I love this so so much - it's reflective and meditative and beautiful and real and honest and also stern in the best way somehow.
Also, you hit nearly all the buzzwords designed to throw my brain into fits of delight: Nigel Slater, Alicia Kennedy (I also spend half the week with thoughts tumbling around my head that I hadn't grappled with in ages after reading Alicia's writing - she somehow always manages to trigger something I thought I'd put to bed, yet is still there in some dark recess waiting to be teased out by the right questions/reflections), oatmeal/porridge routine (I've had such similar experiences in life with housemates/friends unable to believe me cooking something in some "laborious" way, ie: proper, and for my part, me looking at them in horror as they bung something in the microwave that clearly needs slow, stovetop simmering and stirring!!).
And I also loved all of the essays you shared in the misc. section! Okay I'll call a halt to my rambling as it can go on a bit when I've overexcited by writing lol
Thank you Kelly for such a generous comment, I really appreciate it! I also love that you got stern from this even though that wasn't the intention at all. And yes, completely! The questions and ideas that Alicia's essays trigger are powerful and I'm grateful for her work!
Glad to have found a fellow Nigel fan, and reflective and meditative is how I would describe his words, so the fact that you've used them here makes me feel so so happy!! Your rambling is not rambling at all, it's very coherent and much appreciated!
I'm glad you mentioned 'stern' because I hesitated so much using it, and it was definitely the wrong word for what I meant, and I knew as soon as I hit send that it didn't feel right! I think a better word for the feeling I meant is something like: confident / self-possessed / self-aware?? But not those either, really - I think I just mean it reads like someone who knows herself, has experimented, knows she won't always be the same and is okay with that. So definitely not stern - another secret adjective that is eluding me !!
And yes, those words are exactly how I feel when I read Nigel (I've written about his writing, too, and I think I used those very words!), and your writing has that same gentle flow. And it was also a game-changer for me when I discovered water, not oat milk, is the answer to the best porridge! Funnily for someone who people in my life for some reason now associate with having to have porridge every morning for breakfast (which I don't, not every morning, like you and Alicia, it varies with the season and various other things), I used to hate porridge so much - I remember my mum making it for herself every morning before work, and all I ever associated porridge with was this smell that would turn my stomach. Turns out, it was the smell of heated dairy that makes me feel sick - still to this day. So, I only really got into porridge when I discovered there were other 'milk' options. And, after all that, water was the answer anyway!
oh i like that you mentioned stern! it echoes what i wrote, on finding order in disruption, so perhaps a semblance of order maybe? but yeah, as you so perfectly say, i'm self-aware, i know myself, at least after all these years of trying to find myself and i never thought to look into a bowl of porridge! i think the adjective you're looking for is disordered? 😅
maybe a lot of us start with hating porridge because of the way it's made? we dont have a tradition of oatmeal so for me it was self discovery. interesting to learn how you got into making porridge too, and now i'm off to read your essays on Nigel!
Yes I think that's it about having some sort of initial issue with the thought of porridge - the way it's made, and also the connotations of it being this boring, bland, milky bowl of slop from some great grandparents generation lol.
When someone says they're going to read my writing, esp someone I admire, I'm like: no don't you'll hate it and I'll be embarrassed!!! but irl, I appreciate so much if you do, but please don't feel you have to just cos I mentioned writing about Nigel!! I don't really have one essay about him, although I really should cos I've thought about writing one a lot. Mentions of him are just always strewn throughout my writing about food, and on my Instagram lol - I'll include a couple so you don't have to go digging:
slop is right! that was my first thought about oatmeal, and I still think so too, except now I call it gloop in fondness. it sustained me in a strange new city and i will be forever thankful for the heft!
haha, i know what you mean! i get embarrassed too but secretly i obviously want everyone to read my work. nowadays im not so secret about it (age ig). it's good to be that person! and it's good to support each other's writing, so i will definitely read it! and yes, please write one essay about him!
That's what's so lovely about food - so much of our affinity with certain dishes/ingredients isn't necessarily about the thing itself, it's mostly always all about our relationship with it, where we first had it, where we made a ritual of it, with whom, when and why etc. It's all about the story of it, and it's a story that we remember whenever we encounter it again. I'm so happy to have people to talk about food, and food writing, with, I love this!!
Now I know at least one person will read my Nigel essay, I'll finally prioritise it!(though I've never written with the thought of: will people read this or like this; I always just write cos it's something I feel I need to get outside of me, and happily, there are people it sometimes resonates with!)
And also, I have the same morning coffee routine as you! Except I haven't used Aeropress in a while, I use V60 lately - but down to the measuring out and hand grinding while my porridge simmers, the very same ritual!
I find the V60 easier for my tummy esp in the morning, as I'm able to make much lighter brews with it than with the Aeropress for some reason - I know that's all down to grind size and beans etc too, but even with my favourite beans (I love acidic, fruity, light roast, almost tea-like coffee rather than dark roast, chocolately, no real flavour but strong) I find I'm better able to control what I get with the V60.
I've enjoyed chatting with you so much this morning! Oh wait, afternoon - I sat down to briefly "check emails" and it's suddenly 1pm
I love this so so much - it's reflective and meditative and beautiful and real and honest and also stern in the best way somehow.
