From scallion pancakes to mezcal margaritas, from Simic’s sensual poetry to Ann’s postwar novel picks—it felt like a conversation across decades, cuisines, and disciplines. Your breakdown of baking soda’s transformative powers had me grinning—I’ve used it for hummus before, but the ramen pasta trick? Instantly bookmarked.
The section on The Whale struck me deeply. I appreciate how you framed Fraser’s performance as “astonishing” without dismissing the broader cultural critique. Art that lingers days after watching always feels like it’s doing its job.
Also—thank you for sharing Simic’s “Crazy About Her Shrimp.” Reading it at your wedding? What a move. May we all love and cook with such passion.
PS: Just preordered The Book of Cocktail Ratios—can’t wait to mix up something strong, simple, and soul-nourishing.
What sweet words to start my day with! Many thanks. And regarding “Crazy about her shrimp”—I think it’s the perfect wedding poem, tho Mom didn’t. (She just shook her head.)
Hey Michael... Great newsletter as usual. I appreciate your comments on The Whale. As someone who was morbidly obese for years, I was rather curious to see what all of the fanfare was about when it came out - especially Brendan Frasier's performance. I'm going to agree - I thought about that film for days. His performance was 'astonishing' for sure. And I'll respectfully disagree with the comment from the NYT review (though I could not read it behind the paywall). Though I was not in that extreme of a situation, I believe so many people have no idea what it is like - on SO many levels - to be obese. That movie gives folks a glimpse of a much greater picture. The optimist in me hopes that maybe some of those viewers have just a hint more sympathy for those who are obese. Best wishes... MT
thanks for this newsletter which is new to me since it preceded my subscription...I too love Kenji and my daughters bought me his 'The Food Lab' book for Christmas....try Kenji's wing recipe using baking powder which crisps the wings up like they were deep fried. Looking forward to next weeks newsletter!
I keep forgetting about the power of baking soda. Thank you for the reminder. I swear, I need to write a note inside my cabinet door. Also, Bernie is having her knee replaced on Tuesday, so we will be out of commission for a few weeks. I’m looking forward to cooking for her, and I’m reminded that I haven’t made stir fry for quite some time. An opportunity to kill two birds with one stone! Thank you Michael! I do love a repost now and again. It always brings something previously learned back into the light.
You and yours are the tops. I attended a reading of Simic at the U of Iowa. I was in the U of I Workshop. He had us all in stitches. I love your writing. And I realize, full well, that it's a joint enterprise. Your partner in life did the fabulous photography for Ten—a masterpiece—if I recall. And I know her voice is present in the writing. I appreciate you both. You both remind me that to to cook, to write, to do anything daring in the world of art is to attempt to interact with universe in the limited time allotted to us, to ask, "Is anybody out there? Can you hear me?" A reasonable person would say that the perfect omelette does not ask such an existential question. I would disagree. There is a reason that in the movie Big Night and Burnt boils down to an omelette (did you have to look up the spelling of that word? I did). I just wanted to say thank you, both. I have underestimated the power of books like yours. They are permission slips to care about things when people say you shouldn't care about such things. It took me a while to understand these things, but I am a slow learner. And, yes, the onion is a wonderous article.
Hi Luke, you are always such a lovely commenter and I am especially grateful for this one for what you say about art. But I have to clarify, I wrote the book you refer to, Ruhlman's Twenty, 14 years ago, which was a lifetime ago. My ex-wife and I divorced in 2015. In 2017 I married Ann Hood, a novelist who contributes here, especially to the recommended-books section. I am lucky beyond words. It is her shrimp I'm crazy about! And it is with her that we both attempt to interact with universe, as you wisely describe it. So I wanted to make this clear. But mostly I wanted to say thank you for your uncommonly generous words. I am truly grateful
How lovely. I'm going through a similar experience right now, as it happens. I just enjoy how you broadcast the many talents of your partner and how she is an integral part of what you do, the respect that comes through as you are talking about a fellow writer with serious talent. As for the onion—wow. 14 years. That's the problem with great writing: it feels like the writer is speaking to you in the here and now. BTW, if you haven't seen The Staircase, the documentary and the dramatized version of said documentary, they're both pretty darn good. I've been getting wild Argentine red shrimp. They're crazy good—the poor man's lobster. I should mention that, by "article," I meant article as in "thing."—as in "the genuine article. I will read Ann Hood's works. I'm certain that they leave a mark.
Michael—this one was an absolute feast.
