Ann Mah's newsletter / Feb 2018
February 2018 newsletter
Hello!
I'm not sure if it was the lunar eclipse or what but the past few weeks have been weirdly accident prone. First, I was rear-ended in my car while stopped at a red light – I am completely fine, but it was distressing, and I don't think people should EVER be looking at their phones while behind the wheel. Ahem. Then, a few days later, I tripped and went flying across Connecticut Avenue, which left my dignity (not to mention my posterior) badly bruised. Again, I'm fine, but at this point I'm quite happy to say goodbye to blocked chakras, retrograded planets, and general bad juju, and turn the page to a new month, thank you very much. Hello, and welcome, February!
What I've been eating
Green pea, bacon, and tarragon quiche
Spring has been feeling very far away lately (or is it just me?), but I managed to get a taste of it with this beautiful quiche, which is perfumed with two of my favorite flavors: bacon and tarragon. (Don't you feel like tarragon is the most frenchy of herbs? It adds a little voilà to everything it touches.) The recipe comes from David Lebovitz's new memoir, L'Appart – which is so charming and hilarious – filled with recipes and stories – and which I loved so much, I'm giving away a signed copy! You can enter to win via this Instagram post here. Contest ends February 22. Bonne chance!
Soup for breakfast
As a savory food lover, I find breakfast challenging. Bagels and toast make me sleepy, and eggs and bacon are special weekend treats. But a few weeks ago, I started eating soup for breakfast, and it has changed my life! I know it sounds weird, but A) I prefer savory breakfasts; B) It's a great way to eat a lot of vegetables; and C) During the winter, it's lovely to eat something easy and HOT first thing in the morning. I'm currently rotating between Moroccan chickpea and puréed vegetable, which is a great way to clean out the fridge. But my very favorite is this red lentil soup, which I have cooked approximately 586 times and of which I never tire.
What I've been reading
If you love Brooklyn and food you will love my friend Amy Thomas's new book, Brooklyn in Love, which was published this week! This heartfelt memoir of a modern woman embracing marriage and motherhood is a New York City fairy tale, complete with dazzling romance, delicious food, and the perfect happy ending: Brooklyn ever after.
If, like me, you wonder what's in season every month – and you're eager to find new ways to cook it – check out this wonderful monthly produce guide from Simply Recipes.
Did you know toothpaste can remove paint scuffs from your car? (I have, ahem, tested this, and it works.)
Have you found your art twin from the Google Arts and Culture app? This article explains it, and you can check out my twin, Singapore artist Georgette Chen, here. (Honestly, I find her self-portraits and photos completely unnerving, it's like watching myself age.)
I cried hysterical tears of laughter reading this column from Slate, "One Fight," in which a couple analyzes their "one core fight that replays over and over again, in different disguises, over the course of their relationship." Complete comic gold.
Finally, GoodReads is hosting another 50-copy giveaway of my new novel, The Lost Vintage! And if you don't win, you can always download a free excerpt, along with 39 other wonderful new books to your Kindle, via Publishers Lunch summer buzz books.
A bientôt!
This month I am headed to Paris and London for both research and fun! When I was in Paris this time last year, my visit inadvertently became the #leavenocarbbehindtour, in which all I ate was bread. So stay tuned for lots of pictures of my daily tartine, and I'll be back next month with another dispatch. Thank you so much for reading and forwarding this email! And if a friend sent you this message and you would like to subscribe, you can sign up here.
Amitiés,
Ann