Do or do not, there is no damp.
Gentle January > Damp January, soup, chickles and what should I publish next?
Happy new year! I read that you’re only supposed to say that until January 7th, but I’m going to say it all month, just like I enjoy saying Good Morning all day.
I’m working on a publishing cadence that alternates a lightweight links and hot takes piece with a longer form article — let me know what you think of this or anything else in the comments. And I always like to hear what you’re interested in reading more about, so vote for the topic of my next article in the poll below.
Cheers!
Caetie
I’ve been cooking:
This Ayurvedic Dal-inspired Lentil Soup from 101 Cookbooks, for many years actually but it’s primetime soup season. I make it differently every time, subbing in different types of red and yellow lentils or split peas, sometimes without the coconut milk, and I don’t usually add the raisins (ask me sometime about how I feel about fruit in salad and savory dishes). My favorite mix of spices for it are cumin seeds, brown mustard seeds, turmeric and Kashmiri chili powder.
What do we think about:
What should I write about next?
Here are my top ideas, let me know what you’re most interested in:
Common wine certifications (e.g. organic, biodynamic) — what do they mean and how should you consider them when buying wine?
Flavor boosters in plant-based cooking: what I keep at home to amp up umami in vegetarian dishes (expect stories from when I ran a vegan kitchen at Juicero for two years and sous cheffed the Forage Kitchen pop-up).
Weeknight Red Wines: how to pick them and my current favorites.
I endorse:
📻 Play Me a Recipe, a podcast that cooks (or mixes) along with food and drink recipes. Its mild ASMR vibes are oddly soothing to me, and the recipes are good. My two faves so far are mixing a Last Word cocktail and making a Celery Caesar salad.
🧀 The chickle.
🧘🏻♀️Gentle January (thanks Lizzi). Although I wanted to feel ready for renewal at the end of 2023, instead I felt ragged and a bit broken down. The theme of Gentle January is to just be easy on yourself, whatever that means for you. No hard resets, and wait until February to set your resolutions in motion.
I don’t endorse:
🚫 Damp January. We don’t need a concept for this, it’s just moderation. “Damp” sounds cold and clammy. And boring.
I recently went to:
Pearl 6101, and promptly added it to my list of Where I Eat and Drink.
Viks Chaat in Berkeley for lunch and a shopping trip and I’m still swimming in lentils.
Hi, I’m Caetie Ofiesh and I’m a designer and project leader working in food and beverage, sustainable design and climate solutions. I’m also a good eater and a good drinker. I’ve worked as a professional chef, produced community-centered food events, designed food programs and commercial kitchens and written for food and wine clients.
I use this space to write about the good eating and good drinking that inspire my design work. Come see me at caetieofiesh.com.