubstreet.com/article/best-nyc-restaurants-social-history-new-york.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com). Maybe it’s not the future, but it’s something to taste. ###### Photo: John Vachon --- ![This is where Secret Breakfast picks juicy content from food creators](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/a776550c-eefa-4d3e-b067-0438f295b874/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__2.png) This is where Secret Breakfast picks juicy content from food creators [](https://www.instagram.com/reel/C6Wj8UxrgGT?ref=secretbreakfast.com) --- ![This is the space where I share some food (un)related stuff of my week](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/cdcd47f2-b8f2-4683-a706-d790e01c1c57/random-full_b__1.png) This is the space where I share some food (un)related stuff of my week 💯 [100 Tips For A Better Life](https://ideopunk.com/blog/tipsforabetterlife?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 👩🏻‍🍳[Kitchen Tricks and Tips From Expert Cooks](https://www.realsimple.com/food-recipes/cooking-tips-techniques/kitchen-tips-techniques?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🫧A [Visual Guide](https://twitter.com/Rainmaker1973/status/1784493955184304605?ref=secretbreakfast.com) to Clean Any Stain [🗓️Start Small Rituals That Make Every Day Feel Special](https://www.self.com/story/michael-norton-q-and-a?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🥮Fluffy Cheesecake Secret Revealed (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reel/C5mE6-1sIRz/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🍊Guten Free Orange Shortbread Cookie Sticks (★[recipe](https://theloopywhisk.com/2022/12/17/orange-shortbread-cookie-sticks/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🇵🇹Pastel de Nata, but make it a Blondie (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reel/C4xvKs6M1dS/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🌲[How Did Black Forest Cake Become the World’s Favorite Dessert?](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/29/dining/black-forest-cake.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com) (Wait, it did?) 🩷Kashmiri Chai, aka [Pink Tea](https://www.instagram.com/reel/C5fLynevBhm/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🧅Mujadara is Lentils and Rice with Crispy Onions (★[recipe](https://www.themediterraneandish.com/mujadara-lentils-and-rice-with-crispy-onions/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🧺Make Yourself a Lazy [Indoor Picnic Night](https://bittmanproject.com/a-very-lazy-no-cook-supper-that-has-it-all/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 📌[Salsa Basics](https://pinaenlacocina.com/me-pico-la-salsa-salsa-basics/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🔖[Culinary Ratios](https://www.theculinarypro.com/culinary-ratios?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 👅Have You Watched [Jerry Seinfeld on ](https://www.eater.com/24139655/jerry-seinfeld-pop-tart-movie-unfrosted-interview?ref=secretbreakfast.com)[*Unfrosted*](https://www.eater.com/24139655/jerry-seinfeld-pop-tart-movie-unfrosted-interview?ref=secretbreakfast.com)? 🍗Have you Read [The New Yorker’s Food Issue](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/food-issue-april-2024?ref=secretbreakfast.com)? --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/be74643a-4623-4922-9944-19fdcccb1540/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__1.png) [To Save It, Eat It](https://longnow.org/ideas/to-save-it-eat-it/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Taras Grescoe / The Long Now** An early victim of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine was the genetic riches of one of the traditional breadbaskets of humanity. In the first months of the conflict, Russian shells hit the Plant Genetic Resources Bank in Kharkiv. --- [The Rise Of The Bee Bandits](https://www.noemamag.com/the-rise-of-the-bee-bandits?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Oliver Milman / Noema** The rich history of the modern American West is filled with stories of animals being slaughtered or exploited: millions of bison gunned down, wolves driven away, horses stolen, and cattle rustled. However, a new form of animal crime has emerged as a prominent issue today - the theft of bees. --- [The Food Blogger Cooking Through Gaza’s Hunger Crisis](https://www.bonappetit.com/story/food-blogging-gaza-hunger-crisis?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Sarah Aziza / Bon Appétit** A young man is seated cross-legged on the floor of a tent in the southern Gaza city of Rafah, his gaze locked with the camera. --- ### How did you like today's newsletter? [🔥 It's fire! ](https://secretbreakfast.beehiiv.com/polls/62a9b8c9-3520-4eb5-b819-ad999736c65e/response?pcid=18961686-847e-4acd-85ce-1a3e30d03b36&ppid=25577d94-2c0b-45cc-aac9-348f15a5e31c&sid=&ref=secretbreakfast.com#&last%5Fresource%5Fguid=Post%3A10b123b6-9404-4918-b9f7-54f569213a0c)[🔙 Bring it back to the kitchen ](https://secretbreakfast.beehiiv.com/polls/62a9b8c9-3520-4eb5-b819-ad999736c65e/response?pcid=8e6b9562-fd16-4dd2-b6b8-4ac3f69e9d4f&ppid=25577d94-2c0b-45cc-aac9-348f15a5e31c&sid=&ref=secretbreakfast.com#&last%5Fresource%5Fguid=Post%3A10b123b6-9404-4918-b9f7-54f569213a0c)[👍🏻 Good enough](https://secretbreakfast.beehiiv.com/polls/62a9b8c9-3520-4eb5-b819-ad999736c65e/response?pcid=baf87b88-04ea-4916-a19c-a95774fd52c0&ppid=25577d94-2c0b-45cc-aac9-348f15a5e31c&sid=&ref=secretbreakfast.com#&last%5Fresource%5Fguid=Post%3A10b123b6-9404-4918-b9f7-54f569213a0c) **➤ Last week's most clicked link was this:** [**If You See This in a Restaurant, Put Down the Menu and Make Other Plans**](https://www.foodandwine.com/signs-of-a-bad-restaurant-8613174?ref=secretbreakfast.com)**. And that's all for today.** **• SEASON 4 - ISSUE 183 •** Secret Breakfast is a newsletter by [Piero Macchioni](https://macchioni.cc/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) Think of it as *The Morning Brew* for food people, or just the most unconventional email you'll get today. In two years we have shared more than 2,000 recipes, hundreds of books, and countless hours of news, gluttony, and joy. ★★★★★ Recommended by *Food&Wine US*: [Best Food Newsletters to Subscribe To](https://www.foodandwine.com/lifestyle/best-food-newsletters?ref=secretbreakfast.com) *Gastronomika*: [The Newsletters Not To Be Missed on Food](https://www.linkiesta.it/2022/03/migliori-newsletter-food-cibo-vino?ref=secretbreakfast.com) ### How Wrong is Putting Groceries in Jars? 🫙 URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/groceries-in-jars/ Last updated: 2024-04-29T08:20:39.000Z # Welcome to Secret Breakfast / An exclusive newsletter, the best place to start your day by exposing inaccurate food influencers, un-decanting groceries, and baking flowers for Mother’s Day ![Kate Moss – Hollywood Diet](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/41912377-42d3-4d54-9400-0c6e6474771a/capture_2024-04-29_alle_16-07-48.jpg) Kate Moss – Hollywood Diet Hi there! I had a few hours to unplug far away from the city. I thought I could use some time to work on a few projects and also improve this newsletter. But you know what? I spent that time watching the garden grass that grew too much, studying the (too many) Japanese alphabets, firing some BBQ, and cooking the super tender mini-artichokes the farmer sold me at a price that is still a mystery to me. I’m in a place where consumer prices including rent are about 40% lower than the city I live in. Yes, the internet connection is scattered, public transport does not exist, the closest market is about 20 km, the best schools are… I don’t know where they are. But I can feel there’s some value here, far from the noise pollution, Hollywood diets, and urban nonsense. Maybe we’re not made to live in a single place all year long like we’re not meant to cook meat always with the same old brine. Piero Photo: Dan Bannino photographs [celebrity fad diets as master still lives](https://www.designboom.com/art/dan-bannino-celebrity-fad-diets-old-master-still-lifes-06-05-2014/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) (short a visit). --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/f93f1cb5-4954-4a91-b22c-0bd6ba119bf5/quoteok__1.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/b9ff9f53-1eeb-4f1b-b51a-bf7d80e7e45a/asako_yuzuki.png) ✦ **Asako Yuzuki,** [*Butter*](https://harpercollins.co.uk/products/butter-asako-yuzuki?ref=secretbreakfast.com)*.* Reading it right now, and I have already encountered four recipes: [Harusame Salad (Japanese Vermicelli Salad)](https://www.mochimommy.com/harusame-salad/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) also known as bansanu; [Ochazuke](https://www.justonecookbook.com/ochazuke/?ref=secretbreakfast.com); [Siu Mai](https://madewithlau.com/recipes/siu-mai?ref=secretbreakfast.com), and [Takikomi Gohan ](https://www.justonecookbook.com/takikomi-gohan/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)(Japanese Mixed Rice). --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/a34b217a-cae3-4cac-80c8-bdf5f30996f4/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__6.png) ## **IF YOU WANNA FEEL YOUNG,** **LIVE LIKE YOUR GRANDMA** ![Arancini and Cocktail Sticks](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/332b9fc2-90bf-4a69-b46a-43c7696b3a37/capture_2024-04-29_alle_16-05-49.jpg) Arancini and Cocktail Sticks TikTok followers going crazy for New Balance sneakers. [Young Chinese Finding Tasty Meals in Senior Canteens](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/23/business/shanghai-tongxinhui-community-canteen.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com). Kids joining book clubs, trying their hands at needlepoint, clipping coupons, and listening to jazz. That’s it:[ young people are adopting geriatric hobbies](https://thehustle.co/news/get-in-line-grandma-young-people-are-adopting-geriatric-hobbies?ref=secretbreakfast.com). ###### Picture: [Shortlisted for Champagne Taittinger Wedding Food Photographer](https://www.pinkladyfoodphotographeroftheyear.com/pink-lady-food-photographer-of-the-year-shortlist-2024/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) © Hollie Mateer, United Kingdom --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/06f9e3ff-c4ce-4483-8082-de621e82a78e/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__3.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/3e55fb84-d94f-448e-a482-f790ec90d4b3/capture_2024-04-29_alle_16-22-42.jpg) #### Sarnies without borders ★★★☆☆ As many of you, [Max Halley](https://www.instagram.com/lunchluncheon?ref=secretbreakfast.com) is tormented by a question: is a hot dog a sandwich? Defining a sandwich is not easy, but this book helps find the most interesting pairings and ingredients used worldwide. [Max's World of Sandwiches. A Guide to Amazing Sandwiches](https://www.hardiegrant.com/au/publishing/bookfinder/book/max%5Fs-world-of-sandwiches-by-max-halley/9781784886004?ref=secretbreakfast.com) by Max Halley and Benjamin Benton **→** Shortplot: 🥪 🥪 🥪 🥪 --- ![This is where Secret Breakfast picks juicy content from food creators](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/a776550c-eefa-4d3e-b067-0438f295b874/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__2.png) This is where Secret Breakfast picks juicy content from food creators [](https://www.instagram.com/reel/C5ezSwixtTB/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) --- ![This is the space where I share some food (un)related stuff of my week](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/cdcd47f2-b8f2-4683-a706-d790e01c1c57/random-full_b__1.png) This is the space where I share some food (un)related stuff of my week 🧐[How To Tell if a Recipe You See on Your Social Feed Actually Works (According to a Professional Food Writer)](https://www.wellandgood.com/avoid-bad-recipes-social-media/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🍗[Why You Should Bake Your Chicken Before You Fry It](https://www.foodandwine.com/news/why-you-should-bake-your-chicken-you-fry-it?ref=secretbreakfast.com) (Try That) 🔥[The Mythical Via Carota Lasagna Made Weeknight-Friendly](https://www.eater.com/24120436/via-carota-cacio-e-pepe-lasagna-recipe-weeknight-dinner-adapted?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🐟Fish for Breakfast[ Could Change Your Life](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/24/magazine/japanese-breakfast-miso-salmon-recipe.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 💣Wait! [You Don’t Need to ‘Decant’ Your Groceries](https://www.eater.com/24105047/you-dont-need-to-decant-your-groceries-kitchen-storage?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🍣Spritz Salmon Lax is Served (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reel/C5qvk1Io-oL/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🤳🏻[How the Food Industry Pays Influencers to Shill Blueberries, Butter, and More](https://www.bonappetit.com/story/food-industry-influencers?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🍍Ferment Pineapple Peels and Drink Them (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reel/C6OxjiGr9Kb/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🧁Crème Brûlée Cupcakes! (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reel/C6JeaJ3OOr6/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🍰Mirror Glaze Made Easy (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reel/C3Kmn1gIcEY/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) and Stabilized Whipped Cream (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reel/C55wbQ0PrY5/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🌮Bring Cheese Enchiladas at Work (★[recipe](https://www.budgetbytes.com/cheese-enchiladas/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🧨[How Stephanie Izard Chars Veggies In Minutes — Without a Grill](https://www.foodandwine.com/stephanie-izard-charred-vegetables-trick-8637794?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 📖Hey, [No one buys books](https://www.elysian.press/p/no-one-buys-books?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🌝[Are Women’s Bodies Actually Controlled By the Moon?](https://www.thecut.com/article/menstruation-full-moon-red-moon-cycle-white-moon-cycle.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com) --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/be74643a-4623-4922-9944-19fdcccb1540/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__1.png) [The Rise Of The Bee Bandits](https://www.noemamag.com/the-rise-of-the-bee-bandits?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Oliver Milman / Noema** The foundational story of the modern American West is riven with tales of animals slaughtered or plundered: bison gunned down by the million, wolves cast out, horses purloined, cattle rustled. Today, a rather different flavor of animal crime has become ascendent — the theft of bees. --- [If You See This in a Restaurant, Put Down the Menu and Make Other Plans](https://www.foodandwine.com/signs-of-a-bad-restaurant-8613174?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Darron Cardosa / Food&Wine** In the age of social media and the mini-computers we all carry around with us at all times, it’s easy to look at online reviews for a restaurant before we decide to try it. --- **➤ Last week's most clicked link was the** [**Green Goddess Salad**](https://www.instagram.com/reel/C5lKwbFPnfM?ref=secretbreakfast.com)**. And that's all for today.** --- **• SEASON 4 - ISSUE 182 •** Secret Breakfast is a newsletter by [Piero Macchioni](https://macchioni.cc/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) Think of it as *The Morning Brew* for food people, or just the most unconventional email you'll get today. In two years we have shared more than 2,000 recipes, hundreds of books, and countless hours of news, gluttony, and joy. ★★★★★ Recommended by *Food&Wine US*: [Best Food Newsletters to Subscribe To](https://www.foodandwine.com/lifestyle/best-food-newsletters?ref=secretbreakfast.com) *Gastronomika*: [The Newsletters Not To Be Missed on Food](https://www.linkiesta.it/2022/03/migliori-newsletter-food-cibo-vino?ref=secretbreakfast.com) ### The Tortured Pots Department 🫕 URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/tortured-pots-department/ Last updated: 2024-04-22T13:59:29.000Z # Welcome to Secret Breakfast / An exclusive newsletter, the best place to start your day with giant tacos, enameled cast-iron cookware, and a true nightmare made of baguette-coat-hangers ![It's a love story, baby, just say, "Yes"](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/94ca6a70-cddf-485f-8dac-3cc256b89b9b/capture_2024-04-23_alle_00-48-50.jpg) It's a love story, baby, just say, "Yes" Hi there! There’s a new Taylor Swift album out there: [The Tortured Poets Department](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The%5FTortured%5FPoets%5FDepartment?ref=secretbreakfast.com), a masterpiece - it has been said - with “a dark academia aesthetic”. It has been suggested that the title contains a mistake. No, I’m not talking about the lack of an apostrophe (as in *The Tortured Poets' Department*, which appears to sound “more correct”). The real mistake is not naming it *The Tortured Pots Department*, because Taylor has often been filmed while [cooking with enameled cast-iron cookware](https://www.housebeautiful.com/design-inspiration/celebrity-homes/a30779931/taylor-swift-maximalist-kitchen-nashville-miss-americana/?ref=secretbreakfast.com). I'm just waiting for her to deliver a [50 Easy One-Pot Meal Ideas song](https://www.delish.com/cooking/menus/g1461/easy-one-pot-dinner-recipes/?ref=secretbreakfast.com). Piero PS: and now, a special welcome to the people coming here from 🇮🇹[Spuntini](https://thefoodsister.substack.com/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) by Myriam “The Food Sister” Sabolla and 🇪🇸[Martescitos de Recomendaciones](https://martescitos.substack.com/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)by Araceli “Ari Bradshaw” Ocaña: “Hey, you seem to have good taste, what are you doing here?!”. --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/0fef778f-6ffd-4c22-a26b-7504a591d3d7/quoteok__1.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/50a25210-2c00-46e3-af99-eb8a1a5e0f8c/kristin_hannah__the_women.png) ✦ **Kristin Hannah,** [*The Women*](https://kristinhannah.com/books/the-women/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)*.* --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/a34b217a-cae3-4cac-80c8-bdf5f30996f4/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__6.png) ## **THE “TIME *\=* MICHELIN STARS” ALGORITHM** ![When seconds come first.](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/11e0cfa6-fad8-4dad-a4e5-35f3592e234a/capture_2024-04-23_alle_00-05-56.jpg) When seconds come first. [Pavyllon at the Four Seasons](https://www.fourseasons.com/london/dining/restaurants/pavyllon-london/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) on London’s Park Lane, which has one Michelin star, is offering a £55.50, “five courses in 55 minutes” menu during the week. Good. Or… [Is it the rise of the speedy Michelin-star menu](https://www.theguardian.com/food/2024/apr/13/five-courses-in-55-minute?ref=secretbreakfast.com)? I’ve experienced great one-star menus in about an hour, and 4-5 hours in three-star restaurants. Then, maybe, an 8-hour dinner when hostage of a bunch of caterers and a couple of enthusiast newlyweds during their own wedding. I’m not a fan of 2+ hours long food experiences, even when I’m with the best company. Even when I spent $500 months in advance. But… *What if the real sense of a remarkable food experience was living the moment?* Enjoying every second when every second counts (as per *The Bear* Season 2). When you’re doing that, who’s counting the hours? ###### Picture: Netflix --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/06f9e3ff-c4ce-4483-8082-de621e82a78e/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__3.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/964d32f2-93f1-40fe-a9d0-3ca02fceb313/capture_2024-04-22_alle_15-19-28.jpg) #### My Big Fat Greek Cookbook ★★★☆☆ Sticky aubergine tart, sea bass with pistachio pesto, baklava cheesecake. I think none of us has ever cooked one of those Georgina Hayden’s recipes (★[here](https://www.theguardian.com/food/2024/apr/21/sticky-aubergine-tart-sea-bass-pistachio-pesto-baklava-cheesecake-greekish-recipes-georgina-hayden?ref=secretbreakfast.com)). Maybe one does eat Greek in Greece but doesn’t cook Greek-ish at home. Why? Then, this book is for those who wish to bring some more Mediterranean on their plate. [Greekish](https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/greekish-9781526630667/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) by Georgina Hayden **→** Shortplot: 🇬🇷 🫒 🍆 🥒 --- ![This is where Secret Breakfast picks juicy content from food creators](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/a776550c-eefa-4d3e-b067-0438f295b874/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__2.png) This is where Secret Breakfast picks juicy content from food creators [](https://www.instagram.com/reel/C5lKwbFPnfM?ref=secretbreakfast.com) --- ![This is the space where I share some food (un)related stuff of my week](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/cdcd47f2-b8f2-4683-a706-d790e01c1c57/random-full_b__1.png) This is the space where I share some food (un)related stuff of my week 🥄Homemade Instant Miso Soup (★[recipe](https://www.justonecookbook.com/homemade-instant-miso-soup/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🥖The Cringest Thing You’ll See Today: [Baguette Coat-hangers](https://www.instagram.com/p/C5qa4lzMnNY?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🍓Lacto-fermented Strawberry Honey (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reel/C5lKwbFPnfM?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🥜Peanut Butter Noodles (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/p/Cyc%5Fo19Lfqo?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🐜[Fall in Love With a Smaller Kitchen](https://www.eater.com/24121442/downsizing-kitchen-organization-strategy-tools?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🐷Former Football Player Luis Figo Loves [Pig’s Head](https://www.marca.com/futbol/primera-division/2024/04/18/6620e149e2704eb5448b45ab.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com) Delivered at Home 🍋Tartine Bakery’s Lemon Cream (★[recipe](https://food52.com/recipes/16407-tartine-bakery-s-lemon-cream?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🐟[Goodbye cod, hello herring](https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/apr/18/fish-seafood-shellfish-salmon-mussels-prawns-environment-uk-diet-planet-waste-aquaculture-sustainability?ref=secretbreakfast.com): why putting a different fish on your dish will help the planet 🥬What’s the best part of Tonkatsu, if you’re a vegetarian? The Super-Thin Cabbage (★[recipe](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V9kK2sNR%5FuQ&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 👕[The Chore Coat ](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/19/dining/restaurants-chore-coats.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com)is the coolest Restaurant Status Symbol 🍳Don’t forget the only Rolex we respect here: the [Ugandan Vegetable Omelet and Chapati Roll](https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1024093-rolex-vegetable-omelet-and-chapati-roll?ref=secretbreakfast.com) (★[recipe](http://globaltableadventure.com/recipe/ugandan-rolex-breakfast-wrap/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/be74643a-4623-4922-9944-19fdcccb1540/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__1.png) [Two Hedonistic Texas Taco Chains Could Upend Mexican Fast Food. Is America Ready?](https://www.texasmonthly.com/?p=874561&ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Tom Foster / Texas Monthly** Velvet Taco and Torchy's, both led by investment groups, are battling to become the next national taco chain with unique flavors and upscale vibes. These Texas-born rivals aim to redefine tacos while facing criticism for the lack of Latino leadership in a cuisine with deep Mexican roots. --- [Behind a Vegan Chef’s Holistic Empire, an Ugly Reality](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/22/dining/vegan-chef-matthew-kenney.html?unlocked%5Farticle%5Fcode=1.mU0.dRSN.vdzKZ2FnwYvR&smid=url-share&ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Brett Anderson / The New York Times** Matthew Kenney, a celebrity vegan chef, has been running a chaotic business for decades. Despite repeated failures to meet financial obligations, he has been able to secure funding from new investors due to his fame and their commitment to veganism. Ex-employees allege that Kenney withheld paychecks, used investor money for personal expenses, and fostered a hostile work environment. --- **➤ Last week's most clicked link was the chef** [**Mory Sacko's profile**](https://www.theguardian.com/food/2023/may/26/chef-mory-sacko-mosuke-restaurant-france-interview?ref=secretbreakfast.com)**, which was unexpected. Anyway, that's all for today.** --- **• SEASON 4 - ISSUE 181 •** Secret Breakfast is a newsletter by [Piero Macchioni](https://macchioni.cc/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) Think of it as *The Morning Brew* for food people, or just the most unconventional email you'll get today. In two years we have shared more than 2,000 recipes, hundreds of books, and countless hours of news, gluttony, and joy. ★★★★★ Recommended by *Food&Wine US*: [Best Food Newsletters to Subscribe To](https://www.foodandwine.com/lifestyle/best-food-newsletters?ref=secretbreakfast.com) *Gastronomika*: [The Newsletters Not To Be Missed on Food](https://www.linkiesta.it/2022/03/migliori-newsletter-food-cibo-vino?ref=secretbreakfast.com) ### And the Fruit of the Year is... 🇳🇿 URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/fruit-of-year/ Last updated: 2024-04-15T20:37:14.000Z # Welcome to Secret Breakfast / An exclusive newsletter, the best place to start your day with Sleepy Girl Mocktails, disappearing Ghost Kitchens, and starving rich people ![When life gives you lemons, also when in bed](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/251e20fa-3c37-4cf0-b752-1ed0b259832c/capture_2024-04-16_alle_07-52-13.jpg) When life gives you lemons, also when in bed Hi there! It’s Design Week here in Milan, then the city is full of free events and meetings to stimulate our creativity. Yesterday, during a Veuve Clicquot event, I had the privilege of meeting one of my favorite photographers ever, [Alex Webb](https://www.magnumphotos.com/photographer/alex-webb/?ref=secretbreakfast.com), and the interesting French-Malian Senegal-raised chef [Mory Sacko](https://www.instagram.com/mory%5Fsacko%5F/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) (1 Michelin Star in Paris), who is young, talented, and [wearing the coolest uniform in the kitchen business](https://www.theguardian.com/food/2023/may/26/chef-mory-sacko-mosuke-restaurant-france-interview?ref=secretbreakfast.com). You have the best week! Piero Photo: Newsha Tavakolian / Magnum Photos. Courtesy [Veuve Clicquot Emotions of the Sun Exhibit](https://www.veuveclicquot.com/it-it/emotionsofthesunmilano2024.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com) (don’t miss that, if you’re around). --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/8c36de83-fc48-4dac-8050-5518debebec9/quoteok__1.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/000e8ecb-8033-4a15-b212-7ed83fd5b9b3/-_naomi_alderman.png) ✦ **Naomi Alderman,** it sounds too good to be true. I suspect that’s a wrong attribution. --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/a34b217a-cae3-4cac-80c8-bdf5f30996f4/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__6.png) ## **ONE (KIWI-LIKE) FRUIT TO RULE THEM ALL** ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/5a11004b-af9e-46bc-85e8-9f655e8f1f2a/capture_2024-04-15_alle_23-08-37.jpg) Feijoa is a strange little fruit, also known as pineapple guava, that kind of looks like a bumpy green oval. It's native to South America but grows in places like New Zealand too. The inside is juicy and sweet with a mix of flavors like pineapple and guava, and some people say the skin smells a bit strong before it's ripe. You can eat it raw or make jams and jellies out of it. [New Zealanders Appear to be Crazy for This Fruit, right now](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/12/world/australia/new-zealand-feioja-kiwis.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com). It falls off trees in such abundance that it is often given to neighbors and colleagues by the bucket or even the wheelbarrow load. Only in cases of extreme desperation do people buy any. Can you cook it? Well, you can try Feijoa crumble slice (★[recipe](https://nadialim.com/feijoa-crumble-slice/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) or Feijoa Loaf (★[recipe](https://mykidslickthebowl.com/feijoa-almond-loaf/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) ###### Picture: The New York Times, by [Tatsiana Chypsanava](https://www.chypsanava.com/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) (check her out) --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/06f9e3ff-c4ce-4483-8082-de621e82a78e/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__3.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/44500d41-48df-4577-846e-c9df910f4d15/capture_2024-04-16_alle_08-02-15.jpg) #### Family recipes ★★★☆☆ [Italy on my Mind](https://www.italyonmymind.com.au/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) Italian-Australian blogger Paola Bacchia writes the book we all would write about our origins. It’s personal, then don’t consider that a masterclass in Italian cooking, but in memories. [At Nonna's Table: One Italian Family's Recipes, Shared With Love](https://www.smithstreetbooks.com/catalogue/at-nonnas-table/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) by Paola Bacchia **→** Shortplot: 🍓 🍗 ☕️ 🍪 --- ![This is where Secret Breakfast picks juicy content from food creators](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/a776550c-eefa-4d3e-b067-0438f295b874/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__2.png) This is where Secret Breakfast picks juicy content from food creators [](https://www.instagram.com/reel/C4CaAeMPtOx/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/cdcd47f2-b8f2-4683-a706-d790e01c1c57/random-full_b__1.png) 🥒Easy Japanese Pickle: Daikon (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reel/C2aJkuZoRD8/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🥚Polish Confit Egg Yolks (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reel/C35qImVI0af/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🍳Yes, You Can Wash Cast Iron: [5 Big Kitchen Myths, Debunked](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/08/dining/kitchen-myths.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 👻Yeah, [Ghost Kitchens Are Disappearing](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/12/business/ghost-kitchens-restaurants-pandemic.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🧑🏻‍🍳Any Chef by [The Use of Purée](https://www.instagram.com/reel/C5lfze-o64%5F/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🍣I’m still watching *Shōgun*, and in the latest episode there were a mean Tea Ceremony scene and a [Sawara ](https://www.thesushigeek.com/the-sushi-geek/2016/03/30/sawara-%E9%B0%86-spanish-mackerel?ref=secretbreakfast.com)Sushi 🆙How to [Kitchen Upgrade](https://www.eater.com/best-kitchen-cooking-tools-spring-cleaning-upgrade?ref=secretbreakfast.com) [Sleepy Girl Mocktail](https://health.clevelandclinic.org/sleepy-girl-mocktail/?ref=secretbreakfast.com): What’s in It and Does It Really Make You Sleep Better? 🍗[The jubilant revival of the British Sunday roast](https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20240228-the-jubilant-revival-of-the-british-sunday-roast?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🥒[Why Your Diet Needs More Fermented Pickles](https://time.com/6958510/are-pickles-good-for-you/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🥪Vegan Grilled Cheese Sandwich (★[recipe](https://biancazapatka.com/en/vegan-grilled-cheese-sandwich/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🍵 [Tea Sommeliers](https://www.semafor.com/newsletter/04/11/2024/semafor-flagship?ref=secretbreakfast.com#k) are a thing in… France! 🥥When you buy coconut water and discover you hate it, just cook with that (★[recipes](https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/uk/food/a33133321/vita-coco-cooking/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) or use it to cook rice (★[recipe](https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/272602/coconut-water-rice/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/be74643a-4623-4922-9944-19fdcccb1540/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__1.png) [Why don’t rich people eat anymore?](https://www.dazeddigital.com/beauty/article/62371/1/why-dont-rich-people-eat-anymore-ozempic-extreme-fasting-supplements?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Serena Smith / Dazed Beauty** For rich people extreme dieting is a way to show off their wealth. They can afford fancy chefs and all the fresh food they want, so they can stay skinny easily. On top of that, they use all sorts of meds and supplements to cut their appetite. The article says this whole trend is pretty unhealthy and isn't something most people can actually do. --- [What are ‘Food Barons’— and Why Should You Care?](https://bittmanproject.com/what-are-food-barons-and-why-should-you-care/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Charlie Hope D’Anieri / The Bittman Project** This article is about big companies that control the American food industry, also known as “food barons”. The author talks to Austin Frerick, who wrote a book about this topic, and they discuss how these big companies affect the food system in many ways, like making food expensive and giving us less choice of what to buy. --- **➤ Last week's most clicked link was** [**48 terrific tarts from custard to lemon meringue**](https://www.delicious.com.au/recipes/collections/gallery/quick-and-easy-tart-recipes/bguu2ln6?ref=secretbreakfast.com)**. And that's all for today.** --- **• SEASON 4 - ISSUE 180 •** Secret Breakfast is a newsletter by [Piero Macchioni](https://macchioni.cc/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) Think of it as *The Morning Brew* for food people, or just the most unconventional email you'll get today. In two years we have shared more than 2,000 recipes, hundreds of books, and countless hours of news, gluttony, and joy. ★★★★★ Recommended by *Food&Wine US*: [Best Food Newsletters to Subscribe To](https://www.foodandwine.com/lifestyle/best-food-newsletters?ref=secretbreakfast.com) *Gastronomika*: [The Newsletters Not To Be Missed on Food](https://www.linkiesta.it/2022/03/migliori-newsletter-food-cibo-vino?ref=secretbreakfast.com) ### ░T░o░t░a░l░░E░c░l░i░p░s░e░░o░f░░t░h░e░░T░a░r░t░🌑🌞░ URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/total-eclipse/ Last updated: 2024-04-08T15:34:49.000Z # Welcome to Secret Breakfast / An exclusive newsletter, the best place to start your day with flower focaccia, dinosaur macarons, and the awareness that eating like a salmon is better than eating salmon ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/2edf2a52-1b76-4afc-9715-912c77e425a3/capture_2024-04-10_alle_06-40-34.jpg) Hi there! There’s no doubt that, in a certain hemisphere, the only dish worthy to be remembered this week was the plastic/pater one used to build [masks and goggles](https://mynasadata.larc.nasa.gov/lesson-plans/solar-eclipse-safety-activity?ref=secretbreakfast.com) to watch the Solar Eclipse We have time til’ the [next total eclipse](https://science.nasa.gov/eclipses/future-eclipses/?ref=secretbreakfast.com): which will be on August 12, 2026 in Greenland, Iceland, Spain, and Russia. Piero [Sabiha Çimen - Magnum](https://collection.squarespace.com/sabiha-cimen?ref=secretbreakfast.com): the agency did [a project for Squarespace](https://collection.squarespace.com/magnum?ref=secretbreakfast.com), and the results are quite interesting. --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/3b846f72-2b32-473a-865b-5f24b3f0566e/quoteok__1.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/86c0a4b6-3e42-4997-8229-2ab06572d696/jose_cc_81_andre_cc_81s.png) ✦ **José Andrés,** chef and activist,[*Let People Eat*](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/03/opinion/jose-andres-let-people-eat.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com). --- --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/06f9e3ff-c4ce-4483-8082-de621e82a78e/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__3.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/33266c37-a761-41bb-afc9-21bedb7ad4c8/capture_2024-04-10_alle_06-34-47.jpg) #### ¡Hola! ★★★★☆ Spring and Summer are made to eat more Spanish. This classic is 40 years old now and it’s been republished. It is also known as “the only book you need to cook Spanish at home” and 1080 recipes are there to confirm that. [Spain: The Cookbook](https://www.phaidon.com/store/cookbooks-food-and-drink/spain-the-cookbook-9781838668150/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) by Simone and Inés Ortega, and Ferran Adrià **→** Shortplot: 🇪🇸 🇪🇸 🇪🇸 🇪🇸 --- ![This is where Secret Breakfast picks juicy content from food creators](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/a776550c-eefa-4d3e-b067-0438f295b874/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__2.png) This is where Secret Breakfast picks juicy content from food creators [](https://www.instagram.com/reel/C5QZbT5C1IV/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/cdcd47f2-b8f2-4683-a706-d790e01c1c57/random-full_b__1.png) 🥧48 terrific tarts (★[recipe](https://www.delicious.com.au/recipes/collections/gallery/quick-and-easy-tart-recipes/bguu2ln6?page=41&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🍅Tomato oil (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reel/C5P8YHoIBjN/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🦕[Dinosaur macarons and pink prosecco:](https://www.theguardian.com/food/2024/apr/07/dinosaur-macarons-and-pink-prosecco-how-afternoon-tea-in-uk-embraced-the-instagram-generation?ref=secretbreakfast.com) how afternoon tea in UK embraced the Instagram generation 🍈[Bitter melon](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/05/t-magazine/bitter-melon-cocktails.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com) is making its way onto drinks menus 💸[How did the cost of food delivery get so high?](https://www.vox.com/money/24118201/food-delivery-cost-expensive-doordash-ubereats-grubhub?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🥚[Why Expensive Eggs Are a Lie](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QHaO14VRos&ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🍗[Marinating is a Lie](https://slate.com/human-interest/2024/03/chicken-pork-steak-marinade-recipe-salmon-how-to.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com) as well 🐟[Eating Like a Salmon Is Better Than Eating Actual Salmon](https://www.foodandwine.com/health-benefits-of-eating-wild-fish-8622761?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🥣[Can Oats Really Help You Lose Weight?](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/03/well/eat/oats-ozempic-tiktok.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🇯🇵[How ‘Tokyo Vice’ Captured More of Japan’s Capital City on Camera Than Any TV Show Has Before](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-features/tokyo-vice-japan-filming-challenges-1235862921/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 👴🏻[Seniors Are Falling for AI-Generated Pics on Facebook](https://www.thedailybeast.com/how-seniors-are-falling-for-ai-generated-pics-on-facebook?ref=secretbreakfast.com) ❤️‍🩹[Why the world stopped having sex](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/02/10/france-sex-lives-lowest-level-britain-japan-korea/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🐓30 Minute Butter Chicken Meatballs (★[recipe](https://www.halfbakedharvest.com/30-minute-butter-chicken-meatballs/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🏅[Here Are the 2024 James Beard Awards Restaurant and Chef Finalists](https://www.eater.com/24118355/2024-james-beard-awards-restaurant-chef-finalists?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 👩🏻‍🍳[The Hottest Restaurant in France Is an All-You-Can-Eat Buffet](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2024/04/08/les-grands-buffets-and-the-art-of-all-you-can-eat?ref=secretbreakfast.com) --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/be74643a-4623-4922-9944-19fdcccb1540/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__1.png) [I had an epiphany. I had fallen in love with a café](https://www.newstatesman.com/culture/life/2024/04/i-had-an-epiphany-i-had-fallen-in-love-with-a-cafe?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Tracey Thorn / The New Statesman** “About a year ago I fell in love with a café. It isn’t a new café, or even new to me. In fact, it is a place I have visited on and off for close to 40 years, although sometimes with long gaps. It’s not a trendy café, or a gourmet café, or the type of place that features on Instagram”. --- [Sweet Tea With Emily Dickinson](https://www.salvationsouth.com/sweet-tea-with-emily-dickinson-essay-sybil-rosen/?curator=MediaREDEF&ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Sybil Rosen / Salvation South** How a small crew in tiny Whitesburg, Georgia, turned the work of a 19th century New England poet into a touring fundraiser for small-town public libraries in the South. Emily Dickinson probably never heard of Whitesburg, Georgia. With a special tea (★[recipe](https://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-make-sweet-tea-cooking-lessons-from-the-kitchn-94457?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) --- [New York City’s new Gilded Age](https://www.businessinsider.com/new-york-city-gaudy-gilded-age-restaurants-bars-wall-street-2024-4?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Linette Lopez / Business Insider** For Wall Street’s elite, dining out is suddenly louder and more extravagant than ever. The bars and restaurants that put the glint on New York City never stopped partying. --- **➤ Last week's most clicked link was** [**How to Make a Salad You’re Actually Excited to Eat**](https://www.self.com/story/how-to-make-a-salad-exciting?ref=secretbreakfast.com)**. And that's all for today.** --- **• SEASON 4 - ISSUE 179 •** Secret Breakfast is a newsletter by [Piero Macchioni](https://macchioni.cc/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) Think of it as *The Morning Brew* for food people, or just the most unconventional email you'll get today. In two years we have shared more than 2,000 recipes, hundreds of books, and countless hours of news, gluttony, and joy. ★★★★★ Recommended by *Food&Wine US*: [Best Food Newsletters to Subscribe To](https://www.foodandwine.com/lifestyle/best-food-newsletters?ref=secretbreakfast.com) *Gastronomika*: [The Newsletters Not To Be Missed on Food](https://www.linkiesta.it/2022/03/migliori-newsletter-food-cibo-vino?ref=secretbreakfast.com) ### Rules of civility and edible economics 📊 URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/edible-economics/ Last updated: 2024-04-03T06:27:00.000Z # Welcome to Secret Breakfast / An exclusive newsletter, the best place to start your day studying rules of civility, edible economics, and hot oil peanut butter noodles ![Let’s play “Hungry, Not Hungry”.](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/b4deaa47-4d62-48bb-9229-aa1b17fbc6b5/capture_2024-04-03_alle_08-52-51.jpg) Let’s play “Hungry, Not Hungry”. Hi there! First things first… welcome to new Spanish-speaking readers: how did you get here? Please, drop me a line and tell me. Second, you all do not know but you just gave me a fantastic birthday present. How? Not getting hungry the newsletter is one day late, and tolerating today’s issue does not have the usual structure. Third, yeah I might have mixed up Simone Veil and Simone Weil a couple of days ago (thanks Sandra!), so: I’m sorry about that, I’ll try not to write this during the night when I feel like a zombie and no Pedro Pascal is around to bring me to bed. Enjoy the following stuff! Piero Samut Prakan, Thailand. A performer places his head inside a crocodile’s mouth at a crocodile farm and zoo, which has reopened three years after being closed because of the Covid pandemic. Photograph: [Narong Sangnak/EPA](https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/gallery/2024/apr/01/paper-planes-and-berlin-on-a-high-photos-of-the-day-monday?ref=secretbreakfast.com) --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/6d556b7b-dd4e-498d-be22-adc3338def82/quoteok__1.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/852ccab2-0030-4030-84e4-db5708645fa6/rules_of_civility_by_amor_towles.png) **✦ Amor Towles,** [Rules of Civility](https://www.amortowles.com/rules-of-civility-about-the-book/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)**.** And it goes on: “*For what was civilization but the intellect’s ascendancy out of the doldrums of necessity (shelter, sustenance and survival) into the ether of the finely superfluous (poetry, handbags and haute cuisine)*?”. --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/06f9e3ff-c4ce-4483-8082-de621e82a78e/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__3.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/dcbbd917-79d8-45a6-b0a5-c809b664c7d6/capture_2024-04-03_alle_09-13-10.jpg) #### Lessons in Eatery ★★★☆☆ This one is not new, but it has a killer blurb by Brian Eno: “The only book I've ever read that made me laugh, salivate and re-evaluate my thoughts about economics – all at the same time. A funny, profound and appetising volume”. [Edible Economics: A Hungry Economist Explains the World](https://mitpressbookstore.mit.edu/book/9781541700543?ref=secretbreakfast.com) by Ha-Joon Chang **→** Shortplot: 😵 📊 🍫 💰 --- ![This is where Secret Breakfast picks juicy content from food creators](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/a776550c-eefa-4d3e-b067-0438f295b874/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__2.png) This is where Secret Breakfast picks juicy content from food creators [](https://www.instagram.com/p/CnZzmNmDpBk?ref=secretbreakfast.com) --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/cdcd47f2-b8f2-4683-a706-d790e01c1c57/random-full_b__1.png) 🔥How to make koobideh like your baba (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reel/C2zwCVauAwt?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🍄The Noma Guide to [Mushroom Garum](https://nomaprojects.com/products/mushroom-garum?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🏠The [Decadent House](https://www.vogue.it/article/casa-alessandro-michele-foto-palazzo-scapucci-roma?ref=secretbreakfast.com) of Valentino’s Next Creative Director 🥬White Bean Miso with Sake Braised Cabbage & Fennel (★[recipe](https://kinto-europe.com/blogs/journal/white-bean-miso-braised-cabbage-fennel-with-farofa-by-agnes-sakai?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🍔[Inside the A&W test kitchen, a battlefield in the fast food wars](https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/a-w-test-kitchen-fast-food-wars-1.7151343?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🍜The 4 Major Ramen Types, [Illustrated](https://twitter.com/Rainmaker1973/status/1774062207531130934?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🏙️[The 100 Best Restaurants in New York City in 2024](https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2024/dining/best-nyc-restaurants.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🤷🏼‍♂️[The Problem of Marital Loneliness](https://www.newyorker.com/culture/cultural-comment/the-problem-of-marital-loneliness?ref=secretbreakfast.com): *The very closeness of marriage makes every bit of distance palpable. Something is wrong, all the time* 🍷It’s [Wine corks vs Screw caps](https://www.semafor.com/newsletter/04/02/2024/semafor-flagship-woefully-insufficient?ref=secretbreakfast.com#l) now ✈️[10 Top Airports for Food and Drinks, According to the Experts](https://www.foodandwine.com/global-tastemakers-best-airports-food-drink-2024-8620209?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 📺Thursday, April 4 there’s a *Fire The Menu* [Livestream with Antonio & Casey](https://lifeandthyme.com/events/livestream-with-antonio-casey/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🍼[Why researchers think human milk could repair the gut microbiome and reduce infections](https://www.statnews.com/2024/03/29/human-milk-oligosaccarides-gut-microbiome-immune-boost/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 📚[The best new science fiction books of April 2024](https://www.newscientist.com/article/2424756-the-best-new-science-fiction-books-of-april-2024/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) (the *3 Body Problem* guy has a new one out) 🥗How to Make a Salad You’re Actually Excited to Eat (★[recipe](https://www.self.com/story/how-to-make-a-salad-exciting?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🧆Bulgogi-style meatballs (★[recipe](https://s2.washingtonpost.com/camp-rw/?trackId=60c79a1bade4e27d9e2f202c&s=660acc0816b9940d7a96a5e4&linknum=2&linktot=52&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🍣From the Archive: [The Ten ‘Commandments’ of Sushi](https://medium.com/gone/the-ten-commandments-of-sushi-4eac45192c7d?ref=secretbreakfast.com) --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/be74643a-4623-4922-9944-19fdcccb1540/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__1.png) [The Story Behind the José Andrés Nonprofit Currently Mobilized to Feed Gaza](https://www.eater.com/2017/11/10/16623204/jose-andres-gaza-world-central-kitchen-bahamas-puerto-rico-haiti-houston?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Monica Burton / Eater** World Central Kitchen became the first group to send a ship carrying aid to Gaza. Then, a few hours ago, [seven members of the team were killed in an IDF strike](https://wck.org/news/gaza-team-update?ref=secretbreakfast.com). World Central Kitchen is [suspending operations in the region](https://www.latimes.com/food/story/2024-04-01/world-central-kitchen-workers-killed-gaza-jose-andres?ref=secretbreakfast.com) and said in a statement it will be making decisions about future work in Gaza soon. --- **➤ Last week's most clicked link was this** [**Vanilla Brown Sugar Honey Butter Toast**](https://www.instagram.com/reel/C3oGnpWMtQz?ref=secretbreakfast.com)**. And that's all for today.** --- **• SEASON 4 - ISSUE 178 •** Secret Breakfast is a newsletter by [Piero Macchioni](https://macchioni.cc/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) Think of it as *The Morning Brew* for food people, or just the most unconventional email you'll get today. In two years we have shared more than 2,000 recipes, hundreds of books, and countless hours of news, gluttony, and joy. ★★★★★ Recommended by *Food&Wine US*: [Best Food Newsletters to Subscribe To](https://www.foodandwine.com/lifestyle/best-food-newsletters?ref=secretbreakfast.com) *Gastronomika*: [The Newsletters Not To Be Missed on Food](https://www.linkiesta.it/2022/03/migliori-newsletter-food-cibo-vino?ref=secretbreakfast.com) ### Open This and Find Your Easter Egg 🥚 URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/easter-egg/ Last updated: 2024-03-26T04:55:44.000Z # Welcome to Secret Breakfast / An exclusive newsletter, the best place to start your day with ox hearts, butter novels, and onion and garlic peel marbled (Easter) eggs ![Churros are fried with pure joy.](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/1f0955b1-76ad-4178-90eb-177a6cb29dec/capture_2024-03-26_alle_06-09-30.jpg) Churros are fried with pure joy. Hi there! It’s been a peculiar week. Traveling. Working from waiting rooms. Having virtual meetings sitting on the sidewalk. Eating pizza from the cardboard while walking. Being served Tortellini soup at 5PM. Binge-watching tv series I expected for ages (Shōgun, 3 Body Problem). Don’t be surprised if this week things are more asymmetrical than ever. Piero PS: the “Food for later” section has three great links. Martin Elizalde Valenzuela paints houses in the morning and is happy to sell his churros in the afternoon. The photo was taken in Jalisco, Mexico, on Dec. 26, 2022\. [Yolanda Escobar Jimenez for NPR](https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2024/03/19/1239277032/can-a-picture-make-you-happy-we-asked-photographers-and-heres-what-they-sent-us?utm%5Fplacement=newsletter&ref=secretbreakfast.com) --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/81ca5f9a-a6a0-49cd-bbfb-897917410abd/quoteok__1.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/323cf20b-14ed-4037-bfb0-94403c28273d/james_clavell_.png) ✦ **James Clavell,** [Shōgun](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sh%C5%8Dgun%5F%28novel%29?ref=secretbreakfast.com). Up here you see the [TV show](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sh%C5%8Dgun%5F%282024%5Fminiseries%29?ref=secretbreakfast.com) adaptation of the original quote. If you want to take it further, you can follow this link to cook one of the most surprising meats you can try, Ox Heart (★[recipes](https://www.greatbritishchefs.com/collections/heart-recipes?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/a34b217a-cae3-4cac-80c8-bdf5f30996f4/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__6.png) ## **I’LL DRINK TO THAT** ![After-funeral gatherings, with pints.](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/e1a79ff2-21ff-477c-999c-ad11b9e064f0/capture_2024-03-26_alle_06-13-58.jpg) After-funeral gatherings, with pints. [Paloma Cocktail ](https://www.loveandlemons.com/paloma/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)(★[recipe](https://www.loveandlemons.com/paloma/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) is a Margarita made with grapefruit and lime juice. The TV show [3 Body Problem](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3%5FBody%5FProblem%5F%28TV%5Fseries%29?ref=secretbreakfast.com) does not have much food in it (except for one of the main character’s snacks), but at one point the latino-scientist Eiza González is supposed to make some Palomas for her brainy friends. It’s not the perfect cocktail to sip on a freezing British beach as you see on the show, but it’s a great idea for your next party. The whole show is alcohol oriented. One scene struck me: after a funeral five friends (and one boyfriend) gather in a pub. It’s the opposite of the food-centered funeral party, with lots of people, we see in American movies. Well, I had some of those bar gatherings now, and I can still recall the sense of bonding I had on those occasions, where laughs - in that cold air - become stronger than tears. Friendship is a pretty unique ingredient, after all. I’ll drink to that. ###### Picture: 3 Body Problem, Netflix --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/06f9e3ff-c4ce-4483-8082-de621e82a78e/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__3.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/3311b1ce-cdcd-49ab-82d5-10520dfaa209/capture_2024-03-26_alle_07-20-18.jpg) #### Food, Feminism and Butter ★★★☆☆ The title. This book’s here only for that. *Butter* is about a female serial killer and a journalist, Rika, who interviews her. Then Rika starts to gain weight, which challenges societal beauty standards in Japan. It’s an interesting novel exploring the themes of hunger, gender roles, and body image in out society. [Butter: A Novel of Food and Murder](https://www.harpercollins.com/products/butter-asako-yuzuki?ref=secretbreakfast.com) by Asako Yuzuki **→** Shortplot: 🧈 🍽️ 🍞 🐄 --- ![This is where we pick juicy content from food creators. Just in time for Easter!](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/a776550c-eefa-4d3e-b067-0438f295b874/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__2.png) This is where we pick juicy content from food creators. Just in time for Easter! [](https://www.instagram.com/reel/C4n16uuslwY/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/cdcd47f2-b8f2-4683-a706-d790e01c1c57/random-full_b__1.png) 🍯Start your morning with some Honey-Butter-Toast (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reel/C3oGnpWMtQz/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🧀A gift from Italy: Easter Cheese Crescia (★[recipe](https://www.palazzorotati.com/en/crescia-of-easter-marchigiana.php?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🌽[The Bon Appétit Guide to Gluten-Free Baking](https://www.bonappetit.com/story/gluten-free-baking?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🍬[Swedish Candy Is Suddenly Inescapable](https://www.eater.com/24078383/bonbon-swedish-candy-tiktok-trend-explained?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🍔How to Make McDonald’s Big Mac Sauce at Home, According to an Ex McDonald’s Chef (★[recipe](https://www.foodandwine.com/mcdonalds-big-mac-sauce-recipe-8612542?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🧑🏼‍🚀[If You Can Afford to Eat in Space, You’re Too Rich](https://www.eater.com/24101300/dinner-in-space-perspectives-rasmus-munk?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🚮Everything you need to know about[ food waste](https://one5c.com/food-waste-136944407/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 👶🏼Researchers explain the[ dissimilar smells ](https://phys.org/news/2024-03-dissimilar-babies-teenagers.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com)of babies and teenagers 🥥Make a 10-minute coconut jam (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reel/C3B3OmyJkbg/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) then eat on a toast with 2 thick cols butter slices 🐓[Not just Chizza: A look back at KFC’s weirdest menu items](https://qz.com/weirdest-kfc-menu-items-chizza-1851353202?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🔥[How to Clean an Oven](https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/how-to-clean-an-oven/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🥩France bans the term [steak](https://www.efanews.eu/item/38694-france-bans-the-term-steak-for-vegetable-meat.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com) for vegetable meat --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/be74643a-4623-4922-9944-19fdcccb1540/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__1.png) [When a Recipe Says It’s “Quick and Easy”](https://www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/when-a-recipe-says-its-quick-and-easy?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Jiji Lee and Patric Clair / McSweeney’s** This one is short and really fun. “Step 1\. Go to your local specialty market that is more than five but less than twenty miles away to procure your ingredients. Step 2\. Stop by the meat counter and address your butcher by first name. If you are not on a first-name basis with your butcher, this recipe will not work”. --- [The Brutality of Sugar: Debt, Child Marriage and Hysterectomies](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/24/world/asia/india-sugar-cane-fields-child-labor-hysterectomies.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Megha Rajagopalan, Qadri Inzamam, Saumya Khandelwal / The New York Times** This is a report about the brutal working conditions in sugar cane fields in Maharashtra, India, where big companies like Coca-Cola and PepsiCo should better monitor their supply chains. Sugar cane workers are married young (often illegally as child brides) so they can work as couples (*koyta* system). And instead of proper medical care, they are pressured into hysterectomies to avoid taking time off work. --- [They Ate at My Table, Then Ignored My People](https://www.theatlantic.com/family/archive/2024/03/palestinian-food-diplomacy-gaza/677773?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Reem Kassis / The Atlantic** Palestinian food writer Reem Kassis used to believe sharing Palestinian cuisine could build empathy for Palestinians. She hosted dinners and gatherings, hoping people would see the humanity of Palestinians beyond the conflict. However, after a recent attack on Gaza, she felt many who enjoyed her food remained silent about the suffering of Palestinians. This disillusioned her about the power of food diplomacy. --- **➤ Last week's most clicked link was** [**The couples’ guide to moving in together**](https://www.vox.com/even-better/24093470/couples-guide-moving-in-together-cohabitation-finances-emotions-chores?ref=secretbreakfast.com)**. And that's all for today.** --- **• SEASON 4 - ISSUE 177 •** Secret Breakfast is a newsletter by [Piero Macchioni](https://macchioni.cc/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) Think of it as *The Morning Brew* for food people, or just the most unconventional email you'll get today. In two years we have shared more than 2,000 recipes, hundreds of books, and countless hours of news, gluttony, and joy. ★★★★★ Recommended by *Food&Wine US*: [Best Food Newsletters to Subscribe To](https://www.foodandwine.com/lifestyle/best-food-newsletters?ref=secretbreakfast.com) *Gastronomika*: [The Newsletters Not To Be Missed on Food](https://www.linkiesta.it/2022/03/migliori-newsletter-food-cibo-vino?ref=secretbreakfast.com) ### 72 Hours in Paris are Never Enough 🇫🇷 URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/72-hours-paris/ Last updated: 2024-03-18T09:08:28.000Z # Welcome to Secret Breakfast / An exclusive newsletter, the best place to start your day looking for 2000 Feuilles, Spicy Potato Noodles and French Jarcuterie ![Damn, can’t grab that ale.](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/46a18df4-d30b-4462-ad1d-4ae2bc9ab124/saint-joseph-table.jpg) Damn, can’t grab that ale. Hi there! Happy Saint Joseph's Day! Many countries have traditions to honor Jesus’ father. Need one? [Saint Joseph's tables](https://italianenthusiast.com/saint-josephs-day/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)! (Hat/tip reader, and auntie, Maristella from Bruxelles). [Saint Joseph's tables](https://ariajourneys.com/guide/march-19th-saint-josephs-feast-traditions/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) are a ritual that takes place in several towns of Salento, in Southern Italy, where families open their homes to strangers and the poor, offering them a variety of foods on long wooden tables decorated with flowers and candles. It’s a great Catholic tradition, even if I can’t imagine it happening in our cities or urban flats right now. Piero Picture via The Italian Enthusiast --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/d32d30c8-e5c6-4164-a652-ebdd3af0db7e/quoteok__1.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/ae900440-63cd-4e27-9faf-1a5c4b83bbb9/simone_weil.png) ✦ **Simone Veil**, Holocaust survivor, magistrate, and politician who championed women's rights and European unity. --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/a34b217a-cae3-4cac-80c8-bdf5f30996f4/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__6.png) ## **72 HOURS IN PARIS** ![Which came first: the doggie or the chocolate egg?](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/67ad4c68-27d6-4541-b330-ccb1cd610632/pxl_20240310_091850851-mp.jpg) Which came first: the doggie or the chocolate egg? Ok, that’s not the most original escape, nevertheless, you can never eat Paris in a whole weekend. Random notes following. **Louvre in 3 hours.