One year ago this week I put out the first issue of LEEK (c’mon rhyme). It started with a little game - attempting to spend less than $40 a week at the farmers market, seeing what I could scrounge together. And it’s blossomed into a really cute community of people who are excited about discovering new ways to cook a cauliflower, and/or love to listen to me complain about warm fruit.
To celebrate LEEK’s first birthday, I thought it would be exciting to take a wee walk down the foggy memory lane of 2022, highlighting some of your favorites, and some of my own.
Top posts of year one:
A Love Letter to Beans, and Maybe My Therapist - If there’s one thing I know about this community, it’s that y’all love some beans and for that…I am beyond grateful. Also, personal shout-out and massive thanks to my now ex-therapist, who rightly moved on to bigger & better things, and is probably reading this now (hiiii <3).
Channeling Summer with Winter Citrus - While going to the market is always a good time, a box of fresh citrus showing up at your door is great for that chilly seasonal depression. This also features probably my favorite recipe I’ve worked on, Citrusy Shrimp with Crushed Olives.
A Spring Tart, Two Ways! - The people love a tart! This was basically me making a case for store-bought Puff Pastry. Revisit for a really delicious Rhubarb and Pistachio Tart.
Personal favorites of year one:
Sprang is Sprung, feat. Springy Clams - Me playing with two of my favorite things: clams and beans. A welcomed comfort on those rainy spring days.
A Big Queer Dinner Party - Co-hosted a potluck-style dinner party with a dear friend, and made the gayest playlist with a few others. This was a cathartic write for me, and one I admittedly revisit from time to time.
Summer Renaissance - A highlight of some of my favorite eats from last summer, but mostly me gabbing about the cultural significance of Beyoncé’s Renaissance.
My Proudest Recipes:
Your favorite playlists:
A couple of the playlists that received the most action/feedback last year. Y’all have great taste. More to come soon!
Oh ya - I went to Italy…
While LEEK has been a treat over the last year, the real food-treat of my 2022 was a special Friendiversary trip I took to Italy this past fall. I had intended on writing all about it but never got around to it. I lived my best Eat, Pray, Love dreams and feasted on some of the most delicious food&drink I’ve ever had: countless bowls of brothy clams; a mighty Florentine steak; fried anchovies; a ridiculously thin and crispy mortadella and pistachio sandwich; fried pizza in Naples; the Select spritz - a Venetian take on the classic Aperol spritz; the best espresso; and all the pasta. I died and went to heaven for two weeks, and can’t wait to get back.
Starting this “project” was one of my proudest moments of 2022. Sure I made wonderful memories with friends, traveled, found great work, lived in Florida for three months. But this was something special I was doing for me, and only me. When things looked bleak, there was always LEEK (I rolled my eyes hard at this rhyme, but I had to do it). It’s been nurturing and healing and informative and so much fun. Thank you for reading, sharing, cooking, and all your kind words.
Onto year two.
LEEK is a semi-regular newsletter / market challenge / cooking journal / and community for folx curious about food, and what to do with it. If that sounds like you...