> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://secretbreakfast.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # The No-Brainer Guide to Xmas Spree šŸ§  - URL: https://secretbreakfast.com/no-brainer-guide-christmas-2024/ - Published: 2024-12-01T20:41:43.000Z - Updated: 2024-12-01T20:41:43.000Z - Description: SB301 - Author: Piero - Tags: newsletter, #beehiiv, #beehiiv-visibility-all-free-subscribers, #Import 2025-02-21 13:06 # 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 ā€“ 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). Ā«Itā€™s much better than other bananasĀ», 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 donā€™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 āœ¤ 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) āœ¦ **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): ā€œJust 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 stimuliā€. *(I found this reading Elena Rossiniā€™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** **ā†’ Shortplot:** šŸ§… šŸ‹ šŸ… šŸ„— ![](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) ## **ITā€™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. ā ā€œBrain rotā€ 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 donā€™t really believe in the Oxford University Press Word of the Year, as I donā€™t trust the Pantone Color of the Year or the European Car of the Year acknowledgment. Itā€™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 lambā€™s brains. Something I had when I was a kid and that Iā€™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). Thatā€™s for the ā€œbrainā€ part. Then, donā€™t think Iā€™m forgetting about the ā€œrotā€. [Foods we only eat when theyā€™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 donā€™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 šŸ’ŒItā€™s time to Bake Your Letters To Santa Cookies (ā˜…[recipe](https://www.delish.com/cooking/recipe-ideas/a61806161/letters-to-santa-recipe/?%5Fbhlid=f9690826db61afe0809765d596211138ad9ad37a&ref=secretbreakfast.com)) šŸžA [gĆ©nial 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 šŸŒ“[33 Bucket List Los Angeles Foods](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eavcGn4Ibto&%5Fbhlid=217159cd5156d02969f195a9fecd2f0802c97c7d&ref=secretbreakfast.com) šŸ„ø[Hereā€™s Tolstoyā€™s recipe for macaroni and cheese](https://lithub.com/heres-tolstoys-recipe-for-macaroni-and-cheese-aka-mac-peace/?%5Fbhlid=b4f40c75be8a533172aec8e0b4bf1de940a84571&ref=secretbreakfast.com) šŸ¹What is the best cocktail to throw at someone? [Answers](https://bsky.app/profile/alexanderchee.bsky.social/post/3lbmplfvhmn2n?%5Fbhlid=e8f624984939edf0c11e60c4b73641d7934946ab&ref=secretbreakfast.com) šŸŽ„[Hereā€™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, cominā€™ in hot. šŸŽ[The 2023 Kottke Holiday Gift Guide](https://kottke.org/23/11/the-2023-kottke-holiday-gift-guide?%5Fbhlid=39429e4268a8496c253501f2c606f9867938db67&ref=secretbreakfast.com) šŸ‘©šŸ»ā€šŸ«[Helen Rosnerā€™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) šŸ„–[Bread Bakerā€™s Gift Guide 2024](https://www.theperfectloaf.com/bread-bakers-gift-guide/?%5Fbhlid=f9931320ece752b63b1e5de1a9b14beef8daac39&ref=secretbreakfast.com) šŸƒ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 šŸ˜£Melissa Clark [killing Thomas Kellerā€™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) šŸ“ŗ[60 Second Docs](https://www.youtube.com/@60secdocs?%5Fbhlid=2b93177fffe82cda5a05f90b0056c494ed553251&ref=secretbreakfast.com) is a cool format šŸ“°A super minimal news site: [The Brutalist Report](https://brutalist.report/?%5Fbhlid=c71f7bc29bbcf42d6d2ba8023793496c5e9aa0f0&ref=secretbreakfast.com) šŸ“®[A newsletter for divorced people](https://www.wtfdivorce.com/?%5Fbhlid=fc7563d1d7e1646b90a95c7c8d71a310a6b8f091&ref=secretbreakfast.com) (for my family and friends: nothing happened, Iā€™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) --- --- **āž¤ 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 ā€¢ 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.