** Why not? Preorder your tickets online; skip the queue entering by the underground mall (the Carrousel du Louvre); point to The Winged Victory of Samothrace; don’t miss the Hermaphrodite and the Venus of Milo; then the Italian Painters (da Vinci’s Virgin of the Rocks, then the Mona Lisa); take a bow to Imperialist French painters; give yourself the gift of a hot Chocolate by Angelina in the Richelieu Café (so you skip the queue at the original Angelina); gain the exit as you wish. **Shopping for cooks.** [E.Dehillerin](https://www.edehillerin.fr/en/?ref=secretbreakfast.com), I know you know it. [Librairie Gourmande](https://www.librairiegourmande.fr/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) is not far. **Bateaux Mouches yes or no?** Yes, at 19.00-19.30, then you have the Eiffel Tower blinging for you. **The food catch.** Find a local market (I visited Bastille’s, but [Beauvau](https://parisjetaime.com/eng/shopping/marche-beauvau-marche-d-aligre-p2488?ref=secretbreakfast.com) is pretty good), watch, and taste. Wherever you are, go to [Arnaud Nicolas](https://arnaudnicolas.paris/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)’ Charcuterie for Jambon persillé (★[recipe](https://www.food.com/recipe/jambon-persille-89393?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) and their extraordinary terrines: it won’t be cheap, but you’ll provide a memorable picnic. You’ll see people lining up for Café de Flore, don’t forget that [Les Deux Magots](https://lesdeuxmagots.fr/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) has better croissants and chocolate. [Pierre Hermé](https://www.pierreherme.com/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) for the macarons (the single most expensive item in Paris after the house rent), but don’t miss the [2000 Feuilles](https://www.pierreherme.com/en/2000-feuilles-entremets.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com). **Rétro dining.** I can’t stay in Paris and miss a fish platter from “old” restaurants like [La Coupole](https://www.lacoupole-paris.com/it/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) or [Bofinger](https://www.bofingerparis.com/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) (or the extra posh [Le Train bleu](https://www.le-train-bleu.com/en/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)), I bet there are better places, but it’s something that reminds me of my first visits. Ah, if you’re in for something French and strong, don’t miss the “bouillons”, restaurants intended for simple meals: this time I took my chances at [Le Petit Saint-Benoit ](https://lepetitsaintbenoit.fr/fr?ref=secretbreakfast.com)in St. Sulpice, food was good but I totally chose the wrong wine (skip the Aveyron…); writer and cook Tommaso Melilli suggests: *Aux Deux Amis, Le Baratin, Le Verre Volè, Bistrot Paul Bert* \+ *Le Servan*, that is more refined and another category. **Bread.** Yo, here you have to try. Bakeries make their own bread in Paris and you have to taste for yourself. I tried Boulangerie *Poilâne, Liberté, Leonie, Bo,* and one called *Top Baguette* that was 1000 better than the name. **Jewish bakeries in the Marais.** I should skip this one today because I felt sick after a pastrami sandwich there, but it was my fault because I over-fermented it keeping it in my bag for hours. Ok, good spots are pretty easy to find: Chez Marianne, Florence Kahn (look for the tongue sandwich), and the yellow one I never remember the name but you can’t miss it. Since you’re there remember: As du Felafel=good, King of felafel=don’t know, but sounds a copy. **Showtime.** Two things looked hot: [Dévorante](https://www.theatredesmathurins.com/spectacles/eleonora-galasso-devorante/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) by Eleonora Galasso, a theater show about food and toxic relationships; the movie [Black Tea](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black%5FTea%5F%28film%29?ref=secretbreakfast.com), about a young Ivorian woman who immigrates to China and falls in love with an older Chinese man (and tea, I suppose). Any question? Happy to answer. ###### Picture: Netflix --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/06f9e3ff-c4ce-4483-8082-de621e82a78e/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__3.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/c52b177e-b6a8-46cd-b2ce-9f8b56927aee/capture_2024-03-19_alle_11-01-46.jpg) #### Welcome to Club Med ★★★☆☆ “Zaytinya” translates to “olive oil” in Turkish and it is also the name of chef Jose Andrés’ restaurant in Washington D.C. Here we’re traveling in Greece, Syria, Turkey and Jordan; a world of yogurt and kebabs, chickpeas and spices, and pita breads. Let’s say it’s an Ottolenghi less contaminated and more refined if you allow me the definition. Bonus: try the Carrot Fritters (★[recipe](https://www.washingtonpost.com/food/2024/03/17/jose-andres-zaytinya-carrot-fritters/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) [Zaytinya](https://www.zaytinya.com/news-item/cookbook/?ref=secretbreakfast.com): Delicious Mediterranean Dishes from Greece, Turkey, and Lebanon by José Andrés **→** Shortplot: 🫒 🐟 🍆 🍖 --- ![This is where Secret Breakfast picks juicy content from food creators](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/a776550c-eefa-4d3e-b067-0438f295b874/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__2.png) This is where Secret Breakfast picks juicy content from food creators [](https://www.instagram.com/p/CwDMl61pBDx/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) (👆🏻[Not everybody likes it](https://www.instagram.com/p/Cpi6WSIIyJk/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/cdcd47f2-b8f2-4683-a706-d790e01c1c57/random-full_b__1.png) 🚛[The couples’ Guide to moving in Together](https://www.vox.com/even-better/24093470/couples-guide-moving-in-together-cohabitation-finances-emotions-chores?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🍖[Guy Richie’s Massive Roast Joint](https://www.instagram.com/reel/C4ncY6joJOf/?igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA%3D%3D&ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🍊3-ingredient Clementine Posset (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reel/C39BPn%5FL8qT/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🐸[France’s Love for Frog Legs](https://www.foodandwine.com/france-frog-legs-species-threat-8609755?ref=secretbreakfast.com) Is Causing a Potential Environmental Disaster on the Other Side of the World 🍍[Flagship](https://www.semafor.com/newsletter/03/17/2024/semafor-flagship-new-pineapples-old-techno?ref=secretbreakfast.com) Del Monte unveiled a new, smaller pineapple variant for the solo pineapple eater 🔥[Sheet pans are kitchen workhorses with limitless possibilities](https://www.washingtonpost.com/food/2024/03/04/sheet-pan-cooking-tips-recipes/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🤤 Breaded Chickpeas with Lemon Dill Dip (★[recipe](https://justinesnacks.com/breaded-chickpeas-with-lemon-dill-dip/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🍹This Guide To [Sour Cocktails](https://www.thezoereport.com/living/guide-to-sour-cocktails?ref=secretbreakfast.com) Will Serve You Well This Spring 🇫🇷It’s Time to Try [French Jarcuterie](https://www.vanillabeancuisine.com/french-jarcuterie/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) (Charcuterie in Jars) 🍫Hell no! [Chocolate Prices are Rising. Again](https://www.semafor.com/newsletter/03/14/2024/semafor-flagship-robots-rail-russia?ref=secretbreakfast.com#k) 🏠The Incredible Story of the [Squatters of Beverly Hills](https://www.curbed.com/article/squatters-rights-california-beverly-hills-los-angeles.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🛌[Sleep Divorce](https://www.vogue.com/article/sleep-divorce?ref=secretbreakfast.com): The Technique That Could Save Your Relationship --- **➤ Last week's most clicked link was about** [**The Daily Hunt for Food**](https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2024/03/12/world/middleeast/gaza-hunger.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **in Gaza. And that's all for today.** --- **• SEASON 4 - ISSUE 176 •** Secret Breakfast is a newsletter by [Piero Macchioni](https://macchioni.cc/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) Think of it as *The Morning Brew* for food people, or just the most unconventional email you'll get today. In two years we have shared more than 2,000 recipes, hundreds of books, and countless hours of news, gluttony, and joy. ★★★★★ Recommended by *Food&Wine US*: [Best Food Newsletters to Subscribe To](https://www.foodandwine.com/lifestyle/best-food-newsletters?ref=secretbreakfast.com) *Gastronomika*: [The Newsletters Not To Be Missed on Food](https://www.linkiesta.it/2022/03/migliori-newsletter-food-cibo-vino?ref=secretbreakfast.com) ### The Strange Case of the Exploding Artichokes 💥 URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/exploding-artichokes/ Last updated: 2024-03-11T15:19:09.000Z # Welcome to Secret Breakfast / An exclusive newsletter, the best place to start your day with exploding artichokes, tricky restaurant menus, and the undeniable bitterness of reality ![A pita bread made from animal feed](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/44b6de63-321e-44f6-bed1-4dbbffac7e72/capture_2024-03-12_alle_22-14-38_cleanup.jpg) A pita bread made from animal feed Hi there! Sometimes I feel uncomfortable. We are talking about cooking, food abundance, and pleasure, while we all know that most people on this Earth struggle to have one basic meal a day. This week I am even more uncomfortable after reading this *New York Times* feature about [the daily hunt for food in Gaza](https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2024/03/12/world/middleeast/gaza-hunger.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com). We can grow cynical to the point we consider hunger “normal”. We can have our ideas about the Middle-East mess. But reading about people making soups with a few leaves of grass, cooking pitas using animal feed, or having just tea and nothing else is heartbreaking. It’s the details. *Hunger* is an abstract idea when you have everything. Once you see what’s on the table of desperate people, everything changes. If you can read only one thing in this newsletter, please read [this](https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2024/03/12/world/middleeast/gaza-hunger.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com). And forgive me for giving you the undeniable bitterness of reality for starters. Piero The New York Times. Reporting by: Amy Schoenfeld Walker, Rawan Sheikh Ahmad and Malika Khurana --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/06cf328b-2b85-483e-84fb-01ad0add14f6/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__5.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/011ccb8a-808a-4bfc-9b4f-21272336349d/thomas_aloysius__tad__dorgan__cartoonist.png) ✦ **Thomas Aloysius (Tad) Dorgan**, cartoonist. --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/a34b217a-cae3-4cac-80c8-bdf5f30996f4/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__6.png) ## **SET OFF THAT ARTICHOKE** ![🎶 I'm the fear addicted, a danger illustrated. I'm a firestarter, twisted firestarter 🎶](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/2cbca0ac-fa8b-459b-9fd2-b5756300ae07/capture_2024-03-11_alle_17-22-06.jpg) 🎶 I'm the fear addicted, a danger illustrated. I'm a firestarter, twisted [firestarter](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wmin5WkOuPw&ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🎶 Have you ever dealt with an exploding artichoke? A few days ago a friend of mine experienced this: cutting the base of an artichoke a tiny flame started, made a poof, a bang of smoke, and a burning smell. Apparently, the phenomenon is well [known](https://twitter.com/dgritzer/status/901175786677432320?ref=secretbreakfast.com), [often in Italy](http://www.thedailymeal.com/Exploding-Artichoke-Shocks-Italy/122113?ref=secretbreakfast.com), and some food people consider it normal (listen to this podcast: [Stella and Daniel on Combustible Artichokes and Making a Better Cookie](https://www.thespecialsaucepodcast.com/podcast/ask-special-sauce-holiday-edition-stella-and-daniel-on-combustible-artichokes-and-making-a-better-cookie/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)). Why did the artichoke explode, then? A certain amount of ammonium nitrate used as a fertilizer could have been embedded in the plant, and then set on fire by a spark generated while cutting with the knife. Artichokes have always been controversial. “He has ‘*le coeur comme un artichaud*’. Eddy fumbled for her high school French. ‘A heart like an artichoke?’ ’Oui. He has a leaf for everyone, but makes a meal for no one.”, wrote Poppy Z. Brite. But in Rome artichokes are a sort of religion: you can go for the fried Carciofi alla Giudìa (★[recipe](https://www.tastingtable.com/1023143/carciofi-alla-giudia-the-iconic-roman-jewish-fried-artichoke-dish/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)), or the stewed Carciofi alla Roma a (★[recipe](https://www.seriouseats.com/carciofi-alla-romana-roman-italian-braised-artichoke-recipe?ref=secretbreakfast.com)). No way you can say NO to them, except if you’re suffering from favism. ###### Picture: Illustrations from a 16th-century manuscript detailing the phenomenon of [Nuremberg's Schembart Carnival](https://publicdomainreview.org/collection/radical-fashion-from-the-schembart-carnival-1590?ref=secretbreakfast.com) --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/06f9e3ff-c4ce-4483-8082-de621e82a78e/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__3.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/0a3efdcd-b724-4e1f-8ae1-1928fee9773a/capture_2024-03-12_alle_21-41-42.jpg) #### No Menu is an Island ★★★★☆ [The Jewish Food Society](https://www.jewishfoodsociety.org/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) is an organization dedicated to preserving Jewish cuisine around the world. Here you have 135 recipes reminding us that “for many Jews, the meal IS the holiday”, and that this kind of cooking embraces a thousand different cultures. [*The Jewish Holiday Table*](https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/naama-shefi/the-jewish-holiday-table/9781648290978/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)*: A World of Recipes, Traditions & Stories to Celebrate All Year Long* by Naama Shefi and Devra Ferst **→** Shortplot: 🕎 🥣 🍆 🍩 --- ![Short edition, next week you’ll know why](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/cdcd47f2-b8f2-4683-a706-d790e01c1c57/random-full_b__1.png) Short edition, next week you’ll know why ☪️45 Ramadan Ideas (★[recipes](https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/collection/ramadan-recipes?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🍽️[Restaurant Menus](https://www.delish.com/food/a46625028/restaurant-menu-design-you-pay-more?ref=secretbreakfast.com) Are Designed To Trick You Into Spending More Money 🥬The Coolest Menu Item at the Moment Is[ Cabbage](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/10/dining/cabbage-popularity.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🛒Here’s Which[ Grocery Aisle You Are Based on Your Zodiac Sign](https://sporked.com/article/grocery-aisle-zodiac/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🍷[What do wine experts really drink at home?](https://www.theguardian.com/food/2024/feb/23/what-do-wine-experts-really-drink-at-home-hannah-crosbie?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🤖[My smart kitchen](https://www.theverge.com/24087703/smart-home-kitchen-appliances?ref=secretbreakfast.com): the good, the bad, and the future 💩[7 Best Foods to Eat When You Have Diarrhea](https://www.self.com/story/best-foods-for-diarrhea?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🇫🇷I Need[ French Food Without Onions and Garlic](https://www.bonappetit.com/story/french-food-without-garlic-onions?ref=secretbreakfast.com) --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/be74643a-4623-4922-9944-19fdcccb1540/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__1.png) [‘My focus is survival’: how rising costs are hitting independent restaurants](https://www.theguardian.com/business/2024/mar/09/costs-independent-restaurants-prices-sambal-shiok-ditto-coffee?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Sarah Butler / The Guardian** The article discusses how independent restaurants in the UK, like Sambal Shiok and Ditto Coffee in London, are raising prices due to inflation and supply chain disruptions. Despite being upfront with customers about the reasons, they're struggling to balance quality and affordability amid economic uncertainties. --- **➤ Last week's most clicked link was** [**The Beginner's Guide on How to Meal Prep for the Week**](https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/food-recipes/a28377603/how-to-meal-prep?ref=secretbreakfast.com)**. And that's all for today.** --- **• SEASON 4 - ISSUE 175 •** Secret Breakfast is a newsletter by [Piero Macchioni](https://macchioni.cc/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) Think of it as *The Morning Brew* for food people, or just the most unconventional email you'll get today. In two years we have shared more than 2,000 recipes, hundreds of books, and countless hours of news, gluttony, and joy. ★★★★★ Recommended by *Food&Wine US*: [Best Food Newsletters to Subscribe To](https://www.foodandwine.com/lifestyle/best-food-newsletters?ref=secretbreakfast.com) *Gastronomika*: [The Newsletters Not To Be Missed on Food](https://www.linkiesta.it/2022/03/migliori-newsletter-food-cibo-vino?ref=secretbreakfast.com) ### Starving in Arrakis 🐛 URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/death-and-ramen/ Last updated: 2024-03-04T10:51:23.000Z # Welcome to Secret Breakfast / An exclusive newsletter, the best place to start your day with hot Japanese guys, death, piglets and ramen ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/17155a1d-9bf3-4847-b09d-b8a98724a472/capture_2024-03-05_alle_13-17-09.jpg) Hi there! I haven’t seen much food in it yet - except when they boil a whole man alive - but I’m obsessed with [*Shōgun*](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2788316?ref=secretbreakfast.com) this week. You should skip it if you’re more of a sous-vide-no-blade person. Piero --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/23f09b93-d020-45f3-94b3-6bb77db1cb4a/quoteok__2.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/1c505c21-e2b2-4b78-874e-c599408b03aa/katherine_morgan_schafler.png) ✦ **Katherine Morgan Schafler,** [*The Perfectionist's Guide to Losing Control: A Path to Peace and Power*](https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/665336/the-perfectionists-guide-to-losing-control-by-katherine-morgan-schafler/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)*.* --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/a34b217a-cae3-4cac-80c8-bdf5f30996f4/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__6.png) ## **RAMEN TO DIE FOR** ![It's all in the reflexes](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/99ab2a79-166c-4834-a580-fef1fc3f2554/capture_2024-03-05_alle_07-47-06.jpg) It's all in the reflexes It’s movie week! [DEATH & RAMEN](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QYCwvQ5Qu74&ref=secretbreakfast.com) is a short film starring Bobby Lee, directed by Tiger Ji and you can watch it on YouTube. *On his final night alive, a ramen chef goes on an unintended late-night odyssey with the Grim Reaper. They share a bowl of noodles and discover what it means to be human.* Longread Bonus: [One Man’s Quest to Make the Perfect Ramen](https://www.chicagomag.com/chicago-magazine/march-2024/the-ramen-lord/). --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/06f9e3ff-c4ce-4483-8082-de621e82a78e/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__3.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/3f09e3ab-ebcd-44e5-bf46-bbc16a804912/capture_2024-03-05_alle_08-01-49.jpg) #### Appetite for destruction ★★★★☆ A cookbook editor nicknamed Piglet in the days leading up to her wedding, is poised to be a hit. But when her fiancée confesses a betrayal two weeks before they're set to be married, Piglet finds herself suddenly hungry. “When Piglet finally does confront the ugliness of her own desires, the novel’s great revelations lie in uncomplicatedly virtuous scenes that disappoint the promises wrought by class standoffs and ostentatiously ripped wedding attire”, writes [The Guardian](https://www.theguardian.com/books/2024/jan/17/piglet-by-lottie-hazell-review-appetite-for-destruction?ref=secretbreakfast.com). [Piglet](https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/456827/piglet-by-hazell-lottie/9780857529565?ref=secretbreakfast.com) by Lottie Hazell **→** Shortplot: 👰🏻‍♀️ 🤤 🔥 🎂 --- ![This is where Secret Breakfast picks juicy content from food creators](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/a776550c-eefa-4d3e-b067-0438f295b874/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__2.png) This is where Secret Breakfast picks juicy content from food creators [](https://www.instagram.com/reel/C35bxwWKAzH?ref=secretbreakfast.com) --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/cdcd47f2-b8f2-4683-a706-d790e01c1c57/random-full_b__1.png) 🧮A Beginner’s Guide on[ How to Meal Prep Like a Pro](https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/food-recipes/a28377603/how-to-meal-prep/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🇯🇵Muji has a [recipes](https://www.muji.eu/pages/muji-stories/muji-recipes.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com) section 🎖️[The very best foodstuff on the internet](https://www.theverge.com/24087968/food-youtube-blogs-recipes-dune-final-fantasy-oneplus-installer-newsletter?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🗺️[Where to Eat in 2024](https://www.eater.com/24009889/best-places-to-eat-restaurants-travel-2024-list?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 📺[How Food Stylists on ‘Feud’ Brought La Côte Basque Back to Life](https://www.eater.com/24072761/feud-capote-vs-the-swans-food-styling-la-cote-basque?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🧀Ridiculously Easy Cheddar Chive Biscuits (★[recipe](https://thecafesucrefarine.com/easy-cheddar-chive-biscuits/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🍿[The 38 All-Time Best Food Movies](https://www.eater.com/24071727/best-food-movies-tampopo-the-taste-of-things-ratatouille?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🤖[San Francisco Chronicle tries an AI chatbot — er, Chowbot — for food recs](https://www.niemanlab.org/2024/02/san-francisco-chronicle-tries-an-ai-chatbot-er-chowbot-for-food-recs/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🥛Homemade Sweetened Condensed Milk (★[recipe](https://www.bestrecipes.com.au/recipes/homemade-sweetened-condensed-milk-recipe/zw75mlxb?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🛌 [Healthy Bedtime Snacks To Eat Before Sleep](https://www.sleepfoundation.org/nutrition/healthy-bedtime-snacks?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🇷🇴Romanian pharmacy museum reveals secret recipe of 200-year-old magic [love potion](https://www.euronews.com/culture/2024/03/01/romanian-pharmacy-museum-reveals-secret-recipe-of-200-year-old-magic-love-potion?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🐛Dune’s Fans Question: [Where is food found on Arrakis?](https://scifi.stackexchange.com/questions/253467/where-is-food-found-on-arrakis?ref=secretbreakfast.com) (spoiler: the “spice” there is not a proper spice) --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/be74643a-4623-4922-9944-19fdcccb1540/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__1.png) [Your body already has a built-in weight loss system that works like Wegovy, Ozempic, and Mounjaro – food and your gut microbiome](https://theconversation.com/your-body-already-has-a-built-in-weight-loss-system-that-works-like-wegovy-ozempic-and-mounjaro-food-and-your-gut-microbiome-220272?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Christopher Damman / The Conversation** Wegovy, Ozempic and Mounjaro are weight loss and diabetes drugs that have made quite a splash in health news. They target regulatory pathways involved in both obesity and diabetes and are widely considered breakthroughs for weight loss and blood sugar control. They’re not the only ones capable of that. --- [Drinking with Agatha Christie](https://crimereads.com/drinking-with-agatha-christie/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Naomi Kaye / Crime Reads** Tisanes, hot chocolate, a pint, gin and gingerbeer, a strong cup of tea: it’s simply not a Christie mystery without an array of beverages at the ready. As a long-term Christie devotee, during re-reads, certain aspects of her usage of beverages kept asserting themselves. --- **➤ Last week's most clicked link was about**[ **the 14 Unexpected Items That These Chefs Never Refrigerate**](https://www.foodandwine.com/chefs/chef-tips-never-refrigerate?ref=secretbreakfast.com)**. And that's all for today.** --- **• SEASON 4 - ISSUE 174 •** Secret Breakfast is a newsletter by [Piero Macchioni](https://macchioni.cc/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) Think of it as *The Morning Brew* for food people, or just the most unconventional email you'll get today. In two years we have shared more than 2,000 recipes, hundreds of books, and countless hours of news, gluttony, and joy. ★★★★★ Recommended by *Food&Wine US*: [Best Food Newsletters to Subscribe To](https://www.foodandwine.com/lifestyle/best-food-newsletters?ref=secretbreakfast.com) *Gastronomika*: [The Newsletters Not To Be Missed on Food](https://www.linkiesta.it/2022/03/migliori-newsletter-food-cibo-vino?ref=secretbreakfast.com) ### Fast Fashion and Slow Noodles 🍜 URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/fast-fashion/ Last updated: 2024-02-20T16:32:02.000Z # Welcome to Secret Breakfast / An exclusive newsletter, the best place to start your day with grease, woven heart cookies, and a teacher called Sourdough ![Celery and bread chez Moschino, during Milan Fashion Week](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/339b742f-67f3-4905-977b-2efb8b515a06/capture_2024-02-26_alle_12-30-02.jpg) Celery and bread chez Moschino, during Milan Fashion Week Hi there! Last week this newsletter skipped a beat, but - hey! - we all survived. Here in Milan, we had a rainy fashion week, and I think I won’t forget this Fall-Winter Moschino look that speaks to me as a reminder of the indisputable sexiness of trenches and Alison Roman’s Thanksgiving Celery Stuffing (★[recipe](https://www.alisoneroman.com/recipes/buttered-stuffing-celery-and-leeks?ref=secretbreakfast.com)). Red pumps are optional. Piero Picture: MOSCHINO AW 2024 - Collezione 0, Look 1 via [Adrian Appiolaza](https://www.instagram.com/p/C3qc2xNNzeC/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/06cf328b-2b85-483e-84fb-01ad0add14f6/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__5.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/eeaff600-9a76-4ce0-9a80-6110be6279d4/chantha_nguon.png) ✦ **Chanta Nguon,** *Slow Noodles*(more below in the books section). --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/a34b217a-cae3-4cac-80c8-bdf5f30996f4/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__6.png) ## **THE DYING ART OF DINNER PARTIES** ![Setting fire on cakes, see Secret Breakfast issue 172](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/27e039e7-668a-4bef-a560-2c6c68f409d0/capture_2024-02-26_alle_21-21-07.jpg) Setting fire on cakes, see Secret Breakfast issue 172 Are dinner parties really so bad? Or are we just bad at hosting them? The double hook comes from this podcast episode about [the (so-called) dying art of dinner parties](https://www.ctpublic.org/show/the-colin-mcenroe-show/2023-10-26/the-so-called-dying-art-of-dinner-parties?ref=secretbreakfast.com). BUT… [The Last Dinner Party](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCA9mEw9kzSdKh01c6SuxhDQ?ref=secretbreakfast.com) is also an indie band, quite good. Eater just wrote: [2024 Is the Year of the Dinner Party](https://www.eater.com/dinner-party-ideas/24033621/eater-at-home-dinner-party-intro?ref=secretbreakfast.com). So, which team are you rooting for? Picture: *Expats*, Prime Video. Spoiler: bah… --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/06f9e3ff-c4ce-4483-8082-de621e82a78e/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__3.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/66e8b6f5-dfc2-402d-b2c6-008b8cd99940/capture_2024-02-25_alle_17-30-33.jpg) #### Back Home ★★★☆☆ Chantha Nguon is a Cambodian author, cook, nonprofit leader, and survivor of the Khmer Rouge. In her new memoir, she details some of the stories of the painful past and hopeful future — through recipes. You can taste an excerpt [here](https://www.cntraveler.com/story/slow-noodles-chantha-nguon?ref=secretbreakfast.com). [*Slow Noodles. A Cambodian Memoir of Love, Loss, and Family Recipes*](https://www.slownoodles.com/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) By Chantha Nguon with Kim Green **→** Shortplot: 🇰🇭 🍜 🐟 🥬 --- ![This is where Secret Breakfast picks juicy content from food creators](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/a776550c-eefa-4d3e-b067-0438f295b874/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__2.png) This is where Secret Breakfast picks juicy content from food creators [](https://www.instagram.com/reel/C3M-gBsLTzu/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/cdcd47f2-b8f2-4683-a706-d790e01c1c57/random-full_b__1.png) 🌎Izimir, Busan and the Other Places [Where to Eat in 2024](https://www.eater.com/24009889/best-places-to-eat-restaurants-travel-2024-list?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🍅[14 Unexpected Items That These Chefs Never Refrigerate](https://www.foodandwine.com/chefs/chef-tips-never-refrigerate?ref=secretbreakfast.com) ☢️Do Not Try This at Home: [Flambadou Oysters](https://www.instagram.com/reel/C3mTlqILbX-/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🌮Who Needs Horror Movies When You Have This: [Making nachos in a hotel sink](https://twitter.com/PicturesFoIder/status/1761081306614468750?ref=secretbreakfast.com) ☕️These Look Good as Sweet Gifts: Espresso Cookies (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reel/C29pXnoJDMV/?igsh=MThlbmppc3BwYnFweg%3D%3D&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🥩Buy a steak and try to make it more Japanese (★[Recipe](https://www.japanesecooking101.com/japanese-beef-steak-recipe/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🍋Adrienne Cheatham [Trying Every Type Of Citrus](https://youtube.com/watch?v=6fFHWdCcQ%5Fc&feature=shared&ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🍆Smoked Aubergine & Walnut Ragu (★[recipe](https://www.rachelama.com/recipes/smoked-aubergine-amp-walnut-ragu?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🍵[There Is Something Primal About Our Love for Cups](https://www.foodandwine.com/stanley-cup-collecting-explained-8572290?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🇺🇸[Hamburgers will decide America’s political future ](https://unherd.com/2024/02/hamburgers-will-decide-americas-future/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)🍷Alicia Kennedy on [On Natural Wine](https://www.aliciakennedy.news/p/on-natural-wine?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🥧The best Salted Caramel Cheesecake Tart (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/salonikukreja/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 📱Ah, You Probably Know That, but [closing your iPhone apps is a mythical waste of time](https://qz.com/stop-closing-your-iphone-s-background-apps-1851269132?ref=secretbreakfast.com) --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/be74643a-4623-4922-9944-19fdcccb1540/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__1.png) [Greasy—and good for the planet](https://www.gatesnotes.com/Alternative-fats-and-oils?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Bill Gates / Gates Notes** Why one of the world’s most famous billionaires and philanthropists is betting on novel fats and oils. --- [What Sourdough Taught Me, in the Pandemic and Beyond](https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2024/02/16/opinion/sourdough-bread-starters-pandemic.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Lexie Smith / The New York Times** “When the world around us stops making sense, I find comfort and clarity in bread”. The story of a woman who donated sourdough around during the pandemic and how far that bread went. --- **➤ Last week's most clicked link was about the**[ **Secrets of a Healthy Breakfast**](https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/23/well/eat/healthy-breakfast.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com)**. And that's all for today.** --- **• SEASON 4 - ISSUE 173-174 •** Secret Breakfast is a newsletter by [Piero Macchioni](https://macchioni.cc/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) Think of it as *The Morning Brew* for food people, or just the most unconventional email you'll get today. In two years we have shared more than 2,000 recipes, hundreds of books, and countless hours of news, gluttony, and joy. ★★★★★ Recommended by *Food&Wine US*: [Best Food Newsletters to Subscribe To](https://www.foodandwine.com/lifestyle/best-food-newsletters?ref=secretbreakfast.com) *Gastronomika*: [The Newsletters Not To Be Missed on Food](https://www.linkiesta.it/2022/03/migliori-newsletter-food-cibo-vino?ref=secretbreakfast.com) ### Love, Pets and Setting Cakes on Fire 🔥 URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/cakes-on-fire/ Last updated: 2024-02-13T11:09:33.000Z # Welcome to Secret Breakfast / An exclusive newsletter, the best place to start your day with homemade marshmallows, rice paper bacon, and cakes on fire ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/308afa87-94ae-4d2a-b450-f52b3e75a686/capture_2024-02-13_alle_12-30-20.jpg) Hi there! It’s been a week to remember. The New York Times trilogy about Love and Food ([Should You Ever Cook Dinner on a First Date?](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/12/dining/cooking-dinner-first-date.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com) \- [When the Breakup Ruins Your Favorite Restaurant](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/12/dining/when-the-breakup-ruins-your-favorite-restaurant.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com) \- [I Love You, but I Hate Your Cooking](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/12/dining/i-love-you-but-i-hate-your-cooking.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com)). The hilarious [Ben Affleck & The DunKings](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ve2miT5iF2M&ref=secretbreakfast.com). Me kissing Taylor Swift after winning the Super Bowl… No, maybe that wasn’t me at all. Piero Photograph: Manila, Philippines. A fire-eater performs in Binondo, the city’s Chinatown / [Eloisa Lopez/Reuters](https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/gallery/2024/feb/10/lunar-new-year-2024-around-the-world-in-pictures?ref=secretbreakfast.com) --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/4b808d0d-6aa7-412d-9245-4bbe2a0a5053/quoteok.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/6ab377a9-f96a-4197-8000-3bfd10d8e04a/martin_scorsese.png) ✦ **Martin Scorsese,** director**,** *Killers of the Flower Moon* **.** --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/a34b217a-cae3-4cac-80c8-bdf5f30996f4/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__6.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/8075dc6d-9bd0-4d1e-b22a-ef5abbdc815f/capture_2024-02-12_alle_08-58-48.jpg) ## **EATIN’ LIKE THE ANIMALS** “What can I know?”. “What must I do?”. “What may I hope?”. Immanuel Kant’s questions are still resonating in our existence. But the loudest is the one he had never the courage to ask: **can humans eat animal treats**? The universal answer to that is that no industrial pet food is safe for humans unless it says on the package that they are made with human-grade ingredients. If you wanna cook and share some snacks with your puppy the Internet is still offering healthy ideas, like 25 Easy Homemade Dog Treats You Can DIY at Home (★[recipes](https://www.womansday.com/life/pet-care/g2333/diy-homemade-dog-treats/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) or Vet-Approved Homemade Cat Food Recipes (★[recipes](https://www.getsetpet.com/blogs/pet-portal/vet-approved-homemade-cat-food-recipes?ref=secretbreakfast.com)). --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/06f9e3ff-c4ce-4483-8082-de621e82a78e/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__3.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/b11497eb-d350-4168-a4ec-80c67e7cdae5/capture_2024-02-13_alle_14-00-28.jpg) #### He lives in a house, a very big house in the country ★★★☆☆ I don’t know. That’s a cookbook setting up a mood more than building new flavors. We’re in the realm of “rustic charm”. If you long for it, you’re served: “luscious pies that are bursting with fresh, seasonal fruits; delicate teacakes and scones that enchant the eyes and the taste buds; and warm, crusty bread to fill your kitchen with pleasing aromas”. [The Cottagecore Baking Book: 60 Sweet and Savory Bakes for Simple, Cozy Living](https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-cottagecore-baking-book-kayla-lobermeier/1143707749?ref=secretbreakfast.com) by Kayla Lobermeier **→** Shortplot: 🍞 🥧 🍎 🌳 --- ![This is where Secret Breakfast picks juicy content from food creators](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/a776550c-eefa-4d3e-b067-0438f295b874/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__2.png) This is where Secret Breakfast picks juicy content from food creators [](https://www.instagram.com/reel/C2oDo0MJahF?ref=secretbreakfast.com) --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/cdcd47f2-b8f2-4683-a706-d790e01c1c57/random-full_b__1.png) 🥧A *pithivier* is a French pie made by baking two disks of puff pastry, think about the possibilities (★veggie [recipe](https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/caramelised-onion-squash-spinach-pithivier?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🥓Rice Paper Bacon (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reel/C0zJbxNLuZ8?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🦾You Go Ahead: Spanish tech startup aims to put [3D-printed meat on our plates](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/feb/11/spanish-startup-cocuus-pamplona-quest-3d-printed-meat-steak?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🍳How To Make a Healthy Breakfast (★[recipes](https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/23/well/eat/healthy-breakfast.html?unlocked%5Farticle%5Fcode=1.U00.M4qR.ZBWO1UFBjtd7&smid=url-share&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) Make some Comeback Sauce (★[recipe](https://www.budgetbytes.com/comeback-sauce?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🍠Baked Sweet Potatoes with Maple Crème Fraîche (★[recipe](https://niksharmacooks.com/the-flavor-equation-baked-sweet-potatoes-with-maple-crme-frache?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 📖My Beloved [Carolina Gelen Wrote a Cookbook](https://www.instagram.com/p/C3JXpeLulvG?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🇳🇬A British-Nigerian chef became [the first Black female chef in the U.K. to win a Michelin star](https://www.semafor.com/newsletter/02/12/2024/semafor-flagship?ref=secretbreakfast.com#k) 🐖[Cuddling Pigs](https://apnews.com/article/japan-pig-cafe-trendy-animals-stress-8e8aa76abbae4c240c25258a0039ef4d?ref=secretbreakfast.com) is the New Cuddling Cats 🧀Merde! A collapse in microbe diversity puts these [French cheeses at risk](https://www.vox.com/down-to-earth/2024/2/10/24065277/cheese-extinction-camembert-brie-mold?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🔥Trend: Do Not Lit Birthday Candles, [Set the Whole Cake on Fire](https://www.eater.com/24054883/tiktok-burn-away-cake-trend-explained?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🧊Something Aestethic: This Project About Canadian Huts Over Frozen Lakes ([pictures](https://www.thisiscolossal.com/2024/01/richard-johnson-ice-huts?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 👨🏼‍🚀Think: How Did The Future Already Happen? ([video](https://youtu.be/wwSzpaTHyS8?ref=secretbreakfast.com), watch it when you’re quiet) --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/be74643a-4623-4922-9944-19fdcccb1540/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__1.png) [The surreal life of a professional bridesmaid](https://thehustle.co/the-surreal-life-of-a-professional-bridesmaid?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Katherine Laidlaw / The Hustle** Jen Glantz, frustrated with being a bridesmaid multiple times and the associated costs, posted a Craigslist ad offering her services as a professional bridesmaid. The ad led to Glantz establishing a successful business as a professional bridesmaid. Charging starts at $2.5k per client. --- [Mankind's Greatest Edible Invention — The Story of Saucisse de Toulouse, and of Sausages](https://www.pelliclemag.com/home/mankinds-greatest-edible-invention-the-story-of-saucisse-de-toulouse-and-of-sausages?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Isabelle O’Carroll / Pellicle** Toulouse sausage, dating back possibly 250 years, reflects a rich gastronomic tradition in southern France's Languedoc region. Made from pork belly and hind leg it is a product of migration and cross-cultural identity. --- **➤ Last week's most clicked link was** [**The Most Ridiculous Food Trend The Year You Were Born**](https://www.mashed.com/1203608/the-most-ridiculous-food-trend-the-year-you-were-born?ref=secretbreakfast.com)**. And that's all for today.** --- **• SEASON 4 - ISSUE 172 •** Secret Breakfast is a newsletter by [Piero Macchioni](https://macchioni.cc/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) Think of it as *The Morning Brew* for food people, or just the most unconventional email you'll get today. In two years we have shared more than 2,000 recipes, hundreds of books, and countless hours of news, gluttony, and joy ★★★★★ Recommended by *Food&Wine US*: [Best Food Newsletters to Subscribe To](https://www.foodandwine.com/lifestyle/best-food-newsletters?ref=secretbreakfast.com) *Gastronomika*: [The Newsletters Not To Be Missed on Food](https://www.linkiesta.it/2022/03/migliori-newsletter-food-cibo-vino?ref=secretbreakfast.com) ### One Week of Food'gasms' ❤️‍🔥 URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/foodgasms/ Last updated: 2024-01-31T14:15:37.000Z # Welcome to Secret Breakfast / An exclusive newsletter, the best place to start your day celebrating Valentine’s Day and the Year of the Dragon with the most aphrodisiac stuff ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/3fbae3a5-236c-4297-9240-c5d2a12d0ed9/screenshot_2024-02-04_alle_22-40-53.png) Hi there! The SuperBowl. The Chinese New Year. Valentine’s Day. Carnival. We’re living in busy days. Find some time to enjoy them. Piero PS: you’ll find some *new* design items around. I’m just afraid if you’re reading this in “dark mode”, the layout will look like s\*\*t. Tell me what you think and changes could be arranged. **Weegee**, ca. 1945, printed ca. 1983 --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/4b808d0d-6aa7-412d-9245-4bbe2a0a5053/quoteok.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/420971e1-190c-46ec-a174-370c723aadb8/kurt_vonnegut__jailbird.png) ✦ **Kurt Vonnegut,** [*Jailbird*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jailbird%5F%28novel%29?ref=secretbreakfast.com)**.** --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/a34b217a-cae3-4cac-80c8-bdf5f30996f4/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__6.png) ## **ONE MEAL OF LOVE** ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/dfe65beb-39d1-46e4-9c12-9ab4463ef720/1173431.jpg) Ok, I’m going 100% lazy with this curated Valentine Day’s set of links. [Break-Ups And Throw-Ups: What It’s Like To Work At A Restaurant On Valentine’s Day](https://www.npr.org/2020/02/14/806110931/break-ups-and-throw-ups-what-its-like-to-work-at-a-restaurant-on-valentine-s-day?ref=secretbreakfast.com) // Valentine’s Day is one of the busiest days of the year for those who work in restaurants. It’s also a day that many in the industry love to hate. [A Waitress Shared Her Hack For Making More Tip Money On Valentine’s Day & Now It’s Going Viral](https://www.bustle.com/p/a-waitress-shared-her-hack-for-making-more-tip-money-on-valentines-day-now-its-going-viral-8236046?ref=secretbreakfast.com) // People often use Valentine’s Day as a chance to splurge on their significant other, but one waitress figured out a (low key amazing) way to spend the day making a little extra money for herself. [Waiters what Valentine day disasters have you witnessed?](https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/f2wokf/waiters%5Fwhat%5Fvalentine%5Fday%5Fdisasters%5Fhave%5Fyou/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) [Literal Food’gasms’: Aphrodisiac Foods To Spice Up Your Next Romp In The Sheets](https://elle.in/5-aphrodisiac-foods-sex/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) // Sometimes it’s a particularly well-timed Instagram post. At other times, a steamy paragraph from a romantic novel. Anything can be sexy and a turn on, but it certainly helps to have that extra nudge. That’s where aphrodisiacs come in. [Mumia: The Grossest Aphrodisiac You’ll Ever Hear Of](https://www.slurrp.com/article/mumia-the-grossest-aphrodisiac-youll-ever-hear-of-1686048304898?ref=secretbreakfast.com) // European apothecaries dispensed mumia for a range of conditions, including as an aphrodisiac. [These Aphrodisiacs Will Spice Up Your Valentine’s Day Dinner](https://guide.michelin.com/sg/en/article/features/valentines-day-asia-aphrodisiac-michelin-restaurants?ref=secretbreakfast.com) // All throughout history, foods like oysters, berries and dark chocolate have been purported to have a powerful effect on boosting potency, libido and sex drive. Aphrodisiacs are named after Aphrodite, the ancient Greek goddess of love and beauty. [These Phallic Sea Worms Make Salty-Sweet Snacks](https://www.atlasobscura.com/foods/penis-fish-gaebul-fat-innkeeper-worm?ref=secretbreakfast.com) // If you’re wandering through one of South Korea’s many seafood markets and you see a bucket of wriggling phalluses, you’ve found the gaebul. Also known as “the penis fish,” it’s actually a marine spoon worm. [A Suggestively-Shaped Forbidden Fruit](https://www.atlasobscura.com/foods/coco-de-mer?ref=secretbreakfast.com) // The seed of the Coco de Mer is the largest in the world. Each one weighs about the same as three bowling balls. ###### Picture: from *Paysages avec couleurs* (Colourscapes), 1991© Nobuyoshi Araki / Courtesy Taka Ishii Gallery via [DAZED](https://www.dazeddigital.com/photography/article/31219/1/your-ultimate-guide-to-nobuyoshi-araki?ref=secretbreakfast.com) ⚠⚠⚠ Araki’s images are strong and are considered [controversial](https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2013/may/08/nobuyoshi-araki-photography-art-porn?ref=secretbreakfast.com). --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/06f9e3ff-c4ce-4483-8082-de621e82a78e/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__3.png) ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/5270075b-249f-42f2-ab88-f589306651f6/screenshot_2024-02-04_alle_21-40-26.png) #### Yes, We Can ★★★☆☆ That’s exactly what you think it is. Just be careful and use GOOD tinned tomatoes. [The Tinned Tomatoes Cookbook](https://www.quarto.com/books/9781761500077/the-tinned-tomatoes-cookbook?ref=secretbreakfast.com) by Samuel Goldsmith **→** Shortplot: 🥫 🍝 🍅 🍕 --- ![This is where Secret Breakfast picks juicy content from food creators (but today Instagram preview tool isn’t working)](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/a776550c-eefa-4d3e-b067-0438f295b874/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__2.png) This is where Secret Breakfast picks juicy content from food creators (but today Instagram preview tool isn’t working) If you ever meet someone who can make this [cube croissant](https://www.instagram.com/reel/C27enw9uxqU?ref=secretbreakfast.com) your future is simple: you two will share a wedding, or he (or she) will make you crazy. --- ![This is the space where I share some food (un)related stuff of my week](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/cdcd47f2-b8f2-4683-a706-d790e01c1c57/random-full_b__1.png) This is the space where I share some food (un)related stuff of my week 😴[3 Things to Do When You Can’t Fall Asleep ](https://www.self.com/story/three-things-overthinking-before-bed?ref=secretbreakfast.com)Because You’re Overthinking Everything 🏄🏻13 Single-Serve Ideas for People Who Live Alone and Are Sick of Leftovers (★[recipes](https://www.self.com/gallery/single-serve-recipes?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 👩🏻‍🍳Enrique Olvera: [Following Recipes Perfectly Isn’t the Thing That Makes You a Great Cook](https://www.foodandwine.com/tinfoil-swans-podcast-s1-ep8-enrique-olvera-and-the-lesson-of-the-apple-trees-7570183?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🍋[285-year-old lemon](https://www.upi.com/Odd%5FNews/2024/01/31/old-lemon-auctioned-Brettells/6001706723000/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) auctioned for $1,780 🦐[The Most Ridiculous Food Trend The Year You Were Born](https://www.mashed.com/1203608/the-most-ridiculous-food-trend-the-year-you-were-born/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🔥[Dating Apps Are In Their Flop Era](https://www.bustle.com/wellness/dating-apps-have-gotten-worse-hinge-tinder-bumble-gen-z-millennials?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 👽[No, Aliens Haven’t Visited the Earth](https://nymag.com/intelligencer/article/leslie-kean-ufo-sightings-aliens.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com) ❌ [7 Food Myths ](https://www.foodandwine.com/7-food-myths-that-aren-t-true-8557165?ref=secretbreakfast.com)You Shouldn’t Believe 🍽️ OpenTable’s [Top 100 Romantic Restaurants in America ](https://www.opentable.com/blog/romantic-restaurants-us-2024/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)🏈87 Super Bowl Party Snacks (★[recipes](https://www.delish.com/entertaining/g2545/super-bowl-snacks/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🐲12+ Recipes to Welcome the Dragon Year (★[recipes](https://andreanguyen.substack.com/p/12-recipes-to-welcome-the-dragon?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🎭Italian Carnival Food is Sweet and Fried (★[recipe](https://blog.giallozafferano.com/ciacookitalianabroad/chiacchiere-frappe-italian-carnival-food/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) --- ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/be74643a-4623-4922-9944-19fdcccb1540/blue_zigzag_lines_store_header__1.png) [The New Vocabulary of Cocktails](https://punchdrink.com/articles/new-vocabulary-cocktail-bartending/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Emma Janzen / Punch** Amaroulette. “Are you mad at me?”. Bartender’s handshake. Dirty dump. Razzle dazzle. Current trends in bar lingo are reflecting industry evolution and crossover with restaurants. --- [I Opened A Grocery Store](https://anewsletter.alisoneroman.com/p/i-opened-a-grocery-store?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Alison Roman / a newsletter** One of my favorite recipe developers opened a small store in Bloomville, upstate New York. It follows a “curated approach”, focusing on essentials with limited condiments but a wide variety of snacks. Interesting angle. --- **➤ Last week's most clicked link was** [**What Good Friends Look Like**](https://alexbrogan.beehiiv.com/p/what-good-friends-look-like?ref=secretbreakfast.com)**. And that's all for today.** --- **• SEASON 4 - ISSUE 171 •** Secret Breakfast is a newsletter by [Piero Macchioni](https://macchioni.cc/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) Think of it as *The Morning Brew* for food people, or just the most unconventional email you'll get today. In two years we have shared more than 2,000 recipes, hundreds of books, and countless hours of news, gluttony, and joy. ★★★★★ Recommended by *Food&Wine US*: [Best Food Newsletters to Subscribe To](https://www.foodandwine.com/lifestyle/best-food-newsletters?ref=secretbreakfast.com) *Gastronomika*: [The Newsletters Not To Be Missed on Food](https://www.linkiesta.it/2022/03/migliori-newsletter-food-cibo-vino?ref=secretbreakfast.com) ### Just Add Sugar and Violence 🎂 URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/sugar-violence/ Last updated: 2024-01-29T11:37:26.000Z # Welcome to Secret Breakfast / An exclusive newsletter, the best place to start your day with nostalgic desserts, raspberry swirls, and nothing more than sugar and violence ![Photograph: Kellie French/The Observer](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/369dcc3e-ddbf-4252-847c-a2798b87bea2/capture_2024-01-29_alle_12-41-58.jpg) Photograph: Kellie French/The Observer Hi there! While I was searching The Interweb for the picture above, I read this suggestion for a happier life: Make a **‘Don’t do’ list**: «I do this to steer clear of easier, less important jobs», says strength and conditioning coach Joseph Lightfoot. «It keeps me focused on what’s most important». Do - or don’t do - that. Then live. Then tell me how it was. Piero Photograph: Kellie French/The Observer for [‘Don’t do’ lists and a protein hit: 20 ways to become a morning person and feel like a winner](https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2024/jan/28/crack-on-how-to-become-a-morning-person-and-feel-like-a-winner?ref=secretbreakfast.com) --- ### **␥** ### THE BEST QUOTE ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/e03ccbeb-2a15-4162-96cc-8861ce307a20/bella_baxter.png) ✦ **Bella Baxter,** [*Poor Things*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poor%5FThings%5F%28film%29?ref=secretbreakfast.com), the movie in which Emma Stone is a childlike young woman resurrected with an infant's mind. Here she’s talking about the world. --- #### **⎅** #### THE BOOK ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/e5f47ae6-b84f-4812-9815-484b855f7b0d/capture_2024-01-29_alle_13-44-20.jpg) #### A Feast for Ramadan ★★★☆☆ Zaynah’s pretty popular [on TikTok ](https://www.tiktok.com/@zaynahsbakes?lang=en&ref=secretbreakfast.com)and her food palette is definitely hyper-saturated. That means tasty and spicy stuff to me! Her book, *Desified*, is inspired by the core principles of Ramadan, during which one meal is eaten before sunrise and another after sunset (in 2024 it starts on March 10th). The interesting thing here is that we are focusing on South Asian flavors with some inventions like Chai churros and Cheat’s ‘birria’ tacos. [Desified](https://www.hachette.co.uk/titles/zaynah-din/desified/9780600637837/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) by Zaynah Din (US & CAN [here](https://linktr.ee/desified%5Fbook%5Fus?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) **→** Shortplot: 🥙 🥘 🍅 🍯 --- **❍ OnlyPans** This is where Secret Breakfast picks juicy content from food creators and gives you a precious idea for an after-Valentine’s Day Breakfast. [](https://www.instagram.com/reel/C2cvKEGr%5F6Z?ref=secretbreakfast.com) --- # **Ⓡ** ### RANDOM ACTS OF HUNGER *This is the space where I share some food (un)related stuff of my week* 🎧[*Eat This City* ](https://open.spotify.com/intl-it/track/6E2FTl0hIS0rfl8FfcI5jp?ref=secretbreakfast.com)could have been the perfect anthem for this newsletter, but Nicole Kidman’s [*Expats*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Expats%5F%28miniseries%29?ref=secretbreakfast.com) TV show got there first 🟤If you dream about Restaurant Pujol’s Mole, you can quit your job and start with this (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reel/C2AaaP6LBgb?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🫳🏼Pull-Apart Samosa Bread Will Make Any Party Greasier (★[recipe](https://www.sanjanafeasts.co.uk/2015/08/pull-apart-samosa-bread/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🫖‘[Outrageous’ tea recipe](https://www.theguardian.com/food/2024/jan/24/perfect-cup-of-tea-needs-a-pinch-of-salt-and-squeeze-of-lemon-says-us-chemist?ref=secretbreakfast.com) involving pinch of salt draws US embassy comment (nothing gets worst when you add salt) 🤝[What Good Friends Look Like](https://alexbrogan.beehiiv.com/p/what-good-friends-look-like?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🥃The Genius Secret Ingredient Your Sautéed Mushrooms Are Missing: [Whiskey](https://food52.com/blog/13043-the-genius-secret-ingredient-your-sauteed-mushrooms-are-missing?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🌶️Check out this spicy sauce (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reel/C1ufHRyJTaG?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🍚When a Scene from a 2010 Chinese TV Drama Goes Viral: [The ‘Cao Cao Flips Rice Bowl’ Meme](https://www.whatsonweibo.com/when-a-scene-from-a-2010-chinese-tv-drama-goes-viral-the-cao-cao-flips-rice-bowl-meme?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🇸🇻*Pupusa*, from El Salvador, is the cheesy hot pocket that can make your day (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reel/C2lQGenvqr5?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) --- **⌇⌇⌇** ## **FOOD FOR LATER** [The Menu Trends That Define Dining Right Now](https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2024/01/22/dining/restaurant-menu-trends.html?unlocked%5Farticle%5Fcode=1.RU0.S1uh.F4uq%5Ft-3EN69&smid=url-share&ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Priya Krishna, Tanya Sichynsky, and Umi Syam / The New York Times** Nostalgic Desserts, Bright Aesthetic, Mascots, Humanity, and Everything Else You’ll Find à la Carte today. --- [The Supermarket Sublime](https://thisismold.com/convivial-cosmogonies/the-supermarket-sublime?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Adriana Gallo / Mold** “In actuality, the Supermarket is a place of almost complete surveillance and documentation of customer behavior in service of the design of future and increasingly modern marketplaces”. --- **➤ Last week's most clicked link was directing you to AtlasObscura’s** [**10 Dishes Worth Booking a Trip Around**](https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/wanderlist-2024-dishes?ref=secretbreakfast.com)**. And that's all for today.** --- **• SEASON 4 - ISSUE 170 •** Secret Breakfast is a newsletter by [Piero Macchioni](https://macchioni.cc/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) Think of it as *The Morning Brew* for food people, or just the most unconventional email you'll get today. In three years we have shared more than 2,000 recipes, hundreds of books, and countless hours of news, gluttony, and joy. ★★★★★ Recommended by *Food&Wine US*: [Best Food Newsletters to Subscribe To](https://www.foodandwine.com/lifestyle/best-food-newsletters?ref=secretbreakfast.com) *Gastronomika*: [The Newsletters Not To Be Missed on Food](https://www.linkiesta.it/2022/03/migliori-newsletter-food-cibo-vino?ref=secretbreakfast.com) ### The Secret Power of Mayo 🥚 URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/power-of-mayo/ Last updated: 2024-01-22T12:35:49.000Z # Welcome to Secret Breakfast / An exclusive newsletter, the best place to start your day with killer mayo and halloumi wraps consumed while burning out ![I’m not endorsing the mayo above, I just liked the portrait.](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/ff6bc7c3-8515-436f-853b-a609984ccea2/jj-jordan-aagscwz2r64-unsplash.jpg) I’m not endorsing the mayo above, I just liked the portrait. Hi there! Since [group chats are about to rule the world](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/16/magazine/group-chats.html?unlocked%5Farticle%5Fcode=1.PU0.Pvs8.YmOZxGhQS6z3&smid=url-share&ref=secretbreakfast.com), while I was waiting for a concert at Alla Scala, in Milan, I spent a considerable amount of time in one of mine. Texting about mayo. It’s a 2 minutes effort to make some (★[recipe](https://www.seriouseats.com/two-minute-mayonnaise?ref=secretbreakfast.com) \+ [vegan recipe](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AanhfnM8f-A&ref=secretbreakfast.com) \+ Massimo Bottura’s [balsamic vinegar recipe](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/chef-massimo-botturas-balsamic-mayonnaise-recipe?ref=secretbreakfast.com)), nevertheless we struggle in an obscure zone made by Heinz monopoly and smaller producer’s anonymity. We, the snobs, are obsessed with the [MSG&YOLK powered Japanese mayo](https://www.foodandwine.com/news/why-chefs-love-kewpie-mayo?ref=secretbreakfast.com). Alternative uses of this white sauce go from [covering a chicken before putting it into the oven](https://www.southernliving.com/food/kitchen-assistant/surprising-ways-to-use-mayonnaise?ref=secretbreakfast.com) to [removing rings](https://www.onegoodthingbyjillee.com/17-surprisingly-clever-uses-for-mayonnaise/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) from your finger. In the group chat anyone of us had firm ideas about what mayo should or shouldn’t be. “I want a killer mayo”, one of the people almost wrote. You know, a strong opinion like the one you can have about bread (please, not industrial) or about the right container for a chilling Coke (never plastic!). Happy mayo everyone. Piero Photo by [JJ Jordan](https://unsplash.com/it/foto/donna-che-indossa-vestito-nero-AagscWz2R64?utm%5Fcontent=creditCopyText&ref=secretbreakfast.com). --- ### **␥** ### THE BEST QUOTE ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/68838c09-78e3-424f-8715-83368fd15df8/david_brooks.png) ✦ **David Brooks,** [*How to Know a Person: The Art of Seeing Others Deeply and Being Deeply Seen*](https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/652822/how-to-know-a-person-by-david-brooks/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)***.*** An incredibly wise book. --- #### **⎚** #### THE MISSING INGREDIENT ## **SOPHIE KINSELLA’S LATEST NOVEL** **HAS A PROBLEM WITH HALLOUMI WRAPS** ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/74ea044b-9eb7-42c7-b293-d9a111efa74a/capture_2024-01-22_alle_14-07-35.jpg) The book is called [The Burnout](https://www.sophiekinsella.co.uk/news/new-book-the-burnout/?ref=secretbreakfast.com), and I’ve been listening to the audiobook version for about a week. It’s not a masterpiece, in case you were wondering. As the author says: “It’s all about Sasha, who hits a wall (quite literally!) and ends up going to recuperate from burnout at the Devon beach resort she loved as a child”. The interesting part is the novel uses food to describe the changes in Sasha’s life. She starts as a workaholic London manager, who hasn’t time for cooking and who’s buying exactly the same dinner/snack/breakfast/lunch every day at the same Pret a Manger. She says something like: *“I don't know when cooking started to scare me. It happened little by little. \[…\] The thought alone exhausts me. How do people cook every night? Instead, the falafel and halloumi wrap makes for a warm and comforting dinner that goes well with a glass of wine, and then just throw the wrap in the bin. I take the wrap, a bar of chocolate, any healthy canned drink and bircher muesli - tomorrow morning's breakfast - plus an apple”* **The good thing is you can replicate Pret’s** [**Halloumi Wrap**](https://www.pret.co.uk/en-GB/products/UK006060/falafel-and-halloumi-hot-wrap?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **with this** [**copycat recipe**](https://thislittlehome.com/falafel-and-halloumi-wrap/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **with no burnout effects. It looks quite tasty.