Also, you hit nearly all the buzzwords designed to throw my brain into fits of delight: Nigel Slater, Alicia Kennedy (I also spend half the week with thoughts tumbling around my head that I hadn't grappled with in ages after reading Alicia's writing - she somehow always manages to trigger something I thought I'd put to bed, yet is still there in some dark recess waiting to be teased out by the right questions/reflections), oatmeal/porridge routine (I've had such similar experiences in life with housemates/friends unable to believe me cooking something in some "laborious" way, ie: proper, and for my part, me looking at them in horror as they bung something in the microwave that clearly needs slow, stovetop simmering and stirring!!).
And I also loved all of the essays you shared in the misc. section! Okay I'll call a halt to my rambling as it can go on a bit when I've overexcited by writing lol
Thank you Kelly for such a generous comment, I really appreciate it! I also love that you got stern from this even though that wasn't the intention at all. And yes, completely! The questions and ideas that Alicia's essays trigger are powerful and I'm grateful for her work!
Glad to have found a fellow Nigel fan, and reflective and meditative is how I would describe his words, so the fact that you've used them here makes me feel so so happy!! Your rambling is not rambling at all, it's very coherent and much appreciated!
I'm glad you mentioned 'stern' because I hesitated so much using it, and it was definitely the wrong word for what I meant, and I knew as soon as I hit send that it didn't feel right! I think a better word for the feeling I meant is something like: confident / self-possessed / self-aware?? But not those either, really - I think I just mean it reads like someone who knows herself, has experimented, knows she won't always be the same and is okay with that. So definitely not stern - another secret adjective that is eluding me !!
And yes, those words are exactly how I feel when I read Nigel (I've written about his writing, too, and I think I used those very words!), and your writing has that same gentle flow. And it was also a game-changer for me when I discovered water, not oat milk, is the answer to the best porridge! Funnily for someone who people in my life for some reason now associate with having to have porridge every morning for breakfast (which I don't, not every morning, like you and Alicia, it varies with the season and various other things), I used to hate porridge so much - I remember my mum making it for herself every morning before work, and all I ever associated porridge with was this smell that would turn my stomach. Turns out, it was the smell of heated dairy that makes me feel sick - still to this day. So, I only really got into porridge when I discovered there were other 'milk' options. And, after all that, water was the answer anyway!
oh i like that you mentioned stern! it echoes what i wrote, on finding order in disruption, so perhaps a semblance of order maybe? but yeah, as you so perfectly say, i'm self-aware, i know myself, at least after all these years of trying to find myself and i never thought to look into a bowl of porridge! i think the adjective you're looking for is disordered? 😅
maybe a lot of us start with hating porridge because of the way it's made? we dont have a tradition of oatmeal so for me it was self discovery. interesting to learn how you got into making porridge too, and now i'm off to read your essays on Nigel!
Yes I think that's it about having some sort of initial issue with the thought of porridge - the way it's made, and also the connotations of it being this boring, bland, milky bowl of slop from some great grandparents generation lol.
When someone says they're going to read my writing, esp someone I admire, I'm like: no don't you'll hate it and I'll be embarrassed!!! but irl, I appreciate so much if you do, but please don't feel you have to just cos I mentioned writing about Nigel!! I don't really have one essay about him, although I really should cos I've thought about writing one a lot. Mentions of him are just always strewn throughout my writing about food, and on my Instagram lol - I'll include a couple so you don't have to go digging:
https://www.theurbanco-op.ie/blogs/nigel-slaters-the-kitchen-diaries
https://kellygirardi.substack.com/p/the-importance-and-complication-of
Also, I'm just remembering the Nigel essay by Ruby Tandoh - I haven't read it in ages, but now i'm inspired to reread it! https://www.vice.com/en/article/5979y8/in-praise-of-food-dad-nigel-slater
slop is right! that was my first thought about oatmeal, and I still think so too, except now I call it gloop in fondness. it sustained me in a strange new city and i will be forever thankful for the heft!
haha, i know what you mean! i get embarrassed too but secretly i obviously want everyone to read my work. nowadays im not so secret about it (age ig). it's good to be that person! and it's good to support each other's writing, so i will definitely read it! and yes, please write one essay about him!
That's what's so lovely about food - so much of our affinity with certain dishes/ingredients isn't necessarily about the thing itself, it's mostly always all about our relationship with it, where we first had it, where we made a ritual of it, with whom, when and why etc. It's all about the story of it, and it's a story that we remember whenever we encounter it again. I'm so happy to have people to talk about food, and food writing, with, I love this!!
Now I know at least one person will read my Nigel essay, I'll finally prioritise it!(though I've never written with the thought of: will people read this or like this; I always just write cos it's something I feel I need to get outside of me, and happily, there are people it sometimes resonates with!)
And also, I have the same morning coffee routine as you! Except I haven't used Aeropress in a while, I use V60 lately - but down to the measuring out and hand grinding while my porridge simmers, the very same ritual!
love this cross-continent ritual sharing! ive been meaning to get a V60 myself but i have a glut of aeropress filters that need using up!
I find the V60 easier for my tummy esp in the morning, as I'm able to make much lighter brews with it than with the Aeropress for some reason - I know that's all down to grind size and beans etc too, but even with my favourite beans (I love acidic, fruity, light roast, almost tea-like coffee rather than dark roast, chocolately, no real flavour but strong) I find I'm better able to control what I get with the V60.
I've enjoyed chatting with you so much this morning! Oh wait, afternoon - I sat down to briefly "check emails" and it's suddenly 1pm
This was a wonderful read, truly. And thank you for the recommendation of my work, I really appreciate that. ☺️
thank you!! glad you enjoyed it!