From scallion pancakes to mezcal margaritas, from Simic’s sensual poetry to Ann’s postwar novel picks—it felt like a conversation across decades, cuisines, and disciplines. Your breakdown of baking soda’s transformative powers had me grinning—I’ve used it for hummus before, but the ramen pasta trick? Instantly bookmarked.
The section on The Whale struck me deeply. I appreciate how you framed Fraser’s performance as “astonishing” without dismissing the broader cultural critique. Art that lingers days after watching always feels like it’s doing its job.
Also—thank you for sharing Simic’s “Crazy About Her Shrimp.” Reading it at your wedding? What a move. May we all love and cook with such passion.
PS: Just preordered The Book of Cocktail Ratios—can’t wait to mix up something strong, simple, and soul-nourishing.
What sweet words to start my day with! Many thanks. And regarding “Crazy about her shrimp”—I think it’s the perfect wedding poem, tho Mom didn’t. (She just shook her head.)
Hey Michael... Great newsletter as usual. I appreciate your comments on The Whale. As someone who was morbidly obese for years, I was rather curious to see what all of the fanfare was about when it came out - especially Brendan Frasier's performance. I'm going to agree - I thought about that film for days. His performance was 'astonishing' for sure. And I'll respectfully disagree with the comment from the NYT review (though I could not read it behind the paywall). Though I was not in that extreme of a situation, I believe so many people have no idea what it is like - on SO many levels - to be obese. That movie gives folks a glimpse of a much greater picture. The optimist in me hopes that maybe some of those viewers have just a hint more sympathy for those who are obese. Best wishes... MT
What a useful reply. Thank, Michael.
thanks for this newsletter which is new to me since it preceded my subscription...I too love Kenji and my daughters bought me his 'The Food Lab' book for Christmas....try Kenji's wing recipe using baking powder which crisps the wings up like they were deep fried. Looking forward to next weeks newsletter!
I keep forgetting about the power of baking soda. Thank you for the reminder. I swear, I need to write a note inside my cabinet door. Also, Bernie is having her knee replaced on Tuesday, so we will be out of commission for a few weeks. I’m looking forward to cooking for her, and I’m reminded that I haven’t made stir fry for quite some time. An opportunity to kill two birds with one stone! Thank you Michael! I do love a repost now and again. It always brings something previously learned back into the light.
Always good to hear from you Walt!
You and yours are the tops. I attended a reading of Simic at the U of Iowa. I was in the U of I Workshop. He had us all in stitches. I love your writing. And I realize, full well, that it's a joint enterprise. Your partner in life did the fabulous photography for Ten—a masterpiece—if I recall. And I know her voice is present in the writing. I appreciate you both. You both remind me that to to cook, to write, to do anything daring in the world of art is to attempt to interact with universe in the limited time allotted to us, to ask, "Is anybody out there? Can you hear me?" A reasonable person would say that the perfect omelette does not ask such an existential question. I would disagree. There is a reason that in the movie Big Night and Burnt boils down to an omelette (did you have to look up the spelling of that word? I did). I just wanted to say thank you, both. I have underestimated the power of books like yours. They are permission slips to care about things when people say you shouldn't care about such things. It took me a while to understand these things, but I am a slow learner. And, yes, the onion is a wonderous article.
Hi Luke, you are always such a lovely commenter and I am especially grateful for this one for what you say about art. But I have to clarify, I wrote the book you refer to, Ruhlman's Twenty, 14 years ago, which was a lifetime ago. My ex-wife and I divorced in 2015. In 2017 I married Ann Hood, a novelist who contributes here, especially to the recommended-books section. I am lucky beyond words. It is her shrimp I'm crazy about! And it is with her that we both attempt to interact with universe, as you wisely describe it. So I wanted to make this clear. But mostly I wanted to say thank you for your uncommonly generous words. I am truly grateful
How lovely. I'm going through a similar experience right now, as it happens. I just enjoy how you broadcast the many talents of your partner and how she is an integral part of what you do, the respect that comes through as you are talking about a fellow writer with serious talent. As for the onion—wow. 14 years. That's the problem with great writing: it feels like the writer is speaking to you in the here and now. BTW, if you haven't seen The Staircase, the documentary and the dramatized version of said documentary, they're both pretty darn good. I've been getting wild Argentine red shrimp. They're crazy good—the poor man's lobster. I should mention that, by "article," I meant article as in "thing."—as in "the genuine article. I will read Ann Hood's works. I'm certain that they leave a mark.
Fabulous repost. Happy travels!
TY!
“It was just you, Ryan…” 🤭
From her Golden Globe Acceptance Speech.
Ahh!
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