** While recovering, Sasha indulges in [Club](https://mcvities.co.uk/products/club?ref=secretbreakfast.com) biscuits and champagne, more than the healthy and mysterious [Noni juice](https://www.victorphilippe.it/en/prodotto/adaptogen/organic-noni-juice/?ref=secretbreakfast.com). --- #### **⎅** #### THE BOOK ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/53278dea-6f1c-473c-a7cf-ac4885502feb/capture_2024-01-22_alle_13-44-50.jpg) #### When Life Gives You Lemons… ★★★★☆ The second volume of Taschen’s collaboration with The Gourmand explores the significance of lemons in art, film, literature, and recipes. Lemons, with a rich history, played a role in shaping the Medici dynasty, preventing scurvy, influencing the mob, and being used as invisible ink since 600 CE. This coffee-table book includes a foreword by chef and food writer Simon Hopkinson and over 60 lemon-infused recipes across global cuisines and occasions. [The Gourmand's Lemon. A Collection of Stories and Recipes](https://www.taschen.com/it/books/art/08024/the-gourmand-s-lemon-a-collection-of-stories-recipes?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **→** Shortplot:🍋 🍋 🍋 🍋 --- **❍ OnlyPans** This is where Secret Breakfast picks juicy content from food creators [](https://www.instagram.com/reel/C1e3TZ9LKVK?ref=secretbreakfast.com) --- # **Ⓡ** ### RANDOM ACTS OF HUNGER *This is the space where I share some food (un)related stuff of my week* 🎒Atlas Obscura [Wanderlist 2024](https://wanderlist.atlasobscura.com/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) and [10 Dishes Worth Booking a Trip Around](https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/wanderlist-2024-dishes?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🍜How to make ramen at home (★[recipe](https://www.theguardian.com/food/2024/jan/16/how-to-make-ramen-at-home-kitchen-aide-anna-berrill?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🎪[What the Ultrarich Wear to the Grocery Store](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/20/style/class-of-palm-beach-tiktok-instagram-wealth.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🇯🇵[Japan’s Comfort Food: The Onigiri](https://one-from-nippon.ghost.io/onigiri/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🥪Challah Buns + Chicken Schnitzel Sandwich (★[recipe](https://newsletter.bengingi.com/p/welcome-new-friday-ritual?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🔪[Gordon Ramsay Guest Edits the Chef’s Special Issue of ](https://www.sandwichmagazine.com/fillings/the-chefs-special?ref=secretbreakfast.com)[*Sandwich Magazine*](https://www.sandwichmagazine.com/fillings/the-chefs-special?ref=secretbreakfast.com)🫦[These new lip balms taste like your favorite chicken wings](https://www.pennlive.com/life/2024/01/these-new-lip-balms-are-the-bees-knees-and-taste-like-your-favorite-chicken-wings.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🟩Wordle, but you have to [guess Costco’s pricetags](https://costcodle.com/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 😳Don’t tell my wife I’m making Green LaBa Garlic at home (★[recipe](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifppWbH6Ut0&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🌶️Something even better: Hot Honey Butter (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reel/C07E92Los2S?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🇬🇧[Restaurants of London with Stephanie Brookes](https://www.amazon.co.uk/Restaurants-London-Stephanie-Brookes/dp/B0CQ2YBH6W?ref=secretbreakfast.com), is it any good? --- **⌇⌇⌇** ## **FOOD FOR LATER** [As Switzerlands Glaciers Shrink, a Way of Life May Melt Away](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/21/world/europe/switzerland-glaciers.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **George Steinmetz & Catherine Porter / The New York Times** Beautiful feature. “For centuries, Swiss farmers have sent their cattle, goats and sheep up the mountains to graze in warmer months before bringing them back down at the start of autumn”. Now, raising temperatures are changing the game. --- **➤ Last week's most clicked link was:** [**18 Impressive Recipes for Valentine's Day Dinner**](https://www.foodandwine.com/holidays-events/valentines-day/valentines-day-dinner?ref=secretbreakfast.com)**. We’ll get again to that. And that's all for today.** --- **• SEASON 4 - ISSUE 169•** Secret Breakfast is a newsletter by [Piero Macchioni](https://macchioni.cc/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) Think of it as *The Morning Brew* for food people, or just the most unconventional email you'll get today. In three years we have shared more than 2,000 recipes, hundreds of books, and countless hours of news, gluttony, and joy. ★★★★★ Recommended by *Food&Wine US*: [Best Food Newsletters to Subscribe To](https://www.foodandwine.com/lifestyle/best-food-newsletters?ref=secretbreakfast.com) *Gastronomika*: [The Newsletters Not To Be Missed on Food](https://www.linkiesta.it/2022/03/migliori-newsletter-food-cibo-vino?ref=secretbreakfast.com) ### Women are Big Macs, Dogs Love Air Fryers 😱 URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/women-are-big-macs/ Last updated: 2024-01-15T08:50:41.000Z # Welcome to Secret Breakfast / An exclusive newsletter, the best place to start your day with buttery teas, Bubble and Squeak, and 30 plants per week ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/9ba9277e-2950-48f3-bac4-71442d2ba8a9/img20240114101417.jpg) Hi there! I’m just back from 36 hours in London, UK, where I spent a tolerable amount of money on uncommon teas, greasy spoon breakfasts, Taiwanese noodles, and cheap paracetamol. Since anything could be an ingredient if you serve it to your guests, I’m starting this newsletter with a piece of random news I read on [***Waitrose & Partners Weekend***](https://weekend-online.com/issue680/index.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com), an incredibly well-done free press I picked up while buying groceries in South Kensington. “New” diet trend: **think about what you can add to your diet instead of what you must take away**. This might be fun: a [30-plants-a-week-challenge](https://fortune.com/well/2023/03/20/improve-gut-health-diversity-diet-eat-30-plants-a-week/?ref=secretbreakfast.com). Start with counting how many plants are you consuming, then set the bar to 30. Have you counted? I’m incredibly around 28, not considering wheat. Happy challenge. Piero --- ### **␥** ### THE BEST QUOTE ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/54b27bea-e04c-4e12-ba53-0cfcab04b254/chelsea_g-_summers__a_certain_hunger__1.png) ✦ **Chelsea G. Summers,** [*A Certain Hunger*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%5FCertain%5FHunger?ref=secretbreakfast.com), a classic book mixing food, feminism and a certain c-word I won’t mention here. --- #### **⎚** #### THE MISSING INGREDIENT ## **36 HOURS IN LONDON** ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/ac43e604-435f-48d6-a9d6-43f296a4ea08/img20240114110230.jpg) Since we’ve just counted plants in our diet (👆🏻👆🏻), I’m not in the mood to count [Terry’s Cafè Borough Special Fry Up](https://terryscafe.co.uk/menus/?ref=secretbreakfast.com), aka English Breakfast, I had on Sunday. The place has the works you expect from a British greasy spoon venue: old pictures on the walls, Royal Family items, bacon-y atmosphere, Union Jacks, teabags floating in your leaking builder’s tea teacup, and even a chunk of Bubble and Squeak(★[recipe](https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/bubble-squeak?ref=secretbreakfast.com)). Now that the mood is set, let me write here the unrequested food notes about my time in London. ![Wild table of love by Gillie and Marc](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/4c818bd0-e471-4be7-b3ab-4f8c1eb2579f/capture_2024-01-15_alle_11-16-19.jpg) [Wild table of love](https://gillieandmarc.art/blogs/find-our-art/wild-table-of-love-paternoster-square-london?ref=secretbreakfast.com) by Gillie and Marc 🫖 My most expensive buy: Whittard’s [Milk Oolong](https://www.whittard.com/us/tea/milk-oolong-loose-tea-pouch-100g-353995.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com) Loose Tea Pouch, “a uniquely creamy tea with floral, buttery notes grown in the Taiwanese Highlands”. The buttery notes are incredible. ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/fe4728a2-48eb-4287-974e-7ec779907e5b/capture_2024-01-15_alle_11-59-30.jpg) ☕️[Blank Street Coffee](https://www.blankstreet.com/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) is in London now, and it’s not bad at all (my fav is still [The Colombian Coffee Company](https://www.thecolombiancoffeeco.org/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) ![If you think a flying pig is missing, you’re more than 40 years old.](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/7ad30a27-897b-44fe-8a18-3a81ff1942ed/img20240113204415.jpg) If you think [a flying pig is missing](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animals%5F%28Pink%5FFloyd%5Falbum%29?ref=secretbreakfast.com), you’re more than 40 years old. 🍜I needed to see the Battersea estate renovation and [Bao Battersea](https://baolondon.com/restaurant/battersea-noodle-shop/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) was a good place to stop for some Taiwanese-inspired noodles (I had the [Danzai](https://www.restaurantonline.co.uk/Article/2023/07/03/bao-to-bring-its-noodle-shop-restaurant-format-to-arcade-battersea?ref=secretbreakfast.com)). ![Battersea at night, again.](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/7e271452-ab70-40e9-802b-01214506e8c8/img_20240113_215013.jpg) Battersea at night, again. 🐲Chinatown, stop at [Chinatown Bakery](https://www.instagram.com/chinatownbakery%5Flondon/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) for some scallion bread, coffee conchas, crunchy Taiyaki (chocolate filled fish-shaped sweet), and - pretty expensive - Taiwanese milk tea Cha Dong. ![The tea bottle is blurred because I was crying for the scallion bread, LOL](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/9ff3a11d-24bd-4295-867e-db265a1ee49c/img20240113145746.jpg) The tea bottle is blurred because I was crying for the scallion bread, LOL 💊[You have to be 16 to buy paracetamol](https://www.boots.com/boots-paracetamol-tablets-500-mg-32-tablets-10032858?ref=secretbreakfast.com), and in some places, you can buy 2 boxes max. ![The exhibition I just missed at the Tate Modern: Sarah Lucas, Sandwich.](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/8e35925b-1171-4f30-b571-65b29054e300/capture_2024-01-15_alle_10-12-40.jpg) The exhibition I just missed at the Tate Modern: [Sarah Lucas](https://www.wallpaper.com/art/exhibitions-shows/sarah-lucas-happy-gas-tate-britain-london?ref=secretbreakfast.com), Sandwich. 🐰I’ve finally found the [F&M’s Potted Welsh Rarebit](https://www.fortnumandmason.com/potted-welsh-rarebit-250g?ref=secretbreakfast.com) at Heathrow Duty Free Shop ###### Picture by me (except Sarah Lucas, Blank Street, Gillie and Marc). --- #### **⎅** #### THE BOOK ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/4c9dce6d-d94c-4887-a6b6-7919aa17abed/screenshot_2024-01-16_alle_00-29-08.png) #### Doggie-bag ready ☆☆☆☆☆ This is a gentle reminder of the time we’re living. Self-publishing and air fryers generate things like that. But if you’re actually are thinking about using that machine - that your son in law gave you for Christmas - for your dog, be advised: there’s a lot of literature out there. [Air Fryer Dog Treats Cookbook](https://amzn.eu/d/6G42oBn?ref=secretbreakfast.com) by Scott Thelton **→** Shortplot: 🆆 ✝︎ ℉ ‼ --- **❍ OnlyPans** This is where Secret Breakfast picks juicy content from food creators [](https://www.instagram.com/reel/C07E4k9r-r5?ref=secretbreakfast.com) --- # **Ⓡ** ### RANDOM ACTS OF HUNGER *This is the space where I share some food (un)related stuff of my week* 🍷IMHO nothing will beat a dinner out and - GOOD - wine at home, but if you wanna cook: 18 Impressive Recipes for Valentine's Day Dinner (★[recipes](https://www.foodandwine.com/holidays-events/valentines-day/valentines-day-dinner?ref=secretbreakfast.com) \- 8, 9, 13, 15, 16) 💕Ditch The Pink: [How to craft the perfect Valentine’s Day tablescape](https://www.stylist.co.uk/home/how-to-perfect-valentines-day-tablescape/855991?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🚀[What Does The Space Smells Like? ](https://www.space.com/what-does-space-smell-like?ref=secretbreakfast.com)BBQ meat and dust 🎒New Zealand by train and the other [51 Places to Go in 2024](https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2024/travel/places-to-travel-destinations-2024.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🇬🇧English muffins (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reel/C06wRbFrHUT?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🍚The Science of a Rice Cooker, [video](https://youtu.be/RSTNhvDGbYI?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 👉🏻[A Dinner Party So Easy You Don’t Even Need Recipes](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/10/dining/easy-dinner-party-recipes.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 😱😱😱[Jeremy Allen White, raw](https://www.instagram.com/reel/C1rjX%5F3Oq0v/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🍏Mind Your Healthy Snacks: [The Best Way to Prevent Cut Apples From Browning](https://www.seriouseats.com/how-to-prevent-apple-pear-browning?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🧛🏻‍♂️Is It Bad to [Eat Late at Night?](https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/19/well/eat/eating-late-night-health.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🍌Easy Upside-down Banana Bread (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reel/CyyZxVVOKD6?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🍗Livestream on Jan 18th: [how to cook chicken with no waste](https://www.waitrose.com/ecom/content/waitrose-cookery-school?ref=secretbreakfast.com) (it’s another Waitrose magazine newspaper clipping, sorry about that) 💧[Stanley’s 40-ounce tumbler ](https://thehustle.co/pass-the-ginormous-water--stanley-is-hot-right-now?ref=secretbreakfast.com)is the gadget to have --- **⌇⌇⌇** ## **FOOD FOR LATER** [‘Plant-Based’ Has Lost All Meaning](https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2024/01/plant-based-food-meat-alternatives/677057/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Yasmin Tayag / The Atlantic** The "plant-based" label has been "diluted to nothing" due to its extensive application in various products. Examples of products labeled as plant-based include instant ramen, boxed mac and cheese, Kraft singles, KitKat bars, peanut butter, shampoo, and even liquor. Have we gone in the wrong direction? --- [A Knife Forged in Fire](https://www.chicagomag.com/chicago-magazine/january-2024/a-knife-forged-in-fire) **Laurence Gonzales / Chicago Mag** “What makes a good knife?”. A master bladesmith. --- **➤ Last week's most clicked link was:** [**Europe's best gourmet getaways**](https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/europe-best-gourmet-getaways?ref=secretbreakfast.com)**. And that's all for today.** --- **• SEASON 4 - ISSUE 168 •** Secret Breakfast is a newsletter by [Piero Macchioni](https://macchioni.cc/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) Think of it as *The Morning Brew* for food people, or just the most unconventional email you'll get today. In three years we have shared more than 2,000 recipes, hundreds of books, and countless hours of news, gluttony, and joy. ★★★★★ Recommended by *Food&Wine US*: [Best Food Newsletters to Subscribe To](https://www.foodandwine.com/lifestyle/best-food-newsletters?ref=secretbreakfast.com) *Gastronomika*: [The Newsletters Not To Be Missed on Food](https://www.linkiesta.it/2022/03/migliori-newsletter-food-cibo-vino?ref=secretbreakfast.com) d Sadie Coles HQ, London. ### The Worst Month of The Year 😉 URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/worst-month/ Last updated: 2024-01-07T22:56:01.000Z # Welcome to Secret Breakfast / An exclusive newsletter, the best place to start your day with a planetary alignment that brought us on the road of deprivation ![Something new for the new year](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/9ac2f002-fe7a-43bf-ac35-91c0a390d302/capture_2024-01-09_alle_07-47-38.jpg) Something new for the new year Hi there! I read something interesting: [Nick Milo’s newsletter](https://www.linkingyourthinking.com/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) about the **Rigid Thinking**. Over time - he writes - habits formed, and an invisible passive-thinking pandemic began. An example: First, stick to your ingrained habits and fall in line with whatever everyone else is doing. That means, you should spend 6.5 hours online each day. Make sure at least 2.5 hours are doomscrolling on social media! When you do find something that sparks, just “clip” it, or “bookmark” it for later. You’ll totally remember to go back to it, right? You don’t, you know you don’t. It’s what I do with recipes: it’s quite quick to find them, but it’s harder remembering them or even cooking them. It’s what I do with many pieces of information, to be honest. Is there an antidote to this? Nick says: Read something today. **Notice the moment where you feel the urge to save it. Instead of only doing that, say "Hmm, that's interesting because..." and write down your thoughts.** How did it feel? (This gives us something to link to in the future.) Will this trick save me and the other rigid-thinkers-recipe-bookmarkers? We’ll see that. Piero Hwacheon-gun, South Korea. People celebrate catching fish barehand at the city’s ice festival. Photograph: Jeon Heon-Kyun/[EPA](https://epaimages.com/search.pp?ref=secretbreakfast.com) --- ### **␥** ### THE BEST QUOTE ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/44ea95d9-e952-4271-877d-1532327461b4/113__3.png) ✦ **Brianna Wiest,** [*The Pivot Year*](https://shopcatalog.com/products/the-pivot-year?ref=secretbreakfast.com)*.* That’s why cooking makes the most of us happy, I think. --- #### **⎚** #### THE MISSING INGREDIENT ## **THE FAT-ADDICTED AIRLINE AND** **THE TRAIN THAT WENT CRAZY FOR RAMEN** ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/ec119700-d474-47cc-8b40-32c3cabf60ba/takachiho-amaterasu-railway-2.jpg) The world's first commercial airliner has crossed the Atlantic [using 100% biofuel](https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20231201-can-we-really-fuel-planes-with-fat-and-sugar?ref=secretbreakfast.com). In Japan, there’s a (small) train running with canola and sesame oil added with [leftover ramen broth](https://www.travelandleisureasia.com/global/news/this-sightseeing-train-in-japan-runs-on-leftover-ramen/?ref=secretbreakfast.com). **Hey, can we really fuel planes and trains with fat and sugar?** Can we solve the food waste problem by feeding the machines? The answer for now is simple: NO. And NO. Having enough biofuels for our needs would mean growing and cropping more than we do. An example: “One academic paper published in August estimated that, if you were to grow sugar cane and use that to make biofuels for commercial jets, you'd need 125 million hectares of land – roughly equivalent to the surface area of the states of California, Oregon, Washington, Nevada and Louisiana combined”. So, when you have some Tonkotsu ramen, finish that broth. --- #### **⎅** #### THE BOOK ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/ac3dea4d-be4c-4dcc-a3f8-71f5196a809d/capture_2024-01-09_alle_07-52-08.jpg) #### The Worst Month of the Year\* ★★☆☆☆ What’s the matter with us and new beginnings? When did we decide that January - the bloom of a year of hopes - is perfect to start fasting, stop drinking ([Dry January](https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/thinking-of-trying-dry-january-steps-for-success-202201032662?ref=secretbreakfast.com)), and quit meats (Veganuary)? There must be some planetary alignment that brought us on the road of deprivation. And now you have *The Official Veganuary Cookbook* (★[recipes](https://veganuary.com/recipes/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) to remember that. *\*just joking, more vegs often mean more connection to seasonal and healthier food and cooking, you should try that.* [The Official Veganuary Cookbook](https://www.harpercollins.com/products/the-official-veganuary-cookbook?variant=41043348946978&ref=secretbreakfast.com) **→** Shortplot: 🥕 🌽 🥒 🍝 --- **❍ OnlyPans** This is where Secret Breakfast picks juicy content from food creators ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/f95dcf34-0243-4450-bbf5-90208fafef83/capture_2024-01-09_alle_07-37-34.jpg) [*The Bear*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The%5FBear%5F%28TV%5Fseries%29?ref=secretbreakfast.com)’s Carmy and Sydney [won](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The%5FBear%5F%28TV%5Fseries%29?ref=secretbreakfast.com) the Globe. And his shirt is made of really, really thin fabric. --- # **Ⓡ** ### RANDOM ACTS OF HUNGER *This is the space where I share some food (un)related stuff of my week* ✨[Europe's best gourmet getaways](https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/europe-best-gourmet-getaways?ref=secretbreakfast.com) according to The National Geographic Traveller UK (spoiler: Iceland has made it!) 🥒[Pickling vs. Fermenting](https://www.instagram.com/reel/C1Zqr4osElo?ref=secretbreakfast.com), what is the difference? 🥪15 Best Ideas With “4 egg yolks per 500g” Japanese Mayo, aka Kewpie (★[recipes](https://feedgrump.com/recipes-with-kewpie-mayo/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) \+ Kewpie’s basic recipes in [pdf](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/files/en/products/en%5Fproducts%5F202002%5Frecipes-and-tips-kewpie-mayonnaise.pdf)) 🍔Ok, [Burger King Employee Who Went 27 Years Without Missing a Day of Work Buys First Home Thanks to Donations](https://people.com/burger-king-employee-never-missed-day-of-work-27-years-buys-first-home-donations-8421296?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🍝Time to kill? Cook some Spaghetti all’Assassina (★[recipe](https://www.americastestkitchen.com/recipes/15027-spaghetti-all-assassina?extcode=NSCIL26IG&utm%5Fcontent=assassina&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🥄The World’s Easiest Make-Ahead Breakfast (Oats are Involved, ★[recpe](https://food52.com/blog/21616-overnight-oats-recipe-ideas?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🍫Went To The Movies, Watched [*Wonka*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wonka%5F%28film%29?ref=secretbreakfast.com): I had the highest steampunk chocolatier expectations, it tasted like “Too Much Green Screen” for me 👁️[A Day in the Kitchen](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/07/insider/a-day-in-the-kitchen-at-the-new-york-times-cooking-studio.html?unlocked%5Farticle%5Fcode=1.L00.DR-c.DuwtkHWcdA1x&smid=url-share&ref=secretbreakfast.com) at The New York Times Cooking Studio🧋[Behind Boba Tea's Big Boom](https://www.americastestkitchen.com/podcasts/proof?ref=secretbreakfast.com), *Proof* Podcast 🌽Honey Miso, Sweet and Salty, Corn Pudding (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cz9aUwBxefl/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🐓The new *Chicken Run* movie is fun — and a damning [critique of America’s meat industry](https://www.vox.com/future-perfect/23991406/chicken-run-2-childrens-literature-books-meat-animal-farming?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🤟🏼What a Podcast Project: [A History of Rock in 500 Songs](https://500songs.com/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🟧[How A Mac & Cheese Restaurant Took On Sexual Harassment](https://www.digest.madfeed.co/p/mad-digest-how-a-mac-and-cheese-restaurant?ref=secretbreakfast.com) --- **⌇⌇⌇** ## **FOOD FOR LATER** [The Best Diners Are Still Just Diners](https://www.newyorker.com/culture/the-food-scene/the-best-diners-are-still-just-diners-old-johns?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Helen Rosner / The New Yorker** “Diners, as a rule, are time machines; whether through the formica sheen of the nineteen-forties, the chromium optimism of the fifties, or the pastel geometries of the eighties, a diner traffics in nostalgia for past decades and past selves. The only era a diner should never reference is now”. --- **➤ Last week's most clicked link was** [**What will be trendy in 2024**](https://www.axios.com/2024/01/01/2024-trends-styles-predictions-fashion?ref=secretbreakfast.com)**. And that's all for today.** --- **• SEASON 4 - ISSUE 167 •** Secret Breakfast is a newsletter by [Piero Macchioni](https://macchioni.cc/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) Think of it as *The Morning Brew* for food people, or just the most unconventional email you'll get today. In three years we have shared more than 2,000 recipes, hundreds of books, and countless hours of news, gluttony, and joy. ★★★★★ Recommended by *Food&Wine US*: [Best Food Newsletters to Subscribe To](https://www.foodandwine.com/lifestyle/best-food-newsletters?ref=secretbreakfast.com) *Gastronomika*: [The Newsletters Not To Be Missed on Food](https://www.linkiesta.it/2022/03/migliori-newsletter-food-cibo-vino?ref=secretbreakfast.com) ### Food Noise, Intuitive Eating and House Swapping 🏡 URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/food-noise/ Last updated: 2024-01-02T15:45:12.000Z # Welcome to Secret Breakfast / An exclusive newsletter, the best place to start your day with food noise, wrong resolutions, and green honey ![A flipped funhouse. No ammonium chloride around.](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/ca2b77e8-72cf-47c3-bc09-5fe99827d5ba/ian-schneider-paykyb-8er8-unsplash.jpg) A flipped funhouse. No ammonium chloride around. Hi there! I hope you had a stellar start to the year and said something smart when your significant other asked for your 2024 resolutions in front of your closest friends and relatives. Me, I like dedicating every year to learning something new about something. There was the Year of the Fermentation (2018), the Mahler Symphonies Year (2020, sabotaged by Covid-19), and this 2024 that started as the Year of the Bourgogne, but will probably pivot to something else because I’m an Aries and [Mercury’s retrograde this year](https://www.glamour.com/story/2024-mercury-retrograde-calendar?ref=secretbreakfast.com) (and budget cuts will be trending in the following months too). You’ll probably ask me if I’m in the States or something since it’s Wednesday in Europe and Secret Breakfast publishing day is supposed to be Tuesday. Hey, I’m in the middle of nowhere, sieged by my family, after a week I’ve been cooking for 7 to 14 people per day, four times a day: allow me a break. Piero PS: when working on resolutions, remember that the goal is not to run a Michelin-star restaurant at the end of 2024, the goal is to take time for cooking every week. PPS: *The* *Book* and *The Missing Ingredient* sections will come back next week. Photo [Ian Schneider](https://unsplash.com/it/foto/persona-che-tiene-la-fotografia-di-fuoco-superficiale-PAykYb-8Er8?ref=secretbreakfast.com). --- ### **␥** ### THE BEST QUOTE ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/4f34cc07-29d7-4da0-97af-ac3d39245ae3/113__2.png) ✦ **Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah,** [***Chain-Gang All-Stars***](https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/714055/chain-gang-all-stars-by-nana-kwame-adjei-brenyah/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)**.** And home is where the kitchen is. --- **❍ OnlyPans** This is where Secret Breakfast picks juicy content from food creators [](https://www.instagram.com/reel/C0-G-ScO07h?ref=secretbreakfast.com) --- # **Ⓡ** ### RANDOM ACTS OF HUNGER *This is the space where I share some food (un)related stuff of my week* 💆🏼‍♀️How to Recover [When Socializing Has Totally Drained Your Battery](https://www.self.com/story/social-exhaustion-recovery-tips?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🇰🇷Mexican Seoul’s kimchi Bloody Mary (★[recipe](https://www.theguardian.com/food/2023/dec/29/cocktail-of-the-week-mexican-seoul-kimchi-bloody-mary-recipe?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🚿One Trend I Totally Missed: [Reviewing Food While Taking a Shower](https://twitter.com/gazpachomachine?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 👴🏻[Grandpa-core](https://www.axios.com/2024/01/01/2024-trends-styles-predictions-fashion?ref=secretbreakfast.com) is becoming a thing 🐔2024 Food and Drink Trends Are All About [Ranch, Robots, and Rooster Pasta](https://www.foodandwine.com/2024-food-and-drink-trends-predictions-8411753?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🐝Wait, Bees Can Make [Green Honey](https://www.neatorama.com/2023/02/28/The-Many-Ways-Bees-Can-Make-Green-Honey?ref=secretbreakfast.com)? (+[51 other things Jason Kotte has learned last year](https://kottke.org/23/12/52-interesting-things-i-learned-2023?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 👌🏻Eater’s worked so well recently: [38 Essential Rome Restaurants](https://www.eater.com/maps/best-restaurants-rome-italy?ref=secretbreakfast.com) \+ [The Globetrotter’s Guide to Vegan Restaurants](https://www.eater.com/vegan-travel-maps?ref=secretbreakfast.com) \+ The Best Recipes Eater Editors Made This Year (★[recipes](https://www.eater.com/24007120/best-recipes-2023-roundup?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🎒[Gig tripping and home swapping](https://www.cntraveller.com/article/travel-trends-2024?ref=secretbreakfast.com) will be cool in 2024 🧠A Quick Guide to [Intuitive Eating](https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/quick-guide-intuitive-eating?ref=secretbreakfast.com) --- **⌇⌇⌇** ## **FOOD FOR LATER** [What if ‘Food Noise’ Is Just … Hunger?](https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/29/opinion/food-noise-hunger-diet.html?unlocked%5Farticle%5Fcode=1.Kk0.p9ai.t2vdCSyZjAd-&smid=url-share&ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Kate Manne / The New York Times** The concept of "food noise" has gained popularity on social media, referring to the experience of thinking about food, longing for it, and planning meals. But hunger, appetite, and cravings should be treated as problems to be solved while accepting our natural drives. --- [Secrets of the Michelin Man](https://airmail.news/issues/2023-12-30/secrets-of-the-michelin-man?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Adam Hay-Nicholls / AirMail** Gwendal Poullennec, the 44-year-old international director of the Michelin Guide, is still the most influential person in the food world. And now the Guide is expanding to hotels. Will it be a good move? --- **➤ Last week's most clicked link was** [**40 questions to ask yourself every year**](https://stephango.com/40-questions?ref=secretbreakfast.com)**. And that's all for today.** --- **• SEASON 4 - ISSUE 166 •** Secret Breakfast is a newsletter by [Piero Macchioni](https://macchioni.cc/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) Think of it as *The Morning Brew* for food people, or just the most unconventional email you'll get today. In two years we have shared more than 2,000 recipes, hundreds of books, and countless hours of news, gluttony, and joy. ★★★★★ Recommended by *Food&Wine US*: [Best Food Newsletters to Subscribe To](https://www.foodandwine.com/lifestyle/best-food-newsletters?ref=secretbreakfast.com) *Gastronomika*: [The Newsletters Not To Be Missed on Food](https://www.linkiesta.it/2022/03/migliori-newsletter-food-cibo-vino?ref=secretbreakfast.com) ### Recipes for the New Year 🥘 URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/recipes-for-2024/ Last updated: 2023-12-25T23:36:01.000Z # Welcome to Secret Breakfast / An exclusive newsletter, the best place to start your day with 40 questions, 51 recipes, and 2 movies you missed before the New Year ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/d6016390-f947-4545-9662-e90c55231688/screenshot_2023-12-26_alle_00-42-40.png) Hi there! Christmas is behind our backs and at this very moment. And I have a half-sized baguette stuffed with turkey leftovers in my backpack. I don’t know, I feel like the best thing to do during the festivities is to spend time with family and friends (not in that order!), to enjoy some time for you, and finally read that book. One year ago I was pushing you the Secret Breakfast ebook, dedicated to the predictions about food in 2023\. I thought about writing about who was wrong and right, but in the end, food is not a matter of winning and losing. That’s why I wish you the most love-loaded New Year. Food will come, and recipes will be made. This issue has a different pace than the usual. The best gift we all can give is spending a good time in a good way, then don't stay on it too much, this issue is not running away from you. Piero Geneva, Switzerland. Revelers in Santa Claus hats take a dip and toast the festive season at the Bains des Pâquis public baths in 8C Lake Geneva on Christmas Eve. [Photograph: Fabrice Coffrini/AFP/Getty Images](https://www.theguardian.com/news/gallery/2023/dec/24/santa-swim-and-yoga-at-sunrise-the-weekend-before-christmas-in-photos?ref=secretbreakfast.com) --- ### **␥** ### THE BEST QUOTE ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/c58b1f40-938d-4853-822c-535dc6b6b751/quote_premier.png) ✦ **Naomi Alderman,** [*Disobedience*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disobedience%5F%28novel%29?ref=secretbreakfast.com). --- # **Ⓡ** ### RANDOM ACTS OF HUNGER *This is the space where I share some food (un)related stuff of my week, but this week is supposed to be the main container of all this newsletter* 🧘🏻‍♀️Steph Ango’s [40 questions to ask yourself every year](https://stephango.com/40-questions?ref=secretbreakfast.com) is a good exercise to review your 2023, and it’s translated into many languages as well. Do 40 questions seem too many for the time you have now? Yeah, that’s my problem too. 🍿Food movies I haven’t watched yet The Taste of Things - Official Trailer | HD | IFC Films | Ft. Juliette Binoche 🍿Food documentaries I haven’t watched yet MENUS-PLAISIRS—Les Troisgros (2023) Official Trailer 📚The best food-related book I’ve read this year? [Land of Milk and Honey](https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/700442/land-of-milk-and-honey-by-c-pam-zhang/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) is good, but I enjoyed [Woman, Eating](https://www.virago.co.uk/titles/claire-kohda/woman-eating/9780349015606/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) more. Hungry vampires beat hungry chefs. 🎃A TikTok [hack](https://www.realsimple.com/tiktok-butternut-squash-peeling-hack-8399196?ref=secretbreakfast.com) to make butternut squash better 🖱️Secret Breakfast’s most popular issue in 2023 was #149, [Bake a Cake for New Beginnings](https://secretbreakfast.com/bake-cake/) (you can read it here). 🥘[51 Recipes](https://www.epicurious.com/recipes-menus/recipes-from-top-cookbooks?ref=secretbreakfast.com) from Epicurious’ Favorite Cookbooks of the Year 🌈Minimalism won’t have a chance, [next year kitchens will be Kitsch](https://www.foodandwine.com/kistch-kitchen-products-amazon-8418348?hid=b65c06b8bb54449e12b2324cde45cf069f804769&did=11351609-20231224&utm%5Fcontent=122423&lctg=b65c06b8bb54449e12b2324cde45cf069f804769&ref=secretbreakfast.com). --- **⌇⌇⌇** ## **FOOD FOR LATER** [Will the Ozempic Era Change How We Think About Being Fat and Being Thin?](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2023/03/27/will-the-ozempic-era-change-how-we-think-about-being-fat-and-being-thin?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Jia Tolentino / The New Yorker (March 2023)** No doubt about that: 2023 was the year chemistry finally promised to have the power to change our metabolism. Ozempic is intended for diabetes, but we finally opened that drawer containing that secret formula. One day the cat will be out of the bag for anybody could afford it. How this will change us, the society, the way we consume food? --- **➤ Last week's most clicked link was** [**David Beckham having a Pastrami Sandwich**](https://www.instagram.com/p/C03%5FTxygJq%5F?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **in the same shop where Meg Ryan faked an orgasm in *When Harry Met Sally*. No orgasms were faked with Becks, I presume. And that's all for today. And for the year… Happy New Year!!** --- 🇮🇹Secret Breakfast’s humble author was included in the [Sfoglia newsletter’s special issue about the food books to give](https://sfoglia.substack.com/p/sfoglia-la-guida-delle-sfogline-e?ref=secretbreakfast.com). Italians, you have a lot to read; non-Italians, just watch the pictures and get the ideas :-) **• SEASON 4 - ISSUE 165 •** Secret Breakfast is a newsletter by [Piero Macchioni](https://macchioni.cc/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) Think of it as *The Morning Brew* for food people, or just the most unconventional email you'll get today. In two years we have shared more than 2,000 recipes, hundreds of books, and countless hours of news, gluttony, and joy. [Download our free ebook about food in 2023](https://secretbreakfast.gumroad.com/l/2023-book?ref=secretbreakfast.com). Then, it will be 2024 and who knows what else we will write… ★★★★★ Recommended by *Food&Wine US*: [Best Food Newsletters to Subscribe To](https://www.foodandwine.com/lifestyle/best-food-newsletters?ref=secretbreakfast.com) *Gastronomika*: [The Newsletters Not To Be Missed on Food](https://www.linkiesta.it/2022/03/migliori-newsletter-food-cibo-vino?ref=secretbreakfast.com) ### Christmas, without a shred of guilt 🎄 URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/christmas-without-guilt/ Last updated: 2023-12-18T16:57:28.000Z # Welcome to Secret Breakfast / An exclusive newsletter, the best place to start your day with liquid gingerbread, Campari jellies and no shred of guilt ![And I drink to that!](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/0823670a-2a47-4d38-9c86-5b63a255df85/bott.jpg) And I drink to that! Hi there! This is not the last newsletter of the year, but I feel like wrapping up some ideas. If you’re a long-time reader, you have noticed something in the second half of the year: life’s contingencies started biting pieces of “Secret Breakfast building time” and slowed down any massive growth plan that was on paper. But… The good news is I could still focus on a 1000% human-made hypertext product while AI-generated emails, keynotes, voices, and captions have started invading our personal spaces. **In fact, I believe that today personal newsletters are more valuable than ever. And even more valuable is the time any reader dedicates to them.** That time is not to be wasted, and that will always be my North Star in the coming years. Piero PS: you can now find more Secret Breakfast nonsense on Threads following [@secret.breakfast](https://www.threads.net/@secret.breakfast?ref=secretbreakfast.com). Ping, give some feedback, pour a lot of love, whatever. Still frame of Prime Video’s [Saltburn](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saltburn%5F%28film%29?ref=secretbreakfast.com). --- ### **␥** ### THE BEST QUOTE ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/032842d7-01e1-48c9-9d12-b45fc0758d09/113__1.png) ✦ **Nigel Slater,** [***A Year of Good Eating: The Kitchen Diaries III***](https://www.nigelslater.com/the-kitchen-diaries-volume-iii-%5Fbk%5F36?ref=secretbreakfast.com)***.*** My Christmas rituals include reading the festive section of this book, only when everybody else is sleeping. --- #### **⎚** #### THE MISSING INGREDIENT ## **WHERE DO WE START? BY MAKING CHOCOLATE** ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/27ae978f-7e4c-408d-849a-dd8d561e4b6c/wonl.jpg) No doubts about that: this Christmas movie is Wonka (that has been called[Pure Cinematic Candy](https://www.bonappetit.com/story/wonka-movie-review?ref=secretbreakfast.com)). Let’s celebrate with some chocolate then. [80 Chocolate Desserts You Have To See To Believe](https://www.delish.com/cooking/recipe-ideas/g1779/quick-easy-chocolate-desserts/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) (Delish) [100+ Chocolate Recipes](https://www.deliciousmagazine.co.uk/ingredients/chocolate-recipes/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) (Delicious Magazine) [81 Best Chocolate Dessert Recipes to Satisfy Your Cocoa Cravings](https://www.thepioneerwoman.com/food-cooking/meals-menus/g31977960/chocolate-dessert-recipes/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) (The Pioneer Woman) ###### Picture: Wonka --- #### **⎅** #### THE BOOK ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/8f706c79-5c54-4d09-b820-4732cacbc778/capture_2023-12-18_alle_19-42-00.jpg) #### Mixing Everything Up ★★★★☆ *«Of course the Chinese mix everything up. Look at what they have to work with. There's Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoist alchemy and sorcery. We take what we want and leave the rest. Just like your salad bar»*. This [*Big Trouble in Little China*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big%5FTrouble%5Fin%5FLittle%5FChina?ref=secretbreakfast.com) quote helped me explain the Chinese cooking inexplicability for years. The truth is no Westerner could understand all the layers of that country’s cooking. Luckily for us now we have this book, that’s not a cookbook, but it tells the story you need to hear. [Invitation to a Banquet: The Story of Chinese Food](https://wwnorton.com/books/9780393867138?ref=secretbreakfast.com) by Fuchsia Dunlop **→** Shortplot: 🍚 🐉 🍛 🍤 --- **❍ OnlyPans** This is where Secret Breakfast picks juicy content from food creators [](https://www.instagram.com/reel/C00AVI1v1YI?ref=secretbreakfast.com) --- # **Ⓡ** ### RANDOM ACTS OF HUNGER *This is the space where I share some food (un)related stuff of my week* 🍊Meera Sodha’s recipe for Campari and fresh orange jelly (★[recipe](https://www.theguardian.com/food/2023/dec/16/vegan-fresh-orange-campari-jelly-recipe-meera-sodha?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🥪The most erotic picture of the past week: [David Beckham having pastrami](https://www.instagram.com/p/C03%5FTxygJq%5F?ref=secretbreakfast.com) in NYC 🎧[Measure, Pour & Mixtape](https://spinstersounds.bandcamp.com/album/measure-pour-mixtape-music-for-cooking?ref=secretbreakfast.com): Music for Cooking (thanks [Federico](https://www.instagram.com/cratete?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) ⚠️Here's what you need to know about the [deadly salmonella outbreak tied to cantaloupes](https://qz.com/heres-what-you-need-to-know-about-the-deadly-salmonella-1851108471?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🫔39 After-School Snacks for Kids and Adults Too (★[recipes](https://www.bonappetit.com/gallery/after-school-snack-ideas?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🔥Oxtail Beignets (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reel/CzO7LiJIC0L/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🍷[Classic Wines](https://www.theguardian.com/food/2023/dec/17/classic-wines-for-christmas-lunch?ref=secretbreakfast.com) for Xmas Lunch ☕️59 Healthy Breakfast Ideas That’ll Keep You From Hitting Snooze (★[recipes](https://www.bonappetit.com/gallery/healthy-breakfast-recipes?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 👑Kate Middleton is a private chef's dream! ([video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3kbQLu2vUS0&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🔪Meet [Tina Choi](https://www.thepublishpress.com/staffpicks23-tinachoi?ref=secretbreakfast.com), the Best Food Creator according to PublishPress📚The NY Times’ [Best Cookbooks](https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/12/dining/best-cookbooks-2023.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com) of 2023 --- **⌇⌇⌇** ## **FOOD FOR LATER** [Is modern food lower in nutrients?](https://www.chemistryworld.com/features/is-modern-food-lower-in-nutrients/4018578.article?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Bárbara Pinho / Chemistry World** Studies suggest that our fruit and vegetables are losing nutrients. Read here to learn about the implications of a ‘nutrient collapse’. --- **➤ Last week's most clicked link was** [**Food&Wine Top 25 Recipes of the Year**](https://www.foodandwine.com/the-25-most-popular-food-and-wine-recipes-of-2023-8410692?ref=secretbreakfast.com)**. And that's all for today, and have the happiest Christmas.** --- **• SEASON 4 - ISSUE 167 •** Secret Breakfast is a newsletter by [Piero Macchioni](https://macchioni.cc/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) Think of it as *The Morning Brew* for food people, or just the most unconventional email you'll get today. In two years we have shared more than 2,000 recipes, hundreds of books, and countless hours of news, gluttony, and joy. [Download our free ebook about food in 2023](https://secretbreakfast.gumroad.com/l/2023-book?ref=secretbreakfast.com). ★★★★★ Recommended by *Food&Wine US*: [Best Food Newsletters to Subscribe To](https://www.foodandwine.com/lifestyle/best-food-newsletters?ref=secretbreakfast.com) *Gastronomika*: [The Newsletters Not To Be Missed on Food](https://www.linkiesta.it/2022/03/migliori-newsletter-food-cibo-vino?ref=secretbreakfast.com) ### The Crime Predicting Omelette 🥚 URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/cheese-future/ Last updated: 2023-12-11T18:23:42.000Z # Welcome to Secret Breakfast / An exclusive newsletter, the best place to start your day with climate change cakes, future predicting cheese and criminal omelettes ![When on a food truck, Bradley Cooper is so happy](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/722e7f5d-3f38-450a-99e3-4132b5e63b32/screenshot_2023-12-12_alle_07-12-43.png) When on a food truck, Bradley Cooper is so happy Hi there! Whatever you’re going to cook in the coming days, I wish you the same excitement actor [Bradley Cooper had while on a Philly cheesesteak sandwich food truck](https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Food/bradley-cooper-spotted-serving-hot-philly-cheesesteaks-nyc/story?id=105453071&ref=secretbreakfast.com) in New York City a few days ago. This could have been a Christmas recipes loading issue or a Christmas stress unloading issue. I went with the latter, I hope the choice was right. Piero --- ### **␥** ### THE BEST QUOTE ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/9df9dfc1-41fa-4f54-9a6a-4d4ffcacd2e5/113__14.png) ✦ **T.J. Klune**, [*In the Lives of Puppets*](https://www.tjklunebooks.com/in-the-lives-of-puppets?ref=secretbreakfast.com)**.** --- #### **⎚** #### THE MISSING INGREDIENT ## **MAKE AN OMELETTE, OR “HOW TO SOLVE A CRIME ACCORDING TO STEPHEN KING”** ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/9b8ca732-737b-407d-a75e-d00c59b2be1b/screenshot_2023-12-12_alle_07-24-49.png) Stephen King’s latest novel, [Holly](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holly%5F%28novel%29?ref=secretbreakfast.com), has a beautiful image about solving crimes and making omelettes in reverse. “Most cases are fragile, the way eggs are fragile. Why? Because most criminals are dopes. When it comes to doing dirt, even the ones who are smart are dopes. Otherwise they wouldn’t do dirt in the first place. So you treat a case like an egg. You crack it, you beat it, you put it in a pan with some butter. Then you make yourself a nice little omelet”. **Stephen King, Holly** ###### [Stephen King in his kitchen eating a lobstrosity.](https://www.reddit.com/r/StableDiffusion/comments/xargcz/stephen%5Fking%5Fin%5Fhis%5Fkitchen%5Feating%5Fa%5Flobstrosity/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) --- #### **⎅** #### THE BOOK ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/34ed6bb0-10da-4a43-b6e0-ed7422a1fb55/9781838955755.jpg) #### Notes on a Small Island ★★★☆☆ “Vogler hasn’t called her book Stuffed to signal the amazing array of facts she has gathered \[…\]. The word can mean utterly screwed as well as swollen-stomached in the post-buffet sense, and thanks to this it’s entirely apt for a study of British food in good times and in bad”. An interesting account on food in the history of the UK. [Stuffed. A History of Good Food and Hard Times in Britain](https://atlantic-books.co.uk/book/stuffed/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) by Pen Vogler **→** Shortplot: 🥧 🥩 🍺 🧅 --- # **Ⓡ** ### RANDOM ACTS OF HUNGER *This is the space where I share some food (un)related stuff of my week* 🐻[The 25 Top Food & Wine Recipes](https://www.foodandwine.com/the-25-most-popular-food-and-wine-recipes-of-2023-8410692?ref=secretbreakfast.com) are basically the full recipe book of The Bear tv serie🎖️[The World of Mouth Global Culinary Report](https://www.worldofmouth.app/global-culinary-report-2023?ref=secretbreakfast.com) spotlights the best of 2023 in restaurants and travel☝️[TikTok’s biggest hits](https://www.theverge.com/2023/12/6/23989124/tiktoks-biggest-hits-2023-viral-videos-trends-recommendation-algorithm?ref=secretbreakfast.com) are videos you’ve probably never seen 👩🏻‍🍳[The New York Times’ Most Popular Recipes ](https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/09/dining/our-most-popular-recipes-of-2023.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com)2023 🔥[The Best Promo for a Restaurant](https://www.instagram.com/reel/Czwb3-RI2MI?ref=secretbreakfast.com) I’ve seen in a while 🎓Food Politics 101 with Jenny Dorsey at @HarvardEducation ([video](https://youtu.be/dk%5FG1Mmg2To?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 💙[37 Reasons To Love New York Right Now](https://www.curbed.com/article/reasons-to-love-new-york-2023.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🧐[15 Foods That Weren't Designed For What We Use Them For](https://www.tastingtable.com/1455799/foods-we-dont-use-as-intended/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🍽️[Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants](https://www.theworlds50best.com/latinamerica/en/list/1-50?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🍍[Pineapple](https://www.foodandwine.com/the-biggest-food-trends-of-2024-according-to-pinterest-8411530?ref=secretbreakfast.com) Will Be Hot in 2024 --- **⌇⌇⌇** ## **FOOD FOR LATER** [Cakes for Climate change](https://thisismold.com/profile/cakes-for-climate-change?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Julia Georgallis / Mold** *(Thanks Beatrice!)* Baker-turned-glacier-guide Rose McAdoo is trying to combat climate change through her educational cakes and desserts that explain the natural processes behind glaciology and climate change. --- [When Cheese Can Tell the Future](https://www.eater.com/23934947/predicting-future-cheese-tyromancy-jennifer-billock-kitchen-witch?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Kathy Adams / Eater** The Kitchen Witch brings the ancient art of tyromancy — divination through cheese — to the modern day. --- **➤ Last week's most clicked link was** [**Eater’s Food Gift Guide**](https://www.eater.com/23961379/best-food-gift-guide-2023?ref=secretbreakfast.com)**. And that's all for today which is - by the way - 13 days to Christmas.** --- **• SEASON 4 - ISSUE 163 •** Secret Breakfast is a newsletter by [Piero Macchioni](https://macchioni.cc/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) Think of it as *The Morning Brew* for food people, or just the most unconventional email you'll get today. In two years we have shared more than 2,000 recipes, hundreds of books, and countless hours of news, gluttony, and joy. [Download our free ebook about food in 2023](https://secretbreakfast.gumroad.com/l/2023-book?ref=secretbreakfast.com). ★★★★★ Recommended by *Food&Wine US*: [Best Food Newsletters to Subscribe To](https://www.foodandwine.com/lifestyle/best-food-newsletters?ref=secretbreakfast.com) *Gastronomika*: [The Newsletters Not To Be Missed on Food](https://www.linkiesta.it/2022/03/migliori-newsletter-food-cibo-vino?ref=secretbreakfast.com) ### Camel Milk and Protein Coffee ☕️ URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/camel-milk/ Last updated: 2023-12-02T08:39:40.000Z # Welcome to Secret Breakfast / An exclusive newsletter, the best place to start your day with onions, Appalachian cookies, and the best gifts you can eat ![Something I can’t do today, with my backache](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/3e5b060d-6eb6-4af0-aaab-72fcb5f9cd65/capture_2023-12-05_alle_19-18-58.jpg) Something I can’t do today, with my backache Hi there! In Italy, we’re living in a new COVID wave. And I had a killer temperature I couldn’t work on this issue as I intended. That’s why it’s late, but at least it is still Tuesday, isn’t it? Piero Photograph: [Avishek Das/Sopa Images/Shutterstock](https://www.theguardian.com/news/gallery/2023/nov/15/coldplay-protest-and-lily-illuminations-photos-of-the-day-wednesday?ref=secretbreakfast.com). A devotee prepares for the Hindu festival of Annakut at the Naba Brindaban temple. Devotees mark the festival, which is also known as Govardhan Puja, by offering vegetarian food to Lord Krishna as a sign of gratitude for saving them from floods. --- ### **␥** ### THE BEST QUOTE ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/b4d88192-ba0a-433d-927a-8385de293b30/113.png) ✦ [**Virginia Woolf**](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virginia%5FWoolf?ref=secretbreakfast.com), and one of her sexiest lines (actually in *Jacob's Room* she wrote “Language is wine upon his lips”). --- #### **⎚** #### THE MISSING INGREDIENT ## **CAMEL MILK AND PICKLE KETCHUP** ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/44178dba-edf7-4d43-95d6-f829eb7ad1a9/sorina-bindea-vs2twjp1mqa-unsplash__1.jpg) Secret Breakfast loves food predictions so much that I wrote an [ebook](https://secretbreakfast.gumroad.com/l/2023-book?ref=secretbreakfast.com) about that, last year (it’s free, you can download it). Now it’s time for other people’s predictions about food in 2024\. [Axios](https://www.axios.com/2023/12/01/food-trends-2024-dining-buckwheat-coffee-halloumi-pickles-tiktok?ref=secretbreakfast.com) has made enough for us to fantasize about for months: camel milk, protein coffee, [Dalgona coffee](https://vinepair.com/articles/coffee-shops-whipped-coffee-trend/?ref=secretbreakfast.com), [pickle ketchup](https://www.heinz.co.uk/masterbrand/tomato-ketchup/product/8715700125763/tomato-ketchup-pickle?ref=secretbreakfast.com), Bulgogi, bibimbap, Korean egg drop breakfast sandwiches (★[recipe](https://drivemehungry.com/korean-egg-drop-sandwich/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)), and “creste di gallo” pasta (which I don’t really trust because it has the same name as the genital wart). What’s your prediction? ###### Foto di [Sorina Bindea](https://unsplash.com/it/@sorinetzu?utm%5Fcontent=creditCopyText&ref=secretbreakfast.com) --- #### **⎅** #### THE BOOK ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/39720e3f-bab5-4d62-ad65-db42d7b1a0de/capture_2023-12-05_alle_19-04-58.jpg) #### Core, Sweet, and Tears ★★★★☆ If Mark Kurlansky is not my soulmate, please tell me who could be. He wrote books about cod and salt, and now - bam - onions! As Julia Child once said, “It is hard to imagine a civilization without onions”. And it’s harder imagining something some good meal without onions. [The Core of an Onion: Peeling the Rarest Common Food](https://www.bloomsbury.com/us/core-of-an-onion-9781635575934/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) by Mark Kurlansky **→** Shortplot: 🧅 🧅 🧅 🧅 --- **❍ OnlyPans** This is where Secret Breakfast picks juicy content from food creators [](https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cz4M3vhuP9S?ref=secretbreakfast.com) --- # **Ⓡ** ### RANDOM ACTS OF HUNGER *This is the space where I share some food (un)related stuff of my week* 🍪Bravo NY Times: 7 Brilliant Cookies to Keep Your Holidays Bright (★[recipes](https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/01/dining/holiday-cookies.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) *🐟 Lohikeitto* is the Finnish Salmon Soup You’d Love (★[recipe](https://lacuisinedegeraldine.fr/en/finnish-salmon-soup-lohikeitto?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🍎[Strudel Dough](https://www.instagram.com/reel/C0E3eXExcPk?ref=secretbreakfast.com) As It Should Be 🥚[4 Levels of Deviled Eggs](https://youtu.be/VnLwhpFOwY0?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 👉🏻Don’t Send Compliments to the Chef and [Other New Rules of Dining Out in 2023](https://www.wsj.com/arts-culture/food-cooking/dont-send-compliments-to-the-chef-new-rules-of-dining-out-3a6346cc?ref=secretbreakfast.com) (paywalled) 🥤Why [Diet Coke got so expensive](https://www.vox.com/money/23979340/diet-coke-price-coca-cola-pepsi-inflation-walmart-costco?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🍫Ivory Coast and Ghana, which together grow \~60% of the cocoa on Earth, are both expecting their [lowest yields in years](https://www.morningbrew.com/daily/stories/2023/12/02/chocolate-lovers-if-they-could-go-back-in-time?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🎁[The best gifts you can eat](https://www.eater.com/23961379/best-food-gift-guide-2023?ref=secretbreakfast.com) --- **⌇⌇⌇** ## **FOOD FOR LATER** [How AI is transforming the restaurant industry](https://www.fastcompany.com/90991556/how-ai-is-transforming-the-restaurant-industry?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **JP Chauvet / Fast Company** The takeout: “AI will never replace human interaction at high-end restaurants, but it can enable the people who run those restaurants to spend more time with guests”. --- **➤ Last week's most clicked link was the** [**64 Recipes From the Best Cookbooks of 2023**](https://www.epicurious.com/recipes-menus/recipes-from-the-best-cookbooks?ref=secretbreakfast.com)**, which was my favorite too. And that's all for today.** --- **• SEASON 4 - ISSUE 162 •** Secret Breakfast is a newsletter by [Piero Macchioni](https://macchioni.cc/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) Think of it as *The Morning Brew* for food people, or just the most unconventional email you'll get today. In two years we have shared more than 2,000 recipes, hundreds of books, and countless hours of news, gluttony, and joy. [Download our free ebook about food in 2023](https://secretbreakfast.gumroad.com/l/2023-book?ref=secretbreakfast.com). ★★★★★ Recommended by *Food&Wine US*: [Best Food Newsletters to Subscribe To](https://www.foodandwine.com/lifestyle/best-food-newsletters?ref=secretbreakfast.com) *Gastronomika*: [The Newsletters Not To Be Missed on Food](https://www.linkiesta.it/2022/03/migliori-newsletter-food-cibo-vino?ref=secretbreakfast.com) ### Black Beans, White Truffles and Shoebox Lunches 🥾 URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/black-beans-white-truffles/ Last updated: 2023-11-28T05:40:37.000Z # Welcome to Secret Breakfast / An exclusive newsletter for Black Friday survivors, black beans stewers and white truffle hunters ![Prontissimo!](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/8c81a6eb-722e-43fe-8b3a-eb0ec8d6a1e3/screenshot_2023-11-28_alle_07-03-57.png) Prontissimo! Hi there! Congratulations! You survived Thanksgiving, Black Friday, Cyber Monday and - well, if you think about it - you survived Monday too. If I’m correct, this email could be at the top of about a hundred last-minute-offers in your inbox. I hope you’ve dealt well. Don’t worry, this newsletter will be quick and compact: I’ve had a devastating week, didn’t have enough time to lose myself on the Interweb as I wanted, and I can’t stand selling stuff emails no more. Piero Rowan Atkinson, during his seminal scene for *Love Actually*. --- ### **␥** ### THE BEST QUOTE ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/c979800b-f22c-434b-8ba5-33f7234be31d/code_block____redesign_instagram_quote__1_-.png) ✦ **Anne Serre**, [*The Beginners*](https://www.ndbooks.com/book/the-beginners/?ref=secretbreakfast.com). --- #### **⎚** #### THE MISSING INGREDIENT ## **LUNCH IS IN THE SHOEBOX** ![Café du Monde Beignets: done.](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/5ccb6a1d-102a-4f1a-b5ac-b73cfe6f3efd/screenshot_2023-11-28_alle_07-51-07.png) Café du Monde Beignets: done. I really wanna like the Netflix show [High On The Hog](https://www.netflix.com/it/title/81034518?ref=secretbreakfast.com), about the importance of the African heritage in the American food culture. It’s polished, it has two great hosts, and the writing team did its job. But sometimes I find it predictable and boring in the execution. Why? I can’t tell. The message, though, is quite powerful. I live in Europe and I knew almost nothing about the “[Shoebox lunch](https://www.pastemagazine.com/food/soul-food/celebrating-the-african-american-shoebox-lunch/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)” (Season 2, Episode 1 - New Orleans). That’s the way black people brought food on the trains when they weren’t allowed to dine in the restaurant car. In the shoebox, you could find fried chicken, some fruit, and a slice of pound cake. “Shoebox lunch” was born from a human need, but somehow it’s incredible the search for dignity in this form of American bento during a time when dignity wasn’t meant for all people. Food has this power too. ###### Picture: Netflix --- #### **⎅** #### THE BOOK ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/7ec83f4e-8022-4b13-b7e8-d06f1a4167c4/screenshot_2023-11-28_alle_08-07-33.png) #### Enter a different world ★★★★☆ *Cree* are a North American Indigenous people who live primarily in Canada. In the Cree language, t*awâw* means, "Come in, you're welcome, there's room". And here chef Shane M. Chartrand brings us in a world of flavor totally different from ours. I mean, elk’s not on my table every week. [Here](https://open-book.ca/News/Meet-Chef-Shane-M.-Chartrand-Sample-Original-Mouth-Watering-Recipes-from-tawaw-Progressive-Indigenous-Cuisine?ref=secretbreakfast.com) you find a story about him, even if I believe you can’t really cook that food at home, you have to be there. [Tawâw: Progressive Indigenous Cuisine](https://houseofanansi.com/products/taww?ref=secretbreakfast.com) by Shane M. Chartrand **→** Shortplot: 🖐🏽 🍠 🌺 🦌 --- # **Ⓡ** ### RANDOM ACTS OF HUNGER *This is the space where I share some food (un)related stuff of my week* ⭐️Bookmark this: [64 recipes from the best cookbooks of 2023](https://www.epicurious.com/recipes-menus/recipes-from-the-best-cookbooks?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🇬🇭Black Bean Fritters from Ghana (★[recipe](https://www.greatbritishchefs.com/recipes/akara?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🎧Why [Audiobooks Are… Books](https://map.simonsarris.com/p/audiobooks-are-books-and-theyre-also?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🎁I love this idea: [Wedding planning + party planning recovery kit](https://rootkitchens.substack.com/p/wedding-planning-party-planning-recovery?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 📖 [Prophet Song by Paul Lynch](https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/features/reading-guide-prophet-song-by-paul-lynch?ref=secretbreakfast.com) Won the Booker Prize 🍚Rice Pudding Bengali Style (★[recipe](https://spiceandcolour.com/en/rice-pudding-bengali-style-payesh/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🥞Kevin Bacon’s No Flour Pancakes (★[recipe](https://www.foodandwine.com/kevin-bacon-pancake-recipe-8404990?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🫒When Cooking, I’m a Butter Person, but [No food or medicine can do what olive oil can do](https://www.nationalgeographic.com/premium/article/olive-oil-healthiest-oil-prevention-heart-disease-cancer?