Add to List - #89
Let them...hunt for flat whites and eat savoury desserts
Hello, thank you, and welcome. I love you for being here!
Add to List is my Sunday round-up. It’s the small things that brought me joy, evoked an emotional reaction, or became some short-lived stability in the past seven days.
Obsession
You’re being rude, put away your phone —
.Loved this brilliant article. A couple of highlights, but please do read for yourselves.
We need new norms, new manners, new courtesies. Perhaps we need to say: You should essentially never take your phone out at a party, at a restaurant, or at a concert. If you need to text your boyfriend, wife, or partner, then step outside or go into the bathroom before pawing at your little screen.
I also don't want to see your phone out at a party. We need no-phone birthdays and weddings. We need to come up with ways to restrict our own access to phones in social spaces. Phones can be useful cameras — but the thing about cameras is that unless you’re an amateur photographer, only one person in a social setting really needs to be taking photos. So designate someone to be the photographer, and the rest of you put them away.
Confession
That said, I did keep getting my phone out to snap Knaresborough’s beautiful riverside scenery this morning on a weekend away with some friends.
Shook
Sally Rooney’s Acceptance Speech (delivered by proxy) for Sky Arts Literature Awards.
Cook
Crayfish w/ Tomato Velouté & a stand-out Chicken Kyiv — Sino; Notting Hill
On Wednesday, I caught up with a lovely food PR. We discussed our love of the anonymous food scene, the rise of gossip (not spilling here) and all our recent favourite food and drink spots (also not giving them all away for free either). At Sino, Chef Eugene Korolev brings technical mastery and delicate presentation with Ukrainian flavours to this beautiful space. The decor is outstanding. Devour the wall-wash and suck-up their unique asymmetry as you slurp the rich tomato sauce with their crayfish and roll your eyes with pleasure at the perfectly spherical Kyivs.
Griddled Pear, Freekeh, Pistachio, and Comté Salad - Homemade
It’s the perfect transitional plate from summer to autumn: sweet pears; sprinkled with cinnamon and salt mixed with crunchy pistachios (the king of nuts, no other answers pls), and earthy, nutty freekeh. For anyone who hasn’t tried it, freekeh is an ancient cereal from Palestine (Free Palestine) made by harvesting durum wheat when it's still green, then roasting it over fire and rubbing off the husk to reveal its aromatic inner grain.Lamb Three Ways & a ‘Savoury Magnum’ — The Star Inn; Harome.
After something of a treacherous drive around sharp 25% gradient bends in a weather warning in Yorkshire this weekend (there were even signs on the road indicating to stay in low gear) — this Michelin-star awarded pub was quite the snug welcome. The place, with friendly staff in stylish tweeds, low timber beams, Chesterfield-style doors, and a cheese trolley worthy of its own museum, has been awarded a single star for consecutive years from 2019 until 2024. It’s unassuming and unpretentious (the exact kind of star winner I love) — it feels incredibly homely while still pulling out all the stops.
I always say you could judge a restaurant on their bread course alone (and also maybe their wine glasses) — this place was no exception. We were served three whipped butters (roast chicken was the real crowd pleaser) alongside a perfectly squishy potato and caraway sourdough.
The ‘lamb three ways’ main course featured 1) a cutlet (perfectly pink) served with ewe’s milk puree and legume jus; 2) a taco made with the belly and a black garlic and smoky ‘embers slaw’; 3) a bone broth with shredded truffle and aromatic garden herbs served in a teacup I really wanted to steal. (Obviously didn’t — I’m no heathen).
so dinky, so delicious As for dessert? Well I don’t have a sweet tooth. I was lured in by the inventive Jerusalem artichoke ice cream sandwiched with hazelnut and medjool date based casings. It was topped with a creamy quenelle of cacao crema and then drizzled generously with local harome truffled honey. Absolutely sublime. Really unique, incredibly delicious.
Oat Flat Whites — Happy Barista, Knaresborough
I despise myself for becoming one of these people that can’t survive without my daily over-priced flat white fix. So when we found our dose of well-ground goodness at a place called ‘Happy Barista’ with suitably minimalist interiors and workman aprons to boot? We were very happy indeed. You’ll be pleased to know the barista was v chirpy too. Branding on point.
Colin the Caterpillar Squishies — M&S.
Uhhhh where have these been all my life? Like a sophisticated (and molar-friendly) swizzles drumstick. Elite train supplies. Look, not all my recommendations need to have Michelin stars, okay?
Book
“Let Them” by Mel Robbins.
I haven’t actually read this book but I do love the principle. I’ve listened to enough podcasts with Mel Robbins on to feel like I’ve grasped the concept. Has anyone actually read it? Is it worth it? Or is understanding the words ‘Let’ and ‘Them’ enough?
It’s had a bit of a moment recently, making its rounds on TikTok and now into the performative male reading circles (ladies, beware). It quite quickly became our phrase of the weekend away. Strange service in a small town tea room? Let them. Couple next to us at dinner not saying a single word to one another? Let them. Woman on the train eating an entire block of feta straight from the packet? Let them. Let them. (Judge them). But let them.
Look
Jumpers & Cardigans! Oh my!
Yorkshire’s weather really lived up to its ‘grim up north’ stereotype. Much of what we explored in Harrogate was the large M&S. A new jumper was purchased, as was a new cardigan. (Pictured).
Can’t Stop Scanning
The love from our recent event.
How do you make the middle of your week warm and wonderful? Squeeze about 20 people (all writers) into London’s CUTEST bookshop (The Gilded Acorn).
Huge thanks to our brilliant panel
Forward Planning
It’s Monday again tomorrow? That sprung up quickly.
Before I know it, I’ll be writing this newsletter. Let me.
A warm hug of a post! Off to find the Colin the caterpillar related items IMMEDIATELY!
Always enjoy getting a peak into your reality 🖤