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🤖In the Future We Will Have [electronic noses designed to prevent food poisoning](https://www.bbc.com/news/business-67354443?ref=secretbreakfast.com) ✈️Buy Some Tickets: [you age slower on a plane ](https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20231117-time-dilation-planes-einstein-relativity-black-holes?ref=secretbreakfast.com)☝️[What to do when you see mold on your food](https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/what-to-do-when-you-see-mold-on-your-food?ref=secretbreakfast.com) (triple the price tag and wait for your Michelin Star) --- **⌇⌇⌇** ## **FOOD FOR LATER** [This is how dogs learn to hunt for truffles](https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/how-dogs-learn-to-hunt-for-truffles?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Chris Horton / National Geographic** In one of my favorite movies ever, *Pig*, Nicolas Cage truffle hunting pig is kidnapped. (Then we already are in the spoiler zone, so this premise was totally unnecessary). Truffle dogs, then: Autumn, Hampshire, two women, one man and one dog go in search of a local delicacy. But who’s teaching who? --- **➤ No Thanksgiving leftover was used in the making of this newsletter. Last week's most clicked link was the** [**Invisible Apple Tart Recipe**](https://www.instagram.com/reel/CyTq-itIZgy?ref=secretbreakfast.com)**. And that's all for today.** --- **• SEASON 4 - ISSUE 161 •** Secret Breakfast is a newsletter by [Piero Macchioni](https://macchioni.cc/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) Think of it as *The Morning Brew* for food people, or just the most unconventional email you'll get today. In two years we have shared more than 2,000 recipes, hundreds of books, and countless hours of news, gluttony, and joy. [Download our free ebook about food in 2023](https://secretbreakfast.gumroad.com/l/2023-book?ref=secretbreakfast.com). ★★★★★ Recommended by *Food&Wine US*: [Best Food Newsletters to Subscribe To](https://www.foodandwine.com/lifestyle/best-food-newsletters?ref=secretbreakfast.com) *Gastronomika*: [The Newsletters Not To Be Missed on Food](https://www.linkiesta.it/2022/03/migliori-newsletter-food-cibo-vino?ref=secretbreakfast.com) B ### Time for hallucinating 🍄 URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/time-hallucinating/ Last updated: 2023-11-20T23:24:33.000Z # Welcome to Secret Breakfast / An exclusive newsletter, the best place to savor the silence by making butter candles, shortcut brioches, and tricky mushrooms ![A vaguely racist, sexist, animal-cruel, and adult-only illustration to keep my point](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/5a2fc898-f727-4100-bc0d-dd35360c7258/screenshot_2023-11-21_alle_01-00-43.png) A vaguely racist, sexist, animal-cruel, and adult-only illustration to keep my point Hi there! In case you were wondering, even the Seven Deadly Sins sound better in French. Take Gluttony, and repeat with me: *La Gourmandise*. How can something like this be so bad? That might be one of the secret powers of the French Cuisine: the magic of making anything juicier. Deadly Sins included. Piero André Lambert, La Gourmandise --- ### **␥** ### THE BEST QUOTE ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/50764aec-e54d-43dd-b2f0-26c6f8d0b22b/code_block____redesign_instagram_quote.png) ✦ **Chandra Livia Candiani,** [Italian poet](https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chandra%5FLivia%5FCandiani?ref=secretbreakfast.com), *Il silenzio è cosa viva* (“Silence is a living thing”). Savoring the silence, not bad at all. --- #### **⎚** #### THE MISSING INGREDIENT ## **BAKE IT LIKE BECKHAM** ![It's all in the reflexes](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/f373cef8-304f-4556-814e-a4b4de231a2e/screenshot_2023-11-21_alle_08-55-58.png) It's all in the reflexes Cambridge dictionary’s word of the year for 2023 is “[hallucinate](https://www.theguardian.com/books/2023/nov/15/hallucinate-cambridge-dictionary-word-of-the-year?ref=secretbreakfast.com)” – a verb that gained an additional meaning this year by pairing it with the effects of Artificial Intelligence in our lives. That’s my queue to talk about fungi! In [The Mushroom Boom](https://thewalrus.ca/the-mushroom-boom?ref=secretbreakfast.com) Anne Thériault runs all the old and new tricks of the fungi world: “from beer to vegan leather, fungi are increasingly being used in new ways”. Luckly for us: there’s still a lot we don’t know about the mysterious organisms Picture: Netflix --- #### **⎅** #### THE BOOK ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/48433ce8-ff32-46c9-a8ab-8f49ab8fdcba/screenshot_2023-11-21_alle_08-38-35.png) #### Make It Rustic ★★★☆☆ First things first, I love the artwork here. Second, if you loved Polpo (the Soho restaurant or the [book](https://www.waterstones.com/book/polpo/russell-norman/9781408816790?ref=secretbreakfast.com)), this is by the same family. Tuscan cooking is the main character here, inspired by Russell Norman's new restaurant, [Trattoria Brutto](https://www.instagram.com/bru.tto/?ref=secretbreakfast.com). The book is praised as a celebration of “one of Italy's most beloved cities, Florence, and specifically the bohemian district of Santo Spirito”. Humble ingredients, explosive taste. [Brutto. A (Simple) Florentine Cookbook](https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/452787/brutto-by-norman-russell/9781529197143?ref=secretbreakfast.com) by Russell Norman **→** Shortplot: 🥩 🥬 🍷 🐟 --- **❍ OnlyPans** This is where Secret Breakfast picks juicy content from food creators [](https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cz1cE8XrD-O?ref=secretbreakfast.com) --- # **Ⓡ** ### RANDOM ACTS OF HUNGER *This is the space where I share some food (un)related stuff of my week. This time I might have spent too much time on Instagram* 🦃From Julia Child to Kristen Kish: [45 Years of Great Thanksgiving Hosting Advice From Chefs](https://www.foodandwine.com/how-to-host-thanksgiving-like-a-chef-8357592?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🌸[Pink Noise](https://open.spotify.com/playlist/37i9dQZF1DWZhzMp90Opmn?ref=secretbreakfast.com) is White Noise, but in Pink 🦆This Roasted Celery Root Looks Like Duck’s Breast (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reel/CzdTY3FoY1a?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🥮Buy Some Eggs and Bake this Fluffy Taiwanese Castella (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reel/Czlxhr6SMBP?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🟨15 Minutes Salted Caramel Sauce (★[recipe](https://dollopofdough.com/salted-caramel-sauce?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🗺️Do You Like Shortcuts? Here’s one for Croissants (★[recipe](https://everydaypie.com/easy-shortcut-croissants/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) and one for Baguettes (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reel/CxQev7nJnNf?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🥧knead Some Fancy Pie Crusts (★[recipes](https://www.instagram.com/reel/CzoNp2FOGeh?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🇮🇹Giulia’s [Italian Thanksgiving](https://julskitchen.substack.com/p/an-italian-thanksgiving-menu?ref=secretbreakfast.com): you have to try it! 🍎The Invisible Apple Pie (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reel/CyTq-itIZgy?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) ⭐️The [13 Michelin 3 Starred Restaurants in Italy](https://www.ansa.it/english/news/lifestyle/food%5Fwine/2023/11/14/number-of-3-michelin-starred-restaurants-rises-to-13%5F66ce37c4-5ac1-4130-be24-f1d3fa9f3ded.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com) (if I were you, I’d book for Uliassi and Reale; forget Bartolini; have something real at Francescana and Da Vittorio) --- **⌇⌇⌇** ## **FOOD FOR LATER** [‘We’re sedating women with self-care’: how we became obsessed with wellness](https://www.theguardian.com/wellness/2023/nov/01/wellness-industry-healthcare-women-stress?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Katherine Rowland / The Guardian** The industry claims to offer answers for all our stress and symptoms – but we still lack the fundamentals of wellbeing. How did this happen? --- [Milk Has Lost All Meaning](https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2023/03/plant-based-soy-oat-milk-fda-definition/673306/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Yasmin Tayag / The Atlantic** In the era of veg-alternatives milk’s identity is hard to pin down. --- **➤ Last week's most clicked link was about** [**cutting vegetables like a pro**](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QjZ1LFqNWRM&ref=secretbreakfast.com)**. And that's all for today.** --- **• SEASON 4 - ISSUE 160 •** Secret Breakfast is a newsletter by [Piero Macchioni](https://macchioni.cc/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) Think of it as *The Morning Brew* for food people, or just the most unconventional email you'll get today. In two years we have shared more than 2,000 recipes, hundreds of books, and countless hours of news, gluttony, and joy. [Download our free ebook about food in 2023](https://secretbreakfast.gumroad.com/l/2023-book?ref=secretbreakfast.com). ★★★★★ Recommended by *Food&Wine US*: [Best Food Newsletters to Subscribe To](https://www.foodandwine.com/lifestyle/best-food-newsletters?ref=secretbreakfast.com) *Gastronomika*: [The Newsletters Not To Be Missed on Food](https://www.linkiesta.it/2022/03/migliori-newsletter-food-cibo-vino?ref=secretbreakfast.com) ### Queuing for Grolet, Dining with Stalin 🥐 URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/stalin-grolet/ Last updated: 2023-11-14T22:03:19.000Z # Welcome to Secret Breakfast / An exclusive newsletter, the best place to start your day by being late one day, browning butter, queuing for croissants and dining with a Soviet dictator ![Don’t leave too much time.](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/457ea44f-d994-411a-a639-805dc4f6810c/roasting_marshmallow.jpg) Don’t leave too much time. Hi there! It’s Wednesday, I’m late, I know. Let’s roll. Piero Photo [Kindel Media](https://www.pexels.com/photo/roasting-marshmallow-7149043/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) --- ### **␥** ### THE BEST QUOTE ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/f2e49c8a-c30b-41a4-906a-db760e2ad2f0/quote_premier_redesign__3_-.png) ✦ **Shirley Jackson**, [*We Have Always Lived in the Castle*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/We%5FHave%5FAlways%5FLived%5Fin%5Fthe%5FCastle?ref=secretbreakfast.com). --- #### **⎚** #### THE MISSING INGREDIENT ## **WHAT ARE WE WAITING FOR WHEN WE WAIT IN LINE FOR AN INSTAGRAMMABLE-CROISSANT** ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/3b22587b-df51-4286-9e21-1c5f00e14e3e/screenshot_2023-11-15_alle_01-06-58.png) **I’ve mixed feelings about queuing for food.** I respect queuing - orderly queuing - because it’s a sign of politeness and structure. Think about Japan: that’s what I mean. I also hate queuing, because I may be a little misanthropic, and I do not like people too close to me for too much time. Think about Disneyland: that’s what I mean. Nevertheless, food and queues are often together. You can have queues for food in the Weimar Republic (the year 1918), and people standing 2 hours in line just to have a bite of Cedric Grolet’s brioches in Paris. In my life, I politely waited more than an hour for an omakase sushi in Tokyo at 5 AM, but I’m used to doing the same now for Danish pastries in Milan if I happen to want them on a Saturday morning. It sounds bad, but **most of the places I had to queue for tried to keep their spirit.** I mean: they could McDonaldize the workflow and the prime materials, and they do not. They grind your beans just before kicking up your Espresso, they run out of the pastry of the day, and they keep smiling even if on the road people are like “They should do this and that and everything will be quicker”. I do not have a theory for food queuing. But after all the time you’ve spent on the street, just notice if what’s inside the shop was really worth it. ![Germany, 1918. Hungry people, not foodies.](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/078592be-9f89-41dd-a460-22ac3bc71144/food_queues_weimar_republic_1918_hanover.jpg) Germany, 1918\. Hungry people, not foodies. --- #### **⎅** #### THE BOOK ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/4c2ff599-044f-4e47-ba1c-1a948e27737e/screenshot_2023-11-15_alle_00-56-13.png) #### I’ll Bee Your Secret ★★★☆☆ Speeding cooking up. Slowing it down. Strategies for cooking alone or ideas for when you want to luxuriate in kitchen therapy. Cooking legend Bee Wilson (too much?) shares her tricks, as an older sister would do. It’s not rocket science, but a warm compilation of hearty - and sometimes messy - preparations (such as Grated Tomato and Butter Pasta Sauce with Basil). I link to the author’s page because I really can’t figure out the different cover artworks for the British and the American editions. [The Secret of Cooking: Recipes for an Easier Life in the Kitchen](https://www.beewilson.com/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) by Bee Wilson **→** Shortplot: 🍋 🥛 🍅 🥧 --- **❍ OnlyPans** This is where Secret Breakfast picks juicy content from food creators [](https://www.instagram.com/reel/CzbtTZOul-%5F/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) --- # **Ⓡ** ### RANDOM ACTS OF HUNGER *This is the space where I share some food (un)related stuff of my week* 🦃Make a[ Plan](https://www.foodandwine.com/the-biggest-meal-of-the-year-requires-a-plan-8382905?ref=secretbreakfast.com) for your Thanksgiving 📺Then trash it because you’ve watched [the Alison Roman Special](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sP%5F9TBAwPRI&ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🍪[Biscuit p’tit beurre](https://www.instagram.com/reel/CxP65wfo4Am/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) (★recipe) 🥭One of the messiest Mexican Snacks: [Mango en Vinagre](https://www.instagram.com/reel/CzcoIZsR-hQ/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🍫[How to Hijack a Quarter of a Million Dollars in Rare Japanese Kit Kats](https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/08/dining/kit-kats.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com) ☕️It’s everywhere in my feed: [The Most Crunchy Cappuccino Bun](https://www.pastrycatalog.com/2023/06/the-most-crunchy-cappuccino-bun.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🪼[The increasingly stable business of jelly](https://couriermedia.com/content/article/murder-cake-jelly-art/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🍷[Global wine production falls to 62-year low in 2023](https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-67343009?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🐄[Why can’t we just quit cows?](https://grist.org/agriculture/why-cant-we-just-quit-cows/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🥜Root Vegetable Mafé (★[recipe)](https://www.washingtonpost.com/recipes/root-vegetable-mafe/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🟫Brown Butter Is Having Its Moment: Brown butter, buttermilk pancakes with a maple praline syrup (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reel/CxF5hWkuvhW/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) and Brown-butter-ricotta-rigatoni (★[recipe](https://cafehailee.com/recipes/brown-butter-ricotta-rigatoni/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🇫🇷The [2000 Feuilles](https://www.academiedugout.fr/recettes/2000-feuilles%5F1112%5F2?ref=secretbreakfast.com) de Pierre Hermé, en 13 étapes 🍞This is a rerun, but you need it: [Sourdough Shokupan (Japanese Milk Bread)](https://www.theperfectloaf.com/sourdough-shokupan-japanese-milk-bread/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🍐How to Make [candied pears that look like stained glass, with edible flowers](https://www.instagram.com/reel/CyoGB86x8t%5F/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🔪[How To Cut The Most Common Vegetables](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QjZ1LFqNWRM&ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🇮🇳Since I’m late, I’m late for [Recipes to Celebrate Diwali, the Festival of Lights](https://www.foodandwine.com/holidays-events/celebrations/recipes-to-celebrate-diwali?ref=secretbreakfast.com), too 🐉I’ve read [How Rebecca Yarros Packed Dragons, Magic and Steamy S\*x Into a Blockbuster Fantasy](https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/06/books/rebecca-yarros-fourth-wing-iron-flame.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com) and I fell for It --- **⌇⌇⌇** ## **FOOD FOR LATER** [Dinner With A Dictator: What Joseph Stalin Ate](https://lithub.com/dinner-with-a-dictator-what-joseph-stalin-ate/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Witold Szabłowski / Lithub** He couldn’t stand cooking. He dreamt about a bathtub full of pickled gherkins. Here is the Soviet Strong Man. --- [No recipe for success: what happens to TV cooking stars after the show?](https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/oct/26/tv-cooking-competition-shows-chef-contestants-chopped-food-network?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Victoria Namkung / The Guardian (sponsored content, as in The Guardian was paid for the article, not SB)** When the pastry chef turned educator Derek Corsino walked on to the set of the Food Network’s hit series Spring Baking Championship, he didn’t expect much. --- **➤ Last week's most clicked link was about** [**The Best Food Books to Read This Fall**](https://www.eater.com/23889429/best-food-books-fiction-nonfiction-fall-preview?ref=secretbreakfast.com)**. And that's all for today.** 💩 Ah, last week I missed there was the wrong cover on the book section. I’m sorry, I’m really braised these days. The book was [The Upstairs Delicatessen](https://us.macmillan.com/books/9780374603427/theupstairsdelicatessen?ref=secretbreakfast.com) and it’s really good. --- **• SEASON 4 - ISSUE 158 •** Secret Breakfast is a newsletter by [Piero Macchioni](https://macchioni.cc/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) Think of it as *The Morning Brew* for food people, or just the most unconventional email you'll get today. In two years we have shared more than 2,000 recipes, hundreds of books, and countless hours of news, gluttony, and joy. [Download our free ebook about food in 2023](https://secretbreakfast.gumroad.com/l/2023-book?ref=secretbreakfast.com). ★★★★★ Recommended by *Food&Wine US*: [Best Food Newsletters to Subscribe To](https://www.foodandwine.com/lifestyle/best-food-newsletters?ref=secretbreakfast.com) *Gastronomika*: [The Newsletters Not To Be Missed on Food](https://www.linkiesta.it/2022/03/migliori-newsletter-food-cibo-vino?ref=secretbreakfast.com) ### Fearlessness in the Kitchen 🔪 URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/fearlessness-in-kitchen/ Last updated: 2023-11-06T10:20:26.000Z # Welcome to Secret Breakfast / An exclusive newsletter, the best place to start your day with fearlessness, Garbage Plates and Melonpans ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/f31e0c7f-9441-4285-8594-70ce52239a39/a_woman_eating_tomato.jpg) Hi there! **Imagine you’re in a beautiful garden, taking a break from the everyday life. What would you notice at first?\*** Would you measure how tall the trees are, how many different flower species are around you and how many acres are around you? Would you smell the air, touch the herbs or listen to the bird’s songs? I often use this exercise to figure out the person I have before me and tell if I’m dealing with science or spirit, mind or feelings, Apollonian or Dionysian, salad with separate condiments or piping hot Shepherd’s Pie. It’s a silly simplification - I know - but 9 times out of 10, this thing works. I know for sure I’d love to work with the first kind, and I’d have a great time with the second. Piero PS: if that reminded you [*Persian Letters*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persian%5FLetters?ref=secretbreakfast.com) by Charles de Montesquieu, you’re absolutely right. Photo by [ROMAN ODINTSOV](https://www.pexels.com/photo/a-woman-in-green-long-sleeves-eating-a-ripe-tomato-6342166/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) --- ### **␥** ### THE BEST QUOTE ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/9291cae5-bc10-4230-8ad9-ba7a4c55d7fc/113__1.png) ✦ **Elizabeth Zott** is the main character of the TV show [*Lessons in Chemistry*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lessons%5Fin%5FChemistry?ref=secretbreakfast.com), based on the novel of the same name by Bonnie Garmus (which, I’m told, is far better than the show). --- #### **⎚** #### THE MISSING INGREDIENT ## **HUNGRY FOR A DOPPELGÄNGER** ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/c5ef09f8-c856-41d9-a33b-d21cedca3404/melonpan_ultimate_guide.jpg) Tamales (★[recipe](https://www.lecremedelacrumb.com/easy-tamales/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) vs. Zongzi. Garbage Plates (★[recipe](https://cusocuts.com/blogs/recipes/garbage-plate?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) vs. Loco Mocos. Conchas vs. Melonpan (★[recipe](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/melonpan-recipe?ref=secretbreakfast.com)). The world’s a kitchen and, sometimes, different countries, with very different histories, reach the very same recipe. This Atlas Obscura feature - [Ever Spotted a Doppelgänger Food?](https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/conchas-and-melonpan?ref=secretbreakfast.com) \- made me think I must have encountered a Doppelgänger Food many times, but can’t recall. And you? ###### Picture: [Sakuraco](https://sakura.co/blog/melonpan-the-ultimate-guide-to-japans-iconic-sweet-bread/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) --- #### **⎅** #### THE BOOK ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/843c26ad-b455-4721-ac64-d36da76e3994/screenshot_2023-11-12-01-41-09-21_4641ebc0df1485bf6b47ebd018b5ee76.jpg) #### An Appetite for Words ★★★★☆ This book’s tagline is “On Eating, Reading, Reading about Eating, and Eating While Reading” and it sums up 85% of what I like of my life (when I have the time to live it). The author is *The New York Times* book critic Dwight Garner and he wrote a memoir stuffed with literary excerpts about hunger, food, and the sense of enjoying the time on this Earth. I had the possibility to read that in advance (thank you G.!) and I consider it a no-brainer: get it, read it, and, sooner or later, you’ll come back to it. Well, it probably lacks some feminine soul, but you’re buying the life of a guy named Dwight, after all. [The Upstairs Delicatessen](https://us.macmillan.com/books/9780374603427/theupstairsdelicatessen?ref=secretbreakfast.com) by Dwight Garner **→** Shortplot: 🖋️ 🍝 🍷 🍗 --- **❍ OnlyPans** This is where Secret Breakfast picks juicy content from food creators [](https://www.instagram.com/reel/CymAJY8Ob0p/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) --- # **Ⓡ** ### RANDOM ACTS OF HUNGER *This is the space where I share some food (un)related stuff of my week* 🏙️Hannah Goldfield’s [Favorite Restaurants in New York City](https://www.newyorker.com/culture/annals-of-gastronomy/my-favorite-restaurants-in-new-york-city?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🍊An Orange Cake From a Revolutionary Chef (★[recipe](https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/01/magazine/cast-iron-orange-cake-recipe.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🆇[A silly Twitter-thread](https://twitter.com/pradeepeth/status/1720840981468127536?ref=secretbreakfast.com) about food puns and IA art 🐡[Thailand's Bizarre Cafe](https://www.ndtv.com/offbeat/thailands-bizarre-cafe-where-customers-dined-in-ankle-deep-water-filled-with-fish-4549923?ref=secretbreakfast.com) Where Customers Dined In Ankle-Deep Water Filled With Fish 🍨 Roasted-Buckwheat Custards, with *soba-cha* tea (★[recipe](https://www.seriouseats.com/buckwheat-custards-pudding-soba-cha-dessert-recipe?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🥚[The Egg - A Short Story](https://youtube.com/watch?v=h6fcK%5FfRYaI&feature=shared&ref=secretbreakfast.com) by Andy Weir (I loved [Project Hail Mary](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project%5FHail%5FMary?ref=secretbreakfast.com)), animated by Kurzgesagt 🍈Everything You Did Not Know About [Watermelons](https://seasonal.substack.com/p/watermelons?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🍇In the West Bank, [Palestinians Preserve Grapes and Tradition](https://www.eater.com/23935397/palestine-grape-farmers-west-bank-israel-hamas-war?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 📚[The Best Food Books to Read This Fall](https://www.eater.com/23889429/best-food-books-fiction-nonfiction-fall-preview?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🇰🇷[Budae Jjigae](https://www.saveur.com/food/eric-kim-budae-jjigae/?ref=secretbreakfast.com), a Korean War-era staple 💡[Top 50 productivity hacks chosen by internet ](https://50hacks.co/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)💛For her first Bon Appétit Editor’s Letter Jamila Robinson wrote [a paean to the Mac’n’Cheese](https://www.instagram.com/p/CzMUMMhrRE1/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) (note for the Italians here: in the US that is considered a side dish) --- **⌇⌇⌇** ## **FOOD FOR LATER** [Who Killed the Fudge King?](https://magazine.atavist.com/who-killed-the-fudge-king-jersey-shore-harry-anglemyer/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Tom Donaghy / Atavist** “The fudge (★[recipe](https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/15821/aunt-teens-creamy-chocolate-fudge/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) sold at Copper Kettle was so creamy, so sweet, so beyond compare, that many candy shops on the Ocean City boardwalk didn’t even sell fudge, because there was no point”. Here’s a story with the following ingredients: a killing, homosexuality, the Sixties and 43 occurrences of the word “fudge”. --- **➤ Last week's most clicked link was about the** [**700-plus songs known to give people chills**](https://qz.com/2071652/a-spotify-playlist-with-715-songs-known-to-give-people-chills?ref=secretbreakfast.com)**. *Should I pivot to a lifestyle newsletter?* And that's all for today.** --- **• SEASON 4 - ISSUE 158 •** Secret Breakfast is a newsletter by [Piero Macchioni](https://macchioni.cc/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) Think of it as *The Morning Brew* for food people, or just the most unconventional email you'll get today. In two years we have shared more than 2,000 recipes, hundreds of books, and countless hours of news, gluttony, and joy. [Download our free ebook about food in 2023](https://secretbreakfast.gumroad.com/l/2023-book?ref=secretbreakfast.com). ★★★★★ Recommended by *Food&Wine US*: [Best Food Newsletters to Subscribe To](https://www.foodandwine.com/lifestyle/best-food-newsletters?ref=secretbreakfast.com) *Gastronomika*: [The Newsletters Not To Be Missed on Food](https://www.linkiesta.it/2022/03/migliori-newsletter-food-cibo-vino?ref=secretbreakfast.com) ### Black buttercream, AI and Instant Ramen 🍜 URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/ai-instant-ramen/ Last updated: 2023-10-30T22:04:58.000Z # Welcome to Secret Breakfast / An exclusive newsletter, the best place to start your day with a three-handed-ramen-eating nymph, black butter, and gluten-free lemon curd cookies ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/93fbf62b-52bb-4710-b45f-61eda9527766/72d16d33-0053-4f97-9a5b-e1910fab0395.jpg) Hi there! There are a thousand reasons why we should not use AI for our digital products. One for all: because if something is human it has more value. It has the weight of authenticity. Yet, I couldn’t resist asking DALL-E to draw a woman eating instant ramen in the style of [Alfons Mucha](https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfons%5FMucha?ref=secretbreakfast.com). She looks like she has a set of three hands, but when ramen is truly delicious, wouldn’t we love having one hand more to help out with the hot stuff? I bet we would. Piero PS: the book section is on holiday this week. --- ### **␥** ### THE BEST QUOTE ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/ce504d39-74c3-4903-a5c6-6240a8196e07/quote_premier_redesign__2_-.png) ✦ **Claire Kohda,** [***Woman, Eating***](https://www.virago.co.uk/titles/claire-kohda/woman-eating/9780349015606/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)**.** First, thanks to [Roberta R](https://www.tostoini.it/?ref=secretbreakfast.com). who helped me remember that book. Second, the original passage is more subtle, and it’s not about triggering eating diseases. I suppose food is a part of life that most humans can control. They give food a lot of power - food can make a person more beautiful, or less beautiful; it can improve or damage skin; it can make a person's body more attractive, help make hair and nails stronger; it can heal you or slowly kill you. There's also clean food and dirty food; if you eat clean, the message is that you are a clean and pure person; if you eat dirty, then the message is that you are dirty and impure. *If you lose control in your life, you can find control in your food.* --- #### **⎚** #### THE MISSING INGREDIENT ## **THE BREAKFAST SANDWICH CONUNDRUM** ![I stole this image from BBC (★recipe), sue me](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/89b2888f-c1c5-4403-9db4-83cddfcbd9d2/tiktok_breakfast_sandwich.jpg) I stole this image from BBC (★[recipe](https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/tiktok%5Fbreakfast%5F42301?ref=secretbreakfast.com)), sue me Over the first 9 months of the year, [Americans bought $2.4B+ worth of breakfast sandwiches](https://pca.st/episode/c0197ec3-d9fe-43a8-9d30-ab551accb753?ref=secretbreakfast.com). It is a lot: it can be a new business and also a signal that something is changing. Maybe more commuting? Less time to make a proper breakfast at home? Any other ideas? There’s also a problem concerning how healthy this might be: the majority of those breakfast rolls were the industrialized kind ###### Picture: BBC FOOD “TikTok breakfast sandwich”. --- **❍ OnlyPans** This is where Secret Breakfast picks juicy content from food creators [](https://www.instagram.com/reel/CyWAlsIrmp%5F/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) --- # **Ⓡ** ### RANDOM ACTS OF HUNGER *This is the space where I share some food (un)related stuff of my week* 💣[McDonald’s Mideast franchises offer side of politics with their burgers](https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/10/21/mideast-mcdonalds-israel-arab-world/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🍳Caramelized Cream Eggs (★[recipe](https://food52.com/recipes/81961-caramelized-cream-eggs-from-ideas-in-food?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🍳[Andrew Zimmern Shared His Secret to the Perfect Crispy Fried Egg](https://www.foodandwine.com/andrew-zimmern-crispy-fried-egg-8363732?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🍰The 4 Ingredients Japanese Cheesecake (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reel/CxtwckAL%5F7a/?igshid=MTc4MmM1YmI2Ng%3D%3D&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🎃53 Vegan Thanksgiving Ideas Recipes and No Jokes About Tofurkey (★[recipes](https://www.bonappetit.com/gallery/vegan-thanksgiving-recipes?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🍋Gluten Free Lemon Curd Cookies(★[recipe](https://theloopywhisk.com/2023/04/07/gluten-free-lemon-curd-cookies/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🥯[How to make bagels](https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cw0nx90oRd9/?igshid=MTc4MmM1YmI2Ng%3D%3D&ref=secretbreakfast.com) 💔[When a Breakup Is an Act of Love](https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/27/style/modern-love-when-a-breakup-is-an-act-of-love.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🙋🏽‍♀️[What would a truly noma hot sauce look like?](https://nomaprojects.com/pages/flavor-notes-7?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 💃🏼[‘She Eats, She Pays, She Gets the F– Out’](https://www.vulture.com/2023/10/what-happens-when-taylor-swift-visits-your-nyc-restaurant.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com) Taylor Swift does not “need” to “go out to dinner”🤖Danny Meyer Claims [AI and Human Hospitality Can Peacefully Coexist](https://www.foodandwine.com/how-restaurants-use-ai-8380452?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🌶️[Ancient Egyptians May Have Spiced Their Mummies](https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/egyptian-mummies-edible-perfumes?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 💬[Group-Chat Culture Is Out of Control](https://www.theatlantic.com/family/archive/2023/09/group-chat-whatsapp-social-media-replacement/675473/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🧮[Find Your Birthday looking into the Pi ](https://mypiday.com/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🎼Researchers analyzed 700-plus songs known to give people chills.[ Here’s the playlist](https://qz.com/2071652/a-spotify-playlist-with-715-songs-known-to-give-people-chills?ref=secretbreakfast.com) --- **⌇⌇⌇** ## **FOOD FOR LATER** [**The Star of Half Baked Harvest Inspires Loyalty — and Controversy**](https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/30/dining/half-baked-harvest-tieghan-gerard.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Julia Moskin / The New York Times** The history of food creator Tieghan Gerard, who has built an empire on recipes and become an unwilling lightning rod for cultural appropriation, intellectual property, body shaming, privilege, and racism. --- [Half A Million Kinksters Can’t Be Wrong](https://asteriskmag.com/issues/04/half-a-million-kinksters-can-t-be-wrong?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Aella / Asterisk** “The story of how one independent researcher conducted the largest-ever survey on fetishes, and what it has to teach us about sex, pleasure, and social science methodology”. --- **➤ Last week's most clicked link about** [**the question to ask when someone is upset**](https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/07/well/emotions-support-relationships.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com)**. And that's all for today, I hope I haven’t left you with some more broken links.** --- **• SEASON 4 - ISSUE 157 •** Secret Breakfast is a newsletter by [Piero Macchioni](https://macchioni.cc/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) Think of it as *The Morning Brew* for food people, or just the most unconventional email you'll get today. In two years we have shared more than 2,000 recipes, hundreds of books, and countless hours of news, gluttony, and joy. [Download our free ebook about food in 2023](https://secretbreakfast.gumroad.com/l/2023-book?ref=secretbreakfast.com). ★★★★★ Recommended by *Food&Wine US*: [Best Food Newsletters to Subscribe To](https://www.foodandwine.com/lifestyle/best-food-newsletters?ref=secretbreakfast.com) *Gastronomika*: [The Newsletters Not To Be Missed on Food](https://www.linkiesta.it/2022/03/migliori-newsletter-food-cibo-vino?ref=secretbreakfast.com) ### The Craving for MORE MORE and MORE 🥞 URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/more-is-more/ Last updated: 2023-10-22T17:56:00.000Z # Welcome to Secret Breakfast / An exclusive newsletter, the best place to start your day with cider donuts, while drinking Mamajuana and enjoying some table-side exhibitionism ![We have a problem with abundance.](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/b90b0fba-631a-45a3-92b0-4dab85550cc0/woman_hands_with_tea.jpg) We have a problem with abundance. Hi there! Why do we keep eating when we’re full? Or why do we keep shopping when we own too much? The answer is **the feeling of scarcity**. As Michael Easter, author of [*Scarcity Brain*](https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/705376/scarcity-brain-by-michael-easter/?ref=secretbreakfast.com), writes: “A scarcity cue is a piece of information that fires on our scarcity mindset. It leads us to believe we don’t have enough”. Things like slot machines, dating apps, TikTok feeds, chasing “likes” on social media… They all have the three parts of a “scarcity loop”: opportunity, unpredictable rewards, and quick repeatability. The problem - that is affecting our sense of happiness - is that we now have an abundance of the things we evolved to crave, yet we’re still programmed to think and act as if we didn’t have enough. Piero PS: quick edition today. Photo by [Beyzaa Yurtkuran](https://www.pexels.com/photo/woman-hands-with-tea-over-table-with-breakfast-18617043/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) --- ### **␥** ### THE BEST QUOTE ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/fc4571b5-7b80-4d51-850c-92381f6b2003/quote_premier_redesign__1_-.png) ✦ **Michael Easter**, [*Scarcity Brain*](https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/705376/scarcity-brain-by-michael-easter/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)*.* To escape the scarcity loop in food, the author visited the Tsimane, a healthy group of hunter and gatherers, living in Bolivia, who eat the same nutrient-dense food most meals every day and who have incredibly healthy hearts. --- #### **⎅** #### THE BOOK ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/d73dc13e-8191-41a3-9230-bfda1febf0c6/screenshot_2023-10-23_alle_07-07-12.png) #### Yes, I’ll Have Some Hype, Please ★★★★☆ If you dug Epicurious, Bon Appétit or that thing called The Interweb (nobody calls it like that), you may have already met Molly Baz. [According to Eater](https://www.eater.com/23902994/molly-baz-more-is-more-interview-profile-recipes?ref=secretbreakfast.com) “her followers want to make all of her recipes as soon as they’re posted online” and the book “*More Is More* is a response to the kind of cooking she did as a line cook in restaurants: aggressively restrained and composed plates that are both easy to make at home and look beautiful in photos”. Is this a good cookbook or is it a well-executed PR hype? I believe it is both. And I believe we always need some energy while cooking. Throughout the book, you'll encounter Crispy Rice Egg-in-a-Hole, a Chicken Salad with Coconut Crunch a Drunken Cacio e Pepe, The Only Meatloaf that Matters (★[recipe](https://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/the-only-meat-loaf-that-matters?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) and a few QR codes to step-by-step audio tutorials for a hands-free cook-along. Bonus: you can try [39 of Molly’s recipes](https://www.epicurious.com/recipes-menus/molly-baz-most-maximalist-recipes?ref=secretbreakfast.com) and make up your mind. [More is More](https://mollybaz.com/more/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) by Molly Baz **→** Shortplot: 🥗 🍳 🍗 🍝 --- # **Ⓡ** ### RANDOM ACTS OF HUNGER *This is the space where I share some food (un)related stuff of my week* 🛒It Looks That [Self-Checkout Is a Failed Experiment](https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2023/10/self-checkout-kiosks-grocery-retail-stores/675676/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🎃Something For Halloween: Pumpkin Pie Coffee[ ](https://danpelosi.com/recipe/pumpkin-pie-coffee-cake/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)(★[recipe](https://danpelosi.com/recipe/pumpkin-pie-coffee-cake/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🥞Sourdough Pumpkin Pancakes (★[recipe](https://www.theperfectloaf.com/sourdough-pumpkin-pancakes/?ref=secretbreakfast.com))🥞Sourdough Pumpkin Pancakes (★[recipe](https://www.theperfectloaf.com/sourdough-pumpkin-pancakes/?ref=secretbreakfast.com))💡[Dwight Garner Always Has a Muffuletta in the Freezer](https://www.grubstreet.com/2023/09/dwight-garner-grub-street-diet.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🍞…and this is how to bake some of that Palermitan bread (★[recipe](https://www.kingarthurbaking.com/recipes/muffaletta-recipe?ref=secretbreakfast.com))🍸[These are the 50 best bars in the world for 2023 ](https://www.cnbc.com/2023/10/18/what-are-the-50-best-bars-in-the-world-for-2023.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com)🍁Maple Pecan Bundt[ ](https://www.bengingi.com/recipes/maple-pecan-bundt-cake?ref=secretbreakfast.com)(★[Cake](https://www.bengingi.com/recipes/maple-pecan-bundt-cake?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🍲Something Warm: Caldo Verde (★[recipe](https://www.washingtonpost.com/recipes/portuguese-caldo-verde/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🍩A Cider Donut (★[recipe](https://www.thekitchn.com/apple-cider-doughnuts-recipe-23086242?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) [Map](https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=15NfV5Q3Bv6FzSr-KOfTsuWp3jnyT4zvX&ref=secretbreakfast.com) of New England🦁(This One is a Déja-vu) [Lion burgers, tiger steaks, and mammoth meatballs](https://www.vox.com/future-perfect/23863488/cultivated-lab-grown-exotic-meat-tiger-mammoth-meatball-veganism-ethics?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 😭This Is For The Guys Here: [When Someone You Love Is Upset, Ask This One Question](https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/07/well/emotions-support-relationships.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🎶Try[ This Cooking Playlist](https://open.spotify.com/playlist/456MJzWDMIjk4OIp8S5BXt?ref=secretbreakfast.com) by Francesca at [Sfoglia](https://sfoglia.substack.com/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) and become the “queen of the f\*\*\*ing hob” --- **⌇⌇⌇** ## **FOOD FOR LATER** [Confessions of a Tableside Flambéur](https://www.eater.com/23893292/tableside-presentation-flambee-confessions-fine-dining?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Adam Reiner / Eater** “A former fine dining server dishes on how the flambé, a dying convention of French haute cuisine, became the ultimate tableside flex” --- [In the Dominican Republic, Mamajuana Is a Drink, a Medicine, and a Rite of Passage](https://punchdrink.com/articles/mamajuana-dominican-republic-drink/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Mike Diago / Punch** “Each year, 4 million airline passengers arrive in the United States from the Dominican Republic—roughly 10,000 per day. As customs agents rifle through luggage, they routinely encounter large glass bottles packed with botanicals like tree bark, wood chips, twigs, roots, and whole spices—the makings of the Dominican Republic’s national drink, mamajuana”. --- **➤ Last week's most clicked link was** [**71 Cheap Dinner Ideas That Do the Most With the Least**](https://www.bonappetit.com/gallery/cheap-recipes?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **\- but… I also screwed up** [**Taylor Swift’s cookies link: here you go**](https://joythebaker.com/2021/11/taylor-swifts-chai-sugar-cookies/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)**, please forgive me. And that's all for today.** --- **• SEASON 4 - ISSUE 156 •** Secret Breakfast is a newsletter by [Piero Macchioni](https://macchioni.cc/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) Think of it as *The Morning Brew* for food people, or just the most unconventional email you'll get today. In two years we have shared more than 2,000 recipes, hundreds of books, and countless hours of news, gluttony, and joy. [Download our free ebook about food in 2023](https://secretbreakfast.gumroad.com/l/2023-book?ref=secretbreakfast.com). ★★★★★ Recommended by *Food&Wine US*: [Best Food Newsletters to Subscribe To](https://www.foodandwine.com/lifestyle/best-food-newsletters?ref=secretbreakfast.com) *Gastronomika*: [The Newsletters Not To Be Missed on Food](https://www.linkiesta.it/2022/03/migliori-newsletter-food-cibo-vino?ref=secretbreakfast.com) ### The 3D Garden Galette of Lessons in Chemistry 🍄 URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/lessons-chemistry-galette/ Last updated: 2023-10-16T21:12:26.000Z # Welcome to Secret Breakfast / An exclusive newsletter, the best place to start your day with tridimensional galettes, Techno-Optimism sh\*t, and life-defining things that don’t happen ![Harry Gruyaert, Souk in Meknès, Morocco, 1981 / Magnum](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/96730c40-606a-4671-a253-1d4e3b8be09b/screenshot_2023-10-16_alle_23-52-06.png) Harry Gruyaert, Souk in Meknès, Morocco, 1981 / [Magnum](https://www.magnumphotos.com/shop/collections/square-prints/magnum-square-print-written-by-light-harry-gruyaert/?sku=SQ-PRINT-GRH-1023-6x6&ref=secretbreakfast.com) Hi there! In his new essay, [The Techno-Optimist Manifesto](https://a16z.com/the-techno-optimist-manifesto/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) (take a look at it), tech investor Marc Andreessen writes: We believe technology is a lever on the world – the way to make more with less. Good cooks are great technology, then. Piero Every now and then Magnum sells small [square reprints](https://www.magnumphotos.com/shop/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) of its authors. A portion of the profits from the sale to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). ▶︎ On sale you can find a stunning picture of [Palestinian Children in Gaza](https://www.magnumphotos.com/shop/collections/square-prints/magnum-square-print-written-by-light-fatima-shbair/?sku=SQ-PRINT-SHBAIR-WPP-1023-6x6&ref=secretbreakfast.com), year 2021, shot by Fatima Shbair right after a cease-fire. It’s incredible how pictures change meaning as things change in the world. --- ### **␥** ### THE BEST QUOTE ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/04723ad6-78a9-4a5b-94cf-d37e63eed46e/quote_premier_redesign.png) ✦ **Michael Lewis,** [*Going Infinite: The Rise and Fall of a New Tycoon*](https://wwnorton.com/books/9781324074335?ref=secretbreakfast.com)*,* a book about [Sam Bankman-Fried](https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam%5FBankman-Fried?ref=secretbreakfast.com), the world’s youngest billionaire and crypto’s Gatsby. --- #### **⎚** #### THE MISSING INGREDIENT ## **COOKING WITH CHEMISTRY** ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/aba81959-ea29-4b87-83de-9ffad9a460ee/lessons_in_chemistry_trailer__2_-.jpg) This may look a sponsored content, but it’s actually me sharing my curiosity about the next episodes of [Lessons in Chemistry](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lessons%5Fin%5FChemistry?ref=secretbreakfast.com) (I know it is a successful boo), the latest Apple TV+ show featuring Captain Marvel Brie Larson as an almost fearless chemist, passionate about cooking and overruling a macho world. First doing research in the labs, then cooking on tv. During the show, you’ll see her trying to understand the laws of the perfect cheese melting in your lasagna, percolating coffee from the lab’s beaker, baking (and trashing) a very peculiar Garden Galette (★[recipe](https://lessonsinchemistryrecipes.com/recipes/the-garden-galette?ref=secretbreakfast.com)). I really like the style of the latter, with the 3D effect made possible by the asparagus and the mushrooms. Can’t blame the Apple TV+ marketing team that made a whole skeuomorphic recipes [website](https://www.magnumphotos.com/shop/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) for this gorgeous character. Can’t wait for episode 3. ![The 3D Galette you wanna try this Autumn](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/564ec05b-864b-43e0-bf69-92efa7db99ea/screenshot_2023-10-16_alle_23-27-41.png) The 3D Galette you wanna try this Autumn ###### Picture: Apple TV+ --- #### **⎅** #### THE BOOK ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/b6770e7e-3877-4af7-8d8e-5bacc0dbb779/screenshot_2023-10-17_alle_00-25-52.png) #### Anima Latina ★★★★☆ I’m stealing The New York Times lead: “Just as Sandra A. Gutierrez was about to embark on a research trip to the 23 cities throughout Latin America that she planned to cover in her fifth cookbook, the coronavirus pandemic grounded international travel”. *Zoom* was the answer to writing this encyclopedia-style cookbook that has unusual recipes like Pasta con palta or Sopa Seca con Albahaca à la Chinchana. [Latinísimo](https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/636224/latinisimo-by-sandra-a-gutierrez/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) by Sandra A. Gutierrez **→** Shortplot: 🥑 🌶️ 🌞 🦐 --- # **Ⓡ** ### RANDOM ACTS OF HUNGER *This is the space where I share some food (un)related stuff of my week. A lot of Instagram this time, sorry* 💃🏼Taylor Swift’s Chai tea Cookies (★recipe) 💸 71 Cheap Dinner Ideas That Do the Most With the Least (★[recipes](https://www.bonappetit.com/gallery/cheap-recipes?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🍪The 20 Minutes Salted Mocha Brownie Cookies (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reel/CwiGhO-A70S/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🍨[The Most Iconic Dessert from Every Decade](https://www.tasteofhome.com/collection/iconic-dessert-from-every-decade/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🥭Amba, the Iraqi Condiment That Will Fancy Up Your Salsa Game (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reel/CxvVnoOOPy2/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🥛[The Oat-Milk Cocktail That Took Down an Army](https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/atholl-brose-signature-cocktails-amanda-schuster?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🌶️Yes, We Dig Salsa Macha As Well (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reel/CwqIXSvsUn8/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🕶️ [The 1 Thing You’ll Never See in a Stanley Tucci Recipe](https://www.foodandwine.com/stanley-tucci-cooking-secrets-tiktok-8349438?ref=secretbreakfast.com) (spoiler: It’sPassion Fruit!) 🥣Make some Coffee-Almond-Coconut granola at home (★[recipe](https://makingtime.saraimitnick.com/p/fall-3-when-small-things-cause-big?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🀰[12,952 cereal boxes topple like dominoes in Detroit](https://www.upi.com/Odd%5FNews/2023/10/13/Guinness-World-Records-cereal-box-dominoes/6631697225310/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🍫Dark Chocolate Olive Oil Cake (★[recipe](https://www.loveandlemons.com/dark-chocolate-olive-oil-cake/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🎃And Sourdough Pumpkin Pancakes (★[recipe](https://www.theperfectloaf.com/sourdough-pumpkin-pancakes/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🥮A Softer - and lighter - Cheesecake Alternative (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cxp0c71IvJl/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) --- **⌇⌇⌇** ## **FOOD FOR LATER** --- [Eating at the End of the Earth](https://rootkitchens.substack.com/p/eating-at-the-end-of-the-earth?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Julia Skinner / Root** A warming story from McCarthy Alaska, a remote town in Southeast Alaska, where the right meal can unite people. --- [The Crimes Behind the Seafood You Eat](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2023/10/16/the-crimes-behind-the-seafood-you-eat?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Ian Urbina / The New Yorker** Americans know little about how their seafood is sourced. Much of it comes from a vast fleet of Chinese ships. --- **➤ Last week's most clicked link was about** [**The Argentinian Comfort Food You Should Always Have In Your Freezer**](https://thedeligram.substack.com/p/the-argentinian-comfort-food-you?ref=secretbreakfast.com)**. And that's all for today.** --- **• SEASON 4 - ISSUE 155 •** Secret Breakfast is a newsletter by [Piero Macchioni](https://macchioni.cc/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) Think of it as *The Morning Brew* for food people, or just the most unconventional email you'll get today. In two years we have shared more than 2,000 recipes, hundreds of books, and countless hours of news, gluttony, and joy. [Download our free ebook about food in 2023](https://secretbreakfast.gumroad.com/l/2023-book?ref=secretbreakfast.com). ★★★★★ Recommended by *Food&Wine US*: [Best Food Newsletters to Subscribe To](https://www.foodandwine.com/lifestyle/best-food-newsletters?ref=secretbreakfast.com) *Gastronomika*: [The Newsletters Not To Be Missed on Food](https://www.linkiesta.it/2022/03/migliori-newsletter-food-cibo-vino?ref=secretbreakfast.com) ### Dreaming David Beckham's Kitchen 🔥 URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/david-beckham-kitchen/ Last updated: 2023-10-08T19:09:43.000Z # Welcome to Secret Breakfast / An exclusive newsletter, the best place to start your day in David Beckham’s BBQ tent with glass poached pears and butter candles, while looking for a 30-year-old pickle (pun not intended) ![A flipped funhouse. No ammonium chloride around.](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/42bb5124-b157-4c9b-8f9f-e33c8498ceaf/screenshot_2023-10-08_alle_12-19-18.png) A flipped funhouse. No ammonium chloride around. Hi there! A couple of days ago I was watching a football match (Brighton & Hove Albion - Liverpool 2-2, if you care) when I clearly remembered that Secret Breakfast 4th year was about to begin. Then I did what you should never do: a partial redesign of the newsletter, just to celebrate this funhouse and change that magenta nuance that too many food-related media are *now* using. Some more changes are coming. We’re living in Beta mode, after all (and tell me if you like it or not). ✾ While I was tweaking this template, the world, apparently, wasn’t satisfied with Pluto’s demotion as a planet. A new study suggests a Sixth Sense Taste: sweet, salty, sour, bitter, and umami are not enough, [the tongue might also detect ammonium chloride](https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/10/231005110728.htm?ref=secretbreakfast.com) as a basic taste. Where have we had this? It is used as a food additive under the E number E510, and it works as a yeast nutrient in breadmaking and as an acidified in general. Believe it or not, Finnish salty licorice has ammonium chloride in it. Would it be enough to make it an “official” Sixth Taste? I vote no. Piero [Sabiha Çimen - Magnum](https://collection.squarespace.com/sabiha-cimen?ref=secretbreakfast.com): the agency did [a project for Squarespace](https://collection.squarespace.com/magnum?ref=secretbreakfast.com), and the results are quite interesting. --- ### **⍟** ### THE BEST QUOTE ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/0cff3a81-9530-4117-945c-19477ab91715/copy_of_quote_2022__1_-.png) ✦ **C Pam Zhang**, [*Land of Milk and Honey*](https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/700442/land-of-milk-and-honey-by-c-pam-zhang/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)**.** --- #### **⎚** #### THE MISSING INGREDIENT ## **BAKE IT LIKE BECKHAM** ![It's all in the reflexes](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/4e1f58f8-81a8-4544-a02a-8ca65de18885/screenshot_2023-10-08_alle_11-34-17.png) It's all in the reflexes Last week half of the world's population had probably to redefine her or his definition of sexual arousal after watching former football star and meticulous housekeeper David Beckham [opening his own wardrobe](https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/article/beckham-wardrobe-scene-netflix-documentary?ref=secretbreakfast.com) in the *Beckham* documentary. (He could even guess that someone touched one shirt just by noticing how poorly distanced one hanger was). Nevertheless, this newsletter has to talk about his [spotless kitchen](https://www.livingetc.com/news/david-beckham-kitchen?ref=secretbreakfast.com) and in particular about his [£50,000 BBQ tent in Cotswold](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-12592805/Move-chef-Brooklyn-David-Beckham-shows-culinary-skills-makes-family-roast-dinner-50k-BBQ-tent-Victoria-sticks-bowl-low-calorie-mussels.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com) (designed by the director Guy Ritchie) where the soccer star steams mussels for Victoria, grills mushrooms and roasts chicken for everybody else while sipping a pint. Enters [The Cashmere Caveman Co](https://ccwildkitchens.com/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) and its wild outdoor kitchens and tables with - really dangerous - stuff hanging over your head (even knives!). ![«Darling, your mussels are ready»](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/4755ed26-82a8-4862-aed4-f0f3dd5c712c/screenshot_oct_8_cleanup.png) «Darling, your mussels are ready» ###### Picture: Netflix --- #### **⎅** #### THE BOOK ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/da1810fe-2f9f-48e5-aca1-5696f0f80cde/screenshot_2023-10-09_alle_22-43-48.png) #### All the Drops of God ★★★★★ This one is not new at all, have you read it? I’m about *n* years late, but I’m currently enjoying this world tour in winemaking. I have scattered notes about wines to try, wines that will make me poor in money but rich in spirit. This book looks like a manual but you actually “play” it like a novel. Cheers! I bet we’ll meet in Burgundy soon. [The Wine Bible](https://www.karenmacneil.com/product/the-wine-bible/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) by Karen MacNeil **→** Shortplot: 🍷 🍾 🍇 🥂 --- **❍ OnlyPans** This is where Secret Breakfast picks juicy content from food creators [](https://www.instagram.com/reel/CvrwEyRJAOS?ref=secretbreakfast.com) --- # **Ⓡ** ### RANDOM ACTS OF HUNGER *This is the space where I share some food (un)related stuff of my week* 🥩Argentinian Milanesas, [the Comfort Food You Should Always Have In Your Freezer](https://thedeligram.substack.com/p/the-argentinian-comfort-food-you?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🇩🇴For a different breakfast try Dominican Mangú (★[recipe](https://www.dominicancooking.com/532/mangu?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🛒[People is buying less food thanks to Ozempic](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-10-04/walmart-says-ozempic-weight-loss-drugs-causing-slight-pullback-by-shoppers?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🌮[The French Tacos of Seattle](https://seattle.eater.com/2023/9/22/23885761/french-tacos-brick-n-cheese-first-us-location-seattle?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🍎Gluten free *milhojas de manzana* (★[recipe](https://cravingsjournal.com/apple-mille-feuille/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🧨Make a butter candle for your next party (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cxot1LiuXV9/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🙅🏻‍♀️[‘Ghostlighting’ ](https://www.glamour.com/story/ghostlighting-troubling-new-dating-trend?ref=secretbreakfast.com)is the way little shits first ghost you, then come back and gaslight you 🌶️I think I need some Crispy Green Chili Oil (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cxmxh9URVXZ?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🐟If Only Salmons Could Sail on Small Paper Boats Full of Vegetables… Wait, They Can (★[recipe](https://twitter.com/ThebestFigen/status/1709168467033591842?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🧶[Knitting Noodles in broth](https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cv3hXv2oRmj/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)? Done 🤖Ask your local AI to generate a recipe in “[Ikeacore](https://twitter.com/generatorman%5Fai/status/1708263630872166823?ref=secretbreakfast.com)” 🐡This Eric Ripert trick will help with your fish cooking skills: [cook it in a velouté](https://www.delish.com/food-news/a45432777/eric-ripert-seafood-simple-cookbook/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) or another sauce thicker than water, and the fish will keep its moisture. --- **⌇⌇⌇** ## **FOOD FOR LATER** [India’s pickle people: Decades-old culinary heirlooms, nostalgia](https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2023/9/29/indias-pickle-people-decades-old-culinary-heirlooms-nostalgia?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Ruth Dsouza Prabhu / Al Jazeera** “My 30-year-old lemon pickle is salty. How can I fix it?” Renu Jain asked on a Facebook food group, bringing my scrolling to a grinding halt. A pickle fiend myself, I was intrigued and browsed more than 300 comments on Renu’s post”. --- **➤ Last week's most clicked link was written in Italian:** [C’è così tanto “food” che non c’è più niente da mangiare](https://lucysullacultura.com/ce-cosi-tanto-food-che-non-ce-piu-niente-da-mangiare/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **by Tommaso Melilli. And that's all for today.** --- **• SEASON 4 - ISSUE 154 •** Secret Breakfast is a newsletter by [Piero Macchioni](https://macchioni.cc/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) Think of it as *The Morning Brew* for food people, or just the most unconventional email you'll get today. In two years we have shared more than 2,000 recipes, hundreds of books, and countless hours of news, gluttony, and joy. [Download our free ebook about food in 2023](https://secretbreakfast.gumroad.com/l/2023-book?ref=secretbreakfast.com). ★★★★★ Recommended by *Food&Wine US*: [Best Food Newsletters to Subscribe To](https://www.foodandwine.com/lifestyle/best-food-newsletters?ref=secretbreakfast.com) *Gastronomika*: [The Newsletters Not To Be Missed on Food](https://www.linkiesta.it/2022/03/migliori-newsletter-food-cibo-vino?ref=secretbreakfast.com) ### Time traveler winemakers and disturbing readings 🍾 URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/time-traveler-winemakers/ Last updated: 2023-10-01T16:17:57.000Z # Welcome to Secret Breakfast / An exclusive newsletter, the best place to start your day with too many cake recipes, time traveler winemakers, and both beautiful and disturbing readings ![Demi-sec (aka Sweet) Veuve Cliquot versed in a cool carafe.](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/2d1fb411-3389-4fda-8ac2-c5d46dd0af23/img20230926220244.jpg) Demi-sec (aka Sweet) Veuve Cliquot versed in a cool carafe. Hi there! Last week I had the privilege of visiting the chalk caves, or *crayères*, where the finest Veuve Clicquot Champagne bottles are kept (a [glimpse](https://www.visitfrenchwine.com/en/product/visit-the-champagne-cellars-of-veuve-clicquot?ref=secretbreakfast.com)). I was in Verzy, near Reims, a couple of hours from Paris, France. A few days before the grape harvest ended, the fields were just ready for another vintage. I thought the left grapes were untouchable, but people there offered them to you to taste: «It’s too sweet for making wine», they said. Pinot Noir grapes are red, and it’s from them - and from Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier - that you have the finest Champagne. In that corner of France, they make hundreds of wines, then every maison mixes them to find the perfect formula for the best bottle. They go through the past vintages, **traveling in time just to find the taste of a wine that people will drink years later**. It’s a Champagne battle every season for future generations. I forgot how fascinating is the relationship between Earth, and time, and people, and wine. **Then I thought: could be wine the subject of the next Secret Breakfast End of the Year project?** Piero PS: write me what you think about it. Suggest names and stories. And bottles as well. We’ll make something of it. Courtesy Veuve Clicquot - Pic by me --- ### **␥** ### THE BEST QUOTE ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/5ef1e984-0175-4bc8-b333-9f52331a0320/113__12.png) ✦ **Will Guidara,** [Unreasonable Hospitality](https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/674289/unreasonable-hospitality-by-will-guidara/?ref=secretbreakfast.com). --- #### **⎚** #### THE MISSING INGREDIENT ## **THE STRUGGLE OF SEEKING PLEASURE IN A DYING WORLD** ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/9fd7018b-3bff-4447-b919-68212ea1dd8c/kurth3.jpg) I still have to read it, but probably this is the book of the year. [Land of Milk and Honey](https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/700442/land-of-milk-and-honey-by-c-pam-zhang/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) by C Pam Zhang is a dystopian novel set in a near-future world where climate change has caused widespread famine and mass extinction. The protagonist, an ambitious chef desperate to cook, accepts a job at a mysterious compound in California where the global elite have built a lush new life for themselves. Its enigmatic employer, a man known as the Chef, and his daughter, Miriam, are experimenting with new forms of food and cuisine, using ingredients that are both exotic and dangerous. As it is presented: “Land of Milk and Honey lays provocatively bare the ethics of seeking pleasure in a dying world”. And “Zhang's writing is lush and lyrical, and she creates a world that is both beautiful and disturbing”. ❝ I knew, then, why the storerooms were guarded as if they held gold, or nuclear armaments. They hid something rarer still: **a passage back through time.** *Land of Milk and Honey* by C Pam Zhang ###### Picture: [Lars Borges & Luzie Kurth, We Share The Meal -Yeast Photo Festival](https://www.yeastphotofestival.it/lars-borges-luzie-kurth-uk/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) --- #### **⎅** #### THE BOOK ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/21bfafb5-b55a-4476-92fb-a0b289e78e2e/screenshot_2023-10-03_alle_07-55-19.png) #### Food, sex and morality in the end times ★★★★☆ Read above. Or [listen here](https://www.npr.org/2023/09/26/1201528596/land-of-milk-and-honey-review-c-pam-zhang?ref=secretbreakfast.com) for 7 minutes. [Land of Milk and Honey](https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/700442/land-of-milk-and-honey-by-c-pam-zhang/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) by C Pam Zhang **→** Shortplot: 🌎 🐗 🐓 🧈 --- # **Ⓡ** ### RANDOM ACTS OF HUNGER *This is the space where I share some food (un)related stuff of my week* 🧑🏻‍🍳[Chef Karyn Tomlinson](https://madfeed.co/2023/5-questions-with-karyn-tomlinson/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) on pirate restaurants 🥮Plum Upsidedown Cake (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reel/CxyOhnrR9b1/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🇬🇧English Muffins (★[recipe](https://natashasbaking.com/baked-english-muffins/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🍪Fasting? Dieting? Banana oatmeal peanut butter cookies (★[recipe](https://organicallyaddison.com/banana-oatmeal-peanut-butter-cookies/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🥧What’s better than a Basque Cheesecake? A Chocolate Basque Cheesecake (★[recipe](https://www.delicious.com.au/recipes/matt-prestons-chocolate-basque-cheesecake-recipe/w8bxp0fg?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🥧Cardamom Cake From Niloufer Ichaporia King (★[recipe](https://food52.com/recipes/85494-cardamom-cake-recipe-niloufer-ichaporia-king?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🇮🇹Bonus for Italian readers: [There is so much "food" that there is nothing left to eat](https://lucysullacultura.com/ce-cosi-tanto-food-che-non-ce-piu-niente-da-mangiare/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) by Tommaso Melilli --- **⌇⌇⌇** ## **FOOD FOR LATER** [Why food in the office is more powerful than you might think](https://www.stylist.co.uk/life/careers/food-in-office-powerful/823767?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Clare Finney / Stylist** “We may still be in the office. We may even be at our desks. Yet in the moments we are eating or drinking, we are liminal creatures, somewhere between work and home. We are neither entirely employees nor entirely ourselves”. --- [A Baker’s Secrets](https://thebaffler.com/salvos/a-bakers-secrets-denison?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Dave Denison / The Baffler** The mysterious disappearance of the Guerrilla Cookie from the shelves of Midwestern food co-ops. A confection with a cult following, it rose to popularity in Madison, Wisconsin, in the 1970s. --- **➤ Last week's most clicked link was the one about** [**the Top 4 Foods a Nutritionist To Eat Every Day**](https://www.wellandgood.com/longevity-nutritionists-top-foods/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)**. And that's all for today.** --- **• SEASON 3 - ISSUE 153 •** Secret Breakfast is a newsletter by [Piero Macchioni](https://macchioni.cc/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) Think of it as *The Morning Brew* for food people, or just the most unconventional email you'll get today. In two years we have shared more than 2,000 recipes, hundreds of books, and countless hours of news, gluttony, and joy. [Download our free ebook about food in 2023](https://secretbreakfast.gumroad.com/l/2023-book?ref=secretbreakfast.com). ★★★★★ Recommended by *Food&Wine US*: [Best Food Newsletters to Subscribe To](https://www.foodandwine.com/lifestyle/best-food-newsletters?ref=secretbreakfast.com) *Gastronomika*: [The Newsletters Not To Be Missed on Food](https://www.linkiesta.it/2022/03/migliori-newsletter-food-cibo-vino?ref=secretbreakfast.com) ### Problems and Mooncakes 🌒 URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/problem-mooncakes/ Last updated: 2023-09-25T20:22:44.000Z # Welcome to Secret Breakfast / An exclusive newsletter, the best place to start your day with problems, powdered buttermilk and Taiwanese pork mooncakes ![A family meal after the cyclone.](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/9b469316-d72d-4ee8-8008-0bfa376e7c27/screenshot_2023-09-26_alle_07-34-12.png) A family meal after the cyclone. Hi there! I’ve been traveling back and forth for about 1200 km in the last 20 hours, and in a couple of hours it will be morning again and I’ll be taking off for a very secret place… Ok, for Paris. If I’m lucky enough, next week I’ll be sharing with you two things: the details of this little adventure and the idea I had for the next New Year’s project. I know, I told you a lot and told you nothing. Skip this, and find below something good to read or cook. This Secret Breakfast issue is a little shorter than usual, but you’ll definitely find some fun. Piero © [Mohammad Rakibul Hasan](https://www.pinkladyfoodphotographeroftheyear.com/finalists-gallery-2023/?ref=secretbreakfast.com),Bangladesh. Four fishing families living on an island adjacent to the Sundarbans Forest in Bangladesh brought their remaining food supplies to the table. Due to climate change the river is constantly eroding the landscape and cyclones hit yearly. --- ### **␥** ### THE BEST QUOTE ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/618ede41-684f-428f-bf11-0e9666bb4687/113__11.png) ✦ **Alfred A. Montapert**. Canned quote, good as canned beans: sometimes they’re good enough and can save you time. --- #### **⎅** #### THE BOOK ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/be2ce73f-56bb-4d02-9c50-62527f57dc24/screenshot_2023-09-25_alle_23-07-28.png) #### A Love Letter to Taiwan ★★★★☆ «My strong suit is the act of preservation and interviewing and reporting». Clarissa Wei (and Ivy Chen) made a book that’s part recipes, part history, part stories, part great pictures. In Taiwan, [Food Is Political](https://www.eater.com/23870577/clarissa-wei-made-in-taiwan-cookbook?ref=secretbreakfast.com) and this book is a good way to know better about it. Try Sweet and Sour Pineapple Prawns (★[recipe](https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20230922-sweet-and-sour-pineapple-prawns?ref=secretbreakfast.com)), this Braised Minced Pork Belly (★[recipe](https://www.latimes.com/recipe/clarissa-wei-made-in-taiwan-braised-minced-pork-belly-recipe?ref=secretbreakfast.com)), and the amazing looking Mung Bean Pork Mooncake (★[recipe](https://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/mung-bean-pork-mooncake?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) [Made in Taiwan](https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Made-in-Taiwan/Clarissa-Wei/9781982198978?ref=secretbreakfast.com) by Clarissa Wei and Ivy Chen **→** Shortplot: 🍻 🍜 🥘 🥬 --- # **Ⓡ** ### RANDOM ACTS OF HUNGER *This is the space where I share some food (un)related stuff of my week* 🗝️The [World’s Best Hotel](https://www.theworlds50best.com/hotels/list/1-50?ref=secretbreakfast.com) is in Italy [👨🏻‍🍳Wylie Dufresne Offers His Recipe for Becoming a Chef](https://lithub.com/skill-plus-inspiration-wylie-dufresne-offers-his-recipe-for-becoming-a-chef/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🌮You Only Need One Pan to Make Migas Like Veracruz All (★[recipe](https://www.eater.com/23798998/austin-tacos-veracruz-all-natural-migas-recipe-eater-cookbook-excerpt?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🥛[Keep Powdered Buttermilk in Your Pantry](https://www.eater.com/23879154/ideas-for-powdered-buttermilk-in-your-pantry?ref=secretbreakfast.com) (I keep powdered coconut milk) 👩🏻‍🍳[Meet the 2023 Food & Wine Best New Chefs](https://www.foodandwine.com/2023-best-new-chefs-7852273?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🇺🇸[The 50 Restaurant List](https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2023/dining/best-restaurants-america.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🍕Cornmeal Skillet Sourdough Pizza (★[recipe](https://www.theperfectloaf.com/cornmeal-skillet-sourdough-pizza/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🥪[The Best Sandwich in Every U.S. State](https://www.farandwide.com/s/best-sandwich-every-us-state-f803764269e84ddc?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🌴Science may have found a way to [replace palm oil](https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-66842496?ref=secretbreakfast.com) ☀️ ‘I’ve Been a Longevity Nutritionist for 30 Years, and These Are [the Top 4 Foods I Tell My Clients To Eat Every Day’](https://www.wellandgood.com/longevity-nutritionists-top-foods/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🧮 How to Make a [Brain-Dump Meal Plan](https://www.eater.com/23810333/meal-plan-hack-brain-dump-the-move?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🧋Coke Launched a [New Drink That’s Supposed to Taste Like the Year 3000](https://www.foodandwine.com/coca-cola-launches-ai-generated-soda-7970627?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🫦[Yogurt ](https://news.osu.edu/yogurt-may-be-the-next-go-to-garlic-breath-remedy/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)may be the next go-to garlic breath remedy 👩🏼‍🎤[Dua Lipa tries Michelin-starred French food ](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zu%5Fo2ouCdXo&ref=secretbreakfast.com)with Hélène Darroze 🥔Invite some friends over and fry croquetas (★[recipe](https://www.theguardian.com/food/2023/sep/20/how-to-make-croquetas-recipe-felicity-cloake-masterclass?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) --- **⌇⌇⌇** ## **FOOD FOR LATER** [This Is the Menu?](https://punchdrink.com/articles/experimental-cocktail-menus/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Rafael Tonon / Punch** “With faux pharmaceuticals, Rubik’s cubes, invisible ink, and other interactive elements, modern bar menus are becoming as high-concept as the cocktails they list”. --- [We are not supposed to live like this](https://erinremblance.substack.com/p/we-are-not-supposed-to-live-like?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Erin Remblance / Protecting the Future** Our daily reminder that we were not meant to die in a cubicle, stay indoors all the time, and write newsletters at night. Just joking, but read it. Then go out. --- **➤ Last week's most clicked link was the one about the** [**20 best autumn recipes**](https://www.theguardian.com/food/2020/sep/28/the-20-best-autumn-recipes-our-all-time-favourites?ref=secretbreakfast.com)**. And that's all for today.** --- **• SEASON 3 - ISSUE 152 •** Secret Breakfast is a newsletter by [Piero Macchioni](https://macchioni.cc/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) Think of it as *The Morning Brew* for food people, or just the most unconventional email you'll get today. In two years we have shared more than 2,000 recipes, hundreds of books, and countless hours of news, gluttony, and joy. [Download our free ebook about food in 2023](https://secretbreakfast.gumroad.com/l/2023-book?ref=secretbreakfast.com). ★★★★★ Recommended by *Food&Wine US*: [Best Food Newsletters to Subscribe To](https://www.foodandwine.com/lifestyle/best-food-newsletters?ref=secretbreakfast.com) *Gastronomika*: [The Newsletters Not To Be Missed on Food](https://www.linkiesta.it/2022/03/migliori-newsletter-food-cibo-vino?ref=secretbreakfast.com) ### Nitro-bacon, chefcore and disorder salads 🥓 URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/nitro-bacon/ Last updated: 2023-09-18T17:13:03.000Z # Welcome to Secret Breakfast / An exclusive newsletter, the best place to start your day burning some toast, while having your daily dose of nitro-bacon and disorder salads ![A light display created using drones during the United Nations Climate Summit](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/d78ef043-c0c2-47b4-96bb-2a6bbc10bccd/screenshot_2023-09-18_alle_19-36-16.png) A light display created using drones during the United Nations Climate Summit Hi there! In this magic year, when drones fly to remind us how f\*\*\*\* up our Mother Earth is, I’ve just burnt my breakfast. Then I decided it was a sign I had too much on my plate. Probably you do as well. Approximately 13% of the food in the world produced for human consumption is still lost between harvest and the market and 17% of total global food production is wasted, either in households, food service, or retail. In the coming days, [there will be challenges to half our food waste](https://www.everyplatecountschallenge.org/takethechallenge?ref=secretbreakfast.com). You can try or you can just think 30 seconds more about your family’s habits. Supper will taste better, later. Piero Bonus: world’s best potato buns (★[recipe](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IXhSEOEVKOc&ref=secretbreakfast.com)), don’t burn them. --- ### **␥** ### THE BEST QUOTE ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/b1982f1f-9a10-47a3-9aec-7e35a1d2f7c6/113__10.png) ✦ **Fergus Henderson,** via Beatrice, via [Pellicle](https://www.pelliclemag.com/?ref=secretbreakfast.com), via [The Independent](https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/food-and-drink/features/fergus-henderson-chef-st-johns-restaurant-offal-food-waste-whisky-a8444101.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com). --- #### **⎚** #### THE MISSING INGREDIENT ## **PREACHER IS THE FICTIONAL FOOD HERO WE CAN’T IGNORE** ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/55459372-e1c4-4d9e-81eb-af279ce0f82e/screenshot_2023-09-19_alle_09-54-02.png) There’s nothing rational in me watching a show like [Virgin River](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virgin%5FRiver%5F%28TV%5Fseries%29?ref=secretbreakfast.com), but I can’t resist the character named Preacher. Super-beefcake, former Marine, good guy, excellent cook, incredibly skilled in getting involved with difficult women. He has the mighty superpower of securing obscure ingredients even in the middle of nowhere and he can manage a fully booked bar and a kitchen. Alone. This season Preacher’s specialty is an after-sex Mexican spiced coffee, called Café de Olla (★[recipe](https://www.mexicoinmykitchen.com/cafe-de-olla-recipe/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)), and a venison chili I think I’ll never cook. 🦌 For those interested you can find an [Unofficial Virgin River Cookbook](https://www.skyhorsepublishing.com/good-books/9781510774742/the-unofficial-virgin-river-cookbook/?ref=secretbreakfast.com). ###### Picture: Netflix --- #### **⎅** #### THE BOOK ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/a7ff747f-8103-4ea1-ac39-df96ed3bfc1f/screenshot_2023-09-19_alle_09-33-05.png) #### The Last Century Contemporary Baker ★★★ As The New York Times puts it in this feature - [How TikTok Is Reshaping the American Cookbook](https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/18/dining/tiktok-cookbook-authors.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com) \- *Baking Yesteryear* “became the best-selling book in the country. Not just the best-selling cookbook — the No. 1 book”. The best recipes from the 1900s to the 1980s sound a pretty good idea. And even if you don’t know Dylan Hollis, you can always catch up [on the Interweb](https://www.youtube.com/c/bdylanhollis?ref=secretbreakfast.com). [Baking Yesteryear](https://sites.prh.com/baking-yesteryear?ref=secretbreakfast.com) by B. Dylan Hollis **→** Shortplot: 🍰 🦢 🍒 🍪 --- **❍ OnlyPans** This is where Secret Breakfast picks juicy content from food creators [](https://twitter.com/0xgaut/status/1703175598317711857?ref=secretbreakfast.com) --- # **Ⓡ** ### RANDOM ACTS OF HUNGER *This is the space where I share some food (un)related stuff of my week* [‘Chefcore’ ](https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2023/aug/24/fashion-statement-chefcore-the-bear-restaurants-fashion-design?ref=secretbreakfast.com)is the à la mode restaurant-inspired style you’ll actually want to wear 🍇[Bordeaux winemakers switch to night harvests in response to climate change](https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20230908-climate-change-pushes-bordeaux-winemakers-to-harvest-at-night?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🍂The 20 best autumn ideas (★[recipes](https://www.theguardian.com/food/2020/sep/28/the-20-best-autumn-recipes-our-all-time-favourites?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🔪[One-on-one with world-renowned chef, Kwame Onwuachi](https://edition.cnn.com/videos/us/2023/09/15/exp-culinary-chef-kwame-onwuachi-new-york-fst-091512pseg1-cnni-us.cnn?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🧆These Green Meatballs are Worth a Try (★[recipe](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9GlrG12kYRU&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🥗It may be offensive, but I don’t mind the definition of [Disorder Salad](https://maried.substack.com/p/disorder-salad?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🇲🇦[The Breads of Morocco](https://www.theperfectloaf.com/the-breads-of-morocco/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🎢Ranking [the Biggest, Most Crowded and Most Expensive Theme Parks](https://floridapanhandle.com/blog/ranking-theme-parks?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🥓[The truth about nitro-meats: a seven-year search for better bacon](https://www.theguardian.com/food/2023/sep/18/the-truth-about-nitro-meats-my-seven-year-search-for-better-bacon?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🤳🏻Yes, [The food industry pays influencer dietitians to shape your eating habits](https://www.washingtonpost.com/wellness/2023/09/13/dietitian-instagram-tiktok-paid-food-industry/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🧑🏻‍🍳[10 restaurants](https://www.instagram.com/p/CxLVmHzrzUb/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)[ ](https://www.instagram.com/p/CxLeHNCLckJ/?igshid=M2MyMzgzODVlNw%3D%3D&ref=secretbreakfast.com)worth trying in the US 🥯[The quest for the perfect bagel](https://www.ft.com/content/5508f2ae-14f5-4523-9fea-6b8dd1936ca1?ref=secretbreakfast.com) (in the UK) --- **⌇⌇⌇** ## **FOOD FOR LATER** [Salt taste is surprisingly mysterious](https://knowablemagazine.org/article/food-environment/2023/salt-taste-surprisingly-mysterious?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Amber Dance / Knowable Magazine** Too much sodium is bad, but so is too little — no wonder the body has two sensing mechanisms for salty. Read why that’s so important. --- [The Private Chef Life Seems So Glam on the Surface, but Here’s What Really Happens When You Hire One](https://www.foodandwine.com/private-chef-behind-the-scenes-7966421?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Kiki Aranita / Food & Wine** What you might see on TikTok is just the tip of the iceberg, according to the people who do it for a living. There are two moments of suspended belief when you are offered a private chef gig. First is when you sign the NDA and learn who the client is. --- **➤ Last week's most clicked link was about** [**The Best Packable Lunch Recipes, According to** ](https://www.eater.com/23849731/the-best-packable-lunch-recipes-according-to-eater-staff?ref=secretbreakfast.com)[***Eater***](https://www.eater.com/23849731/the-best-packable-lunch-recipes-according-to-eater-staff?ref=secretbreakfast.com)[ **Staff**](https://www.eater.com/23849731/the-best-packable-lunch-recipes-according-to-eater-staff?ref=secretbreakfast.com)**. And that's all for today.** --- **• SEASON 3 - ISSUE 151 •** Secret Breakfast is a newsletter by [Piero Macchioni](https://macchioni.cc/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) Think of it as *The Morning Brew* for food people, or just the most unconventional email you'll get today. In two years we have shared more than 2,000 recipes, hundreds of books, and countless hours of news, gluttony, and joy. [Download our free ebook about food in 2023](https://secretbreakfast.gumroad.com/l/2023-book?ref=secretbreakfast.com). ★★★★★ Recommended by *Food&Wine US*: [Best Food Newsletters to Subscribe To](https://www.foodandwine.com/lifestyle/best-food-newsletters?ref=secretbreakfast.com) *Gastronomika*: [The Newsletters Not To Be Missed on Food](https://www.linkiesta.it/2022/03/migliori-newsletter-food-cibo-vino?ref=secretbreakfast.com) ### Never Settle for Bland Flavors 🙊 URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/never-settle-bland-flavors/ Last updated: 2023-09-10T18:48:24.000Z # Welcome to Secret Breakfast / An exclusive newsletter, the best place to start your day with rotten tomatoes and an Oppenheimer Martini, never settling for bland flavors ![Instant noodles, while in the tub, wearing a bathrobe: #1 of bad choices](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/cac52fe2-a946-4bf5-b5b9-c849802ba013/artem-labunsky-6peudjxchla-unsplash.jpg) Instant noodles, while in the tub, wearing a bathrobe: #1 of bad choices Hi there! It’s not a mystery that the feelings that are generated in your body when you’re hungry can screw up your life. **Hungry people who simply do not reflect on their emotions are more likely to misinterpret them and end up more angry and punitive.** Then - thank you for asking - why many of us are on a diet in September? Healthy choices, probably. A better way of eating. Less frying and buttering. At least be careful with people who are lowering their calorie intake during this autumn: [hunger can warp minds](https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20230822-how-hunger-can-warp-our-minds?ref=secretbreakfast.com), break friendships, and make the workplace implode. You can still protect yourself from bad decisions or extremely irritable people: just bring with you the mighty power of a piece of chocolate. Piero Photo by [Artem Labunsky](https://unsplash.com/photos/6PEuDjxChlA?utm%5Fcontent=creditCopyText&ref=secretbreakfast.com) --- ### **␥** ### THE BEST QUOTE ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/c07ff95c-6b44-4208-9567-be85302ca86d/113__8.png) ✦ **Roberto Bolaño,** [*Amulet*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amulet%5F%28novel%29?ref=secretbreakfast.com). Good quote about love, but also about wine. --- #### **⎚** #### THE MISSING INGREDIENT ## **WELCOME TO HELL** ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/dcc8d613-d6bd-44b1-8cbf-49f3f8b123e4/original_hells-kitchen0.jpg) Ok, we have the [Most Photographed Restaurants of 2023](https://www.yelp.com/collection/3cI1X10Rv39WYWbSf9Bo8A?ref=secretbreakfast.com) on Yelp (are you still using it?) and we have a winner with about 32k clicks: Gordon Ramsay Hell’s Kitchen in Vegas, where you can have scallops, Beef Wellington and Toffee Pudding for about 100$. Not enough for you? Somewhere I’ve found this [Map of the Best Restaurants](https://googlemapsmania.blogspot.com/2023/09/map-of-best-restaurants.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com). Have you ever visited one? ###### Picture: GRHK --- #### **⎅** #### THE BOOK ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/539ccebe-0f1b-438e-9d4d-5e99adaf17d0/screenshot_2023-09-10_alle_21-54-58.png) #### In Her Plus-Sized Life ★★★☆☆ We take a deep dive into high-level chick-lit, today. Abby is *f-word* and she loves sex and food. She’s the daughter of an [almond mom](https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Almond+Mom&ref=secretbreakfast.com). She’s with this tool who eats baba ghanouj with a spoon instead of scooping it up with pita chips, has bunless turkey burgers, and throws away leftover pork buns. She gotta get rid of that monster! Luckily for us, Abby meets a guy who can make edible leftover pasta, just adding cheese and garlic. Now you have your novel. [The Breakaway](https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Breakaway/Jennifer-Weiner/9781668033425?ref=secretbreakfast.com) by Jennifer Weiner **→** Shortplot: ⚖️ 🍝 🚴‍♀️ 💜 --- **❍ OnlyPans** This is where Secret Breakfast picks juicy content from food creators ![Fast-Food mascots as warlords, made with AI (Click for More)](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/9f80313a-d4b0-49b2-a0dd-b750cc58d170/screenshot_2023-09-10_alle_21-37-28.png) [Fast-Food mascots as warlords, made with AI](https://www.reddit.com/r/midjourney/comments/14yqjez/fastfood%5Fmascots%5Fas%5Fwarlords/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) (Click for More) --- # **Ⓡ** ### RANDOM ACTS OF HUNGER *This is the space where I share some food (un)related stuff of my week* 🍎40 Sweet and Savory Apple Ideas for Fall (★[recipes](https://www.foodandwine.com/fruits/apple/apples?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🎩If You Feel Lonely, [Start a Club!](https://www.vox.com/even-better/23837430/how-to-make-friends-start-a-club?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🇮🇹If You’re in Italy, I’d Join This New One About “Meeting Through Food”, Made By Two Amazing Women: [Banchetto](https://mariachiaramontera.it/progetti/banchetto/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) ✅[How to Stock a Lunch-Ready Pantry](https://www.eater.com/23799240/chefs-pick-best-pantry-staples-condiments-for-lunch-at-home-eater-cookbook-excerpt?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 💼[The Best Packable Lunch Recipes,](https://www.eater.com/23849731/the-best-packable-lunch-recipes-according-to-eater-staff?ref=secretbreakfast.com) According to *Eater* Staff ☢️ How to make the Oppenheimer Martini (★[recipe](https://www.thedrinksbusiness.com/it/2023/08/how-to-make-the-oppenheimer-martini/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🔨This Will Be Probably The Most Clicked Link Today: [How Ikea Tricks You Into Buying More Stuff](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=%5FpKQx0UsAC8&ref=secretbreakfast.com) 40 Meal Prep Recipes To Make Your Life Easier (★[recipes](https://www.theteenmagazine.com/how-to-meal-prep-for-an-easier-back-to-school-transition?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🎞️This One Is Not Food, But Maybe You’re Interested in [The Decomposition of Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.vulture.com/article/rotten-tomatoes-movie-rating.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 📖Don’t Miss The Long Time Forgotten Novel, Wrote in 1977, That’s 99,9% Correct [About Social Media](https://www.theverge.com/23863059/social-media-20-days-of-turin-giorgio-de-maria?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🧽Don’t Forget to [Clean Baking Sheets](https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/how-to-clean-baking-sheets/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) --- 🇲🇦 Here's [how to help](https://eu.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2023/09/11/morocco-earthquake-help-victims/70821342007/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) victims of the earthquake in Morocco 🇲🇦 --- **⌇⌇⌇** ## **FOOD FOR LATER** [I Didn’t Bring Food to Burning Man. Here’s How I Survived the Week](https://www.bonappetit.com/story/food-at-burning-man?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Sinna Nasseri / Bon Appétit** Great reporting and photographs from one of the sickest places to be. Or, in my case, not to be. Ever. --- [A taste of the past: a food writer on the power of timeless flavours](https://www.theguardian.com/double-the-flavour/2023/sep/07/a-taste-of-the-past-a-food-writer-on-the-power-of-timeless-flavours?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Clare Finney / The Guardian Lab** “We live in a world that is dominated by sound and vision; by screens and social media, beeps, background noise and traffic. Between scrolling, typing, communicating and commuting, it’s easy to forget the power of flavour to focus our minds on the present and carve out a moment in time. Which is why we shouldn’t settle for bland flavours”. --- **➤ Last week's most clicked link was the one about** [**the Japanese planner I ordered for 2024**](https://www.1101.com/store/techo/en/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)**. And that's all for today.** --- **• SEASON 3 - ISSUE 150•** Secret Breakfast is a newsletter by [Piero Macchioni](https://macchioni.cc/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) Think of it as *The Morning Brew* for food people, or just the most unconventional email you'll get today. In two years we have shared more than 2,000 recipes, hundreds of books, and countless hours of news, gluttony, and joy. [Download our free ebook about food in 2023](https://secretbreakfast.gumroad.com/l/2023-book?ref=secretbreakfast.com). ★★★★★ Recommended by *Food&Wine US*: [Best Food Newsletters to Subscribe To](https://www.foodandwine.com/lifestyle/best-food-newsletters?ref=secretbreakfast.com) *Gastronomika*: [The Newsletters Not To Be Missed on Food](https://www.linkiesta.it/2022/03/migliori-newsletter-food-cibo-vino?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 50 ### Bake a Cake for New Beginnings 🥮 URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/bake-cake/ Last updated: 2023-09-05T05:27:22.000Z # Welcome to Secret Breakfast / An exclusive newsletter, the best place to start your day with a room made of chocolate, baking a cake for new beginnings, while we are 24 hours and two meals away from barbarism ![Chocolate Room!](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/f369cd77-71ff-4168-809c-d0f549682ed2/screenshot_2023-09-05_alle_14-39-26.png) Chocolate Room! Hi there! I’m late today, but life’s overwhelming… Any one of us should find a nice quiet place to take a break and breathe. What I need now is probably closer to artist[ Ed Ruscha’s ‘Chocolate Room’](https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/01/arts/design/ed-ruscha-chocolate-room-moma.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com). But made of pizza. Yes, pizza would do the trick, today. Don’t worry, chocolate is coming in the following sections of the newsletter. Piero Pic: Sasha Arutyunova for The New York Times --- ### **␥** ### THE BEST QUOTE ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/dbd7aafb-64ea-415e-bb46-089f05770deb/113__7.png) ✦ **Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman**, [*Good Omens*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Good%5FOmens?ref=secretbreakfast.com). (PS: Thanks Dr. K!) --- #### **⎚** #### THE MISSING INGREDIENT ## **CAN WE TRUST POLITICIANS EATING THINGS?** ![US Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel enjoying Fukushima fish.](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/182f11f9-5eae-4093-8355-756acd25f477/screenshot_2023-09-05_alle_13-43-20.png) US Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel enjoying Fukushima fish. A few days ago Four top Japanese government ministers, including Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, ate sashimi from Fukushima, seeking to dispel safety concerns about fish from the region after the release of treated radioactive water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant. The US Ambassador to Japan (former Obama chief-of-staff, former mayor of Chicago) wrote [an op-ed](https://asia.nikkei.com/Opinion/Japan-has-been-transparent-and-open-about-Fukushima?ref=secretbreakfast.com) praising the openness of the Japanese Government about the issue. This happened while - this is big -China banned all of the Japanese fish. Well, after all, it was just in May that somebody found a Fukushima rockfish [with 180 times the legal limit of radioactive cesium](https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/jul/24/fukushima-fish-with-180-times-legal-limit-of-radioactive-cesium-fuels-water-release-fears?ref=secretbreakfast.com). **I don’t know about you, but I’m always skeptical when politicians look for a food photo-op.** They open their mouths just to mean something is safe to digest. Or they just campaign somewhere - far from their home - and want to show that they like our very own regional stuff. That they’re like us, at least for a few minutes. They do their job. They may even like their bites. But there’s something in that calculated rush that will always make us skeptical. ###### Picture: US Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel with Mayor Hidekiyo Tachiya in Soma city, Fukushima prefecture. --- #### **⎅** #### THE BOOK ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/66423303-cb2f-4a0c-8d3c-4337b080224a/screenshot_2023-09-05_alle_14-45-13.png) #### Have fun, it’s your party ★★★☆☆ James Beard Award–winning author Amy Thielen went on my radar for her memoir Give a Girl a Knife: one of the best titles ever. Now she’s written a good companion for la réntrée: rethinking the way you entertain, throw dinner parties, and find the fun for the cook as for the guests (★[recipes](https://www.epicurious.com/shopping/company-amy-thielen-cookbook-preview?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) [Company: The Radically Casual Art of Cooking for Others](https://wwnorton.com/books/9781324001508?ref=secretbreakfast.com) by Amy Thielen **→** Shortplot: 🦐 🍪 🫒 🍹 --- **❍ OnlyPans** This is where Secret Breakfast picks juicy content from food creators [](https://www.instagram.com/p/Cwx4hWVLelD/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) This amazing writer named Jamila Robinson doesn’t know she is probably the Godmother of Secret Breakfast. She was the first one to write about it for Food&Wine US and she praised this newsletter even during a recent [podcast](https://m.youtube.com/watch?t=3135&v=kuRPW7nbHRo&feature=youtu.be&ref=secretbreakfast.com). In the middle of that, she kindly participated in [the Secret Breakfast book](https://secretbreakfast.gumroad.com/l/2023-book?ref=secretbreakfast.com) and now - this is where the real magic happens - she’s the newest [Bon](https://www.inquirer.com/food/jamila-robinson-bon-appetit-epicurious-conde-nast-20230828.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com)[ Appé](https://www.inquirer.com/food/jamila-robinson-bon-appetit-epicurious-conde-nast-20230828.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com)[tit’s editor-in-chief](https://www.inquirer.com/food/jamila-robinson-bon-appetit-epicurious-conde-nast-20230828.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com)! And what do you do when something like that happens? You bake a cake. Here’s an olive oil cake with goat cheese frosting, lemon, honey and figs. Even though I’m more of a pie person, I love to make cakes for new beginnings. They always give me good luck. To Jamila and the new beginnings! --- # **Ⓡ** ### RANDOM ACTS OF HUNGER *This is the space where I share some food (un)related stuff of my week* 🍕[The best pizza in America, by region and style](https://www.washingtonpost.com/travel/interactive/2023/best-pizza-new-york-chicago-los-angeles/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🍛 [Recreating a 2000-Year-Old Curry](https://southeastasianarchaeology.substack.com/p/recreating-a-2000-year-old-curry?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🛸The strange, secretive world of [North Korean science fiction](https://arstechnica.com/culture/2023/08/the-strange-secretive-world-of-north-korean-science-fiction/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 👩🏼‍🦰[Apple Cider Copper Hair ](https://www.glamour.com/story/apple-cider-copper-hair-trend?ref=secretbreakfast.com)Is the Prettiest Red Shade for Fall 🌮Baked Tofu Tacos with Mango Avocado (★[recipe](https://plantbasedrdblog.com/2023/03/baked-tofu-tacos-with-mango-avocado-salsa/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🍞This is the only one you need for your burgers: Soft Sourdough Potato Buns (★[recipe](https://www.theperfectloaf.com/soft-sourdough-potato-buns/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 💡[36 Hidden Messages in Company Logos](https://www.rd.com/list/secret-messages-company-logos/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) ☕️[Titans’ Will Levis, who puts mayonnaise in his coffee, lands ‘lifetime contract’ with Hellmann’s](https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/titans-will-levis-who-famously-puts-mayonnaise-in-his-coffee-lands-lifetime-contract-with-hellmanns/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🤩This is a winner: Pain au Lait filled with Ganache (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reel/CwsXeeqLFZP/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🥐Or you can pivot to Cocoa and Nutella Babka (★[r](https://www.instagram.com/p/CwVlE5qrHY7?ref=secretbreakfast.com)[ecipe](https://www.instagram.com/p/CwVlE5qrHY7?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🍷[Alcohol makes you more likely to approach attractive people ](https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/999229?ref=secretbreakfast.com)but doesn’t make others seem better looking 📓[Hobonichi journals](https://www.1101.com/store/techo/en/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) for 2024 are out and I don’t know if importing them from Japan was a smart idea --- **⌇⌇⌇** ## **FOOD FOR LATER** [Last Summer Pearls](https://dark-mountain.net/last-summer-pearls/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Michael Malay / The Dark Mountain Project** This passage takes place after the author visits a freshwater mussel colony in the Highlands. Something that could get lost forever. --- [Aromas de Roma](https://panepanna.substack.com/p/aromas-de-roma?ref=secretbreakfast.com) *(in Spanish!)* **Rosa Molinero Trias / Panepanna** A lovely reportage about flavor and aromas, pizza and maritozzi, from the Eternal City: as a Roman citizen myself, I have to endorse it. --- **➤ Last week's most clicked link was about the** [**Millennials wanting back the Tuscan kitchen**](https://www.dwell.com/article/tuscan-kitchen-tiktok-twitter-millennials-925af028-3e2242c9?ref=secretbreakfast.com)**. And that's all for today.** --- **• SEASON 3 - ISSUE 149 •** Secret Breakfast is a newsletter by [Piero Macchioni](https://macchioni.cc/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) Think of it as *The Morning Brew* for food people, or just the most unconventional email you'll get today. In two years we have shared more than 2,000 recipes, hundreds of books, and countless hours of news, gluttony, and joy. [Download our free ebook about food in 2023](https://secretbreakfast.gumroad.com/l/2023-book?ref=secretbreakfast.com). ★★★★★ Recommended by *Food&Wine US*: [Best Food Newsletters to Subscribe To](https://www.foodandwine.com/lifestyle/best-food-newsletters?ref=secretbreakfast.com) *Gastronomika*: [The Newsletters Not To Be Missed on Food](https://www.linkiesta.it/2022/03/migliori-newsletter-food-cibo-vino?ref=secretbreakfast.com) ### Girl's dinner and poor people's meal 🧀 URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/girls-dinner/ Last updated: 2023-08-29T04:36:00.000Z # Welcome to Secret Breakfast / An exclusive newsletter, the best place to start your day with a girl dinner, rebel canning, and the sexy effects of bee pollen ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/bdeec80b-543b-4656-a406-6abc9af3f8e3/onur-senay-xmjmkv_3eem-unsplash.jpg) Hi there! It’s from the times of Machiavelli that Italian politics shapes the whole world. Could I spare you some of that? Absolutely not (but you can skip it). Farm Minister Francesco Lollobrigida [said](https://www.ansa.it/english/news/politics/2023/08/24/farm-minister-spurs-ire-for-saying-poor-eat-better-than%5F62be5afc-9b6f-4af2-b413-523677d2c270.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **"the less well-off often eat better because they buy better quality produce directly from producers"**. He probably intended that poor people buy local from farmers, but that is not what he said. Then he was attacked for allegedly insulting the poor. Italian politics is made of those: feelings and people. What are we missing? Data. \*\*\* First, the obvious: **you can’t say that really poor people eat better, because really poor people can’t even buy food.** But let’s go deeper and see what happens to the less well-off. **In developed countries - like Italy - “the number of people with overweight and obesity is increasing**. This [**paradox**](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25292135/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) has a relationship with both the easy availability and low cost of highly processed foods containing 'empty calories' and no nutritional value”. As we know [ultra-processed food raises risk of heart attack and stroke](https://www.theguardian.com/science/2023/aug/27/ultra-processed-food-raises-risk-of-heart-attack-and-stroke-two-studies-show?ref=secretbreakfast.com). And ultra-processed food comes cheaper. Nevertheless, **we can observe growing obesity in the population of “poor” people.** The reasons are higher unemployment, lower education level, and irregular meals. Another cause of obesity is low physical activity, which among the less well-off is associated with a lack of money for sports equipment. Once I heard somebody saying that being poor in America was better than being poor in Central America because you can be poor but still be fat. There it is: **most of us live in countries where lower-income people are targeted with cheap and less-nutrient meals.** Some of them resist, some of them are lost and kept alone. Piero PS: this subject is immense and I can’t be exhaustive here. Interesting correlations emerge as you change countries ([this](https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/food/the-true-connection-between-class-and-obesity-isnt-what-you-probably-think/2018/07/19/8d3a61e4-8ac8-11e8-a345-a1bf7847b375%5Fstory.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com) was a smart analysis about the US) and consider the history of the people involved. Pic. [Onur Senay](https://unsplash.com/photos/xmJmKv%5F3eeM?ref=secretbreakfast.com) --- ### **␥** ### THE BEST QUOTE ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/c30c9a6b-812e-4646-9785-c336086d4fac/113__6.png) ✦ **Kimberly Lemming**, [That Time I Got Drunk and Saved a Demon](https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/that-time-i-got-drunk-and-saved-a-demon-kimberly-lemming/1139990776?ean=9780316570275&ref=secretbreakfast.com). --- #### **⎚** #### THE MISSING INGREDIENT ## **IT’S NOT SOME RANDOM STUFF,** **IT’S A “GIRL DINNER”** ![Pic by Alana Lavatery](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/f3636b4f-57ae-46a1-ab81-b31010325f70/screenshot_2023-08-29_alle_07-27-23.png) Pic by Alana Lavatery I do not really know if that’s something that can gain the “feminism” label, or just tell us something about the condition of the (Western) society, but apparently, women are posting more and more simple snack plates made by one person, and just one person. It’s been called [Girl Dinner](https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/08/style/girl-dinner.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com) (you can read more about it [here](https://thehustle.co/when-tiktok-says-jump-restaurants-fling-themselves-right-off-a-cliff/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)). And though the trend may sound suspiciously like tapas, or mezze, or a charcuterie board, girl dinner differs in one key way: Unlike a Super Bowl-esque spread of appetizers, girl dinner is most frequently made by one person, for the consumption and enjoyment of one person. Food obsession, a sin that this newsletter is 100% guilty of, is not as widespread as we can imagine. For many people - sometimes - eating is an accomplishment. Reading about [The Depression Cooking Zine](https://www.eater.com/23834841/depression-cooking-sonali-menezes-zine-creator-profile?ref=secretbreakfast.com) ([pdf](https://ift.tt/LNsWnuY?ref=secretbreakfast.com) version), a zine written for people struggling with depression, reminded me that. And sometimes a clean, quick, Instagrammable meal is more than enough, boys and girls. --- **❍ OnlyPans** This is where Secret Breakfast picks juicy content from food creators ![Bengingi’s Corn Pancakes (★recipe)](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/b6add94d-de02-4247-a56e-b3cf5443ef5e/screenshot_2023-08-29_alle_07-09-41.png) [Bengingi’s Corn Pancakes (★recipe)](https://www.bengingi.com/recipes/corn-pancakes?subscribed=true&ref=secretbreakfast.com) --- # **Ⓡ** ### RANDOM ACTS OF HUNGER *This is the space where I share some food (un)related stuff of my week* 🐝 [Can Bee Pollen Actually Make Your Boobs Bigger?](https://www.glamour.com/story/bee-pollen-benefits?ref=secretbreakfast.com) ☕️You Know, [coffee makes concrete stronger](https://www.rmit.edu.au/news/all-news/2023/aug/coffee-concrete?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🧇Now you can drink an [Eggo’s Waffle](https://www.washingtonpost.com/food/2023/08/22/eggo-brunch-in-a-jar-alcohol/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🇨🇺[Cuban Migrants Are Moving to Kentucky](https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/26/us/cubans-louisville-kentucky.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com), and that’s making Louisville a food spot not to miss 🥞[Scallion Pancakes](https://www.cntraveler.com/story/how-scallion-pancakes-became-the-most-versatile-bread-in-america?ref=secretbreakfast.com)[ ](https://ift.tt/zogtDWG?ref=secretbreakfast.com)(★[recipe](https://www.seriouseats.com/extra-flaky-scallion-pancakes-recipe?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) became the Most Versatile Bread in America 🔪[The Tuscan Kitchen](https://www.dwell.com/article/tuscan-kitchen-tiktok-twitter-millennials-925af028-3e2242c9?ref=secretbreakfast.com) is coming back 🥗[Iceberg Won the Lettuce Wars](https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/iceberg-lettuce-wedge-salad?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🥥Why Coconut Farmers Risk Their Lives To Feed The World’s Superfood Obsession [(video)](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vEA8HpR%5FAzw&ref=secretbreakfast.com) --- **⌇⌇⌇** ## **FOOD FOR LATER** [‘Rebel Canning’ Is Having a Moment, Whether or Not It Should](https://www.eater.com/23832985/rebel-canners-home-canning-usda-regulations-food-safety?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Amy McCarthy / Eater** All the health rules we break when we preserve stuff at home. Rebel, rebel! --- [The key to depression, obesity, alcoholism – and more? Why the vagus nerve is so exciting to scientists](https://www.theguardian.com/society/2023/aug/23/the-key-to-depression-obesity-alcoholism-and-more-why-the-vagus-nerve-is-so-exciting-to-scientists?ref=secretbreakfast.com)[ ](https://www.theguardian.com/society/2023/aug/23/the-key-to-depression-obesity-alcoholism-and-more-why-the-vagus-nerve-is-so-exciting-to-scientists?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Linda Geddes / The Guardian** This ‘electrical superhighway’ called Vagus Nerve helps to control everything from our breathing to our immune system. Could stimulating it transform physical and mental health? --- **➤ Last week's most clicked link was the one about the** [**Bonne Maman Advent Calendar**](https://www.foodandwine.com/bonne-maman-advent-calendar-2023-7692626?ref=secretbreakfast.com)**. And that's all for today.** --- **• SEASON 3 - ISSUE 148 •** Secret Breakfast is a newsletter by [Piero Macchioni](https://macchioni.cc/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) Think of it as *The Morning Brew* for food people, or just the most unconventional email you'll get today. In two years we have shared more than 2,000 recipes, hundreds of books, and countless hours of news, gluttony, and joy. [Download our free ebook about food in 2023](https://secretbreakfast.gumroad.com/l/2023-book?ref=secretbreakfast.com). ★★★★★ Recommended by *Food&Wine US*: [Best Food Newsletters to Subscribe To](https://www.foodandwine.com/lifestyle/best-food-newsletters?ref=secretbreakfast.com) *Gastronomika*: [The Newsletters Not To Be Missed on Food](https://www.linkiesta.it/2022/03/migliori-newsletter-food-cibo-vino?ref=secretbreakfast.com) Ma ### The Wholesome Comfort Food for Feelings 🩵 URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/wholesome-romance/ Last updated: 2023-08-21T15:12:04.000Z # Welcome to Secret Breakfast / An exclusive newsletter, the best place to start your day with calorie trays, carrot problems, and wholesome romances ![Floating Breakfast, Secret Breakfast’s cool twin](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/e4142342-ff16-4baf-a5ec-dde2982b9c7a/screenshot_2023-08-21-20-07-01-90_99c04817c0de5652397fc8b56c3b3817.jpg) Floating Breakfast, Secret Breakfast’s cool twin Hi there! When I asked 23 food talents their predictions on the year 2023 for [the Secret Breakfast ebook](https://secretbreakfast.gumroad.com/l/2023-book?ref=secretbreakfast.com), no one could foresee this: [the floating breakfast tray](https://www.axios.com/2023/08/18/trending-hotel-amenity-floating-breakfast?ref=secretbreakfast.com). And here it is now, a viral staple of this year’s holidays. The “Infinity Pool” of the morning meals. The perfect selfie-envy generator. Nor any of us could predict the “[gravestone recipes](https://maried.substack.com/p/how-macro-trends-are-shaping-our?ref=secretbreakfast.com)", as recipes inscribed on tombstones by people wanting to leave a trace of their culinary talent. What a time to be alive. Piero PS: not many recipes today, but much reading material. --- ### **␥** ### THE BEST QUOTE ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/8fb68eac-2f25-461f-9d57-d8fcd0368904/113__5.png) ✦ **Steve Albini**,[ ](https://www.edwardslingerland.com/drunk?ref=secretbreakfast.com)musician, [reminds us](https://www.theguardian.com/music/2023/aug/15/the-evolution-of-steve-albini-if-the-dumbest-person-is-on-your-side-youre-on-the-wrong-side?ref=secretbreakfast.com) that it’s important to be true to ourselves, but it’s also crucial not to be an a\*\*hole*.* --- #### **⎚** #### THE MISSING INGREDIENT ## **WE’RE LIVING THE WHOLESOME ROMANCE ERA, THE COMFORT FOOD OF FEELINGS** ![Taylor Zakhar Perez and Nicholas Galitzine in “Red White & Royal Blue”](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/513fc2a9-2048-4f7f-9510-715509368ac5/screenshot_2023-08-21_alle_19-06-48.png) Taylor Zakhar Perez and Nicholas Galitzine in “Red White & Royal Blue” In this brilliant article, [The Alarming Rise of the Wholesome Romance](https://time.com/6303477/red-white-and-royal-blue-wholesome-romance/?ref=secretbreakfast.com), Judy Berman writes about “a new generation of love story that has conquered pop culture”. The multiplatform romance (and adjacent) juggernauts of the recent past, from *Twilight* and *The Fault in Our Stars* to *Fifty Shades of Grey*, seduced fans with bloodsucking dreamboats, BDSM billionaires, and terminally ill teens. Now, when we immerse ourselves in a love story, fewer of us seem to seek that frisson of danger. **What has become more exotic, and thus more desirable, is comfort, safety, stability.** Now you can launch your post-Pandemic guess, but what I find interesting is what you get when you think about the culinary paradigm of this “wholesome romance”. Is it a traditional dish? Is it comfort food? Or is it a quick takeout? A dumb supper like a microwaved can of mac’n’cheese? Is it an ancient flavor or a couch potato lazy temptation? I don’t know. But I agree with Berman when she writes: “that our collective daydreams now seem so healthy and achievable is not necessarily a sign of progress”. Picture: [Red White & Royal Blue](https://www.primevideo.com/detail/Red-White-Royal-Blue/0T2C6K3LWTISKSLRSHVQ4UOBA4?ref=secretbreakfast.com), Prime Video --- #### **⎅** #### THE BOOK ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/65617a5b-7ec3-48c3-a00a-14e36e4ee161/screenshot_2023-08-21_alle_18-46-35.png) #### The Conscientious Omnivore Playbook ★★★☆☆ Here’s the most important book launch of this Summer. Alicia Kennedy is truly one of the smartest voices in the food world today. Her newsletter is something you shouldn’t miss and her way of writing things down is honest, crystal clear, and somehow progressive (as in “good progressive”). The book has even a shiny blurb by Nigella, nevertheless, I’ve found that a little stretched. Anyway, you can read more about Alicia’s essay [here](https://www.vox.com/future-perfect/23834556/alicia-kennedy-no-meat-required-vegan-vegetarian-food-systems-alternative-meats-plant-based?ref=secretbreakfast.com) and [here](https://www.eater.com/23825828/no-meat-required-alicia-kennedy-interview-plant-based-vegetarian-vegan-diet?ref=secretbreakfast.com). Then place your order and tell me what you think of it. It’s not about being vegan or vegetarian, it’s about the future we’ll be serving on our table for a better world. [No Meat Required](https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/723795/no-meat-required-by-alicia-kennedy/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) by Alicia Kennedy **→** Shortplot: 🍅 🍚 🍋 🥬 --- **❍ OnlyPans** This is where Secret Breakfast picks juicy content from food creators [](https://www.instagram.com/reel/CvEHZvCuqS7/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) --- # **Ⓡ** ### RANDOM ACTS OF HUNGER *This is the space where I share some food (un)related stuff of my week* 🧊[Always keeping popsicles in the freezer](https://mariandrew.substack.com/p/100-things-i-know?ref=secretbreakfast.com) is one of the 100 things Mari Andrew knows 🎁[Grocery stores are the best travel souvenir shops](https://www.washingtonpost.com/travel/tips/souvenir-grocery-stores/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🍝How [Germany’s Spaghetti Ice Cream ](https://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/how-germanys-spaghetti-ice-cream-came-to-be-180982461/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)Came to Be 🧅Indian Government is Imposing a [40% duty on onion exports](https://indianexpress.com/article/india/govt-40-export-duty-onion-improve-local-supplies-8900085/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🌶️Didn’t know that [Sriracha sauce inspired a Lexus Car](https://qz.com/emails/quartz-obsession/1850720431/sriracha-the-good-kind-of-heat?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🪛IOT’s next step: [Microchips inside Your Parmigiano Reggiano](https://www.wsj.com/world/europe/microchips-in-the-parmigiano-and-other-ways-europeans-are-fighting-fake-food-3c719f9c?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🗓️Have You Bought Your [French Delicacies Advent Calendar](https://www.foodandwine.com/bonne-maman-advent-calendar-2023-7692626?ref=secretbreakfast.com), Already? 🏋️Be a Beefcake, Bro. Have a Proper [Hotel Gym Workout](https://www.mensjournal.com/health-fitness/hotel-gym-workout?ref=secretbreakfast.com#gid=ci02b8d15c20062605&pid=1-dumbbell-goblet-squat) 🍑 Marian Burros’ Plum Cake is the Best Tart Framework You Can Learn, then use Peaches in the place of Plums (★[recipe](https://food52.com/recipes/24469-marian-burros-plum-torte?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 💌Thank you to [The Healthy Dose](http://hehealthydose.beehiiv.com/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)! Many people came here from that awesome newsletter, I’m honored --- **⌇⌇⌇** ## **FOOD FOR LATER** [What Is Lifestyle?](https://dirt.fyi/article/2023/08/what-is-lifestyle?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Daisy Alioto / Dirt** This one is about three years old now, but it has a [new introduction](https://dirt.fyi/article/2023/08/introducing-lifestyle?ref=secretbreakfast.com) (start from here), featuring the closing of the Four Seasons, the most famous power dining room in New York. Long read. Fascinating. Take your time with it. --- [America’s Bee Problem Is an Us Problem](https://www.theringer.com/features/2023/8/3/23816154/honeybees-commercial-urban-beekeepers-bees-dying-crisis?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Lex Pryor / The Ringer** Bees directly contribute to a third of America’s food: “apples, peaches, lettuce, squashes, melons, broccoli, cranberries, tree nuts, blueberries, blackberries, strawberries, plums, clementines, tangerines, sunflowers, pumpkins, alfalfa for your beef, and guar for your processed foods. Ninety-eight percent of organic vitamin C sources, 70 percent of vitamin A, and 74 percent of lipids; $17 billion worth of crops annually from honeybee pollination alone”. --- **➤ Last week's most clicked link was the one about** [**the guy who tried to make eight dishes from** ](https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2023/aug/09/hell-in-a-ham-milkshake-i-tried-to-make-eight-dishes-from-the-bear-it-nearly-broke-me?ref=secretbreakfast.com)[***The Bear***](https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2023/aug/09/hell-in-a-ham-milkshake-i-tried-to-make-eight-dishes-from-the-bear-it-nearly-broke-me?ref=secretbreakfast.com)**. And that's all for today.** --- **• SEASON 3 - ISSUE 147 •** Secret Breakfast is a newsletter by [Piero Macchioni](https://macchioni.cc/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) Think of it as *The Morning Brew* for food people, or just the most unconventional email you'll get today. In about three years we have shared more than 2,000 recipes, hundreds of books, and countless hours of news, gluttony, and joy. [Download our free ebook about food in 2023](https://secretbreakfast.gumroad.com/l/2023-book?ref=secretbreakfast.com). ★★★★★ Recommended by *Food&Wine US*: [Best Food Newsletters to Subscribe To](https://www.foodandwine.com/lifestyle/best-food-newsletters?ref=secretbreakfast.com) *Gastronomika*: [The Newsletters Not To Be Missed on Food](https://www.linkiesta.it/2022/03/migliori-newsletter-food-cibo-vino?ref=secretbreakfast.com) ### Flower Biscuits and Hanging Octopus 🌺 URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/flower-biscuits/ Last updated: 2023-08-14T19:11:01.000Z # Welcome to Secret Breakfast / An exclusive newsletter, the best place to make your heart beat faster with Depression burgers, Mexican vanilla, and flower shortbreads ![Hold fast, my friends, hold fast.](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/218b79bc-dc41-44e9-8f6d-496b7bb654e1/screenshot_2023-08-14_alle_23-03-12.png) Hold fast, my friends, hold fast. Hi there! Are you hanging out somewhere like a Greek octopus on a stick? Hope you’re having a great summer. We’re keeping it light, here. Still some spicy readings ahead. Piero Screenshot from [Sam Youkilis](https://www.instagram.com/samyoukilis/?hl=it&ref=secretbreakfast.com). [Pre-order his book here](https://l.instagram.com/?u=https%3A%2F%2Floosejoints.biz%2Fcollections%2Fforthcoming%2Fproducts%2Fsomewhere&e=AT1Oe4QWfFGU1D9LttCVoGtOmpJ2tbfbimdB-8LNiE9VNK8I5sUQ9-SwKpmWSmyKWLjLL2mhuUQdV1WOiWVrVK4O2Ku9PlUUzuLLJQ&ref=secretbreakfast.com) --- ### **␥** ### THE BEST QUOTE ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/f472c0e7-19d2-4301-ace1-5f73c8d9c867/113__3.png) ✦ **M.F.K Fisher**, food writer. She was the real #booktok. --- #### **⎅** #### THE BOOK ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/51bda83e-b097-4a3b-b83a-ce286ed7062b/screenshot_2023-08-14_alle_22-38-53.png) #### Food to make your heart beat faster ★★ Setting the table for two and focusing on someone special are two of the best things one can do in life. Bre Graham’s cookbook (★[recipes](https://www.bregraham.com/recipes?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) may look simple, but it reminds us how all good things start: from very small. [Table for Two](https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/718600/table-for-two-by-bre-graham/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) by Bre Graham **→** Shortplot: 🍷 🕯️ 🍴 🥗 --- **❍ OnlyPans** This is where Secret Breakfast picks juicy content from food creators [](https://www.instagram.com/reel/CrtVUeGNM8h?ref=secretbreakfast.com) --- # **Ⓡ** ### RANDOM ACTS OF HUNGER *This is the space where I share some food (un)related stuff of my week* 🍜[The process of making Japanese fake food](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O9E77WZGCpQ&ref=secretbreakfast.com), in video 🐻[I tried to make eight dishes from ](https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2023/aug/09/hell-in-a-ham-milkshake-i-tried-to-make-eight-dishes-from-the-bear-it-nearly-broke-me?ref=secretbreakfast.com)[*The Bear*](https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2023/aug/09/hell-in-a-ham-milkshake-i-tried-to-make-eight-dishes-from-the-bear-it-nearly-broke-me?ref=secretbreakfast.com). It nearly broke me 🍔 [The ‘Depression Burger’](https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20230626-the-depression-burger-of-route-66?ref=secretbreakfast.com) of Route 66 🍫Papantla is the birthplace of vanilla, but [Mexican vanilla](https://media.hubspot.com/the-underground-vanilla-economy-1?ref=secretbreakfast.com) has almost disappeared [👩🏻‍🎨](https://ift.tt/G8qICt3?ref=secretbreakfast.com)[People Making Wildly Impressive Art With Food](https://nicenews.com/culture/talented-people-who-make-art-with-food/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)[ ](https://ift.tt/G8qICt3?ref=secretbreakfast.com)— Using Potatoes, Egg Shells, and More 🍝[People Walk 20 Miles Overnight to Eat This Pasta](https://www.atlasobscura.com/foods/threads-of-god-pasta-sardinia?ref=secretbreakfast.com) in Sardinia 🍹So you need a [Rotovap to make a good cocktail](https://punchdrink.com/articles/rotovap-distillation-cocktail-bars/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 👅[Expanding Your Palate](https://www.wellandgood.com/expanding-your-palate/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) Can Help You Live Longer 🇬🇧[The Cheapest Michelin Star Restaurants In London](https://guide.michelin.com/gb/en/best-of/the-cheapest-michelin-star-restaurants-in-london?ref=secretbreakfast.com) ☠️Supermarket AI meal planner app suggests [recipe that would create chlorine gas](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/aug/10/pak-n-save-savey-meal-bot-ai-app-malfunction-recipes?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🙊[The Low-FODMAP](https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/29/well/eat/low-fodmap-diet-ibs.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com) Diet, Explained (it stands for fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides and polyols) --- **⌇⌇⌇** ## **FOOD FOR LATER** [How Modernity Made Us Allergic](https://www.noemamag.com/modernity-has-made-us-allergic/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Theresa McPhail / Noēma** “There are, unsurprisingly, multiple theories about the cause. The hygiene hypothesis is one front-runner, positing that people who are “too clean” develop allergies. Many others think it’s our diet, that changes in the way we grow and prepare food have altered our gut microbiome, fueling allergies. Still others argue that manmade chemicals and plastics we encounter daily are making our immune systems more irritable”. --- [How Cooking Videos Took Over the World](https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2023/08/07/dining/cooking-videos-tiktok.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com)[ ](https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2023/08/07/dining/cooking-videos-tiktok.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **The New York Times** A multimedia feature from Seventies’ Cottage Cheese to nowadays TikTok stars. --- **➤ Last week's most clicked link was the one about the** [**“Life Dinner”, that could save your relationship**](https://www.eviemagazine.com/post/what-is-life-dinner-and-could-it-be-answer-strengthening-relationship?ref=secretbreakfast.com)**. And that's all for today.** --- **• SEASON 3 - ISSUE 146 •** Secret Breakfast is a newsletter by [Piero Macchioni](https://macchioni.cc/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) Think of it as *The Morning Brew* for food people, or just the most unconventional email you'll get today. In two years we have shared more than 2,000 recipes, hundreds of books, and countless hours of news, gluttony, and joy. [Download our free ebook about food in 2023](https://secretbreakfast.gumroad.com/l/2023-book?ref=secretbreakfast.com). ★★★★★ Recommended by *Food&Wine US*: [Best Food Newsletters to Subscribe To](https://www.foodandwine.com/lifestyle/best-food-newsletters?ref=secretbreakfast.com) *Gastronomika*: [The Newsletters Not To Be Missed on Food](https://www.linkiesta.it/2022/03/migliori-newsletter-food-cibo-vino?ref=secretbreakfast.com) ### MrBeast Burgers Were Made With Our Meat 🍔 URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/mrbeast-burgers/ Last updated: 2023-08-07T06:05:23.000Z # Welcome to Secret Breakfast / An exclusive newsletter, the best place to get rich by making others cook inedible food with your name on it, because the less you know the hotter you get ![Sunflowers, flooding; fire, water.](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/5f6e6d68-2063-476d-881f-8cc810237dfa/screenshot_2023-08-07_alle_23-56-00.png) Sunflowers, flooding; fire, water. Hi there! The rains are pretty heavy around here, making this summer even more unpredictable. I hope you’ll have some time for yourself in the coming days, maybe less commuting, and at least less screen time. If you’re not getting any, you’re lucky: there is a lot of good stuff to read and cook here. Piero Photo: a flooded sunflower field after heavy rainfall caused the Krka River to overflow. Photograph: [Jure Makovec/AFP/Getty Images](https://www.theguardian.com/news/gallery/2023/aug/06/kyiv-steeplejacks-surfing-dogs-the-weekends-best-photos-in-pictures?ref=secretbreakfast.com) --- ### **␥** ### THE BEST QUOTE ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/8b0071b5-6949-4789-a78e-fff510793b3d/113__2.png) ✦ **Bertrand Russell,** mathematician, philosopher, logician, and expert on people getting hot. --- #### **⎚** #### THE MISSING INGREDIENT ## **MRBEAST AND THE INEVITABLE** **VIRTUAL KITCHEN BURGER SCREW UP** ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/c1776c8b-a70c-4eae-8503-3b6628cd9c3c/screenshot_2023-08-07_alle_08-34-26.png) “The YouTuber Jimmy Donaldson, more widely known as MrBeast, is suing the company behind his fast food chain MrBeast Burger for making ‘inedible’ food”. [Inedible](https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2023/aug/02/mrbeast-sues-company-behind-his-fast-food-chain-over-inedible-burgers?ref=secretbreakfast.com). More than two years after its debut, [MrBeast Burger](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MrBeast%5FBurger?ref=secretbreakfast.com) is finally showing the signs of its original sin: **it has never been about food**. Food on a mass scale is risky: if you succeed, it is a good business; but it will never be real food. They say that McDonald’s business isn’t burgers, but real estate. They say that Starbucks isn’t selling you coffee, but everything else. MrBeast Burger - a ghost kitchen product sold almost everywhere in the world - has never been about grilled meat and soft buns even if it sold 1 million burgers in three months (it did). It was about some people - and MrBeast - selling you… MrBeast. Nothing bad here: it is still 20x cheaper than your status symbol smartphone or those H-strapped leather influencer slippers. People never wanted to eat a MrBeast burger. Did you? Here’s a ★ [recipe](https://postalbarbecue.com/recipe/homemade-mrbeast-burger-recipe/?ref=secretbreakfast.com), I’m pretty sure you won’t cook it. PS: Wanna talk about honest burgers? Watch this: [Why You Can't Make The Best Cheeseburger In NYC At Home](https://www.bonappetit.com/video/watch/why-you-cant-make-the-best-cheeseburger-in-nyc-at-home?ref=secretbreakfast.com). ###### MrBeast --- #### **⎅** #### THE BOOK ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/e4b9802f-8141-4905-a51f-e0a66aa4ef1d/screenshot_2023-08-07_alle_23-29-57.png) #### Pack your veg ★★1/2 I really envy salad-people, because they can easily play supper and contain the wrong macros mistakes. Luckily for people like me, vegs are not just salads. We can eat vegetables as main curses because - hey - they were made for that as meat and fish and pasta. This book is a good staple if you need to bring some greens to the table, Ms. Spungen has a killer [newsletter](https://susanality.substack.com/?ref=secretbreakfast.com), plus Auntie Oprah went wild and published a lot of ideas from the cookbook (★[recipes](https://www.oprahdaily.com/life/food/a44654054/susan-spungen-veg-forward-summer-recipes/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) [VEG Forward](https://www.harpercollinsfocus.com/harper-celebrate/veg-forward-susan-spungen/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) by Susan Spungen **→** Shortplot: 🍅 🥬 🍄 🥦 --- **❍ OnlyPans** This is where Secret Breakfast picks juicy content from food creators [](https://www.instagram.com/reel/CvFj31eIIkT/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) Good trick if you like the fruit, but can’t stand the seeds. --- # **Ⓡ** ### RANDOM ACTS OF HUNGER *This is the space where I share some food (un)related stuff of my week* 🍌Watched *FastX*: Vin Diesel’s family is crazy about Costa Rican Fried Plantains-Plátanos Maduros (★[recipe](https://www.puravidamoms.com/costa-rican-fried-plantains-platanos-maduros/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🍾 When it comes to keeping the fizz in your champagne[ bottle size matters](https://ift.tt/ftJl6QX?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🍔[Popeyes New Classic Bacon & Cheese Chicken Sandwich Review](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BDuITB5mDKk&ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🎃How [Spaghetti Squash ](https://ift.tt/kP4awRb?ref=secretbreakfast.com)Squiggled Its Way Onto American Tables 🌭 Everything You Never Knew About[ Competitive Eating](https://ift.tt/kq03beF?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 💔[Make the Most of a Breakup Brunch](https://ift.tt/nx7V3Lz?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🥚Susan Makes a Korean Rolled Omelet (★[recipe](https://www.bonappetit.com/video/watch/from-the-home-kitchen-susan-makes-a-korean-rolled-omelet-gyeran-mari?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🍽️[“Life Dinner”](https://www.eviemagazine.com/post/what-is-life-dinner-and-could-it-be-answer-strengthening-relationship?ref=secretbreakfast.com) Could It Be The Answer To Strengthening Your Relationship ⭐️For you, patient reader, here’s the best link of this issue: Ixta Belfrage new website with recipes like Clam moqueca, Oyster mushroom tacos, Cassava, coconut and passion fruit cake, and more (★[recipes](https://www.ixta.world/recipes?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) --- **⌇⌇⌇** ## **FOOD FOR LATER** [British Sandwiches and Walking 300km of Wainright’s Coast to Coast](https://craigmod.com/ridgeline/167/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Craig Mod / Ridgeline** Craig Mod’s latest Special Project was about UK, but I just heard sandwiches: “I never want to walk again without a sandwich. It is a perfect walk companion. It is an ideal lunch. It is simple, clean, requires no special tools to consume”. --- [A Requiem for Diet Soda](https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/27/opinion/diet-coke-soda-aspartame.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Frank Bruni / The New York Times** “Back in high school, I often woke before my parents did, and I could tell when my mother was about to get out of bed. A sound alerted me. I don’t mean an alarm clock. I mean the crunch-woosh of a can of diet soda being opened”. --- [The Raw, the Cooked and the Hydrolysed](https://dark-mountain.net/the-raw-the-cooked-and-the-hydrolysed/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Fred Warren / The Dark Mountain Project** Repeat with me. We have: - ‘*minimally processed*’ foods (frozen peas), - ‘*processed culinary ingredients*’ (butter), - ‘*processed foods*’ (some breads and cheeses) - and those foods which are ‘*ultra-processed*’, created by ‘the fractioning of whole foods into substances’ and contain ingredients rarely used in the kitchen, such as ‘high-fructose corn syrup, hydrogenated or interesterified oils, and hydrolysed proteins’, and additives such as ‘flavour enhancers, colours, emulsifiers \[…\] and glazing agents.’ Wait: are three stars restaurants’ delicacies just ultra-processed food? --- **➤ Last week's most clicked link was the one about the** [**secret restaurant chains**](https://www.eatthis.com/controversial-secrets-restaurant-chains/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)**. And that's all for today.** --- **• SEASON 3 - ISSUE 145 •** Secret Breakfast is a newsletter by [Piero Macchioni](https://macchioni.cc/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) Think of it as *The Morning Brew* for food people, or just the most unconventional email you'll get today. In two years we have shared more than 2,000 recipes, hundreds of books, and countless hours of news, gluttony, and joy. [Download our free ebook about food in 2023](https://secretbreakfast.gumroad.com/l/2023-book?ref=secretbreakfast.com). ★★★★★ Recommended by *Food&Wine US*: [Best Food Newsletters to Subscribe To](https://www.foodandwine.com/lifestyle/best-food-newsletters?ref=secretbreakfast.com) *Gastronomika*: [The Newsletters Not To Be Missed on Food](https://www.linkiesta.it/2022/03/migliori-newsletter-food-cibo-vino?ref=secretbreakfast.com) ### Your National Dish Is Probably Empty 🍽️ URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/national-dish/ Last updated: 2023-07-31T22:11:01.000Z # Welcome to Secret Breakfast / An exclusive newsletter, the best place to start your day with tacos in a secondary city, overthinking, overloving and overcaring ![Secret drink from a secret place.](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/5432a8eb-3b37-4535-9f80-4ad145d5c5d9/laure-noverraz-p6u1ga3aqq8-unsplash.jpg) Secret drink from a secret place. Hi there! Have you ever had dinner at a **“secret chain”**? As per Food&Wine it is “[a new type of upscale restaurant grouping](https://www.foodandwine.com/your-favorite-restaurant-might-be-part-of-a-secret-chain-7563873?ref=secretbreakfast.com), which rather than gravitating towards the trifecta of chain locales — Los Angeles, Miami, and New York (and I suppose Vegas counts, too) — focuses instead on smaller, secondary cities, sometimes called “discovery markets,” as its growth driver”. Ok, they opened in Austin, Texas - not in Soverato, Province of Catanzaro - but the experiment is quite interesting and it is a refreshing play on the classic franchise or pop-up move. Piero Bonus: [11 Controversial Secret Restaurants Chains Don't Want You to Know](https://www.eatthis.com/controversial-secrets-restaurant-chains/?ref=secretbreakfast.com). Photo by [Laure Noverraz](https://unsplash.com/photos/p6U1ga3Aqq8?utm%5Fcontent=creditCopyText&ref=secretbreakfast.com) --- ### **␥** ### THE QUOTE ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/4d56f64a-909d-44ec-aade-a6e2389e382e/113__1.png) ✦ **Claire Keegan**, [*Small Things Like These*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Small%5FThings%5FLike%5FThese?ref=secretbreakfast.com). It’s a good tip for paella, as well: don’t overthink, or the rice will be overcooked. What do you say? “I overthink because I overlove and I overcare”. Ok, you’re probably right, and the above quote is just right for you. --- #### **⎚** #### THE MISSING INGREDIENT ## **SEVEN DAYS IN MENORCA** ![When on Maó… Pick carefully your pintxo.](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/56fbc06b-d4b9-44b3-8211-3b9de60c2fce/img20230729112326.jpg) When on Maó… Pick carefully your pintxo. Queso Mahon. Torralbenc [*Albenc*](https://bodegastorralbenc.com/en/our-wines/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) wine. Sucreria Vallès’ - or St°Christo’s -Ensaymada (★[recipe](https://bake-street.com/en/how-to-make-homemade-ensaimada/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)). Xoriguer Mahon Gin. Sobrasada. *Pintxos* and *croquetas* (★[recipe](https://www.recetasderechupete.com/croquetas-caseras-de-jamon/12891/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) displays at the Mercat de Peix de Mahon. *Barreres* and *parets seques*. Spanish people voting, [Spain split in two](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jul/30/spain-election-stalemate-drags-on-as-pedro-sanchezs-socialist-party-loses-crucial-seat?ref=secretbreakfast.com). Bodegas Binifadet Merluzo Wine (for the [illustration](https://shop.binifadet.com/product/merluzo-blanco-2/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)!). [Es Cranc](http://www.escranc.com/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)’s *Caldereta de Langosta* (★[recipe](https://www.thefooddictator.com/hirshon-minorcan-lobster-stew-caldereta-de-langosta/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) in Fornells. Pretty Ballerinas and absolutely no pretty [avarcas](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avarca?ref=secretbreakfast.com). [Jaleo](http://www.fifofuspain.com/the-jaleo-festivals-of-menorca/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) Horse Parties. Pomada(★[recipe](https://punchdrink.com/recipes/pomada/?ref=secretbreakfast.com))! Happy Nudists on the Public Beaches. Jamón everywhere. Menorca, it’s been a really good week. ###### Photo by me --- #### **⎅** #### THE BOOK ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/b52346a6-0f5a-497e-bfb5-4b18603fce84/9780735223165.jpg) #### Is the Country that Makes the Food? Or is It the Opposite? ★★★ In many places, Flat-Earth-Populism is currently covered with a Nationalist film. We’re full of proud product labels calling for a genuine “Made in \[country of choice\]” and yet we’re on the brink of cultural appropriation as we hear the first crack of an egg for our breakfast. Who owns what? What makes a dish a true national treasure? Who was the first one to cook that? I do not know you, but I’d love these questions to be answered by the lady who wrote *Mastering the Art of Soviet Cooking*. [National Dish](https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/551068/national-dish-by-anya-von-bremzen/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) by Anya von Bremzen (more in the *Food for Later* section) **→** Shortplot: 🍕 🍣 🍷 🌮 --- **❍ OnlyPans** This is where Secret Breakfast picks juicy content from food creators [](https://twitter.com/WyattDuncan/status/1612574119857631232?ref=secretbreakfast.com) --- # **Ⓡ** ### RANDOM ACTS OF HUNGER *This is the space where I share some food (un)related stuff of my week* 🐟A Restaurant Level Aged Salmon, at Home (★[recipe](https://www.tpirates.com/%ec%bd%98%ed%85%90%ec%b8%a0/4104/You-can-recreate-the-flavor-you-had-at-the-restaurant-at-home?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🇲🇾 A Pro-Chef Designed a Kitchen Perfect For [Malaysian Home-Cooking](https://youtube.com/watch?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🥬Oxford Scientists Confirm [Vegan Diet Is Massively Better For Planet](https://www.sciencealert.com/oxford-scientists-confirm-vegan-diet-is-massively-better-for-planet?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🐶Human-Grade [Pet Food Is on the Rise](https://blog.hubspot.com/the-hustle/human-grade-pet-food-is-on-the-rise?ref=secretbreakfast.com) ✋🏻We Already Had Ben Affleck at Dunkin’, Now Why Is [Lana Del Rey Working at Waffle House](https://www.thecut.com/2023/07/lana-del-rey-waffle-house-florence-alabama.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com)?👠A Brief History of the [Barbie Cake](https://www.eater.com/23801665/barbie-cake-history-popularity-trend-wilton-pan?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🏄🏼‍♂️**Men *(and Ken)* are lost**. Here’s a map out of the wilderness. 🍕[Pizza Chef Answers Pizza Questions ](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=wD4HylLWA7s&ref=secretbreakfast.com)From Twitter - ehm - X 🗄️[Empty Offices Could Be Turned Into Vertical Farms](https://modernfarmer.com/2023/07/turning-empty-offices-into-vertical-farms?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🔥Who still needs fire? [Cooking is Going Electric](https://tastecooking.com/cooking-goes-electric-for-good/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🌶️[A Massage Parlor Worker’s Night](https://hazlitt.net/feature/we-are-all-animals-night?ref=secretbreakfast.com) --- **⌇⌇⌇** ## **FOOD FOR LATER** [The world’s last internet cafes](https://restofworld.org/2023/internet-cafes/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **VV.AA. / Rest of World** From Kathmandu to Lagos, the places where the Internet connection - not the coffee - was the star. --- [The Problem with National Dishes](https://www.ft.com/content/6ac009d5-dbfd-4a86-839e-28bb44b2b64c?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Marianna Giusti / Saveur** Anya von Bremzen’s book, [*National Dish*](https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/551068/national-dish-by-anya-von-bremzen/?ref=secretbreakfast.com), is not to be missed. “She sets out to investigate the truth behind the eternal cliché—we are what we eat—traveling to six storied food capitals\*, going high and low, from world-famous chefs to scholars to strangers in bars, in search of how cuisine became connected to place and identity”. *\*Paris, Naples, Tokyo, Seville, Istanbul, Oaxaca.* --- **➤ Last issue’s most clicked link was the one about** [**Kristen Kish’s 5-Minute Soup She Can't Stop Making**](https://www.eatingwell.com/article/8009541/kristen-kish-interview-kimchi/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)**. And that's all for today.** --- **• SEASON 3 - ISSUE 144 •** Secret Breakfast is a newsletter by [Piero Macchioni](https://macchioni.cc/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) Think of it as *The Morning Brew* for food people, or just the most unconventional email you'll get today. In two years we have shared more than 2,000 recipes, hundreds of books, and countless hours of news, gluttony, and joy. [Download our free ebook about food in 2023](https://secretbreakfast.gumroad.com/l/2023-book?ref=secretbreakfast.com). ★★★★★ Recommended by *Food&Wine US*: [Best Food Newsletters to Subscribe To](https://www.foodandwine.com/lifestyle/best-food-newsletters?ref=secretbreakfast.com) *Gastronomika*: [The Newsletters Not To Be Missed on Food](https://www.linkiesta.it/2022/03/migliori-newsletter-food-cibo-vino?ref=secretbreakfast.com) ### Exotic Salads, Ooompa Loompas and Melting Chocolate 🥭 URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/exotic-salads/ Last updated: 2023-07-17T18:54:32.000Z # Welcome to Secret Breakfast / An exclusive newsletter, the best place to start your day wondering why chocolate melts in July and whether 'tis nobler to cook spaghetti to live, or to live to cook spaghetti ![Hugh Grant is an Oompa Loompa now. You’re welcome.](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/4e73e382-8bf5-4d5e-aa60-1efc62846489/screenshot_2023-07-17_alle_20-53-24.png) Hugh Grant is an Oompa Loompa now. You’re welcome. Hi there! The worst time ever to talk about chocolate is probably now. Hot summer melts any cocoa craving. Nevertheless, we have the [new Willy Wonka movie trailer](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=otNh9bTjXWg&ref=secretbreakfast.com) out there, featuring: - that handsome House Atreides member (and AS Roma fan) known as Timothée Chalamet; - the incredible Hugh Grant as *green-haired*\-boiled-shrimps-complexion-*and-talented-piccolo-maestro* Oompa Loompa. Chocolate in Summer, I was saying. It can be done. I find this 66% chocolate drink (★[recipe](https://thechocolatebar.nz/blogs/articles/iced-chocolate-milk-recipe?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) particularly refreshing. Add some chili powder (or, better, chili jam) in the mix for a spicy kick. Then, don’t forget brownies or any sticky chocolate cake: they can have a marvelous second life if you let them cool and keep into the fridge. And now, are you ready for a refreshing Secret Breakfast issue? Piero PS: be warned… Next week I may skip the issue, or just surprise you with some - hopefully - unconventional content. *Oompa loompa doompety doo…* --- ### **␥** ### THE BEST QUOTE ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/28d15700-2e00-454a-a16b-c82d423847f5/113.png) ✦ **Robin Williams**,[](https://www.edwardslingerland.com/drunk?ref=secretbreakfast.com)this one never gets old. Thank you [MyMind social media manager](https://twitter.com/mymind/status/1680749538825453568?ref=secretbreakfast.com). --- #### **⎚** #### THE MISSING INGREDIENT ## **GOODNIGHT KISH** ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/20738671-81a2-482f-85cf-3de7411747b6/screenshot_2023-07-18_alle_00-07-38.png) *Top Chef* winner - and *Restaurants at the End of the World*’s host - Kristen Kish is replacing host Padma Lakshmi in Season 21 of the show. What can we say? We can just steal some ideas from her! Food&Wine’s Favorites from Kristen Kish (★[recipes](https://www.foodandwine.com/kristen-kish-recipes-7559687?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) Top Chef's Kristen Kish Shares the 5-Minute Soup She Can't Stop Making (★[recipe](https://www.eatingwell.com/article/8009541/kristen-kish-interview-kimchi/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) Top Chef Kristen Kish's Friendsgiving Manicotti (★[recipe](https://www.lacucinaitaliana.com/trends/news/top-chef-kristen-kishs-friendsgiving-manicotti-recipe?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) ###### Picture: Kristen Kish Facebook Profile --- #### **⎅** #### THE BOOK ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/16da10fc-3710-4118-acbe-70d7a1b0e95e/screenshot_2023-07-17_alle_23-52-29.png) #### The season of Arepas ★★1/2 The average frying time allowed yearly to me in my home’s kitchen doesn’t make it possible to make good arepas. Those “crisp round pockets made from corn flour” by wise Venezuelan hands are just a street food fantasy to me. But could be a fun skill to get this summer to surprise your guests. There’s more: you can take the 50 recipes in this book and basically get about 40 new fillings for your sandwiches, pitas or panini. Wanna try without the book? Start with the basic ★[recipes](https://www.baltimoremagazine.com/section/fooddrink/irena-stein-alma-cocina-latina-writes-worlds-first-arepa-cookbook/?ref=secretbreakfast.com). [Arepa](https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Arepa/Irena-Stein/9781788795173?ref=secretbreakfast.com) by Irena Stein **→** Shortplot: 🇻🇪 🌽 🍖 🍃 --- **❍ OnlyPans** This is where Secret Breakfast picks juicy content from (food?) creators [](https://twitter.com/PicturesFoIder/status/1680732381228199937?ref=secretbreakfast.com) Some of my favorite answers (some are really *NSFW* *filthy*): ➡️ *I've never tried it this way before.* ⏱️ *You done already?* 🍔 *That was nice, but I still prefer Five Guys.* 🤧 *I think we need more napkins.* Yes, probably you can come up with funnier answers! --- # **Ⓡ** ### RANDOM ACTS OF HUNGER *This is the space where I share some food (un)related stuff of my week* Wanna make a chicken sandwich from scratch? [This 7 years old video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=URvWSsAgtJE&embeds%5Freferring%5Feuri=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theverge.com%2F&source%5Fve%5Fpath=MjM4NTE&ref=secretbreakfast.com) says that it will cost you $1,500 and 6 months 🥭Watermelon with Mexican spices, Malaysian mangos, Sichuanese aubergines – six salads for a hot summer (★[recipes](https://www.theguardian.com/food/2023/jul/16/watermelon-mexican-spices-malaysian-mangos-sichuanese-aubergines-six-salads-georgina-hayden-fuchsia-dunlop?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🎙️Lewis Capaldi Grasps for a Lifeline While Eating Spicy Wings ([video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5%5F7VoVwkkME&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🍹World's Most Hated Drink: [The Long Island Iced Tea](https://swillhouse.com/swill-journal/world-s-most-hated-drink?ref=secretbreakfast.com) (featured in [Jen Lawrence latest movie too](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pzvQAg9FkX8&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 👨🏻‍🍳 David Thompson, the man, myth, chef, legend (★[recipes](https://swillhouse.com/swill-journal/david-thompson-recipes?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) ☕️Vintage Food52 iced coffee for your thermos (★[recipe](https://food52.com/drinks/coffee/20350-japanese-iced-coffee-better-than-cold-brew?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🍧The easiest ice-cream you can do WITHOUT an ice-cream machine is basically cold heavy cream and sugar in a jar (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/p/CusL%5F6Khyjg/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🔥The [perpetual stew](https://www.washingtonpost.com/food/2023/07/13/perpetual-stew-bushwick-tasting-parties/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) of NYC 🔌The I[nstant-Pot failed because it was a good product](https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2023/06/instant-pot-bankrupt-private-equity/674414/?ref=secretbreakfast.com), yet [Microwaves are now Britain’s hottest cookery gadget](https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/jul/11/food-microwaves-britain-cookery-gadget-cakes-eggs?ref=secretbreakfast.com) --- **⌇⌇⌇** ## **FOOD FOR LATER** [‘It’s not just the food we missed’: three writers remember beloved restaurants that closed down](https://www.theguardian.com/food/2023/jul/16/its-not-just-the-food-we-missed-three-writers-remember-beloved-restaurants-that-closed-down?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Rachel Cooke, Shahnaz Ahsan and Eva Wiseman** **/ The Guardian** Food is never just food. Food is people, emotion, and connection. --- [The Year of Spaghetti](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2021/09/06/magazine20051121the-year-of-spaghetti?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Haruki Murakami / The New Yorker** This is a classic short story about a long-shaped pasta. A major author wrote words like: “I cooked spaghetti to live, and lived to cook spaghetti”. --- **➤ Last week's most clicked link was the one about the** [**overcrowded, overpriced and badly managed Italy**](https://www.smh.com.au/traveller/reviews-and-advice/overcrowded-overpriced-and-badly-managed-why-i-m-done-with-italy-20230705-p5dlz9.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com)**. Grazie!** --- **• SEASON 3 - ISSUE 143 •** Secret Breakfast is a newsletter by [Piero Macchioni](https://macchioni.cc/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) Think of it as *The Morning Brew* for food people, or just the most unconventional email you'll get today. In two years we have shared more than 2,000 recipes, hundreds of books, and countless hours of news, gluttony, and joy. [Download our free ebook about food in 2023](https://secretbreakfast.gumroad.com/l/2023-book?ref=secretbreakfast.com). ★★★★★ Recommended by *Food&Wine US*: [Best Food Newsletters to Subscribe To](https://www.foodandwine.com/lifestyle/best-food-newsletters?ref=secretbreakfast.com) *Gastronomika*: [The Newsletters Not To Be Missed on Food](https://www.linkiesta.it/2022/03/migliori-newsletter-food-cibo-vino?ref=secretbreakfast.com) ### Public Places and Private Chefs 👨🏻‍🍳 URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/private-chefs/ Last updated: 2023-07-04T08:25:09.000Z # Welcome to Secret Breakfast / An exclusive newsletter, the best place to start your day with a private chef in the Hamptons and a Baked Potato with Vicodin. Yes, it’s the Age of Indulgence! ![Don’t bee poor, hire a Jefe.](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/b35e2554-9483-4f34-879a-6fae18e1168f/pexels-cottonbro-studio-6823593.jpg) Don’t bee poor, hire a Jefe. Hi there! What a time to be alive: the [Private Chefs of The Hamptons Taking Over TikTok](https://themessenger.com/entertainment/who-are-the-private-chefs-of-the-hamptons-taking-over-tiktok?ref=secretbreakfast.com). [In Miami, the Hamptons and Los Angeles, It’s Private Chef Season](https://www.wsj.com/articles/private-chef-tiktok-hamptons-8c6b279a?ref=secretbreakfast.com). Private chefs ARE a real luxury, like a driver and a personal concierge. Who’s your personal chef this summer? 😉 Piero PS: some of you is working as private chef right now? Please write me back if you do. Picture: [cottonbro studio](https://www.pexels.com/it-it/foto/cibo-uomo-cuoco-cucina-6823593/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) --- ### **␥** ### THE BEST QUOTE ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/f057e17a-6b58-4552-a75c-f4c3e3127b11/113__8.png) ✦ **Anna Lembke**, [*Dopamine Nation: Finding Balance in the Age of Indulgence*](https://www.annalembke.com/dopamine-nation?ref=secretbreakfast.com). (hat/tip Giulio “Horcynus” P.) --- #### **⎚** #### THE MISSING INGREDIENT ## **I WENT TO ISRAEL AND ALL I GOT WAS THIS INSANE ADDICTION TO BREAD** ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/fdb7928a-8ac2-49c4-ab89-db46ac00adad/img_9860.jpg) As you may know from a previous newsletter, in June I spent some time in Israel. There’s no way one week there would ever give you the complexity of the place, the people, the food, and the scents. Nevertheless, it’s a place that can change your perspective just after one minute. *\[Those are just some notes I took. If you have questions, I’ll be glad to ask. If you think I’m wrong on some topic, write me and I’ll learn something\].* **Jerusalem.** Yotam Ottolenghi and Sami Tamimi’s [Jerusalem](https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/225366/jerusalem-by-yotam-ottolenghi-and-sami-tamimi/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) is one of my favorite books. Jerusalem - the city - is completely something else. The Old City has its own timeframe: it was believed that it was the center of the world and in fact, that’s what it looks like. Arabs, Jews, Christians, and Armenians share the heart of this place, but there is also a bigger city out there, living with its own rules. My suggestion: visit them both, look at the people, and follow them into their own worlds. **Hummus** \- mashed chickpeas blended with tahini, lemon juice, and garlic - is everywhere, everyone has their own recipe. The only right way to get it is by ordering some for every single meal. In Tel Aviv they also performed a “hummus dramedy”, [*The son of the Great Moshiko*](https://www.cameri.co.il/eng/The%5FCameri%5FTheatre%5Fproductions/10960/The%5Fson%5Fof%5Fthe%5Fgreat%5FMoshiko?ref=secretbreakfast.com). **Sabich vs Felafel**: the problem in Israel is you also have to decide if you like pitas with fried eggplants more than with broad-beans-fried-meatballs. **Knafeh** (★[recipe](https://cleobuttera.com/middle-eastern/knafeh-naameh/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) was everywhere and it was exactly what I expected: the sweetest-heaviest-cheesiest dessert one could have. Baked semolina, sugar syrup, melting cheese. The best I had was in Jerusalem at Jafar Confectionery, which also bakes a terrific Mutabak with Cheese (or cream). **Charcoal.** Minced beef and parsley **kebabs** are something you should never miss. I had a traditional-Palestinian version at Al Baghdadi Tavern in Jerusalem, right under a majestic taxidermied hawk wearing necklaces. Then I had another shot at a very good Israeli joint, the [Grill Bar](https://grill-bar.rol.co.il/english/?ref=secretbreakfast.com), where you should go and order the Mix Platter. **Shakshuka**. When in Jaffa (Tel Aviv)I felt like a naive tourist and sat down at [Dr. Shakshuka](https://www.instagram.com/dr%5Fshakshuka/?hl=en&ref=secretbreakfast.com). The menu was satisfying, and the people kind, but I bet there are better shakshuka (★[recipe](https://www.israel21c.org/youre-going-to-love-our-superb-shakshuka-recipe/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) in town. **Rugelach**. These [sugary-wet-chocolate croissants](https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rugelach?ref=secretbreakfast.com) are an absolute treat. I had the best at the Marzipan Bakery and Pastry, in Jerusalem. But I had some everywhere I could. **Fine dining.** I went to Tel Aviv during the Shabbat, so I had 36 hours of some of the best bars and restaurants mostly closed. I scored a last-minute table at [Noth Abraxas](https://northabraxas.com/en/?ref=secretbreakfast.com), one of the many [Eyal Shani](https://debbestfood.com/2022/03/21/everything-you-need-to-know-about-chef-eyal-shani-restaurants/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) restaurants (you can try his signature roasted cauliflower, ★[recipe](https://www.luxsphere.co/eyal-shani-roasted-cauliflower-recipe/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)). I ordered an [Ahat Roussanne Viognier 2021](https://www.delivino.co.il/%D7%99%D7%99%D7%9F/%D7%A1%D7%95%D7%92-%D7%94%D7%99%D7%99%D7%9F/%D7%99%D7%99%D7%9F-%D7%9C%D7%91%D7%9F/ahat-roussanne-viognier?ref=secretbreakfast.com) (Judean Hills) and I did not regret it, then waited for a 45-minute baked grouper’s head. Just the head, with baked yellow tomatoes, peach, fennel and wine. It was simple, it was awesome. **Bread.** Back to Jerusalem: the bread you buy from carts and bakeries is still good 4/5 days later. Haba Pita Bakery’s bread was incredible: my top 3 in the whole week. Za’atar bread was oily and savory. Carmel market bakeries were also excellent, in Tel Aviv (but my fav was elsewhere, Hamotzi Lechem). Bread was the truest experience in Israel, the most basic food was also the more honest and satisfying. If it’s true that God put his eyes on Jerusalem, bread - the most important of the basics - was the perfect fit for all that followed. ###### **Picture: Around Carmel Market, Tel Aviv, Israel.** --- #### **⎅** #### THE BOOK ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/fbf891f2-8f81-44be-aa84-f0d8acd26df2/ever-really-want-a-cookbook-even-though-the-recipes-look-v0-1e9hhu75908b1.jpg) #### Cinema’s Most Unsettling Meals, All for You ★★★ A24 is the American independent entertainment company responsible for quality (or absurd) movies like *Everything Everywhere All at Once*, or *Minari*, or *The Lobster*. This book includes some epic film-recipes like *The Breakfast Club*'s [Pixy Stix sandwich](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-mPUet9MKXo&ref=secretbreakfast.com), *The Apartment*'s [Tennis racket spaghetti](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn/shop/files/20230531%5Fa24%5Fscroungingcookbook%5F0936tightgray%5F1150x.jpg), *The Martian*'s Baked Potato with Vicodin, *Home Alone*'s 12-scoop ice cream sundae, *Parasite*’s [Mrs. Kim 8 minutes ram-don](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn/shop/files/20230531%5Fa24%5Fscroungingcookbook%5F0937tightgray%5F1150x.jpg), and *Kramer vs. Kramer*'s divorced dad French toast. Photographs by Wade and Leta, foreword by Matty Matheson, producer and culinary consultant of *The Bear*. This is not for learning to cook, this one is for enjoying the crazy nature of human beings. [Scrounging: a Cookbook](https://shop.a24films.com/products/scrounging-a-cookbook?ref=secretbreakfast.com) by A24 **→** Shortplot: 🎾 🍝 🍨 💊 --- **Ⓡ** ### RANDOM ACTS OF HUNGER *This is the space where I share some food (un)related stuff of my week* 🌺[Pickles with flowers](https://open.substack.com/pub/rootkitchens/p/flowerkraut-tea-sauerkrauts-and-floral?ref=secretbreakfast.com), but pick the right flowers 🍌This [Banana Peanut Butter](https://www.bonappetit.com/story/dog-peanut-butter?ref=secretbreakfast.com) Is for Dogs—but Also for Me 💀This "[Icy dead people](https://www.instagram.com/p/CuTe9OwM9nQ?ref=secretbreakfast.com)" popsicle with Pasilla Mixe chili is one of the reasons I miss Copenhagen 🍔[Why Does Coke At McDonald's Taste Different?](https://youtu.be/4VETXsKd0Z8?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🥒My kind of Summer Picnic Snack: Cucumber and Cilantro Chutney Sandwich (★[recipe](https://www.bonappetit.com/recipe/cucumber-and-cilantro-chutney-sandwich?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🇮🇹Wanna Enjoy Italy? Don’t do like this guy who found it [overcrowded, overpriced](https://www.smh.com.au/traveller/reviews-and-advice/overcrowded-overpriced-and-badly-managed-why-i-m-done-with-italy-20230705-p5dlz9.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com) and badly managed 🛒[What is behind extreme hoarding](https://www.theguardian.com/society/2023/jul/04/you-cant-live-your-life-what-is-behind-extreme-hoarding?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🥞Always satisfying: Japanese [Soufflé Pancakes](https://www.instagram.com/reel/CuaN1hbPfof?ref=secretbreakfast.com) (★[recipe](https://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/japanese-souffle-pancakes?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🇬🇧Saw [This Post](https://www.instagram.com/p/CuUoto%5FMNd%5F?ref=secretbreakfast.com) and had to Make My Own Curd Cheese for the Yorkshire Curd Tart (★[recipes](https://traditional-yorkshire-recipes.info/yorkshire-curd-tarts/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) --- **⌇⌇⌇** ## **FOOD FOR LATER** [In Search of Van Halen's Brown M&Ms](https://www.snackstack.net/p/in-search-of-van-halens-brown-m-and?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Doug Mack / Snack Stack** “Back in the ’80s, the rock band Van Halen had a long list of demands in their contract rider. Just endless picky stuff about the stage setup and the lighting and all kinds of technical details, along with various food mandates. The wildest thing, by far, was a line item that read, ‘a bowl of M&Ms, with all the brown ones removed’”. --- [How Plastics Are Poisoning Us](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2023/07/03/book-reviews-plastic-waste?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Elizabeth Colbert / The New Yorker** “They both release and attract toxic chemicals, and appear everywhere from human placentas to chasms beneath the sea. Will we ever be rid of them?”. --- **➤ Last week's most clicked link was the one about** [**Asian chefs that can cook anything in 30’’**](https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cryc8uOJ1Qw/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)**. And that's all for today.** --- **• SEASON 3 - ISSUE 142 •** Secret Breakfast is a newsletter by [Piero Macchioni](https://macchioni.cc/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) Think of it as *The Morning Brew* for food people, or just the most unconventional email you'll get today. In two years we have shared more than 2,000 recipes, hundreds of books, and countless hours of news, gluttony, and joy. [Download our free ebook about food in 2023](https://secretbreakfast.gumroad.com/l/2023-book?ref=secretbreakfast.com). ★★★★★ Recommended by *Food&Wine US*: [Best Food Newsletters to Subscribe To](https://www.foodandwine.com/lifestyle/best-food-newsletters?ref=secretbreakfast.com) *Gastronomika*: [The Newsletters Not To Be Missed on Food](https://www.linkiesta.it/2022/03/migliori-newsletter-food-cibo-vino?ref=secretbreakfast.com) ### The Search for the Perfect Bedtime Snack 🍫 URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/bedtime-snacks/ Last updated: 2023-06-27T05:15:57.000Z # **Welcome to Secret Breakfast /** An exclusive newsletter, crunchy like a bedtime snack and plunging at full speed like a beaver thrown down a rabbit hole ![Young Harrison Ford posing as Carmine Berzatto](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/bc809cdc-5f80-4921-b6a4-ed8363286eea/f0foc_zwyaiqb4i.jpg) [Young Harrison Ford](https://twitter.com/isaacfeldberg/status/1675706352256032768?ref=secretbreakfast.com) posing as Carmine Berzatto Hi there! Today’s issue is a little bit late, because of the - how can we call it? - hangover. We live in an unbelievable time: you can drink a marvelous Champagne made of 131 different wines from 20 vintages, basically an ice-cold-sparkling-grape-[*mole*](https://www.tastingtable.com/909144/how-aged-mole-makes-pujols-signature-dish-special/?ref=secretbreakfast.com), but then you have to cope with it. And getting older makes those things harder, as clearly stated by [the latest wobbly Indiana Jones movie](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/indiana-jones-movies-ranked-dial-of-destiny-1235528041/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)… Have a great week! **Piero** --- ### **␥** ### **THE BEST QUOTE** ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/42dd15aa-9f20-4e50-a973-90c6bb653dcd/113__7.png) **✦ Ursula K. Le Guin,** [***The Dispossessed: An Ambiguous Utopia***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The%5FDispossessed?ref=secretbreakfast.com)**.** --- #### **⎚** #### **THE MISSING INGREDIENT** ## **THE HOUR OF BEDTIME SNACKS** ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/c9ef52dc-3a6c-4e77-9169-93b23cdd335a/schermata_2023-07-04_alle_10-31-11.png) It’s time for [bedtime snacks](https://thehustle.co/the-business-of-bedtime-snacks?ref=secretbreakfast.com), probably the food that’s the guilty responsible for your my belly. In this case, we’re not talking about tacos, ice cream, Nutella, and Big Macs at 1 AM, but businesses are truly looking to lure bedtime snackers with better-for-you, sleep-promoting treats. You can look around the Internet and find some ideas you can make at home: - [11 Calming Bedtime Snacks to Help You Fall Asleep](https://www.brit.co/bedtime-snacks/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) - [15 Quick and Healthy Bedtime Snacks for Kids](https://www.activekids.com/snacks/articles/15-quick-and-healthy-bedtime-snacks-for-kids?ref=secretbreakfast.com) - [Midnight Snacks Aren't Your Sleep's Enemy. Here's How To Do It Right](https://www.cnet.com/health/sleep/healthy-bedtime-snacks-to-eat-before-sleep/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) - [What Are the Best Bedtime Snacks for People With Diabetes](https://www.allrecipes.com/article/bedtime-snacks-for-diabetics/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) --- #### **⎅** #### **THE BOOK** ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/752c0af4-fb05-4dd7-83c6-8ca12bf45f39/schermata_2023-07-04_alle_10-12-49.png) #### **The Worst Room in the House** **★★1/2** “The kitchen is the worst room in the house if you are disabled”, says [Disabled Kitchen and Garden](https://disabledkitchenandgarden.ca/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)’s Jules Sherred. I think we need a guide for disabled and neurodivergent home cooks (as we need one for non-100% self-sufficient older parents). This one goes from organizing tips to recipes like butter chicken, Thai squash soup, and lemon pound cake. [**Crip Up The Kitchen**](https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/crip-up-the-kitchen-jules-sherred/1142543996?ref=secretbreakfast.com) by Jules Sherred → Shortplot: 🍲 🍽 🍋 🍗 --- **❍ OnlyPans** **This is where Secret Breakfast picks juicy content from (food) creators** [](https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cryc8uOJ1Qw?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Hat/Tip** [*@postfrittum*](https://www.instagram.com/postfrittum/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) --- # **Ⓡ** ### RANDOM ACTS OF HUNGER *This is the space where I share some food (un)related stuff of my week* 🎆Happy 4th of July with this [cheese-topped apple pie](https://www.brand-innovators.com/news/kraft-singles-apple-pie-team-up-for-4th-of-july?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🍠Sweet potatoes salsa salad looks like the only salad I could eat right now (★[recipe](https://s2.washingtonpost.com/camp-rw/?trackId=60c79a1bade4e27d9e2f202c&s=64a2c6829912225d7ca5d392&linknum=4&linktot=71&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🐻Recipes from and Inspired by 'The Bear', nothing to add here (★[recipes](https://www.foodandwine.com/recipes-from-and-inspired-by-the-bear-7554906?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🎥BTW, [Why Does the Food on ‘The Bear’ Look So Damn Good?](https://www.eater.com/23775822/the-bear-hulu-fx-culinary-producer-courtney-storer-interview?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🐖Alison Roman’s ribs (★[recipe](https://anewsletter.alisoneroman.com/p/if-ribs-had-a-season?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🐗[The Buffet Is Back](https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/26/dining/buffet-restaurants-us.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com) in the U.S. 🤳🏻[Why influencers love a free trip](https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/26/dining/buffet-restaurants-us.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com) — even a controversial one from Shein 🍷During the Pandemic we drank a lot, now there’s [too much wine](https://agriculture.ec.europa.eu/news/european-commission-adopts-market-measures-support-eu-wine-producers-2023-06-23%5Fen?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🥐Stephan Ango’s Pillowy Swedish cinnamon rolls using the tangzhong technique (★[recipe](https://stephanango.com/tangzhong-kanelbullar?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🍷When you have dinner with wine experts, they all point to a bottle of [San Leonardo 2018](https://www.callmewine.com/san-leonardo-2018-P46419.htm?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🎺Look, mama, [Sfoglia newsletter](https://sfoglia.substack.com/p/sfoglia-chiacchiera-con-piero-macchioni?ref=secretbreakfast.com) by Francesca Romana De Bernardino is writing about Secret Breakfast. Italian readers can take a deep dive, English readers just allow me to share this blurb I’m so thankful for: ❝ Reading Secret Breakfast it’s like a centrifuge, like plunging at full speed down the rabbit hole. It leaves you full of ideas, energy and something to think about. --- **⌇⌇⌇** ## **FOOD FOR LATER** [Welcome Aboard the Aquidaban, the Floating Jungle Supermarket](https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/28/world/americas/aquidaban-paraguay-river-boat.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Jack Nicas and María Magdalena Arréllaga / The New York Times** “The Aquidaban is loud and filthy. The food suspect. The crew grumpy. The mosquitoes ravenous. And by day four, the air is thick with the smells of perishing produce, livestock and ranch hands returning from months in the bush”. My kind of reportage, from Paraguay. --- [The secret movement bringing Europe’s wildlife back from the brink](https://www.codastory.com/waronscience/rewilding-beavers-conservation/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Isobel Cockerell / Coda** [Seed bombing](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seed%5Fball?ref=secretbreakfast.com) is for amateurs. “Beaver bombing” is the hardcore move to release ecosystem engineers into the environment and rewild the world. --- **➤ Last week's most clicked link was NO SURPRISE: it was the one about the** [**36 hours in Paris**](https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2023/06/22/travel/things-to-do-paris.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com)**. And that's all for today.** --- **• SEASON 3 - ISSUE 141 •** Secret Breakfast is a newsletter by [Piero Macchioni](https://macchioni.cc/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) Think of it as *The Morning Brew* for food people, or just the most unconventional email you'll get today. In two years we have shared more than 2,000 recipes, hundreds of books, and countless hours of news, gluttony, and joy. [Download our free ebook about food in 2023](https://secretbreakfast.gumroad.com/l/2023-book?ref=secretbreakfast.com). ★★★★★ Recommended by *Food&Wine US*: [Best Food Newsletters to Subscribe To](https://www.foodandwine.com/lifestyle/best-food-newsletters?ref=secretbreakfast.com) *Gastronomika*: [The Newsletters Not To Be Missed on Food](https://www.linkiesta.it/2022/03/migliori-newsletter-food-cibo-vino?ref=secretbreakfast.com) ### The BLT Rule for Extra Hard Things 🥪 URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/blt-rule/ Last updated: 2023-06-25T13:01:22.000Z # Welcome to Secret Breakfast / An exclusive newsletter, the best place to start your day with non-existent profit margins, a 7UP sheet cake, and future mercenaries mixing mustard in the kitchen of their family apartment ![BLT, bacon, lettuce, and tomato sandwich](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/5641fc13-2967-45b8-9f33-e72851fdc946/schermata_2023-06-27_alle_07-21-31.png) BLT, bacon, lettuce, and tomato sandwich Hi there! Sometimes life looks like a Tetris game when pieces are falling too fast for you. Or think about when you’re cooking and you have 4 stoves on, something in the oven and somebody ringing the doorbell. Sometimes things are simply too much and the only solution is to take a step back, slow down, and make things simpler. I call it the “BLT rule”, inspired by this apparently simple sandwich: bacon, tomato, lettuce, mayo, and bread (want a good start? Try this [recipe](https://www.seriouseats.com/ultimate-blt-sandwich-bacon-lettuce-tomato-recipe?ref=secretbreakfast.com)). Is it that simple? It’s not. You can get those 5 ingredients in no time, but I bet you can’t get 5/5 “A grade” in less than 2 or 3 hours. The lesson here is, to slow down and give more quality to what you do. It’s a kind of luxury we often forget. Piero Noah Verrier oil paints contemporary food. [Check him out](https://twitter.com/NoahVerrier?ref=secretbreakfast.com). --- ### **␥** ### THE BEST QUOTE ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/39b211cf-2926-49dc-a0ae-fe77075d6120/113__6.png) ✦ **Jony Ive,** [designer](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jony%5FIve?ref=secretbreakfast.com). --- #### **⎚** #### THE MISSING INGREDIENT ## **THE BEAR SEASON 2 WILL SHOW YOU WHY HOSPITALITY IT’S EXTRA HARD** ![The natural condition is one of insurmountable obstacles on the road to imminent disaster](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/59bd22f4-f621-4f8c-ab9d-e97837931f40/5a706a72-e590-4576-a3ca-42f298edc9db.jpg) The natural condition is one of insurmountable obstacles on the road to imminent disaster I’ll put it plain and simple: stop doing whatever you’re doing, open [Hulu](https://www.hulu.com/series/the-bear-05eb6a8e-90ed-4947-8c0b-e6536cbddd5f?ref=secretbreakfast.com), and watch [*The Bear*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The%5FBear%5F%28TV%5Fseries%29?ref=secretbreakfast.com) Season 2. It’s mandatory you get to the end of Episode 6. No, I mean it: close this newsletter, you can read it later. \*\*\* *The Bear* season 1 was this: “A young chef from the fine dining world returns to Chicago to run his family's sandwich shop”. Season 1 to me was a ★★★★☆ show. Season 2 is about his efforts to transform the sandwich shop into a fine-dining restaurant. And it’s also about people changing to be worthy of that. And it’s also a restaurant world analysis, a family drama, and a love letter to this crazy business. This business, like a lot of businesses, it sucks, right? But this one sucks extra hard 'cause the profit margins are non-existent. Season 2 is definitely a ★★★★★ show: it’s surprising, well-written, painful, and yummy. It’s Chicago and Copenhagen, prep kitchens and family meals. It’s insomnia and pain in the stomach, meat and fishes (plural), trustworthy business partners and caring love partners. It’s [Leading with the heart](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/226226.Leading%5Fwith%5Fthe%5FHeart?ref=secretbreakfast.com) and [Unreasonable Hospitality](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60018618-unreasonable-hospitality?ref=secretbreakfast.com) (literally). Order and chaos, flying forks and inexpensive tableware. It’s a part of us, for sure. ###### The Bear, Season 2: Jeremy Allen White and Ayo Edebiri. --- #### **⎅** #### THE BOOK ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/d6578c19-2982-4b26-a24d-01e92f36f0d4/schermata_2023-06-26_alle_14-41-57.png) #### Spice up your dinner ★★★ Lior Lev Sercarz is a “spice master”. He is the chef and owner at La Boîte, a destination spice atelier in New York City. You can have an idea of him reading the 5 tips for [making the most of your spices](https://www.177milkstreet.com/2020/01/lior-lev-sercarz-spice-tips?ref=secretbreakfast.com), his treats for Food52 (★[recipes](https://food52.com/users/76438-lior-lev-sercarz/recipes?ref=secretbreakfast.com)), or his homemade pickles (★[recipe](https://www.myrelatedlife.com/experiences/virtual-experiences/staying-in-homemade-pickling-recipes-for-a-crunchy-satisfying-snack/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)). The book *A Middle Eastern Pantry* is an excellent start to introducing new flavors to your cooking: it’s a journey through Turkey, Tunisia, Yemen, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Armenia, and Jordan. [A Middle Eastern Pantry: Essential Ingredients for Classic and Contemporary Recipes](https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/690783/a-middle-eastern-pantry-by-lior-lev-sercarz/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) by Lior Lev Sercarz **→** Shortplot: 🐑 🍆 🍅 🌿 --- **❍ OnlyPans** This is where Secret Breakfast picks juicy content from food creators ![Yevgeny Prigozhin (left) serves food to Russian leader Vladimir Putin during a 2011 dinner at Prigozhin's restaurant outside Moscow. Misha Japaridze/AP](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/88dec97e-321d-4c4b-b02e-0b0c5ebb463b/schermata_2023-06-25_alle_16-18-19.png) Yevgeny Prigozhin (left) serves food to Russian leader Vladimir Putin during a 2011 dinner at Prigozhin's restaurant outside Moscow. Misha Japaridze/AP A few days ago, Yevgeny Prigozhin’s army almost took Moscow. And his ascent started with food. --- # **Ⓡ** ### RANDOM ACTS OF HUNGER *This is the space where I share some food (un)related stuff of my week* 🏀NBA Draft pick #2, Brandon Miller, [must be one of us](https://twitter.com/jrnba/status/1672038723872014338?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🍰 7UP Sheet Cake with Strawberry Buttercream Frosting (★[recipe](https://www.fromvalerieskitchen.com/7up-sheet-cake-strawberry-buttercream-frosting/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🥇Start saving for your next meal abroad: [The Worlds 50 Best Restaurants](https://www.theworlds50best.com/list/1-50?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🐓Cell-cultivated chicken was just approved for sale in the US. [But it won’t be on grocery shelves anytime soon](https://www.vox.com/future-perfect/23768224/eat-just-good-meat-upside-cell-cultivated-chicken-lab-grown?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🇰🇷The $40m bet that made [South Korea a food and cultural power](https://blog.hubspot.com/the-hustle/the-40m-bet-that-made-south-korea-a-food-and-cultural-power?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🇩🇰🇯🇵Pumpkin katsuobushi and other [Noma’s Notes](https://nomaprojects.com/pages/flavor-notes-2?ref=secretbreakfast.com#travel%5Fletter%5Ffrom%5Fkyoto) about their Kyoto pop-up restaurant 🥚[An egg-cellent odyssey through Tokyo’s best 'omurice'](https://www.japantimes.co.jp/life/2023/05/14/food/top-5-omurice-tokyo-yoshoku/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🔥Made in fire: [Bengal’s Pora](https://enthucutlet.com/enthuoriginals/playing-with-fire/made-in-fire-bengals-pora/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🍤Ixta’s prawn burgers with pineapple and Scotch bonnet salsa (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/p/Ct1Jv3Vo5Tq?ref=secretbreakfast.com), almost) 🍪The heat in Texas is so severe that [a tray of cookies can be baked in a car](https://twitter.com/themessenger/status/1672667918260224002?ref=secretbreakfast.com): please, don’t forget your pets or kids in there 🧫David Zilber on [Ferment Radio](https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/fermentradio/episodes/36-The-act-of-transformation-can-ferments-change-the-food-system--with-David-Zilber-e266q8k?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🇫🇷[36 Hours in Paris](https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2023/06/22/travel/things-to-do-paris.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com) --- **⌇⌇⌇** ## **FOOD FOR LATER** [Yevgeny Prigozhin: the hotdog seller who rose to the top of Putin’s war machine](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jan/24/yevgeny-prigozhin-the-hotdog-seller-who-rose-to-the-top-of-putin-war-machine-wagner-group?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Shaun Walker and Pjotr Sauer / The Guardian** The story of the man that started out selling hotdogs, mixing mustard in the kitchen of his family apartment, made millions feeding the army and is now the unpredictable cog in the Russian war. --- [The Paradox at the Grocery Store](https://www.theatlantic.com/family/archive/2023/06/grocery-shopping-option-overload/674502/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Adam Fleming Petty / The Atlantic** Yes, too much choice is freedom, but it’s also bad for you. --- **➤ Last week's most clicked link was the one about** [**Yotam Ottolenghi’s breakfasts from around the world**](https://www.theguardian.com/food/2023/may/13/breakfasts-from-around-the-world-recipes-udon-strata-chilaquiles-yotam-ottolenghi?ref=secretbreakfast.com)**. And that's all for today.** --- **• SEASON 3 - ISSUE 140 •** Secret Breakfast is a newsletter by [Piero Macchioni](https://macchioni.cc/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) Think of it as *The Morning Brew* for food people, or just the most unconventional email you'll get today. In two years we have shared more than 2,000 recipes, hundreds of books, and countless hours of news, gluttony, and joy. [Download our free ebook about food in 2023](https://secretbreakfast.gumroad.com/l/2023-book?ref=secretbreakfast.com). ★★★★★ Recommended by *Food&Wine US*: [Best Food Newsletters to Subscribe To](https://www.foodandwine.com/lifestyle/best-food-newsletters?ref=secretbreakfast.com) *Gastronomika*: [The Newsletters Not To Be Missed on Food](https://www.linkiesta.it/2022/03/migliori-newsletter-food-cibo-vino?ref=secretbreakfast.com) ### Comfort food and competitive destruction 🔥 URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/comfort-food-competitive-destruction/ Last updated: 2023-06-20T04:25:11.000Z # Welcome to Secret Breakfast / An exclusive newsletter, the best place to start your day with fast food mermaids and comfort food with an edge of competitive destruction ![Even mermaids like fast food.](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/dd43d2b6-f523-47f7-9661-239a98937913/schermata_2023-06-20_alle_07-27-51.png) Even mermaids like fast food. Hi there! I’ve been back home from an incredible journey in Israel. I hope next week I can organize my thoughts and share what I saw and ate in a meaningful way. In the meantime, we go on with the usual extravaganza, like a mermaid eating fried chicken. Piero Picture: A woman in costume holds a cup of beer at a restaurant during the Mermaid parade in Coney Island. [Photograph: Amr Alfiky/Reuters](https://www.theguardian.com/news/gallery/2023/jun/18/mermaid-pitstop-and-paris-dive-the-weekends-best-photos?ref=secretbreakfast.com) --- ### **␥** ### THE BEST QUOTE ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/93ad3cda-1a05-425e-a239-cf25244b6077/113__2.png) ✦ **Alan D. Wolfelt,** probably he was talking about [grief](https://www.centerforloss.com/about-the-center-for-loss/about-dr-alan-wolfelt/?ref=secretbreakfast.com), but the quote works for many situations. --- #### **⎚** #### THE MISSING INGREDIENT ## **COOK LIKE A DAD** ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/2521a6fe-0313-4341-ab59-ac5f156d6bcb/pexels-anca-dorneanu-7932705.jpg) I missed Father’s day but [this New York Times’ feature](https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/13/dining/fathers-day-dad-food.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com) about man-food is something interesting. The food that dads cook sometimes seems to have a performative quality that mirrored so-called dude food, which the author Emily J. H. Contois memorably describes in her book “Diners, Dudes and Diets” as “**comfort food with an edge of competitive destruction**.” A dad, after all, is just a dude with more responsibilities. “Comfort food with an edge of competitive destruction”. I love it. “Dude food was a reaction to the cognitive dissonance men felt as they entered the realm of the home kitchen”. I love it even more. Photo by [Anca Dorneanu](https://www.pexels.com/photo/scattered-food-and-cutting-board-7932705/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) --- #### **⎅** #### THE BOOK ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/5c228e3b-ed8c-4bcd-8b71-f85177955f1c/final_2bcover.jpg) #### Dump, dump, dumpling ★★1/2 Do we really need a book to learn how to waste less? The honest answer is probably in our trash bin. But even if you don’t waste so much, do you really recycle food in a tasty way? That’s where I fail. Perfectly Good Food, by chef-sisters behind Boston’s acclaimed Mei Mei Dumplings, gives away 80 recipes and 150 ideas to use up what you have. [Perfectly Good Food: A Totally Achievable Zero Waste Approach to Home Cooking](https://foodwastefeast.com/perfectlygoodfood?ref=secretbreakfast.com) by Margaret Li and Irene Li **→** Shortplot: 🥬 🍠 🥕 🍄 --- # **Ⓡ** ### RANDOM ACTS OF HUNGER *This is the space where I share some food (un)related stuff of my week* 🍳Yotam Ottolenghi’s breakfasts from around the world (★[recipes](https://www.theguardian.com/food/2023/may/13/breakfasts-from-around-the-world-recipes-udon-strata-chilaquiles-yotam-ottolenghi?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 👾[McDonald's Just Dropped A Brand New Game Boy Game](https://retrododo.com/mcdonalds-grimaces-birthday?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🍞[How to Bake Sourdough Bread in Summer](https://www.theperfectloaf.com/how-to-bake-sourdough-bread-in-summer?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🍷[Everything You Need to Know About Wine Right Now](https://punchdrink.com/articles/best-wine-recommendations-right-now?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🥬Chantelle Nicholson, the chef-owner of green-starred Apricity in London shares a zero waste idea: Roasted Cauliflower, Caramelised Cauliflower Purée, Emmer Wheat and Zhoug (★[recipe](https://guide.michelin.com/gb/en/article/dining-in/chantelle-nicholson-s-green-star-recipe?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🧬Climate resilient crop and the [six innovations that can help feed the world](https://edition.cnn.com/2023/05/09/world/innovations-feed-the-world-scn-spc-intl/index.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🔥Blogger Frankie Gaw’s Scallion Buns (★[recipe](https://www.kingarthurbaking.com/recipes/scallion-buns-recipe?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🍿[Netflix Opens Pop-Up Restaurant](https://www.foodandwine.com/netflix-bites-pop-up-restaurant-los-angeles-7547912?ref=secretbreakfast.com) in Los Angeles 🛒A peek into [Japan's Convenience Stores](https://one-from-nippon.ghost.io/combini-part-1?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🍮 [Always order a dessert to go](https://link.eater.com/view/6152386d15888967f0c62d3aixwwq.yc/7081b15c?ref=secretbreakfast.com) (but I don’t agree with that) 🍽[Why We Love Old Restaurants](https://www.eater.com/23755692/old-restaurants-nostalgia-appreciation?ref=secretbreakfast.com) --- **⌇⌇⌇** ## **FOOD FOR LATER** [Fennel Fronds and Fine Lines: Food Tattoos Take Root](https://tastecooking.com/fennel-fronds-and-fine-lines-food-tattoos-take-root?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Aliza Abarbanel / Taste** “Now, all of a sudden, everyone wants cake tattoos”. And also Brussels Sprouts and fermented stuff. --- [The 19th-century entrepreneur who pioneered modern ice cream](https://media.hubspot.com/the-queen-of-modern-ice-cream?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Michael Waters / The Hustle** Agnes B. Marshall, a 19th-century culinary entrepreneur, mastered the art of subversive gelato: “She tried her hand at spinach, cucumber, pumpernickel, and fish curry ice creams; a frozen gruyere souffle; a Neapolitan mixed with tomatoes, peas, and artichokes. Food historian Sarah Lohman called her recipes ‘genius, to the point of madness’”. --- **➤ Last week's most clicked link was the one about the meaning of** [**Israeli breakfast**](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israeli%5Fbreakfast?ref=secretbreakfast.com)**. And that's all for today.** --- **• SEASON 3 - ISSUE 139 •** Secret Breakfast is a newsletter by [Piero Macchioni](https://macchioni.cc/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) Think of it as *The Morning Brew* for food people, or just the most unconventional email you'll get today. In two years we have shared more than 2,000 recipes, hundreds of books, and countless hours of news, gluttony, and joy. [Download our free ebook about food in 2023](https://secretbreakfast.gumroad.com/l/2023-book?ref=secretbreakfast.com). ★★★★★ Recommended by *Food&Wine US*: [Best Food Newsletters to Subscribe To](https://www.foodandwine.com/lifestyle/best-food-newsletters?ref=secretbreakfast.com) *Gastronomika*: [The Newsletters Not To Be Missed on Food](https://www.linkiesta.it/2022/03/migliori-newsletter-food-cibo-vino?ref=secretbreakfast.com) ### Postcard from Jerusalem 📬 URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/postcard-from-jerusalem/ Last updated: 2023-06-10T11:44:03.000Z # Welcome to Secret Breakfast / An exclusive newsletter, but this week mostly a za'atar spiced postcard from Jerusalem ![Bread at Jaffa Gate.](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/49965bd0-26e2-4d4e-9568-ff3b74a043d8/img_9515.jpg) Bread at Jaffa Gate. ![Nuts baby boss](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/86ee65e4-4d3c-49f7-9bd3-64a52ad9f3b3/img_9560.jpg) Nuts baby boss ![Fluorescent pickles #nofilter](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/e445c1e1-6b2a-4d4a-bbbd-3d351ca2ad75/img_9557.jpg) Fluorescent pickles #nofilter ![Early morning. Pitas hanging out at a restaurant](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/f9651fa0-a07c-4c20-87f6-b90e014137c7/img_9490.jpg) Early morning. Pitas hanging out at a restaurant Hi there! This week I had two choices: writing a pre-cooked newsletter, or improvising while traveling. I think I like surprises more, so this issue will be “different”… I’m currently in Israel and I believe one life is not enough to absorb all the different food cultures that make this place unique and alive. In ancient times it was believed that Jerusalem was the center of the world: the perfect place in the middle of Africa, Europe, and Asia. Somehow it is. It’s clearly something different, you can feel it. For now, for my first 24 hours here, I just can share a few pictures. Hope you don't mind! Piero PS: I’m afraid next week’s issue will be Middle-Eastern cooking based 😬 Jerusalem. Pictures by me --- ### **␥** ### THE BEST QUOTE ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/f4daf073-9d0f-4f38-8570-1f7684efdaac/113__1.png) --- #### **⎅** #### THE BOOK ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/8d31fc57-b20c-42a2-a46e-14e58ccf9881/schermata_2023-06-10_alle_23-04-07.png) #### A glance of Tel Aviv ★★★ This city is currently my next stop. This book is about what we relate to “Israeli flavor” plus it has a few recipes by local restaurateurs and connoisseurs, reflecting the diverse spirit of Tel Aviv's cuisine. [TEL AVIV BY NENI. Food.People. Stories](https://stayspiced.com/en/product/TEL-AVIV-BY-NENI-Food-People-Stories-by-Haya-Molcho-Cookbook?ref=secretbreakfast.com) by Haya Molcho **→** Shortplot: 🍆 🍅 ☀️ 🍞 --- # **Ⓡ** ### RANDOM ACTS OF HUNGER *This is the space where I share some food (un)related stuff of my week* 📍Phil Rosenthal’s [Tel Aviv’s favorite places](https://www.philrosenthalworld.com/cities/tel-aviv?ref=secretbreakfast.com) (Somebody Feed Phil, s01e03) 🥚Never heard before: [Israeli breakfast ](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israeli%5Fbreakfast?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🍳Other Israeli breakfasts (★[recipe](https://www.seriouseats.com/serious-entertaining-israeli-breakfast-recipes?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🍅Shakshuka (★[recipe](https://www.foodrepublic.com/recipes/israeli-breakfast-of-champions-shakshuka/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🥙Make your falafel (★[recipe](https://www.alphafoodie.com/easy-vegan-healthy-baked-falafel/?ref=secretbreakfast.com), and [recipe for the baked version](https://cookieandkate.com/crispy-falafel-recipe/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) we do not endorse) 📖[World Cup Wishes](https://www.abebooks.com/9780701184421/World-Cup-Wishes-Nevo-Eshkol-0701184426/plp?ref=secretbreakfast.com) by Eshkol Nevo is a good novel, but you’ll never want to visit Haifa after that 🍿Benedict Cumberbatch [voicing](https://youtu.be/tejeDb%5F5WWs?ref=secretbreakfast.com) this [documentary](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerusalem%5F%282013%5Ffilm%29?ref=secretbreakfast.com) about Jerusalem will make your toes curl (wait for the words “Jebusites” or “Yeru-shalem”) --- **⌇⌇⌇** ## **FOOD FOR LATER** [Za'atar: A Spice Mix With Biblical Roots And Brain Food Reputation](https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2013/06/11/190672515/zaatar-a-spice-mix-with-biblical-roots-and-brain-food-reputation?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Steve Inskeep, Maria Godoy / NPR** This dispatch - from my archive - is from Syria, but Za'atar spice mix is essential in the Middle-East. Here are a few ideas on how to blend it into your cooking (★[recipes](https://www.allrecipes.com/article/what-is-zaatar/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)). --- **➤ Last week's most clicked link was the one about the** [**10 rules for working under pressure by a graphic prop designer**](https://wepresent.wetransfer.com/stories/manifesto-annie-atkins?ref=secretbreakfast.com)**. And that's all for today.** --- **• SEASON 3 - ISSUE 138 •** Secret Breakfast is a newsletter by [Piero Macchioni](https://macchioni.cc/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) Think of it as *The Morning Brew* for food people, or just the most unconventional email you'll get today. In two years we have shared more than 2,000 recipes, hundreds of books, and countless hours of news, gluttony, and joy. [Download our free ebook about food in 2023](https://secretbreakfast.gumroad.com/l/2023-book?ref=secretbreakfast.com). ★★★★★ Recommended by *Food&Wine US*: [Best Food Newsletters to Subscribe To](https://www.foodandwine.com/lifestyle/best-food-newsletters?ref=secretbreakfast.com) *Gastronomika*: [The Newsletters Not To Be Missed on Food](https://www.linkiesta.it/2022/03/migliori-newsletter-food-cibo-vino?ref=secretbreakfast.com) ### The Ordinary Predictability of Extreme Restaurants 😲 URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/extreme-restaurants/ Last updated: 2023-06-05T23:01:59.000Z # Welcome to Secret Breakfast / An exclusive newsletter, suspended like a bridge, bad as an IHOP waitress, and remade all the time like bread ![The Bar at the End of My Nightmares.](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/7273523c-b0c0-404b-8779-12a14c479157/screenshot_2023-06-06_alle_02-03-13.jpg) The Bar at the End of My Nightmares. Hi there! They say [extreme restaurants](https://www.axios.com/2023/06/02/restaurants-destinations-dining-travel?ref=secretbreakfast.com), are coming to a city near you. Suspended, underwater, freezing, extremely hot. Whatever. When I think about Georgia (🇬🇪), I dream about the smell of the authentic Khachapuri (★[recipe](https://www.kingarthurbaking.com/recipes/khachapuri-georgian-cheese-bread-recipe?ref=secretbreakfast.com)), but I’m wrong because I should think about [a glass hanging bar on a suspended bridge](https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/new-glass-bridge-with-diamond-shaped-bar-opens-in-georgia/index.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com): that’s a photo-op for your feed! They might be right: who cares what they’re serving over there, if your stomach is shrinking thanks to the vertigo effect?! Piero PS: for new subscribers… I’m missing a couple of sections this week. Working on something special for the coming issues. PPS: …and I’m extremely asleep right now. [Dashbashi Canyon](https://travel.discovery.ge/2022/08/24/dashbashi-canyon-diamond-bridge/?ref=secretbreakfast.com), Diamond Bridge --- ### **␥** ### THE BEST QUOTE ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/bf723fb0-5f2b-420c-9ea4-8da4e8e68288/113__6.png) ✦ **Ursula K. Le Guin,** [*The Lathe of Heaven*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The%5FLathe%5Fof%5FHeaven?ref=secretbreakfast.com). --- #### **⎚** #### THE MISSING INGREDIENT ## **TEN RULES FOR WORKING UNDER PRESSURE** ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/6183938d-9a9d-423e-8b8b-927251ad947d/screenshot_2023-06-06_alle_01-56-10.jpg) Annie Atkins is a Welsh graphic prop designer who basically works on objects to fill the backgrounds of films and TV shows, including Wes Anderson’s “The Grand Budapest Hotel.” While downloading a file on WeTransfer I found her [10 rules for working under pressure](https://wepresent.wetransfer.com/stories/manifesto-annie-atkins?ref=secretbreakfast.com). This one deserves your click. ###### Picture: Annie Atkins for WePresent --- # **Ⓡ** ### RANDOM ACTS OF HUNGER *This is the space where I share some food (un)related stuff of my week* 🏅Here Are the [2023 James Beard Foundation Media Award Winners](https://www.eater.com/23747173/james-beard-foundation-awards-2023-media-winners-cookbooks-journalism?ref=secretbreakfast.com) (more about them, next week) 🥤How To Make *Succession*'s Meal Fit For A King (★[recipe](https://www.mashed.com/1300606/how-make-successions-meal-fit-for-a-king/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🏳️‍🌈[Gay Bars Aren’t Disappearing](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2023/05/29/stephen-satterfield-puts-black-cuisine-at-the-center-of-us-history?ref=secretbreakfast.com); They’re Changing 🧔🏿‍♂️[Stephen Satterfield](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2023/05/29/stephen-satterfield-puts-black-cuisine-at-the-center-of-us-history?ref=secretbreakfast.com) Puts Black Cuisine at the Center of U.S. History (it’s the cool guy you probably wanna date after watching [*High on the Hog*](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14540468/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) ✏️ [Celebs On Sandwiches](https://www.celebsonsandwiches.com/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) it’s literally a site with illustrations about Celebs On Sandwiches 🧦New Jersey Names '[Taylor Swift Ham, Egg, and Cheese](https://www.foodandwine.com/new-jersey-names-taylor-swift-ham-egg-and-cheese-state-sandwich-7504418?ref=secretbreakfast.com)' State Sandwich (★[recipe](https://www.jerseysbest.com/home/a-definitive-guide-to-making-the-perfect-pork-roll-or-taylor-ham-egg-and-cheese-sandwich/?ref=secretbreakfast.com), the real name is “Taylor Ham, Egg and Cheese”) 🍞Liz Miu: Wash your dough and you’ll get home-made proteins from 50c of flour + noodles (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cr2c1jsp4a4/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🍣Morimoto’s Sushi Masters, featuring J. Kenji López-Alt ([trailer](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KnAAktXoH%5F8&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🍬A peek inside Japan's largest Dagashi store 🥩 [How steak became manly and salads became feminine](https://theconversation.com/how-steak-became-manly-and-salads-became-feminine-124147?ref=secretbreakfast.com) (not a Robert Langdon’s lecture) 🐧Astrophysics and stale beer: [What life is like working at the South Pole](https://www.salon.com/2023/05/29/astrophysics-and-stale-beer-what-life-is-like-working-at-the-south-pole?ref=secretbreakfast.com) --- **⌇⌇⌇** ## **FOOD FOR LATER** [What Ozempic Reveals About Desire](https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/04/opinion/ozempic-weight-loss-addictions-desire.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Maia Szalavitz / The New York Times** Ozempic is one of a new class of diabetes and obesity drugs that may fight addictions and not just those related to food. Because “understanding how wanting, liking and attention are regulated by the brain could lead to better self-control for many”. --- [Bad Waitress](https://dirt.fyi/article/2023/06/bad-waitress?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Becca / Schuh Dirt** Fake resumes, wrong omelets, forgotten uniform pants, IHOP. I really enjoyed this one. Surreal and nice. --- **➤ Last week's most clicked link was about** [**the Dutch solution to busyness that captivated the world**](https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20230522-the-dutch-solution-to-busyness-that-captivated-the-world?ref=secretbreakfast.com)**. And that's all for today.** --- **• SEASON 3 - ISSUE 137 •** Secret Breakfast is a newsletter by [Piero Macchioni](https://macchioni.cc/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) Think of it as *The Morning Brew* for food people, or just the most unconventional email you'll get today. In two years we have shared more than 2,000 recipes, hundreds of books, and countless hours of news, gluttony, and joy. [Download our free ebook about food in 2023](https://secretbreakfast.gumroad.com/l/2023-book?ref=secretbreakfast.com). ★★★★★ Recommended by *Food&Wine US*: [Best Food Newsletters to Subscribe To](https://www.foodandwine.com/lifestyle/best-food-newsletters?ref=secretbreakfast.com) *Gastronomika*: [The Newsletters Not To Be Missed on Food](https://www.linkiesta.it/2022/03/migliori-newsletter-food-cibo-vino?ref=secretbreakfast.com) ### Slow-cooking Romance and Edible Martini 🫕 URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/slow-cooking-romance/ Last updated: 2023-05-29T20:52:05.000Z # Welcome to Secret Breakfast / An exclusive newsletter, the best place to start your day with 40 kilos of meat, a slow-cooking romance, and food that isn’t really food ![Funny creatures, can’t pick just one.](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/7093995c-870c-4a87-8371-9af26d37ba92/snapinsta-app_347382202_6302944133095629_3654652287941682386_n_1080.jpg) Funny creatures, can’t pick just one. Hi there! Are you busy? I’m as close to burnout as I’ve ever been. How do I know? For starters, I totally missed there was a food show with [Zooey Deschanel](https://www.instagram.com/p/CsZbTusyd3z/?ref=secretbreakfast.com). It’s called “[What Am I Eating?](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=%5Fh4%5Fua3Ed4w&ref=secretbreakfast.com)”. However, [she doesn’t cook](https://variety.com/2023/digital/events/zooey-deschanel-what-am-i-eating-max-1235622937/?ref=secretbreakfast.com). If she did, well, that would have been an Alison Roman knockoff (and we should have called it out loud!). Enjoy the week, enjoy the issue. Piero --- ### **␥** ### THE BEST QUOTE ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/e743d8b8-1104-454d-83b0-8378aab090a2/113__5.png) ✦ **Dani Lasa**, director of research and development for Mugaritz, in [*Stage: The Culinary Internship*](https://www.cbc.ca/documentarychannel/docs/stage-the-culinary-internship?ref=secretbreakfast.com). --- #### **⎚** #### THE MISSING INGREDIENT ## **SLOW COOKING ROMANCE** ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/3bc592d3-421f-4dbc-ad70-4c134d209861/screenshot_2023-05-29_alle_23-13-26.jpg) French-Vietnamese director Hùng Tran Anh has just been awarded the [Best Director award at the Cannes film festival](https://www.festival-cannes.com/en/p/hung-tran-anh/?ref=secretbreakfast.com). The movie’s name is [The Pot-au-Feu](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The%5FPot-au-Feu?ref=secretbreakfast.com) (*La Passion de Dodin Bouffant*) and it is said to have the best and longest opening cooking scene ever filmed: a 40-minute sequence depicting the meticulous preparation of a meal. Plot! 🎺 1885\. Peerless cook Eugenie has worked for the famous gourmet Dodin for the last 20 years. As time went by, the practice of gastronomy and mutual admiration turned into a romantic relationship. But Eugenie is fond of her freedom and has never wanted to marry Dodin. So, he decides to do something he has never done before: cook for her. Three-star chef [Pierre Gagnaire](https://pierregagnaire.com/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) served as a consultant on the film. But it was his former partner [Michel Nave](https://foodandsens.com/non-classe/le-chef-michel-nave-quitte-pierre-gagnaire-apres-42-ans-de-bons-et-loyaux-services-bonne-retraite-michel/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) who had to manipulate 40 kilos of meat just for the pot-au-feu scene (★[recipe](https://www.seriouseats.com/classic-pot-au-feu-french-boiled-beef-and-vegetables?ref=secretbreakfast.com), easy version) filmed with only one camera. Get your pop-corns, I’m gonna watch [this](https://variety.com/2023/film/global/the-pot-au-feu-tran-anh-hung-interview-1235626950/?ref=secretbreakfast.com). --- #### **⎅** #### THE BOOK ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/6d185a6f-2e9d-41bf-9acf-52338e892761/poridentidad.jpg) #### Green Light! ★★★ This one is not for anybody. Here are the good fellows at Basque Culinary Center, going wild and cataloging about 180 wild plants and herbs from the Iberian Peninsula. The book, which happens to be written in Spanish, has just won the Gourmand Award for the Best Food & Nature Book (in fact, hundreds of books seem to have won something there). It is an extremely well-crafted book with thoughtful insights for curious cooks and foragers. [Silvestre](https://www.booksforchefs.com/en/haute-cuisine-books/701-silvestre-basque-culinary-center.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com) by Basque Culinary Center **→** Shortplot: 🌳 🍄 🌿 🐝 --- # **Ⓡ** ### RANDOM ACTS OF HUNGER *This is the space where I share some food (un)related stuff of my week* 😎How [The Dutch Won Burnout](https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20230522-the-dutch-solution-to-busyness-that-captivated-the-world?ref=secretbreakfast.com) Doing Nothing 🍸The [Edible Martini](https://www.eater.com/23736612/eat-your-martini?ref=secretbreakfast.com) Is Here 🌶️9 Best Lucas Sin Recipes From Sticky Rice to Stir-Fried Greens (★[recipes](https://food52.com/blog/27920-best-lucas-sin-recipes?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 👔*Succession*’s [Cousing Greg Gregged a Bar](https://vinepair.com/booze-news/succession-investor-nyc-bar/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🧀Make a Better [American Cheese](https://www.eater.com/23734992/new-school-cheese-artisanal-american-cheese?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🥗The 15 Best Salad Recipes That Will Blow You Away (★[recipes](https://www.seriouseats.com/best-salad-recipes-7152214?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 👠[A Cultural History of Barbie](https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/cultural-history-barbie-180982115?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🥪The Rise of the [Luxury Picnic Industry](https://www.eater.com/23724591/luxury-picnic-industry-growth-instagram?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🍚How [Global Rice Farming Is Being Transformed by Climate Change](https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2023/05/20/climate/rice-farming-climate-change.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🍴Why You Can't Stop [Watching People Eat People on TV](https://www.bonappetit.com/story/the-last-of-us-yellowjackets-people-eating-people?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🗽Nicholas Braun's [New York City Restaurants](https://www.foodandwine.com/nicholas-braun-restaurants-rays-pebble-bar-jacs-sp-lunch-7500780?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 📷[Rankin On Rankin](https://observer.com/2023/05/rankin-on-rankin-the-photographer-talks-portraiture-career-longevity-and-becoming-a-celebrity-himself/?ref=secretbreakfast.com): The Photographer Talks Portraiture, Career Longevity and Becoming a Celebrity Himself 🛸[The best sci-fi and fantasy books of 2023](https://www.polygon.com/23691206/best-fantasy-books-sci-fi-2023?ref=secretbreakfast.com), so far 📨[5 tips versus junk mail ](https://open.substack.com/pub/ironicsans/p/i-get-no-mail-and-its-glorious?ref=secretbreakfast.com)🇭🇺 18 of the Best [Restaurants in Budapest](https://www.eater.com/maps/best-budapest-restaurants-18?ref=secretbreakfast.com) and [9 bakeries](https://www.offbeatbudapest.com/top10/best-bakeries-budapest/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🇪🇸The Romans governed the whole of Spain for more than six centuries. Their first colony was called Italica, about 10 km from Sevilla. By the way, don’t order a Paella in Sevilla, Order [This](https://spanishberry.com/2019/02/17/dont-order-paella-in-seville-try-this-instead/?ref=secretbreakfast.com). --- **⌇⌇⌇** ## **FOOD FOR LATER** [I Spent a Day Watching Your Steak Die](https://www.bonappetit.com/story/watching-your-steak-die?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Jordan Michelman / Bon Appétit** (partial paywall) Meat consumption can feel both wrong and right. This super-long longread brings you there, where most of us omnivores decided not to be. --- [Beware The Food That isn’t Food](https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2023/05/ultra-processed-food-chris-van-tulleken/674101/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Helen Lewis / The Atlantic** (partial paywall) Chris Van Tulleken is the podcaster who wrote [*Ultra-Processed People: The Science Behind the Food That Isn't Food*](https://wwnorton.com/books/9781324036722?ref=secretbreakfast.com). Here are his strong opinions about soft bread and candy that never decays. --- **➤ Last week's most clicked link was the one about** [**Mark Bittman’s dispatch from Rome**](https://www.bittmanproject.com/p/dispatch-from-rome?ref=secretbreakfast.com)**, Italy. And that's all for today.** --- **• SEASON 3 - ISSUE 136 •** Secret Breakfast is a newsletter by [Piero Macchioni](https://macchioni.cc/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) Think of it as *The Morning Brew* for food people, or just the most unconventional email you'll get today. In two years we have shared more than 2,000 recipes, hundreds of books, and countless hours of news, gluttony, and joy. [Download our free ebook about food in 2023](https://secretbreakfast.gumroad.com/l/2023-book?ref=secretbreakfast.com). ★★★★★ Recommended by *Food&Wine US*: [Best Food Newsletters to Subscribe To](https://www.foodandwine.com/lifestyle/best-food-newsletters?ref=secretbreakfast.com) *Gastronomika*: [The Newsletters Not To Be Missed on Food](https://www.linkiesta.it/2022/03/migliori-newsletter-food-cibo-vino?ref=secretbreakfast.com) ### When Your Head is Right into the Oven 🔥 URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/head-into-oven/ Last updated: 2023-05-21T19:00:21.000Z # Welcome to Secret Breakfast / An exclusive newsletter, the best place to start your day with the head into an oven, thinking about wine, freedom, and the Chinese viral barbecue ![White sugar, the deadliest weapon we know of.](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/60b2047a-35f3-422c-a2b6-e7adee3bee1f/screenshot_2023-05-21_alle_21-48-05.jpg) White sugar, the deadliest weapon we know of. Hi there! You probably have read that we had some [catastrophic floods in Italy](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/may/21/italy-flooding-floods-emilia-romagna-cleanup-homeless-landslides?ref=secretbreakfast.com). The regions of Emilia-Romagna and Marche were blasted and about 36,000 people had to leave their homes. I wasn’t smart enough to write you about that last week, and it’s quite difficult now to go on with light stuff while people are struggling with mud and loss. Empty supermarkets, no electricity, everything lost, the works. That’s the feeling. Just imagine that for a moment. Now, you can swipe up, I think you’ll find some Secret Breakfast to enjoy. Piero Photograph: Zhonghua Yang/Pink Lady Food Awards. Taken in Anchang, Shaoxing, Zhejiang province. The process of pulling sugar is a local specialty. --- ### **␥** ### THE BEST QUOTE ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/3b7ed414-e63a-4fb2-9a5a-b57ec588b357/113__4.png) ✦ **Bianca Bosker** *,* [*Cork Dork.*](http://www.biancabosker.com/cork-dork?ref=secretbreakfast.com)[*A Wine-Fueled Adventure Among the Obsessive Sommeliers, Big Bottle Hunters, and Rogue Scientists Who Taught Me to Live for Taste.*](http://www.biancabosker.com/cork-dork?ref=secretbreakfast.com)Great reading, by the way. --- #### **⎚** #### THE MISSING INGREDIENT ## **THE TRAVELER’S HUNGER** ![May you dive into this week, as Samarkand Bread-makers dive into their ovens.](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/4418ac8e-6f63-40dc-a869-1d9487923be0/img_9233.jpg) May you dive into this week, as Samarkand Bread-makers dive into their ovens. Writer Bruce Chatwin was obsessed with Patagonia thanks to a piece of “brontosaurus skin”. Well, I think I’m obsessed with Uzbekistan after watching a video of [Samarkand Bread-makers jumping into their ovens](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uM%5F-3-Zlmz8&ref=secretbreakfast.com). This sweet bread is said can be eaten for months after it’s cooked and it has characteristic decorations called [Chekich](https://www.atlasobscura.com/foods/chekich-bread-stamp?ref=secretbreakfast.com). There’s no way I can replicate that loaf at home. No recipe found on the Internet seems right. I think someday I’ll have to go. Nowadays, tourism is exactly like that: you watch something, and you wanna pack and get there. Take [Zibo](https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/21/world/asia/zibo-barbecue.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com), a 4.7 million people city in China that none has ever heard of: then a few students go viral while talking about the local barbecue and - BUM! - Zibo has to cope with 4 million tourists that people can’t accommodate. And you? Where is your hunger taking you? --- #### **⎅** #### THE BOOK ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/2081d97c-8928-4171-bcf2-e47acf3474aa/screenshot_2023-05-23_alle_00-18-56.jpg) #### Invite the Friends Over ★★★ “Making and eating dinner with your friends should be a blast—nothing tops getting people together, sharing good food, and laughing until you cry”. Natasha Feldman’s book has about 80 recipes to make gathering at home (your home) easier. Here you find her [12 No-Fuss Tips for hosting](https://www.tastingtable.com/1246353/natasha-feldman-gives-us-no-fuss-tips-for-a-dinner-party-table-spread-your-guests-will-love/?ref=secretbreakfast.com), a Mac’n’Cheese Cacio & Pepe (★[recipe](https://www.salon.com/2023/04/28/natasha-feldmans-cacio-e-pepe-mac-and-cheese-is-pure-pasta-comfort/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)), and a Babka-ish Monkey Bread (★[recipe](https://www.purewow.com/recipes/babka-ish-monkey-bread-recipe?ref=secretbreakfast.com)). Now, is she the girl for you? [The Dinner Party Project. A No-Stress Guide to Food with Friends](https://www.harpercollins.com/products/the-dinner-party-project-natasha-feldman?variant=40650664345634&ref=secretbreakfast.com) by Natasha Feldman **→** Shortplot: 🍝 🍗 🥗 🍓 --- **❍ OnlyPans** This is where Secret Breakfast picks juicy content from food creators. Don’t miss this one about *Kokumi* [](https://www.instagram.com/p/Csbb6RbPMVD/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) --- # **Ⓡ** ### RANDOM ACTS OF HUNGER *This is the space where I share some food (un)related stuff of my week* 🇮🇹Mark Bittman’s [Dispatch from Rome](https://www.bittmanproject.com/p/dispatch-from-rome?ref=secretbreakfast.com) is not to be missed 😎Your Remote Co-Worker is Probably [High, Drunk, and in Underwear](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-05-13/remote-work-comes-with-daytime-drug-and-drinking-habits?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🍰The Easiest Vanilla Birthday Cake (★[recipe](https://www.bonappetit.com/recipe/easiest-vanilla-cake-recipe?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🍫Pair it with Yotam Ottolenghi’s Best Chocolate Cake (★[recipe](https://food52.com/recipes/86695-worlds-best-chocolate-cake-recipe?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) ⏰ Why (sometimes) [it's okay to ignore food expiration dates](https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-solutions/2023/05/17/food-expiration-dates-best-by?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🍅Kraft Heinz unveils Remix [customizable sauce dispenser for restaurants](https://www.cnbc.com/2023/05/17/kraft-heinz-remix-customizable-sauce-dispenser.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🏝️How to [Fight Food Waste on Vacation](https://www.thrillist.com/travel/nation/fight-food-waste-on-vacation?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🔥Not That We Needed That, But *Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom* Lets You Make [A Flamethrowing D\*ck](https://kotaku.com/nintendo-switch-tears-kingdom-ultrahand-fuse-totk-botw-1850429837?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 💘Digital Creator Lizzy Capri is [Going on a Date in Every State](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=q84dUiqRel8&ref=secretbreakfast.com) ❄The [Three Best Containers for Freezing Different Foods](https://www.eater.com/23721353/best-containers-for-freezing-mason-jars-deli-containers-ziploc-bags?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🧡I listened to the *Curito Connect* podcast and - hey! - our friend Jamila Robinson told Jenn something moving about Secret Breakfast ([vanity YouTube link with the right timestamp](https://youtu.be/kuRPW7nbHRo?t=3135&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) - thank you! --- **⌇⌇⌇** ## **FOOD FOR LATER** [Cheesier, Saucier, and Drowning in Caviar How TikTok took over the menu](https://www.grubstreet.com/article/tiktok-took-over-the-menu.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Ezra Marcus** **/ Grub Street** Yo, what’s our viral dish? --- [Food Innovations That Came from War](https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/military-food-inventions?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Diana Hubbell / Gastro Obscura** Cheetos, air fryers, microwaves, and other modern mainstays were made for keeping armies well-fed. --- [The Search for My Kimchi](https://pudding.cool/2023/05/kimchi/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Alvin Chang / Pudding** Digital storytelling and fermented cabbage. A tale of a Korean-American looking for identity through a plate. --- **➤ Last week's most clicked link was the one about the** [**Five Best Books on The History of Food**](https://fivebooks.com/best-books/history-food-diane-purkiss/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)**. And that's all for today.** --- **• SEASON 3 - ISSUE 135 •** Secret Breakfast is a newsletter by [Piero Macchioni](https://macchioni.cc/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) Think of it as *The Morning Brew* for food people, or just the most unconventional email you'll get today. In two years we have shared more than 2,000 recipes, hundreds of books, and countless hours of news, gluttony, and joy. [Download our free ebook about food in 2023](https://secretbreakfast.gumroad.com/l/2023-book?ref=secretbreakfast.com). ★★★★★ Recommended by *Food&Wine US*: [Best Food Newsletters to Subscribe To](https://www.foodandwine.com/lifestyle/best-food-newsletters?ref=secretbreakfast.com) *Gastronomika*: [The Newsletters Not To Be Missed on Food](https://www.linkiesta.it/2022/03/migliori-newsletter-food-cibo-vino?ref=secretbreakfast.com) Right ### The 7 Friends Rule and the Single Girl Supper ⑦ URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/seven-friends-rule/ Last updated: 2023-05-15T22:51:45.000Z # Welcome to Secret Breakfast / An exclusive newsletter, the best place to start your day with 7 friends, 2 pizzas, and the Single Girl Supper ![Me at the end of this day. Or just a Mugaritz elaborate dish.](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/e7179a99-891b-4ff0-859d-2e2b81661b32/screenshot_2023-05-16_alle_01-21-21.jpg) Me at the end of this day. Or just a Mugaritz elaborate dish. It’s 1:02 AM here, or just about -6 hours to the newsletter launch. The only reflection I can do at this hour is this. Would you prefer: 1. **an average meal with great company** (friends, family, a potential partner,…)? 2. **a great meal with bored people at your table** (=zero connection)? If I could turn back time, today my answer would be 1. Food isn’t always what you find on your plate. Don’t You think? Piero PS: now it’s 1:07 AM. Picture: Edible ‘skin’ made with psyllium and cider (photo by Jose Luis Lopez De Zubiria) --- ### **␥** ### THE BEST QUOTE ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/65bc5bc9-fb8e-4d04-ba47-3459c882c5c9/113__3.png) ✦ Emily Henry, [*Happy Place*](https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/704944/happy-place-by-emily-henry/?ref=secretbreakfast.com). This quote is quite good for eggs, long-tanned legs, and relationships. --- #### **⎚** #### THE MISSING INGREDIENT ## **YOU ONLY NEED 7 FRIENDS, BUT THEY MUST BE GOOD** ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/d0d7f84d-d729-4fb4-af54-0e84d7761ead/pexels-diva-plavalaguna-6150382.jpg) Probably you’re familiar with Jeff Bezos’ **Two Pizza Rule: he wouldn’t set up or attend a meeting if two pizzas wouldn't feed the entire group.** At this point, a true Secret Breakfast reader should stand up and say: “Define two pizzas. Radius? Circumference? Distance from the pizza place to the office? How did the dough was raised, was it happy?”. That’s probably why Bezos became filthy rich: he never really brought pizzas, and he never had meetings with more than 6-8 people. Wait! I actually didn’t want to talk about pizza but about friendship. One of “TikTok’s new viral somethings” is now the good old “**7 Friends Theory**” and it’s almost the Two Pizza Rule. It states that as long as you have friends for 7 essential roles in your life, you’re good. The roles are: 1. **a childhood friend** 2. **a friend that makes you laugh** 3. **a friend you don’t need to check in on every day** 4. **one you can tell anything to** 5. **a friend that’s like a sister** 6. **one you can’t imagine not being friends with** 7. **and one who knows about all your relationships** (even if they don’t want to) Well, apparently, these are my friends: 1. Wild asparagus on toasted sourdough bread (my mother’s memory) 2. Champagne (real Champagne, better laughs) 3. Gnocco fritto in Modena for breakfast (every day, that would be my death for sure) 4. Pizza bianca in Rome (you can tell her anything, and she talks back) 5. Preserved lemons (they’re always there for you, you can never really ignore them) 6. Prosciutto di Parma (the reason I’m not vegetarian) 7. A jar of Nutella (she knows EVERYTHING) I bet you have pretty good friends too. ###### Photo by [Diva Plavalaguna](https://www.pexels.com/photo/multiracial-group-of-people-in-a-room-6150382/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) --- #### **⎅** #### THE BOOK It’s 2.22 AM, I’m skipping this section today. Why don’t we just read a classic? [Heat](https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/20949/heat-by-bill-buford/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) by Bill Buford, “AN AMATEUR'S ADVENTURES AS KITCHEN SLAVE, LINE COOK, PASTA-MAKER, AND APPRENTICE TO A DANTE-QUOTING BUTCHER IN TUSCANY”. You’ll find a portrait of the young Mario Batali before the [sex-assault scandals](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/aug/24/mario-batali-settles-sexual-assault-lawsuits?ref=secretbreakfast.com): he already was 100% himself. --- **❍ OnlyPans** This is where Secret Breakfast picks juicy content from food creators ![AI-generated famous people (like Robert Downey Jr.) doing normal jobs.](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/4417d06c-75ed-4c68-a138-5f6a1e32b2e3/screenshot_2023-05-16_alle_01-54-20.jpg) AI-generated famous people (like Robert Downey Jr.) doing normal jobs. --- # **Ⓡ** ### RANDOM ACTS OF HUNGER *This is the space where I share some food (un)related stuff of my week* 🌶️ In June we’ll have [the movie about the Cheetos man](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=it7sNRloq-A&ref=secretbreakfast.com)! 🍪Best hoax marketing idea of the week: [calling a glorified protein mix “The Viral Cookie Dough Recipe That Works Like Ozempic”](https://www.bonappetit.com/story/starbucks-new-bumblebee-cake-pop?ref=secretbreakfast.com) (the diabetes drug used to lose weight) 📚[The Best Books on The History of Food](https://fivebooks.com/best-books/history-food-diane-purkiss/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) recommended by Diane Purkiss ☕️[Mayo in your coffee](https://www.wellandgood.com/mayo-in-coffee/?ref=secretbreakfast.com): yes, no, or NOOOOO 🌮Looking for Brunch Ideas? Here’s 61, but be careful, they’re Southern (★[recipe](https://www.southernliving.com/food/breakfast/brunch/easy-brunch-recipes?ref=secretbreakfast.com)[s](https://www.southernliving.com/food/breakfast/brunch/easy-brunch-recipes?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🥩[Watch](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Behga6AnyyQ&ref=secretbreakfast.com) a 3D printed vegan steak 👶🏻*Adios* Khaleesi, [the Most Popular Baby-Names in the US](https://www.ssa.gov/oact/babynames?ref=secretbreakfast.com) are almost vanilla 🗻There's a [Mountain Air Sommelier](https://www.foodandwine.com/mountain-air-sommelier-switzerland-7497135?ref=secretbreakfast.com) in Switzerland 🍫Salted Vegan Caramel Bars by [Arisha](https://www.instagram.com/wakeupandkale/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cr8nZQft7y0/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 💰The fanciest subscription of the moment: [$3,800 per year to Crenn Collection](https://www.crenncollection.com/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) for one member to have privileged access to Dominique Crenn’s restaurants’ booking system and other rich people - me first, me first - stuff 🫶 *Last week’s issue was pretty uncommon. Thank you to the dozens of you that wrote me back. I didn’t expect your kind words, you made me feel better.* --- **⌇⌇⌇** ## **FOOD FOR LATER** [Memories of the future: how 25 years of Mugaritz made Andoni Luis Aduriz an icon](https://www.theworlds50best.com/stories/News/world-restaurants-icon-award-2023-andoni-luiz-aduriz.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Laura Price / 50 Best** If you’d love to eat gelatin-cider-made skin from a mannequin face, or suck some sheep’s milk from a breast-shaped mould, this is the chef for you. --- [All Hail The "Single Girl Supper"](https://www.bustle.com/wellness/what-should-you-order-on-a-date-the-single-girl-supper?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Hannah Orenstein / Bustle** The “Single Girl Supper” happens to be the thing you order when you go out on a date. Apparently, coffee is bland, dinner is too complicated, and drinks are for girlfriends (how sexist!). There you go: order charcuterie and cheese, and drink wine. If you’re lucky, you’re going to celebrate your anniversary in Paris. --- **➤ Last week’s most clicked link was the one about the** [**New York Times’ 20 Most Saved Recipes of All Time**](https://www.nytimes.com/article/most-saved-recipes.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com)**. And that’s all for today.** --- **• SEASON 3 - ISSUE 134 •** Secret Breakfast is a newsletter by [Piero Macchioni](https://macchioni.cc/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) Think of it as *The Morning Brew* for food people, or just the most unconventional email you'll get today. In two years we have shared more than 2,000 recipes, hundreds of books, and countless hours of news, gluttony, and joy. [Download our free ebook about food in 2023](https://secretbreakfast.gumroad.com/l/2023-book?ref=secretbreakfast.com). ★★★★★ Recommended by *Food&Wine US*: [Best Food Newsletters to Subscribe To](https://www.foodandwine.com/lifestyle/best-food-newsletters?ref=secretbreakfast.com) *Gastronomika*: [The Newsletters Not To Be Missed on Food](https://www.linkiesta.it/2022/03/migliori-newsletter-food-cibo-vino?ref=secretbreakfast.com) ### What To Eat When You Miss Your Dad 💔 URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/when-you-miss-your-dad/ Last updated: 2023-05-07T19:38:29.000Z # Welcome to Secret Breakfast / An exclusive newsletter, the best place to start your day with sad news, missing fathers, and the unforeseeable link between food and goodbyes ![Succession. Of Fathers and Sons.](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/48a66ed5-497f-4273-9348-c601104c14a5/succession-159199-1-modified.jpg) Succession. Of Fathers and Sons. Hi there! Many “regular” sections of this newsletter and some color will be missing today. I’m sorry about that. The reason is I’ve unexpectedly lost my father and I think that “something missing” is the most appropriate mood for this Tuesday, the day of his funeral. Piero --- ### **␥** ### THE BEST QUOTE ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/cb83de1e-c925-4d12-932e-3eef1d975caa/113__2.png) ✦ **Gordon Ramsay**,[ ](https://www.edwardslingerland.com/drunk?ref=secretbreakfast.com)this one is always a good reminder if you come from a family of restaurateurs. --- #### **⎚** #### THE MISSING INGREDIENT ## **BRIEF HISTORY OF MY DAD** **AND THE 100-YEAR-OLD FAMILY RESTAURANT** ![My grand-grandfather Pancrazio in Rome, in 1922, with a single shoulder strap.](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/2dd074bf-2464-47c7-beaf-8a6bc62461f4/1922.jpg) My grand-grandfather Pancrazio in Rome, in 1922, with a single shoulder strap. My father’s name was Paolo. He had a stroke a few days ago: one moment he was enjoying his stay in the Italian countryside, one moment later he was talking nonsense to his sister about a party of 12 to be served quickly. He talked shop even during his final hours. My grand-grandfather Pancrazio opened the family restaurant in Rome in 1922; his sons Pietro and Mario followed; then it was my father’s turn and he brought the firm to its 100 anniversary, through the Pandemic and the lockdown. Then he quit. Our family served the “commoners” of the popular Campo de Fiori market, but also presidents, future Popes, friends, and sports legends. We have a book with cycling champion Fausto Coppi’s autograph, a pen gifted by the American vice-president George H.W. Bush, and a sketch of a pyramid by the architect Ieoh Ming Pei (Louvre anyone?). We witnessed Italians laughing at Japanese travelers taking pictures to their plates in the Eighties, then we cooked for the 21st Century food bloggers and their cacio-e-pepe live streams. When you live in a restaurant like that you have no private life. The place itself is your life. I assume my father had a tough existence even when things went well and 'I’m sure he had thousands of sleepless nights when things were unimaginably hard. That scared me enough to try something different in life from the family business. That also made me feel how much strength a father must find to protect the ones he loves. I took from him the passion for cooking, hospitality, and the idea that some places are better than others because they can simply make your life more meaningful and leave us with good memories. Being in the food business is not just cooking, but taking part in people’s lives. One should do that with love, as my father taught me in his more challenging lesson. ###### Picture: Ristorante Da Pancrazio in 1922. --- **❍ OnlyPans** This is where Secret Breakfast picks juicy content from food creators ![Drops of God is a tv series (and a manga!) about wine and fathers.](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/57caa606-c622-4ba1-a92f-97ff4bbcfdd3/screenshot_2023-05-07_alle_22-50-39.jpg) Drops of God is a tv series (and a manga!) about wine and fathers. Last week I linked Apple TV+’s French-Japanese series [Drops of God](https://www.apple.com/tv-pr/originals/drops-of-god/?ref=secretbreakfast.com). Now I’ve watched the whole series under embargo and I really liked it. Was it because it begins with a father saying goodbye? No, I don’t think so. You should enjoy that and be prepared to spend a fortune on wines. --- # **Ⓡ** ### RANDOM ACTS OF HUNGER *This is the space where I share some food (un)related stuff of my week, but it’s been a very bad and intense week, then bear with me* ✋🏻[Food + Grief Project ](https://unpeeledjournal.com/category/food-grief-project/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)publishes recipes, stories, personal essays, interviews, and food memories about where we experience grief in food 🥐[11 Best Bakeries](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-04-27/from-bread-to-pastry-and-even-waffles-the-best-baked-goods-in-rome?ref=secretbreakfast.com) in Rome for Italian Pastries, Desserts, and High-End Bread 👑What to Make of King Charles’s “[Coronation Quiche](https://www.economist.com/culture/2023/05/03/what-to-make-of-king-charless-coronation-quiche?ref=secretbreakfast.com)” 👩🏻‍🍳The New York Times’ 20 Most Saved Recipes of All Time (★[recipes](https://www.nytimes.com/article/most-saved-recipes.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) ⚱️The Role of Food in Death and Grief ([part 1](https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/blog/understanding-grief/202103/the-role-food-in-death-and-grief?ref=secretbreakfast.com) and [part 2](https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/blog/understanding-grief/202104/the-role-food-in-grief-and-how-we-can-help?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) --- **⌇⌇⌇** ## **FOOD FOR LATER** [‘Everybody’s So Creative!’ and the Rise of the Recipe Reactions](https://www.wired.co.uk/article/tiktok-recipe-reactions?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Amelia Tait / Wired** “It’s no longer news that disgusting food videos on TikTok are intentional rage bait, designed to rile up viewers and gain comments, shares, and views for creators. Yet while no one eats the food in these ridiculous recipe videos, they do feed an entire online ecosystem”. --- **➤ Last week's most clicked link was the one about the** [**17 Best & Worst New Grocery Store Snacks, According to a Dietitian**](https://www.eatthis.com/best-worst-new-grocery-snacks/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)**. And that's all for today.** --- **• SEASON 3 - ISSUE 133 •** Secret Breakfast is a newsletter by [Piero Macchioni](https://macchioni.cc/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) Think of it as *The Morning Brew* for food people, or just the most unconventional email you'll get today. In two years we have shared more than 2,000 recipes, hundreds of books, and countless hours of news, gluttony, and joy. [Download our free ebook about food in 2023](https://secretbreakfast.gumroad.com/l/2023-book?ref=secretbreakfast.com). ★★★★★ Recommended by *Food&Wine US*: [Best Food Newsletters to Subscribe To](https://www.foodandwine.com/lifestyle/best-food-newsletters?ref=secretbreakfast.com) *Gastronomika*: [The Newsletters Not To Be Missed on Food](https://www.linkiesta.it/2022/03/migliori-newsletter-food-cibo-vino?ref=secretbreakfast.com) ### True Impatience is Wanting a Dessert for Dinner 🍰 URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/impatience-desert-dinner/ Last updated: 2023-05-01T14:43:50.000Z # Welcome to Secret Breakfast / An exclusive newsletter, the best place to start your day with changua, Meghan Markle’s cake-maker and desserts for impatient people ![Potatoes became masterpieces in Serbian artist Marina Abramović’s hands.](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/7835d1b2-0e86-4aff-8470-1eb1547ac1cb/943fa540-6b3d-4fda-ac2d-34cf6d05fcee_649_650.jpg) Potatoes became masterpieces in Serbian artist Marina Abramović’s hands. Hi there! Yesterday I was planning a special trip, and I was thinking about how packed my schedule was and how much I deserved some guidance - maybe from a local - to know better what to skim and what not to miss in a short timeframe. It’s people that make places interesting, but is it *only* the right people that can make a place special? Assumably. I mean, like that potato in Marina Abramović’s hands. Is that still an ordinary potato or something different because she picked it up? Things, places, and potatoes are just things, places, and potatoes. But it’s us that ultimately give them their meaning. Piero ■Marina Abramović, Portrait with Potatoes, 2008\. Courtesy Galerie Krinzinger. --- ### **␥** ### THE BEST QUOTE ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/d4824fec-afb3-4ac7-90c4-046914b59990/113__2.png) ✦ **Michael Pollan,** [Cooked, a DIY Manifesto](https://medium.com/@michaelpollan/cooked-a-diy-manifesto-f767d50796c1?ref=secretbreakfast.com). --- #### **⎚** #### THE MISSING INGREDIENT ## **TRUE IMPATIENCE IS WANTING DESSERT FOR DINNER** ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/d0dee953-ec4e-43d3-9229-47cfe4b872ae/screenshot_2023-05-01_alle_16-47-43.jpg) **«I’m an impatient woman, the kind of woman that likes dessert for dinner».** That’s the terrific line by the super-posh-diplo-villain Lesley Manville in Prime Video’s new series [*Citadel*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citadel%5F%28TV%5Fseries%29?ref=secretbreakfast.com). **«In an ideal world, I’d eat dessert after every meal»**, says Washington Post’s [Eat Voraciously](https://www.washingtonpost.com/newsletters/eat-voraciously/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) newsletter editor [G. Daniela Galarza](https://www.grubstreet.com/2023/04/g-daniela-galarza-grub-street-diet.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com) (tip: subscribe now, you’ll love it). All that reminded me of when, eons ago, a friend of mine most successful “move” with girls was offering an ice-cream cake for lunch, or dinner (he went with the store-bought one, but here you have some ★[recipes](https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/ice-cream-cake-recipes?ref=secretbreakfast.com)). In my book, a dessert can never replace a proper meal. Fast can replace a proper meal, not a croissant, not a cherry pie, not even a double chocolate banoffee butterscotch cheesecake (yes, the latter has the power to replace a full week of meals!). The point is: **what’s in the mind of dessert-attracted people?** Is it impatience, a sweet tooth, or what? *Ideas are welcome, I’m sure you have some. I’ll be happy if you reply to this email.* ###### ■Citadel / Prima Video --- #### **⎅** #### THE BOOK ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/98842161-d973-4362-9a1c-238e5d5e4db7/81vyzzzk8fl-1378x2048.jpg) #### Cakes for Falling in Love ★★★ It’s the week of King Charles' Coronation and, even if it may seem inappropriate, we’re talking about the latest book by the woman who created the wedding cake for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. London Violet Bakery’s Claire Ptak has 75 new sweet and savory creations for you, baking-addict, including Huckleberry Basil Sugar Scones, Peaches and Cream Angel Food Cake and Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies (★recipe). Bonus track: her [15 Best Baking Tips and Tricks](https://www.tastingtable.com/1268786/claire-ptak-best-baking-tips-tricks-hacks/?ref=secretbreakfast.com). [Love is a Pink Cake](https://wwnorton.com/books/9780393541113?ref=secretbreakfast.com) by Claire Ptak **→** Shortplot: 🍰 🪻 🎂 🇬🇧 --- **❍ OnlyPans** This is where Secret Breakfast picks juicy content from food creators *Embedded reels look a bit awful here, sorry for that. The idea of a 5000% hydration sourdough just made me laugh.* [Mark Hart on Instagram: "Here’s part two to my previous video where I show you how to shape and bake this 5000% hydration sourdough. Don’t try this at home unless you’re really brave. #highhydrationbread #highhydrationsourdough #sourdough #bread #wetdough #breadmaking"14K likes, 647 comments - Mark Hart (@marksbread) on Instagram: "Here’s part two to my previous video where I show you how to shape and bake this 5000% hydratio..."![](https://scontent-iad3-1.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.29350-15/328836073_709567047484881_7761955442270223376_n.jpg?stp=c216.0.648.648a_dst-jpg_s640x640&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=8ae9d6&_nc_ohc=sQSx-XOPf0kAX-QCXT4&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.cdninstagram.com&oh=00_AfBC5jXscXpx-98XMRpWZ3UwV_qj5F3TarkIiOwz-eJRAg&oe=64553C07)](https://www.instagram.com/reel/CoSxolppJ4Y?ref=secretbreakfast.com) --- # **Ⓡ** ### RANDOM ACTS OF HUNGER *This is the space where I share some food (un)related stuff of my week* ⚖You’ll Never Lose Weight if You’re Still Eating [These 11 Things](https://www.eatthis.com/best-worst-new-grocery-snacks/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🧂Add a Pinch of [Salt to Your Coffee](https://www.bonappetit.com/story/add-salt-to-coffee?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🥖Adieu Bread Basket, [Hello to the Bread Course](https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/28/dining/bread-basket-bread-course-restaurants.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🥜 Tom Aikens’ Flourless Courgette and Peanut Butter Brownies (★[recipe](https://tomaikens.co.uk/recipe/flourless-zucchini-and-peanut-butter-brownies/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🐄[India’s Beef with Beef](https://thebaffler.com/salvos/indias-beef-with-beef-deepak?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🍷[*Drops of God*](https://www.eater.com/23697588/drops-of-god-apple-tv-series-review-manga?ref=secretbreakfast.com) sounds like *Succession*, but with wine 🥢It’s Bao London Moment: founder [Erchen Chang](https://www.instagram.com/erchenchang/?hl=en&ref=secretbreakfast.com) is on the cover of Courier magazine ( and before there was *Semaine*, [video](https://youtu.be/fzYT2lx5IXo?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🍲*Changua*, the Columbian Bread and Egg Soup (★[recipe](https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/26/dining/kenji-lopez-alts-favorite-breakfast-changua-columbian-bread-egg-soup.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🧪Food Scientist Breaks Down Every Oreo Ingredient ([video](https://m.youtube.com/watch?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🥐Some “easier” hardcore baking: Natasha’s Cruffins, Hybrid Method (★[recipe](https://natashasbaking.com/cruffins-hybrid-method/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🤢Please, take the [food disgust test](https://www.idrlabs.com/food-disgust/test.php?ref=secretbreakfast.com) and read on --- **⌇⌇⌇** ## **FOOD FOR LATER** [Taco Bell’s Innovation Kitchen, the Front Line in the Stunt-Food Wars](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2023/04/24/taco-bells-innovation-kitchen-the-front-line-in-the-stunt-food-wars?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Antonia Hitchens / The New Yorker** Fast food is assembly, not cooking. Then, if you’re Taco Bell, you need a Thomas Edison of tortillas. Here’s the story of her. --- [Is It Actually Disgusting Food or Is It Just Your Brain?](https://www.foodandwine.com/food-disgust-sensitivity-test-disgusting-food-7483136?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Kat Kinsman / Food & Wine** According to a new para-scientific test, peole’s disgust concerning food can be broken into eight distinct scales. And, as Kat Kinsman writes, plenty of disgust is rooted in cultural exposure. --- **➤ Last week's most clicked link was this:** [**the free 15 min daily stretch routine to help you avoid aches and pains**](https://stretch15.com/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)**. And that's all for today.** --- **• SEASON 3 - ISSUE 132 •** Secret Breakfast is a newsletter by [Piero Macchioni](https://macchioni.cc/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) Think of it as *The Morning Brew* for food people, or just the most unconventional email you'll get today. In two years we have shared more than 2,000 recipes, hundreds of books, and countless hours of news, gluttony, and joy. [Download our free ebook about food in 2023](https://secretbreakfast.gumroad.com/l/2023-book?ref=secretbreakfast.com). ★★★★★ Recommended by *Food&Wine US*: [Best Food Newsletters to Subscribe To](https://www.foodandwine.com/lifestyle/best-food-newsletters?ref=secretbreakfast.com) *Gastronomika*: [The Newsletters Not To Be Missed on Food](https://www.linkiesta.it/2022/03/migliori-newsletter-food-cibo-vino?ref=secretbreakfast.com)1 ### Does Size Really Matter? 🔬 URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/when-size-matters-on-plate/ Last updated: 2023-04-20T09:24:42.000Z # Welcome to Secret Breakfast / An exclusive newsletter, the best place to start your day with Tupperware laundry, the World’s Best Female Chef, and some tiny micro food ![Ok, forget the NHS sign, focus on the giant biscuit.](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/2962e70f-9c6d-472f-bf26-b479a39a68d1/nik-13j6rcimjpk-unsplash.jpg) Ok, forget the NHS sign, focus on the giant biscuit. Hi there! It occurs that mini versions of iconic snacks such as Trix, Twinkies, Ding Dongs, and Doritos [are ready to invade the market](https://archive.fo/VTWhO?ref=secretbreakfast.com). Is this what happens after the [Shrinkflation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shrinkflation?ref=secretbreakfast.com)? Or is it just a consequence of the [miniature-cooking](https://www.youtube.com/c/miniaturecookingofficial?ref=secretbreakfast.com) trend on YouTube? I don’t know about you, but I was off this already 8 years ago when I saw [a guy wrapping tiny burritos](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JOCtdw9FG-s&ref=secretbreakfast.com) for his cute hungry hamster. Piero Photograph by [Nik, via Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/it/foto/13j6RCImjpk?ref=secretbreakfast.com) --- ### **␥** ### THE BEST QUOTE ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/4fc17b86-9d2e-4e4c-bfc8-9e6b12ae3546/113__5.png) ✦ **Peter Cameron**, [Someday This Pain Will Be Useful to You](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Someday%5FThis%5FPain%5FWill%5FBe%5FUseful%5Fto%5FYou?ref=secretbreakfast.com). --- #### **⎚** #### THE MISSING INGREDIENT ## **¡QUE VIVA ELENA!** ![Elena Reygadas rocked even before becoming World’s Best Female Chef](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/06e247eb-9b2a-42bf-b42d-8adc12a231a2/reygadas.jpg) Elena Reygadas rocked even before becoming World’s Best Female Chef Mexican chef Elena Reygadas has been named The World’s Best Female Chef 2023, probably because I love the name of every single venue she runs: [Rosetta](https://rosetta.com.mx/en/?ref=secretbreakfast.com), [Lardo](https://lardo.mx/?ref=secretbreakfast.com), [Café Nin](https://www.cafenin.com.mx/?ref=secretbreakfast.com), [Bella Aurora](https://bellaaurora.mx/?ref=secretbreakfast.com), and [La Panadería de Rosetta](https://www.instagram.com/panaderiarosetta/?hl=en&ref=secretbreakfast.com). Here you can read: - a standard [celebratory interview](https://www.theworlds50best.com/stories/News/elena-reygadas-becoming-the-worlds-best-female-chef.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com) and her partial answer to the question: do we need a separate category for female chefs? - a [beautiful reportage](https://english.elpais.com/culture/2023-04-23/elena-reygadas-a-day-with-the-best-female-chef-in-the-world.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com) by Carmen Morán Breña for El País (start with this). - how to make her Vanilla-Sugar Conchas (★[recipe](https://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/vanilla-sugar-conchas?ref=secretbreakfast.com)). Good luck. --- #### **⎅** #### THE BOOK ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/a07d8205-4cf7-4176-a68d-e51f68744c4f/screenshot_2023-04-25_alle_00-01-13.png) #### **The honest yogurt and the forgotten ingredient you needed the most** ★★★ If you’re a city tool like me, you’ve heard about “whey” just when you had to buy some protein supplements to bulk up while training at the gym. This serum is extracted from straining homemade yogurt and can be a game-changer as Homa Dashtaki, founder of The White Moustache, writes in her new book. You’ll learn how to make (and spell correctly) yogurt - and whey - in 3 days, and how to involve them in some everyday recipes, like pancakes (★[recipe](http://Whey-to-Start-the-Weekend Pancakes)), a Yazidi Cake (★[recipe](https://www.thekitchn.com/yazdi-cake-recipe-23509772?ref=secretbreakfast.com)), a Yogurt Stew called Aash-E-Maast (★[recipe](https://www.kcrw.com/culture/shows/good-food/pie-contest-parsi-food-pantry-cooking/homa-dashtaki-yogurt-and-whey?ref=secretbreakfast.com)). [Yogurt and Whey](https://whitemoustache.com/yogurt-and-whey-book/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) by Homa Dashtaki **→** Shortplot: 🥛 🍊 🍚 🥞 --- **❍ OnlyPans** This is where Secret Breakfast picks juicy content from food creators [](https://www.instagram.com/p/CfY7CoxP%5F3j/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) Shin Oh creates pixelated portrayals of hawker stalls & traditional businesses in Malaysia. This one is about Bak Kut Teh (★[recipe](https://tasteasianfood.com/bak-kut-teh/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)): …literally translated as “meat bone tea”, is the most famous food in my hometown, Klang. Bak Kut Teh is a pork dish cooked in broth infused with Chinese herbs and spices, filled with pork, mushrooms, tofu, cabbage. It's often served with fragrant oil rice and youtiao. --- # **Ⓡ** ### RANDOM ACTS OF HUNGER *This is the space where I share some food (un)related stuff of my week* 👩🏻‍🍳Asia's 50 Best Restaurants 2023: [the list in pictures](https://www.theworlds50best.com/stories/News/asia-50-best-restaurants-2023-list-in-pictures.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 💯[Padma Lakshmi](https://time.com/collection/100-most-influential-people-2023/6269895/padma-lakshmi/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) is one of Time’s 100 Most Influential People (her ex, Salman Rushdie, is on the list as well). Then you have also Native cuisine hero [Sean Sherman](https://time.com/collection/100-most-influential-people-2023/6269984/sean-sherman/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) (profiled by Padma herself) 🇨🇳How Chinese Food Won Over the World 🫗Water Can Help You with Thirst, but [Can it Solve a Maze](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=81ebWToAnvA&ref=secretbreakfast.com)? 🥪46 Easy Picnic Food Ideas by Delish (★[recipes](https://www.delish.com/entertaining/g2398/picnic-recipes/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🍽️From *The Year I Ate New York newsletter*: [Where the Succession characters would really dine](https://deal.town/new-york-magazine/eating-succession-P3TCUSK5L?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🐟Why You Should Salt and Dry Your Salmon, in [pictures](https://www.instagram.com/p/CrRWyLCPljT/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🥐When in Rome, the best things never change (nothing really ever changes there): [late-night pastry bakeries](https://www.eater.com/23589475/best-italian-bakeries-rome-pastries-late-night-party?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🍸Kendall Jenner having drinks with Hailey Bieber ([video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uItbDkyohZM&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🤬Alison Roman [falling off her chair](https://youtu.be/mj8Cgq4AAak?ref=secretbreakfast.com) at the wine and dessert table as we all did in life at least once 🧘🏻‍♀️[A free 15 min daily stretch routine](https://stretch15.com/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) to help desk workers avoid aches and pains 🥠[Fortune Cookie Writers](https://www.foodandwine.com/fortune-cookie-written-by-chatgpt-artificial-intelligence-7377964?ref=secretbreakfast.com) May Be Losing Their Jobs to A.I. 🤡Don’t Make a [Smartphone Face](https://www.dazeddigital.com/beauty/article/59623/1/what-is-smartphone-face-and-do-some-people-look-more-modern-than-others?ref=secretbreakfast.com) --- **⌇⌇⌇** ## **FOOD FOR LATER** [The world is hooked on junk food: How big companies pull it off](https://www.salon.com/2023/03/29/the-world-is-hooked-on-junk-food-how-big-companies-pull-it-off%5Fpartner?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Agnes Ersze / Salon** How the commercial entities create an environment that drives us toward unhealthy food choices? There are three ways: limiting your “de facto” choice; using marketing that creates demand; using political influence. --- [With Tupperware’s fate all but sealed tight](https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2023/apr/20/with-tupperwares-fate-all-but-sealed-tight-readers-share-their-favourite-memories?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **The Guardian** The Massachusetts firm making those iconic plastic containers isn’t feeling well. Here The Guardian’s readers share their favorite Tupperware memories. Tupperware train laundry is formidable. --- **➤ Last week's most clicked link was the one about the reason** [**why Italians don't drink Cappuccino after 11am**](https://www.instagram.com/tv/Cq-J277sEa7?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **(spoiler alert: digestion is involved). And that's all for today.** --- **• SEASON 3 - ISSUE 131 •** Secret Breakfast is a newsletter by [Piero Macchioni](https://macchioni.cc/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) Think of it as *The Morning Brew* for food people, or just the most unconventional email you'll get today. In two years we have shared more than 2,000 recipes, hundreds of books, and countless hours of news, gluttony, and joy. [Download our free ebook about food in 2023](https://secretbreakfast.gumroad.com/l/2023-book?ref=secretbreakfast.com). ★★★★★ Recommended by *Food&Wine US*: [Best Food Newsletters to Subscribe To](https://www.foodandwine.com/lifestyle/best-food-newsletters?ref=secretbreakfast.com) *Gastronomika*: [The Newsletters Not To Be Missed on Food](https://www.linkiesta.it/2022/03/migliori-newsletter-food-cibo-vino?ref=secretbreakfast.com) ### What You Eat Represents Your Social Status 💰 URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/what-eat-represents-social-status/ Last updated: 2023-04-14T21:16:17.000Z # Welcome to Secret Breakfast / An exclusive newsletter, the best place to start your day with “cucina povera” and crybaby noodles, reflecting that what you eat does represent your social status ![A fancy car makes any food fancier.](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/03a41851-bc54-48b0-9111-5cdd92f21245/pexels-roman-odintsov-5320329__1.jpg) A fancy car makes any food fancier. Hi there! It wasn’t my intention, but this issue is heavily marked by the social origin of the food we eat. In the wealthiest countries, it’s frequent to see average or low-income people getting their calories from the lowest-quality food. It has happened forever, and it fueled the creativity we love. But something seems new: nowadays those calories aren’t coming from cheap cuts of meat or stale bread, or slow braised roots and forgotten vegetables, but from the mass industrialized food. Or from the unhealthiest way of cooking and preserving the ingredients. **What happened?** Because we’re all losing something in this. Piero Photo by [ROMAN ODINTSOV](https://www.pexels.com/photo/wine-bottle-and-glasses-on-the-trunk-of-a-parked-car-5320329/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) --- ### **␥** ### THE BEST QUOTE ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/af2cbdbc-e8fa-47e6-8a48-e3c4bcbf658b/113__1.png) ✦ **Marlon James**, it’s not clear when he said that. --- #### **⎚** #### THE MISSING INGREDIENT ## **CAN YOU COOK SOME CRYBABY NOODLES?** ![You’re not a real cook until you’re close to a vicious chef telling you how shitty you are](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/7ad054f5-feb2-4083-9c7b-194f0a1dc3d9/hunger_first_look_4.jpg) You’re not a real cook until you’re close to a vicious chef telling you how shitty you are [Hunger](https://netflix.fandom.com/wiki/Hunger?ref=secretbreakfast.com) is the freshest worst movie we had to see. Part classical kitchen movie, part [Parasite](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parasite%5F%282019%5Ffilm%29?ref=secretbreakfast.com)\-mojo, part [Whiplash](https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whiplash%5F%28film%5F2014%29?ref=secretbreakfast.com) with charred Wagyu beef in the place of bleeding drumsticks. You have this [breath-taking Thai girl](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chutimon%5FChuengcharoensukying?ref=secretbreakfast.com) cooking Pad See Ew (★[recipe](https://thewoksoflife.com/pad-see-ew/?ref=secretbreakfast.com), [Kenji’s recipe](https://www.seriouseats.com/pad-see-ew-thai-recipe?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) and Rad Na (★[recipe](https://hot-thai-kitchen.com/rad-na/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) in her poor family’s restaurant, where people talk like: “Let me eat my food. I had a shitty day”. She wants to feel special, so she joins a famous chef’s brigade, and she bruises her way up into the Bangkok restaurant scene. That’s good because with this we also get a first kiss scene while she and a guy are marinating some A5 beef (this is probably what they call “f00d p0rn”, nowadays). The movie is all about “Food=Love” vs “Food=Power”. Chef Paul, her piece of s\*\*t of a “mentor”, says things like: Winners are always the ones who hunger the most. or What you eat represents your social status. It has nothing to do with love. The poor eat simply to satisfy their hunger. But when you have more than enough to eat... Your hunger doesn't end. You hunger for approval, for something special, for exclusive experiences. or I wanted to be the kind of chef that the rich bow down to, begging him to cook for them. I would make them hungry for me. Her answer to this is the honest cooking that made her people happy at home, like the so-called *Crybaby noodles,* that she fires up in her powerful wok: fried baby shrimp, Thai sausage, turmeric yellow tofu (aka Pad Thai Yellow Tofu), large rice noodles, XO sauce (★[recipe](https://thewoksoflife.com/xo-sauce-recipe/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)), miso paste. Poor people stuff, in Chef Paul’s words. Well, you won’t find the recipe anywhere else for a while. ###### Picture: Hunger/Netflix --- #### **⎅** #### THE BOOK ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/8c1bce21-ff2f-444f-b732-53ba05e96222/screenshot_2023-04-17_alle_23-26-58.png) #### **Back to Italy** ★★★★ I thought a lot before writing the next sentence: I don’t think that, in the coming months, you’ll get a more useful cookbook than this. Giulia’s *Cucina Povera* is actually an authentic picture of the Italian classic cuisine that we - people in our 40s - remember from our grandmas or mothers (it sounds sexist, but I think you get me). Every dish here is a time machine bringing us back and telling us that there is no reason not to cook that way once or twice a week. No waste, seasonal vegetables, and a moderate amount of (good) meat can be game-changers in your lifestyle. Here you have about 100 recipes and I bet you’ll love them all. [Giulia’s newsletter](https://julskitchen.substack.com/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) and her [online recipe archive](https://en.julskitchen.com/recipe-index?ref=secretbreakfast.com) are there to prove I’m right. As *Wall Street Journal*’s Tucker Shaw [wrote](https://www.wsj.com/articles/spring-books-cookbooks-d5c63df4?ref=secretbreakfast.com): “Ms. Scarpaleggia’s “waste-not” approach and pristine recipes lead to dynamite Italian flavors”. [Cucina Povera](https://www.workman.com/products/cucina-povera/hardback?ref=secretbreakfast.com) by Giulia Scarpaleggia (photographs by Tommaso Galli) **→** Shortplot: 🍝 🍇 🥖 🥬 --- # **Ⓡ** ### RANDOM ACTS OF HUNGER *This is the space where I share some food (un)related stuff of my week* ☕️Why do Italians say [don't drink Cappuccino after 11 am](https://www.instagram.com/tv/Cq-J277sEa7/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🧂Here's [What Condiment You Are Based On Your Zodiac Sign](https://sporked.com/article/zodiac-signs-as-condiments/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🪴This May Be Illegal: a Beginner's Guide to [Making Weed Butter](https://www.bonappetit.com/story/a-beginners-guide-to-making-weed-butter?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 💧[The New 'Water Recipe'](https://www.bonappetit.com/story/watertok-tiktok-water-recipes?ref=secretbreakfast.com) Trend Is a No For Me ⌚️Rolex (an Egg Wrap, Not a Watch) Is the Breakfast to Change Your Mornings (★[recipe](https://www.bonappetit.com/story/broccoli-salad?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🍨 Strawberry Cheesecake Cottage Cheese Ice Cream and the other [New Viral Ice Cream Trends](https://www.eatthis.com/viral-ice-cream-trends-2023/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🍚[Perennial rice](https://www.npr.org/2023/03/23/1165680024/perennial-rice-plant-once-harvest-again-and-again?ref=secretbreakfast.com): Plant once, harvest again and again 🥇[Yotam Ottolenghi’s Top 10 Ingredients, in One Dish](https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/12/magazine/spinach-herbs-feta-recipe.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com). 🪥[How Long You Should Wait to Brush Your Teeth After Your Morning Coffee](https://www.self.com/story/brushing-teeth-after-coffee?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🌮2-ingredient flax wraps (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reel/CrJGo28NweU?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) --- **⌇⌇⌇** ## **FOOD FOR LATER** [Is my phone listening to me? My story of the internet reading my mind](https://slate.com/human-interest/2023/04/phone-listening-recording-loneliness-online-dating.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Merritt Tierce / Slate** “The internet is not the tool. I am the tool. Somehow, I have been instrumentalized by the internet, which operates me through my phone. It often feels like the internet is reading my mind”. We all agree we have to read this, don’t we? --- [Why Is Ice Cream So Easy to Love?](https://www.theatlantic.com/newsletters/archive/2023/04/ice-cream-nostalgia-comfort/673737/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Isabel Fattal / The Atlantic** The kid’s favorite is a direct line to daydreams and memories. --- **➤ Last week's most clicked link was the one about** [**The 5 Questions to Ask to Get a Better Restaurant Meal**](https://www.eater.com/23650936/questions-to-ask-about-menu-waiter-better-restaurant-meal?ref=secretbreakfast.com)**. And that's all for today.** --- **• SEASON 3 - ISSUE 130 •** Secret Breakfast is a newsletter by [Piero Macchioni](https://macchioni.cc/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) Think of it as *The Morning Brew* for food people, or just the most unconventional email you'll get today. In two years we have shared more than 2,000 recipes, hundreds of books, and countless hours of news, gluttony, and joy. [Download our free ebook about food in 2023](https://secretbreakfast.gumroad.com/l/2023-book?ref=secretbreakfast.com). ★★★★★ Recommended by *Food&Wine US*: [Best Food Newsletters to Subscribe To](https://www.foodandwine.com/lifestyle/best-food-newsletters?ref=secretbreakfast.com) *Gastronomika*: [The Newsletters Not To Be Missed on Food](https://www.linkiesta.it/2022/03/migliori-newsletter-food-cibo-vino?ref=secretbreakfast.com) ### The Irrational Fear of Ordering the Wrong Plate ❎ URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/irrational-fear-ordering-wrong-plate/ Last updated: 2023-04-10T20:49:32.000Z # Welcome to Secret Breakfast / An exclusive newsletter, the best place to start your day with blind date cooking shows, Adam Sandler’s pickle, and five questions for your waiter ![Winnie Tse, Unconscious Objects – Lemons and Cans, 2020.](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/caed700a-fc1a-4eb7-b27e-0c80d07c892c/screenshot_2023-04-11_alle_00-11-25.png) Winnie Tse, Unconscious Objects – Lemons and Cans, 2020. Hi there! I don’t know about you, but Easter has left me with a strong desire for a detox season and less cooking. You know… fresh products, raw vegetables, artichokes, maybe some fish. We’ll talk about that in the coming issues. This one is more about ideas than recipes. Piero Picture: Eyecandies is a Shanghai hub for emerging artists, and is presenting work by three young female photography artists: Li Yushi, Yu Ruojie and Winnie Tse, a Goldsmiths London photography graduate (via [The Guardian](https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/gallery/2023/apr/07/mountains-a-lemon-and-1930s-china-at-photofairs-shanghai-in-pictures?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) --- ### **␥** ### THE BEST QUOTE ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/a625ed01-5d35-4a33-b473-1c32634e0b3e/113.png) ✦ **Yotam Ottolenghi - Sami Tamimi**, [*Jerusalem*](https://ottolenghi.co.uk/jerusalem?ref=secretbreakfast.com). Nothing new here, but those words always resonate here. If you want more Ottolenghi he just appeared in the Financial Times. [Don’t miss it](https://www.reddit.com/r/FT%5Fcomments/comments/12ejfqr/yotam%5Fottolenghi%5Ftheres%5Fa%5Freligion%5Fof%5Ffood%5Fwhich/?ref=secretbreakfast.com). --- #### **⎚** #### THE MISSING INGREDIENT ## **YOU ARE WHAT YOU ASK YOUR WAITER** ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/a56dae9a-aa40-442c-85ed-3f1761d531d0/44487ed8fba0f2b82d9d5c8e9a98ed4b9d67f7c75e21d8b1a6cda1869e8697fd.jpg) What’s the staff excited about right now? What’s the most popular dish on the menu? Is there anything you think our order is missing? Can you describe the *\[insert category of wine available you want to know more about\]*. Would it be possible for us to sit at that table instead? These are the [5 Questions to Ask to Get a Better Restaurant Meal](https://www.eater.com/23650936/questions-to-ask-about-menu-waiter-better-restaurant-meal?ref=secretbreakfast.com) according to Eater’s Hillary Dixler Canavan. First of all, 👏🏻 applause: this one is good content + pure engagement. Don’t believe me? [Check some comments](https://www.instagram.com/p/Cqx4i91OKZK/?ref=secretbreakfast.com), especially about the question about sitting at a different table. I do love question number 3: *Is there anything you think our order is missing?* Those are the words that can help me with my menu-FOMO, the fear of missing some signature dish in my once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to dine in a certain place. This question is also perfect to predict if your waiter is good or not. **Do you have any restaurant questions that will make us pros? I’ll share the best in the coming issue if you reply to this.** --- #### **⎅** #### THE BOOK ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/3ebaa9d9-ae57-46fc-8ee8-10bba3751027/screenshot_2023-04-11_alle_07-25-40.png) #### We’ve all been there ★★ Failure can be entertaining. Take tv series like *Inventing Anna*, for instance. Here you’ll find about 40 recipes that cheered up people like Alice Waters, Gabrielle Hamilton, Sarah Silverman, and Raul Lopez. Samantha Irby's Rejection Chicken - cooked after a breakup - tells it all. [Recipe for Disaster](https://www.chroniclebooks.com/products/recipe-for-disaster?ref=secretbreakfast.com) by Alison Riley **→** Shortplot: 😖 🍗 🥗 🍪 --- **❍ OnlyPans** This is where Secret Breakfast picks juicy content from food creators ![Adam Sandler’s walking around with his pickles to go (Steve Sands/Bauer Griffin)](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/d17027af-b9a5-49d0-8cfb-bb390a93f40c/screenshot_2023-04-10_alle_23-03-09.png) Adam Sandler’s walking around with his pickles to go (Steve Sands/Bauer Griffin) --- # **Ⓡ** ### RANDOM ACTS OF HUNGER *This is the space where I share some food (un)related stuff of my week* 🥚Is it too late for the [Pedro Pascal as Easter Egg thread](https://twitter.com/Pandamoanimum/status/1643916725040082949?ref=secretbreakfast.com)? ☕️A woman who had lost her senses of smell and taste due to long COVID got to taste coffee again for the first time in 2 years ([video](https://twitter.com/nowthisnews/status/1644566489305956354?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🥗20 Detox Salads To Help With Your Diet (★[recipes](https://www.scrambledchefs.com/detox-salads/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🇮🇹Marginal Revolution’s (Pretty Good) [How to visit Italy](https://marginalrevolution.com/marginalrevolution/2023/04/how-to-visit-italy.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🎙️[Eurovision 2023](https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-65043969?ref=secretbreakfast.com): Every song ranked by BBC, from Albania to the UK 🇯🇵[36 Hours in Tokyo](https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2023/04/06/travel/things-to-do-tokyo.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com) (are not enough) 🍸[Parmesan Espresso Martini](https://www.foodandwine.com/parmesan-cheese-espresso-martini-7374879?ref=secretbreakfast.com): what a time to be alive 🥹[Is tofu any good?](https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/04/well/eat/tofu-health-benefits.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com) ❤️[Blind dating cooking shows](https://www.washingtonpost.com/food/2023/03/27/blind-dating-cooking-tv-shows/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) are seeking love at first bite 🧀Make Fancy French Cheese Puffs At Home (★[recipe](https://www.mentalfloss.com/posts/easy-gruyere-gougeres-recipe?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🍖How to turn a leftover roast lamb into a classic Irish pie | Waste not (★[recipe](https://www.theguardian.com/food/2023/apr/01/how-to-turn-leftover-roast-lamb-into-a-classic-irish-pie-zero-waste-cooking?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🤑[9 Ways To Save Money When Dining Out](https://www.vogue.co.uk/arts-and-lifestyle/article/how-to-eat-out-cheaply?ref=secretbreakfast.com) (Without Compromising On Quality) according to British Vogue 👱🏻‍♀️[Malibu Barbie Cafe](https://www.foodandwine.com/malibu-barbie-cafe-new-york-chicago-7376246?ref=secretbreakfast.com) Comes to New York and Chicago ⚡️I’m watching [The Power](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The%5FPower%5F%28TV%5Fseries%29?ref=secretbreakfast.com), but I suggest you to read the [original novel](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The%5FPower%5F%28Alderman%5Fnovel%29?ref=secretbreakfast.com) (maybe the best book I’ve ever read)💻This Issue was written using the [Arc Browser](https://arc.net/?ref=secretbreakfast.com), that is pretty sick and that is not paying me to say so --- **⌇⌇⌇** ## **FOOD FOR LATER** [Behind the Bonkers Tale of a Cocaine-Fueled Night at Chez Panisse](https://www.bonappetit.com/story/jeremiah-tower-chez-panisse-interview?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Sam Stone / Bon Appétit** Secret Breakfast can do nothing against “Out of the Oven”, the newsletter by 81 years old chef Jeremiah Tower, the legend of Chez Panisse. Chapeau. [Out to Lunch](https://www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v45/n08/paul-theroux/diary?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Paul Theroux / The London Review of Books** In the Seventies, instead of being paid serious money, writers were treated to rituals of gratitude: lunches. This story is about what happens when a poor (and married) writer takes a foodie lady to lunch. --- --- **➤ Last week's most clicked link was about** [**The Best Foods For Unexpected Guests**](https://sporked.com/article/the-best-foods-for-unexpected-guests/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)**. And that's all for today.** --- **• SEASON 3 - ISSUE 129 •** Secret Breakfast is a newsletter by [Piero Macchioni](https://macchioni.cc/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) Think of it as *The Morning Brew* for food people, or just the most unconventional email you'll get today. In two years we have shared more than 2,000 recipes, hundreds of books, and countless hours of news, gluttony, and joy. [Download our free ebook about food in 2023](https://secretbreakfast.gumroad.com/l/2023-book?ref=secretbreakfast.com). ★★★★★ Recommended by *Food&Wine US*: [Best Food Newsletters to Subscribe To](https://www.foodandwine.com/lifestyle/best-food-newsletters?ref=secretbreakfast.com) *Gastronomika*: [The Newsletters Not To Be Missed on Food](https://www.linkiesta.it/2022/03/migliori-newsletter-food-cibo-vino?ref=secretbreakfast.com) ### The Inevitable Fate Of The Unexpected Guests 😱 URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/unexpected-guests/ Last updated: 2023-03-31T11:43:11.000Z # Welcome to Secret Breakfast / An exclusive newsletter, the best place to start your Easter, or Passover, with the Gochujang lobby and some unexpected guests ![Ed Sheeran, the blue monster of sadness, and… some fish and chips, maybe?](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/d5dd7c61-5976-4b8f-b5a7-22eeebfcb460/cap_2023-04-03_alle_22-32-21.png) Ed Sheeran, the blue monster of sadness, and… some fish and chips, maybe? Hi there! [The Best Foods For Unexpected Guests](https://sporked.com/article/the-best-foods-for-unexpected-guests/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) was the catchiest headline of the week for me. It’s incredible how, during the busiest days of the week, my fridge can’t afford even +2 people at the table. I don’t keep the meat in the freezer, I bet that makes me a bad survivalist. When people come over at the last second, pasta, leftover vegetables, legume flour, eggs, and cheese are my go-to elements. Maybe I’d bake a pie crust of some kind too. And you? Are your unexpected guests luckier than mine? Piero A volunteer prepares iftar food for Muslim devotees breaking their fast at the Data Darbar shrine on the first day of the holy month of Ramadan, in Lahore, Pakistan, on March 23, 2023\. [Arif Ali / AFP / Getty](https://www.theatlantic.com/photo/2023/03/photos-of-the-week-sky-bar-kansas-sunset-flooded-fields/673498/?ref=secretbreakfast.com#img09) --- ### **␥** ### THE BEST QUOTE ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/7d6abbd2-5985-45e3-b38c-8cfc06645cf9/113__2.png) ✦ **Harrison Ford,** as Paul in the tv series [*Shrinking*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shrinking%5F%28TV%5Fseries%29?ref=secretbreakfast.com). --- #### **⎚** #### THE MISSING INGREDIENT ## **NOTED, GOCHUJANG IS THE NEW CACIO & PEPE** ![Found that via ohmonah@SAKURACON & ANIMEBOSTON](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/5643bb63-d22d-454d-b02e-3e385dfe4e50/cap_2023-04-04_alle_00-00-23.png) Found that via ohmonah@SAKURACON & ANIMEBOSTON I've been walking around in a kind of daze for two weeks, and everywhere I go... Planes, trains, restaurants, meetings... I find myself scribbling something down: Gochujang. Gochujang noodles. Gochujang Buttered Noodles (★[recipe](https://cookingwithcocktailrings.com/2019-creamy-gochujang-noodles/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)). Even Gochujang Cookies (★[recipe](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4B43W%5FwXJuY&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) and gluten-free Gochujang Cookies (★[recipe](https://koshereveryday.com/gluten-free-gochujang-caramel-cookies/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) This mix of glutinous rice, fermented soybeans and red-pepper powder it’s not a sauce, but a *jang*, “[a foundational ingredient in Korean cooking, meaning you usually need to add other ingredients to it](https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/31/dining/gochujang.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com)”. ###### Picture: ohmonah@SAKURACON & ANIMEBOSTON --- #### **⎅** #### THE BOOK ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/b4cca740-dfdc-40da-8432-30c443647992/image.jpg) #### The Fruit of Your Labor ★★1/2 I don’t know if we needed a book to remind us that fruit can enhance any delicious main. You can test if Berens is the right chef for you by vetting her [Food52 recipes](https://food52.com/users/1971246-abraberens/recipes?ref=secretbreakfast.com), this Grape Custard Pie (★[recipe](https://www.bakemag.com/articles/17208-featured-recipe-grape-custard-pie?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) or the Chocolate Pudding with Coffee-Soaked Black Cherries (★[recipe](https://interactive.wttw.com/playlist/2023/03/22/chocolate-pudding-coffee-soaked-black-cherries?ref=secretbreakfast.com)). [Pulp: A Practical Guide to Cooking With Fruit](https://www.abraberens.com/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) by Abra Berens **→** Shortplot: 🍑 🥬 🥥 🍉 --- **❍ OnlyPans** This is where Secret Breakfast picks juicy content from food creators ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/5ae23481-ca75-4a63-8c08-15680b85e6e2/cap_2023-04-03_alle_23-45-20.png) [Another Midjourney: Cafeteria Food Fights directed by Wes Anderson](https://www.reddit.com/r/midjourney/comments/10e6c9e/cafeteria%5Ffood%5Ffights%5Fdirected%5Fby%5Fwes%5Fanderson/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) --- # **Ⓡ** ### RANDOM ACTS OF HUNGER *This is the space where I share some food (un)related stuff of my week* 🥚21 Passover Recipes From Jewish Communities Around the World (★[recipes](https://www.jewishfoodsociety.org/collections/passover-recipes-from-jewish-communities-around-the?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) ✝️Time to bake some Hot Cross Buns (★[recipe](https://www.thepioneerwoman.com/food-cooking/recipes/a11482/hot-cross-buns/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🐰Rabbit Bolognese is the New Chocolate Bunny (★[recipe](https://www.bonappetit.com/story/cook-rabbit-for-easter?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🐕Dogs and Cats Linked to [Reduced Child Food Allergies](https://www.wsj.com/articles/dogs-and-cats-linked-to-reduced-child-food-allergies-b30755a?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🐶[What Your Dog Wants?](https://www.nytimes.com/2022/05/12/well/dog-behavior.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🌭Who Said “Dog”? [14 Facts About The Chicago-Style Hot Dog](https://www.tastingtable.com/1246684/chicago-style-hot-dog-facts/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🍋When Life Gives You Lemons, Make a No-Bake Lemon Meringue Cake (★[recipe](https://www.theguardian.com/food/2023/mar/31/no-bake-lemon-meringue-pie-recipe-biscuit-base-ravneet-gill?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🥒Start with Bread and Cucumber and You’ll Have a nice White Gazpacho (★[recipe](https://www.allrecipes.com/white-gazpacho-recipe-7182068?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🌮Ixta’s [Winner Taco Ice-Cream](https://www.instagram.com/p/CqaR1AaID1U?ref=secretbreakfast.com) Looks Awesome ☕️[Pedro Pascal's Starbucks Order](https://www.eatthis.com/pedro-pascal-starbucks-order-nutrition/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) Has an Alarming Amount of Caffeine: six shots of espresso with extra ice in a Venti cup 🥕Easter’s Perfect for a Carrot Cake Cheesecake (★[recipe](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyjN8oLYCrk&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🔥ProPublica’s Report: What to Know About [the Risks of Gas Stoves and Appliances](https://www.propublica.org/article/what-to-know-about-gas-stove-risks?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🍔A New [Burger Seasoning recipe](https://www.thekitchn.com/burger-seasoning-recipe-23301716?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **©️**And we have a [New Pepsi Logo](https://sporked.com/article/new-pepsi-logo-news/?ref=secretbreakfast.com), Again --- **⌇⌇⌇** ## **FOOD FOR LATER** [A Brief History of Pancakes](https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/a-brief-history-of-pancakes-180981667/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Grace Linden / Smithsonian Magazine** Flat cakes prepared from starch-based batter date back 30,000 years. And they did not have baking powder, then! --- [You’re Wrong About White Chocolate](https://tastecooking.com/youre-wrong-about-white-chocolate/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Jordan Michelman / Taste** It’s not real chocolate, it’s cocoa butter. Yes, we know the refrain. But is it enough to forget this mighty and quite remarkable ingredient? --- [What Is N/A Wine, Anyway?](https://punchdrink.com/articles/nonalcoholic-wine-recommendations/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Megan Krigbaum / Punch** Can you call “wine” something with no alcohol? --- **➤ Last week's most clicked link was the one about… I don’t know what it was, sorry (but I bet you enjoyed that). And that's all for today.** --- **• SEASON 3 - ISSUE 128 •** Secret Breakfast is a newsletter by [Piero Macchioni](https://macchioni.cc/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) Think of it as *The Morning Brew* for food people, or just the most unconventional email you'll get today. In two years we have shared more than 2,000 recipes, hundreds of books, and countless hours of news, gluttony, and joy. [Download our free ebook about food in 2023](https://secretbreakfast.gumroad.com/l/2023-book?ref=secretbreakfast.com). ★★★★★ Recommended by *Food&Wine US*: [Best Food Newsletters to Subscribe To](https://www.foodandwine.com/lifestyle/best-food-newsletters?ref=secretbreakfast.com) *Gastronomika*: [The Newsletters Not To Be Missed on Food](https://www.linkiesta.it/2022/03/migliori-newsletter-food-cibo-vino?ref=secretbreakfast.com) ### Then Add Controlled Doses of Chaos ☄️ URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/controlled-doses-of-chaos/ Last updated: 2023-03-24T15:26:46.000Z # Welcome to Secret Breakfast / An exclusive newsletter, the best place to start your day with Southern Indian cuisine, some powdered beer, and a controlled dose of chaos ![Ed Sheeran, the blue monster of sadness, and… some fish and chips, maybe?](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/d071371c-e6bf-427d-887e-2d66b46d2652/cap_2023-03-24_alle_16-16-17.png) Ed Sheeran, the blue monster of sadness, and… some fish and chips, maybe? Hi there! Let’s talk about sadness. In [Ed Sheeran’s latest video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6wOyMUs74I&ref=secretbreakfast.com), sadness is a blue monster (puppy?), following him and getting bigger frame after frame. Have you ever given sadness a shape? Wilted lettuce, soggy-bottomed pies, overcooked risotto, and non-leavened bread to me are 1,000 sadder than a giant furry creature or - I don’t know - [having mayo for breakfast mistaking it for expired yogurt](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gqpIao%5Fx4Yc&ref=secretbreakfast.com). What’s the saddest thing you’ve ever cooked or eaten? Piero Ed Sheeran - Eyes Closed --- ### **␥** ### THE BEST QUOTE ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/62a36f97-b4c1-4abc-9d08-27d787dc1f8f/113__1.png) ✦ **Edward Slingerland**,[ ](https://www.edwardslingerland.com/drunk?ref=secretbreakfast.com)[*Drunk: How We Sipped, Danced, and Stumbled Our Way to Civilization*](https://www.edwardslingerland.com/drunk?ref=secretbreakfast.com). But my favorite passage is this: “Banquets and religious rituals centered on kimchee and yogurt would provide all of the proposed benefits of alcohol with none of the costs. Spirits should be perfectly happy with some nice, nutritious pickles instead of a poisonous, bitter beverage. Yet no culture on the planet offers pickles to the ancestors, and the world has yet to see the rise of a teetotaling, kimchee-based super civilization. This strongly suggests that there is something special about alcohol, and more to the function of intoxication, than we have realized.” --- #### **⎚** #### THE MISSING INGREDIENT ## **SOUTHERN INDIAN CUISINE IS A VIDEOGAME NOW** ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/249954b0-9966-4cae-a8dc-6bd25fa8a797/cap_2023-03-26_alle_18-04-13.png) Who wants to play a narrative cooking game where you play as an Indian mom who immigrates to Canada with her family in the 1980s? [Venba](https://www.nintendo.com/store/products/venba-switch/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) is a Nintendo Switch videogame focused on Southern Indian cuisine (Tahil cuisine), which requires a lot of proper timing to get right. Even if I presented this like boring advertising, I’m not paid to write this: I was just curious about the game and the Tamil style. The first obstacle you encounter in the play is some steamed white lentils and rice cakes called *Idli* (★[recipe](https://www.indianhealthyrecipes.com/soft-idli-recipe-using-idli-rava/?ref=secretbreakfast.com), I don’t know if you’ll ever make it, [video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ayo80PIb-Qg&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) and you need something like a mini-mill to start making it. Then it has to ferment. Then you cook in massive quantities. I can’t even imagine the further levels of this Venba! ###### Picture: Venba --- #### **⎅** #### THE BOOK ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/cf4fa981-8ea8-4488-8033-f559b7dc00ea/cap_2023-03-27_alle_22-51-15.png) #### No Menu is an Island ★★★ Katie Parla’s unstoppable. She’s conquering Italy piece by piece, as a foodie Giuseppe Garibaldi driving a Fiat Panda: first, she got the South (*Food of the Italian South*), and now she secured Sicily, Sardinia, and a few notable small islands. The 85 recipes in this book are part of the Italian tradition and are shared with respect and passion. [Italian Islands](https://katieparla.com/food-of-the-italian-islands/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) by Katie Parla **→** Shortplot: 🐟 🍋 🐇 🇮🇹 --- **❍ OnlyPans** This is where Secret Breakfast picks juicy content from food creators ![POV: you have Tom cruise over for dinner (I’m going crazy with those AI-generated images).](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/637f2039-3dbd-4663-83b4-692baa2e80c6/cap_2023-03-27_alle_22-48-17.png) POV: you have Tom cruise over for dinner (I’m going crazy with those AI-generated images). --- # **Ⓡ** ### RANDOM ACTS OF HUNGER *This is the space where I share some food (un)related stuff of my week* 👨‍🍳The perennial: [10 reasons to date a chef](https://www.instagram.com/p/CqFhozfIMCF?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🎒[What to bring](https://www.theverge.com/23630167/pacific-crest-trail-hiking-backpacking-gear-2600-miles?ref=secretbreakfast.com) on your next 2,600-mile walk 🔫I Think I’m in love with Tapas magazine's social media manager: this [f\*ck / marry / kill game](https://www.instagram.com/p/CqGibMqoMs5?ref=secretbreakfast.com) is so much fun 💣[This Is What Putin and Xi Had for Dinner in Moscow](https://www.whatsonweibo.com/whats-cooking-this-is-what-putin-and-xi-had-for-dinner-in-moscow/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) (poorly translated) 🥞Qatayef Asafiri, stuffed Semolina Pancakes (★[recipe](https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1023041-qatayef-asafiri-stuffed-semolina-pancakes?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🍋And All that I Can See is just another Lemon Cheesecake Cookie (★[recipe](https://inbloombakery.com/lemon-cheesecake-cookies/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🇭🇹As Italian Citizen I don’t think I’ll ever cook Haitian Soup Joumou (★[recipe](https://www.caribbeangreenliving.com/how-to-make-haitian-soup-joumou?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) ☕️[Ask the Stars](https://starbucksstarsigns.com/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) Your Next Starbuck Order 🍺May The Lord Forgive the German Monks That Created[ World's First Powdered Beer](https://newatlas.com/lifestyle/powdered-beer?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 👀Steal a Couple Ideas from [Stanley Tucci’s Pantry](https://food52.com/blog/27879-inside-stanley-tucci-pantry?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🥦The Best Broccoli Salad Can Hang in the Fridge for Days (★[recipe](https://www.bonappetit.com/story/broccoli-salad?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🔪Hey, [Agatha Christie novels are being rewritten to not offend modern audiences](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11903609/amp/Agatha-Christie-novels-rewritten-avoid-offending-modern-audiences.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com). I would start by eliminating the murders. --- **⌇⌇⌇** ## **FOOD FOR LATER** [Everything I, an Italian, thought I knew about Italian food is wrong](https://www.ft.com/content/6ac009d5-dbfd-4a86-839e-28bb44b2b64c?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Marianna Giusti / Financial Times** Panettone, Tiramisu, Parmesan, Pizza, Carbonara, “cucina povera”. This is the interview Italian politicians have been talking about for days. --- **➤ Last week's most clicked link was the one about the** [**restaurants hopping on the subscription bandwagon**](https://thehustle.co/03162023-Restaurant-Subscriptions/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)**. And that's all for today.** --- **• SEASON 3 - ISSUE 127 •** Secret Breakfast is a newsletter by [Piero Macchioni](https://macchioni.cc/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) Think of it as *The Morning Brew* for food people, or just the most unconventional email you'll get today. In two years we have shared more than 2,000 recipes, hundreds of books, and countless hours of news, gluttony, and joy. [Download our free ebook about food in 2023](https://secretbreakfast.gumroad.com/l/2023-book?ref=secretbreakfast.com). ★★★★★ Recommended by *Food&Wine US*: [Best Food Newsletters to Subscribe To](https://www.foodandwine.com/lifestyle/best-food-newsletters?ref=secretbreakfast.com) *Gastronomika*: [The Newsletters Not To Be Missed on Food](https://www.linkiesta.it/2022/03/migliori-newsletter-food-cibo-vino?ref=secretbreakfast.com) ### Would You Subscribe to Your Favorite Restaurant? 🎟 URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/subscription-restaurants/ Last updated: 2023-03-20T09:03:11.000Z # Welcome to Secret Breakfast / An exclusive newsletter, the best place to start your day in a viral Martini multiverse with free croissants and cockroach milk ![Basic, Standard, or Premium?](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/865061df-3943-42b8-83bc-2ab8938e959a/inside-weather-ru8etk5coye-unsplash__1.jpg) Basic, Standard, or Premium? Hi there! I haven’t seen it coming, but here it is. Free delivery, priority reservations, unlimited hot and cold drinks, coffee cards, monthly dinner menus, perks… [The subscription model is hitting restaurants](https://thehustle.co/03162023-Restaurant-Subscriptions?ref=secretbreakfast.com). In our AmazonPrimeed-Netflixed-Spotified-World [these kinds of programs](https://apnews.com/article/business-7012f0ee968e761b257818658c515648?ref=secretbreakfast.com) can be something interesting for hospitality business models. Paying for something you consume regularly looks pretty fair these days. **Have you in mind any restaurant you would subscribe to? What is it like?** Please share, I’m curious. Piero Picture: [Inside Weather](https://unsplash.com/@insideweather?utm%5Fcontent=creditCopyText&ref=secretbreakfast.com) via [Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/it/foto/RU8eTK5COyE?utm%5Fcontent=creditCopyText&ref=secretbreakfast.com) --- ### **␥** ### THE BEST QUOTE ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/8e33a5be-0473-4550-a522-d2da19901295/113__4.png) ✦ **Camille Andrea**, [Le sourire contagieux des croissants au beurre](https://www.fnac.com/a16504903/Camille-Andrea-Le-Sourire-contagieux-des-croissants-au-beurre?ref=secretbreakfast.com) (🇮🇹Italian edition [here](https://www.garzanti.it/libri/camille-andrea-il-buongiorno-si-vede-dal-croissant-9788811001539/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)). The pseudonym Camille Andrea hides the name of an author of French literature, whose identity everyone ignores. --- #### **⎚** #### THE MISSING INGREDIENT ## **BINGEREADING THE “BLACKWATER”** **SOUTHERN SAGA** ![The Perdido River, you should never forget that name](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/33f2a494-8fb1-4f3d-bb46-3a973b21d870/blackwater_by_michael_mcdowell_2__16254.jpg) The Perdido River, you should never forget that name [Michael McDowell](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael%5FMcDowell%5F%28author%29?ref=secretbreakfast.com)’s best-known work is the screenplay for Tim Burton’s film *Beetlejuice*. He also wrote a Southern Gothic saga called *Blackwater* and staged it in 1919 Alabama. These six books were republished in France a few months ago and are trending in Italy too (American first editions can be very pricey if you look for them). This paperback family drama doesn’t have much cooking in it, but I wrote some notes about it anyway (I’ve read 4 of 6 books). - White wealthy people had black cooks, housekeepers, and nurses. - Black people run **sugar cane** farms. - Before the Recession, even rich people had a properly cooked meal just for lunch. **Dinner was about cold leftovers**. - **Corn soup** was a staple (★[recipe](https://www.thegraciouswife.com/southern-style-corn-chowder/?ref=secretbreakfast.com), fancier version). - The weather was hot in Alabama, and people always drank **iced tea**, **blue raspberry juice**, and **Coke**. - **Boston Cream Pie** was the classy cake at the time (★[recipe](https://sallysbakingaddiction.com/boston-cream-pie/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)). - **Organic smoked bacon** was gold during the war. - Catfish was fried (★[recipe](https://alfafarmers.org/recipes/november-2015-country-kitchen/fried-catfish/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) or stewed (★[recipe](https://www.justapinch.com/recipes/soup/fish-soup/alabama-catfish-stew.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com)). I hope to find more ideas in the next books. For now, I know that [14 foods helped define Alabama's history](https://www.al.com/life/2019/07/these-14-foods-help-define-alabama-history.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com). ###### Picture: [*Blackwater*](https://subterraneanpress.com/blackwater-artist-edition/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)[ Artist Edition](https://subterraneanpress.com/blackwater-artist-edition/?ref=secretbreakfast.com). Book by Michael McDowell; Illustration by Marcela Bolivar. --- #### **⎅** #### THE BOOK ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/8a09d686-fa5a-4e31-8ab5-d0e9e9ad215e/cap_2023-03-20_alle_23-09-22.png) #### **Imperfect Desserts are Sweet Enough** ★★★★ Wanting to weaken the humans, Zeus, the Greek king of Gods, decided to cut each being in two. Yes, he created [people who love baking and people who do not](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=32Fbena2PO8&ref=secretbreakfast.com). As one of this newsletter’s muses, Alison Roman - after a couple though years - is now publishing a book about her “consistently imperfect” desserts: they may be lopsided, wonky, occasionally almost burned, and unevenly frosted, but they look… warm, sweet, and real. I won’t change one Alison with 1,000 Cédric Grolet. Don’t miss the book, [her videos](https://www.youtube.com/@alisoneroman/videos?ref=secretbreakfast.com), and [the Times’ profile about her](https://time.com/6263099/alison-roman-sweet-enough-interview/?ref=secretbreakfast.com). [Sweet Enough](https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/608061/sweet-enough-a-dessert-cookbook-by-alison-roman/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) by Alison Roman **→** Shortplot: 🍓 🍪 🍨 🍍 --- # **Ⓡ** ### RANDOM ACTS OF HUNGER *This is the space where I share some food (un)related stuff of my week* 🇨🇳 Every Year Dan Wang writes a - MASSIVE - letter from China. [This one about 2022 and its lockdowns is really interesting](https://danwang.co/2022-letter?ref=secretbreakfast.com), but if you don’t have time cut short: \[crtl+f\] to “Yunnan Cuisine” and Ganba Mushrooms 🐙[World's first octopus farm](https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-64814781?ref=secretbreakfast.com) proposals alarm scientists, and alarms me, because I crave Tarte Setoise (★[recipe](https://www.recettesduchef.fr/Recettes/Tartes-salees/la-vraie-recette-de-la-tielle-setoise.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🥜Reese’s Cups, chocolate bars [made from plants](https://apnews.com/article/hershey-vegan-plantbased-reeses-7726f67dc493f6db479fab014ce9d95f?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 👵🏼This Restaurant's Kitchen Is Run by [Grandmothers from Around the World](https://www.today.com/food/restaurants/grandmothers-restaurant-enoteca-maria-staten-island-rcna73999?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🌶José Pizarro’s recipe for smoked pimentón clam rice with chorizo and roast peppers (★[recipes](https://www.theguardian.com/food/2023/mar/12/jose-pizarro-recipe-smoked-pimenton-clam-rice-chorizo-roast-peppers?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) ⚖️The strange history of the body mass index ([video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=8Zf7AXA-oE4%3F&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🥛We already talked about [this book, but I forgot to mention the cockroach milk](https://thereader.mitpress.mit.edu/superfoods-of-the-future-from-cockroach-milk-to-dna-personalized-meals?ref=secretbreakfast.com)! 🧶Pan de Lana (★[recipe](https://cupcakesagogo.es/pan-de-lana/?ref=secretbreakfast.com), in Spanish) and Vegan Pan de Lana (★[recipe](https://happyvegannie.com/pan-rollo-de-lana-vegano/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) ⚔️Never thought about those: Zucchini and Feta kebabs (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cm05oEPKBjE?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🇮🇳India farmers march in protest as [onions rot](https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-64936667?ref=secretbreakfast.com) ⚾️[Italy’s espresso machine at World Baseball Classic](https://nypost.com/2023/03/15/italians-espresso-machine-a-hit-at-world-baseball-classic/amp/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) tells everything you have to know about the quality of coffee most Italians drink 🍚[Fried rice in 60 seconds](https://mymodernmet.com/crab-fried-rice-shibuya-tokyo?ref=secretbreakfast.com) and other fried rice secrets ([video](https://youtu.be/qURmdmgCCOI?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🦐I’ll have the vegan Gumbo (★[recipe](https://www.thrillist.com/eat/nation/vegan-creole-gumbo-recipe?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) --- **❍ OnlyPans** This is where Secret Breakfast picks juicy content from food creators ![Noma Kyoto, aka a Wordle for foodies.](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/5bca7d41-41fd-44ad-864a-c68a971db590/335576126_219864580585361_1395629988827503007_n.jpg) [Noma Kyoto, aka a Wordle for foodies. ](https://www.instagram.com/nomaprojects/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) --- **⌇⌇⌇** ## **FOOD FOR LATER** [Rage against the food machine](https://www.theguardian.com/books/2023/mar/15/ravenous-by-henry-dimbleby-review-rage-against-the-food-machine?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Patrick Galbraith / The Guardian** When you buy a “handmade” egg sandwich and you discover it contains 32 ingredients, including diacetyl tartaric acid you know that something’s wrong in your food chain system. Highly processed foods make up +50% of our diet. This is the story behind the book [*Ravenous: Why Our Appetite Is Killing Us and the Planet, and What We Can Do About It*](https://www.nhbs.com/ravenous-why-our-appetite-is-killing-us-and-the-planet-and-what-we-can-do-about-it-book?ref=secretbreakfast.com). --- [Welcome To The Martini Multiverse](https://www.bustle.com/life/tiktok-trend-creative-martini-recipes-chicken-soup-caesar-cocktail?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Alexis Morillo / Bustle** On TikTok, cocktails inspired by chicken soup, Caesar salads, and red velvet cakes are having the time of their lives. --- **➤** Last week's most clicked link was the one about the “[almond moms](https://www.nbcnews.com/pop-culture/pop-culture-news/young-women-tiktok-want-generation-avoid-becoming-almond-moms-rcna54432?ref=secretbreakfast.com)”. And that's all for today. --- **• SEASON 3 - ISSUE 126 •** Secret Breakfast is a newsletter by [Piero Macchioni](https://macchioni.cc/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) Think of it as *The Morning Brew* for food people, or just the most unconventional email you'll get today. In two years we have shared more than 2,000 recipes, hundreds of books, and countless hours of news, gluttony, and joy. [Download our free ebook about food in 2023](https://secretbreakfast.gumroad.com/l/2023-book?ref=secretbreakfast.com). ★★★★★ Recommended by *Food&Wine US*: [Best Food Newsletters to Subscribe To](https://www.foodandwine.com/lifestyle/best-food-newsletters?ref=secretbreakfast.com) *Gastronomika*: [The Newsletters Not To Be Missed on Food](https://www.linkiesta.it/2022/03/migliori-newsletter-food-cibo-vino?ref=secretbreakfast.com) ### Ice Influencers, Almond Moms and 1-Hour Pizza Doughs ❄️ URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/ice-influencers-and-almond-moms/ Last updated: 2023-03-11T17:21:47.000Z # Welcome to Secret Breakfast / An exclusive newsletter, the best place to start your day feeding a seagull, baking chocolate feta cookies, and wondering: why follow ice influencers during a Global Warming era? ![Bird flu, you do not scare me.](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/091507ab-c095-47b9-a1b3-f7f55667c2c2/schermata_2023-03-13_alle_15-46-41.png) Bird flu, you do not scare me. Hi there! I hope you’re reading this, because I’m sending the issue from a brand-new platform and, for now, from a different email address. A zillion things can go wrong when you do that and it would be safer feeding a seagull from your lips. **If you can, please take 10 seconds to assure this doesn’t get routed to your *spam* or *promo* folder** (under Gmail: move this email from your "Promotions" section to the "Primary") Then relax and enjoy your Secret Breakfast. Piero Kunming, China. A woman feeds gulls on the Haigeng dam beside Dianchi Lake in Kunming Photograph: [Yang Zheng/VCG/Getty Images](https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/gallery/2023/mar/10/the-week-around-the-world-in-20-pictures?ref=secretbreakfast.com) --- ### **␥** ### THE BEST QUOTE ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/ed7a39e3-2685-4b43-a82c-38c39b67ba1f/113__3.png) ✦ **Kevin Kelly**, interviewed by [Noah Smith](https://noahpinion.substack.com/p/interview-kevin-kelly-editor-author?ref=secretbreakfast.com) for the upcoming book [*Excellent Advice for Living: Wisdom I Wish I'd Known Earlier*](https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/725357/excellent-advice-for-living-by-kevin-kelly/?ref=secretbreakfast.com). This is his advice to young people, and we’re all young souls, aren’t we? --- #### **⎚** #### THE MISSING INGREDIENT ## **DO YOU NEED A NETFLIX OVEN TO COOK YOUR NEXT DINNER?** ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/458fc9fb-7292-4e33-87a2-b4fb034e42d0/cap_2023-03-13_alle_22-59-25.png) Air fryers had their moment. Now they’re getting bigger and smarter because air fryers have always been something else, since the beginning: **they are very powerful mini-ovens**. [Tovala](https://www.tovala.com/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) is the next step: a convenient intelligent oven + a catalog of ready-to-go meal kits. I’ve read [The Verge’s honest review](https://www.theverge.com/23633000/tovala-smart-oven-air-fryer-review?ref=secretbreakfast.com), and I’m sold: I believe that there is a vast market for stuff and services like that. When you like cooking, when you cook every day, you’re like a heavy metal guitar player: you can’t even imagine people playing with small toy guitars in front of a screen. WRONG! You have a whole billion dollars market for a videogame called *Guitar Hero*. That’s because many of us just want to feel the emotion of playing the most difficult licks, they just want to get the job done with a gentle learning curve. When did cooking become so hard? Because it is not. Yes, you just need some time. Is that what we have lost? ###### Picture: Tovala --- #### **⎅** #### THE BOOK ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/656a6ddc-e07f-4d95-bc03-d1ae6db2d2dc/cap_2023-03-13_alle_22-08-14.png) #### The Joy of Cooking ★★★★½ “I am a cook who writes. You could measure my life in recipes”. I have a thing for Nigel Slater’s writing and his craft of spreading calm while guiding you through a heartwarming recipe. As he writes for the intro of his latest book, he can take you from a raw, pungent onion to the sweetest, creamy dish. The Internet is full of Nigel’s recipes, but every one of us needs at least one of Nigel’s books at home. If you don’t have one, start with this and its 200 recipes. [A Cook’s Book](https://www.nigelslater.com/a-cooks-book%5Fbk%5F53?ref=secretbreakfast.com) by Nigel Slater **→** Shortplot: 🍓 🐑 🍄 🥬 --- # **Ⓡ** ### RANDOM ACTS OF HUNGER *This is the space where I share some food (un)related stuff of my week* 🌼Ricotta Dumplings With Buttered Peas and Asparagus, Rhubarb, and Bean Stew, and other 10 Spring meals to try (★[recipes](https://www.nytimes.com/article/spring-recipes-staff-favorites.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 👩‍👦‍👦[Are you an “almond mom”?](https://www.nbcnews.com/pop-culture/pop-culture-news/young-women-tiktok-want-generation-avoid-becoming-almond-moms-rcna54432?ref=secretbreakfast.com) (I’m afraid that I’m a cashew dad) 💓[*Danmei*](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/mar/13/chinas-rotten-girls-are-escaping-into-erotic-fiction-about-gay-men?ref=secretbreakfast.com) is a Chinese genre of literature targeted toward a heterosexual female audience that features romantic relationships between male characters 🥬Spinach Banana Oat Muffins are not only for toddlers (★[recipe](https://inspiralized.com/lifestyle/spinach-banana-and-oat-donuts?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 📚I’m digging the [Blackwater Saga](https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/blackwater-michael-mcdowell/1127020106?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🤭[Unadon](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unadon?ref=secretbreakfast.com) is one of the 10 best dishes I’ve ever had, now there are calls to [take eels off the European menu](https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/mar/12/eels-endangered-species-calls-to-off-european-menu?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🍕When you have 2 hours to make pizza from scratch, the 1-hour pizza dough is good enough (★[recipe](https://www.thursdaynightpizza.com/1-hour-pizza-dough/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🍪Yesss, Chocolate, and Feta cheese cookies (★[recipe](https://www.instagram.com/p/CplAARNuL97/?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) ❄️[Ice influencers](https://www.theguardian.com/food/2023/mar/07/designer-ice-frozen-spaghetti-hoops-chocolate-pudding-meatballs?ref=secretbreakfast.com) are freezing everything, from chocolate pudding to meatballs 🧘🏻‍♀️The world's youngest yoga teacher is [7 years old](https://www.upi.com/Odd%5FNews/2023/03/09/india-Guinness-World-Records-youngest-yoga-teacher/4401678398117/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🎞As predicted, [the everything bagel movie won at the Oscar ceremony](https://edition.cnn.com/2023/03/13/entertainment/everything-everywhere-all-at-once-academy-awards-takeaways/index.html?ref=secretbreakfast.com) 🥚Mayo with a blender (🥚[recipe](https://www.theguardian.com/food/2023/mar/08/how-to-make-mayonnaise-easily-with-a-stick-blender-recipe-felicity-cloake?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🍅A Brilliant Ketchup Hack (★[recipe](https://www.bonappetit.com/story/ketchup-hack?ref=secretbreakfast.com)) 🍸And [miso in your Daiquiri](https://punchdrink.com/articles/miso-syrup-savory-cocktails-technique/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) --- **⌇⌇⌇** ## **FOOD FOR LATER** [America Doesn’t Know Tofu](https://asteriskmag.com/issues/2/america-doesn-t-know-tofu?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **George Stiffman / Asterisk** It’s not only America. Many Western citizens can’t understand this Asian staple. But tofu is like flour: you can’t enjoy that if you don’t work with something else. And tofu is, actually, tofus: “A common misconception outside of Asian communities is that tofu is just an ingredient. It’s an entire category of proteins. Just as a chef would never cook chicken breast like chicken feet, so too are these tofus completely different from one another”. --- [Everyone messes up. Here’s how to say you’re sorry](https://www.vox.com/even-better/23622442/saying-sorry-apologize?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **Allie Volpe / Vox** If you’re working in hospitality, or just working on your relationship, you probably need the six (and a half) components of a good apology. --- **➤ Last week's most clicked link was the one about the** [**27 eye-opening and invaluable tips from top chefs**](https://www.theguardian.com/food/2023/feb/13/fry-pizza-add-marmite-to-roast-potatoes-27-eye-opening-and-invaluable-tips-from-top-chefs?ref=secretbreakfast.com) **(one for all: how to refresh dying or drying herbs). And that's all for today.** --- **• SEASON 3 - ISSUE 145 •** Secret Breakfast is a newsletter by [Piero Macchioni](https://macchioni.cc/?ref=secretbreakfast.com) Think of it as *The Morning Brew* for food people, or just the most unconventional email you'll get today. In two years we have shared more than 2,000 recipes, hundreds of books, and countless hours of news, gluttony, and joy. [Download our free ebook about food in 2023](https://secretbreakfast.gumroad.com/l/2023-book?ref=secretbreakfast.com). ★★★★★ Recommended by *Food&Wine US*: [Best Food Newsletters to Subscribe To](https://www.foodandwine.com/lifestyle/best-food-newsletters?ref=secretbreakfast.com) *Gastronomika*: [The Newsletters Not To Be Missed on Food](https://www.linkiesta.it/2022/03/migliori-newsletter-food-cibo-vino?ref=secretbreakfast.com) ### Ted Lasso’s Cookies Secret Recipe URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/ted-lasso-cookies-recipe/ Last updated: 2023-03-11T08:22:26.000Z If you’ve been watching Apple TV+’s [Ted Lasso](https://tv.apple.com/us/show/ted-lasso/umc.cmc.vtoh0mn0xn7t3c643xqonfzy?ref=secretbreakfast.com), maybe you’ve been wondering what kind of biscuits he’s baking for his boss (portrayed by the gorgeous Hannah Waddingham). Because she really seems to like them. ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/57f10384-b6d5-4ab8-8762-e865a6a3e3a4/fckme.jpg) Waddingham - as Rebecca Welton, the owner of AFC Richmond - is obsessed with the cookies Lasso brings her any morning as an excuse to talk with her. Anyway, I tried a recipe to get something like the cookies we see in a couple of frames of the show. I can’t assure you those are 100% the Lasso’s, but you can bake that in your own sheet pan and see. Follow the coach. ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/659845a5-afd8-4c06-bbc2-61d14e9a9822/cooking.jpg) ## The Recipe Basically, we’re gonna make a Buttery Sheet Pan Shortbread that you have to cook super slowly for more than an hour. Then cut while hot, like Italian biscotti/cantucci, then sprinkle with sugar and finally let cool. #### Ingredients - 250 gr white granulated sugar - 565 gr salted butter - 200 gr (organic) rice flour - 480 gr all-purpose flour (Type 00) - 2 tbs coarse brown sugar - Rectangular Sheet Pan (about 17x12 in.) - Parchment paper - Your favorite bowl - Patience Preheat your oven to 140° C (about 270 ° F; yes, that low). If you have a stand mixer beat butter and sugar until fluffy. If you have not, forget the Vitamix or an immersion blender: get a wooden spoon and prepare to have your right arm like the one The Rock shows to people. Mix in the rice flour beat gently and gradually add the flour. Oh, God: have you used plain butter instead of salted butter? No prob, now you sprinkle 5 grams of salt in the magic bowl. Use your hands am quickly make a whithe-y dough, lightly sandy. Resist and do not eat it raw. Parchment paper on your baking sheet, dough inside (height about 1-1,5 cm), and get ready for the first bake: 60 minutes, not right below the grill, give your baby some space. Second bake: bring the heat to 120° C (about 250° F), cover your mega biscuit with a layer of parchment paper, and let it go for another 20 minutes. Out of the oven: the cookie surface is cooked but not burned, sprinkle it with brown sugar and let cool for about 2 minutes (now you’re hoping the sugar somehow sticks to the surface). Then get the thinnest sharpest knife you have and cut the biscuits in harmonic rectangular shapes of your choice. Let them cool for a longer time, get back, and enjoy. You scored them right if you have no rawish dough in the middle. ![](https://secretbreakfast.com/content/images/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/efa7a6be-9cab-4727-a2ea-64ac938a4ee2/scatola.jpg) ### Want more? Join Secret Breakfast Newsletter [Let’s go!](https://?utm%5Fsource=secretbreakfast.beehiiv.com&utm%5Fmedium=newsletter&utm%5Fcampaign=ted-lasso-s-cookies-secret-recipe)