cooking as if I won’t cook for you again

my supper club, NYC eats, and the end of an era

I’m down to my last month in NY and to cope with the barrel of emotions that come with goodbyes, I’m hosting not one but TWO dinners. Because there is something so deeply therapeutic about diverting my attention away from the end of a chapter by creating experiences that I hope will honor my time in this place I wish I could stay in longer. 

The first will be at Farm to People in Bushwick next Thursday, May 23rd! You can find the Resy here. I’m responsible for a starter and a main: the tamarind-glazed carrots and gochujang cauliflower chickpea curry! I tested both of them the last few days and felt pretty good about where we landed ;) 

The second will be a super special supper club AT MY APARTMENT on June 1st! It’s going to be cozy and intimate and you know what else is cozy and intimate? This newsletter. So I’m calling my supper club Spice Club (and may potentially continue in other cities? Idk we’ll see) and the RSVP link will be available to Spice Club subscribers first, so if you’re even a tiny bit interested just drop your email in this form and you’ll be the first to receive the RSVP link, at least a day before it’s shared elsewhere!

Farm to People menu. Supper club sample menu will drop in that email I send you!

I moved to New York 9 months ago for my gap year before med school, which I now know will be back in LA. I should be excited about it, and I was excited about it when I got the news a few months ago, but right now it’s hard to be excited! Because things end and it sucks but change can be good but also change is tough and it’s ok to not feel ready. 

When I moved, I knew no one outside of a handful of internet food friends. It took some time, but I wound up with a close circle that made this city of mostly transient individuals feel like home. It feels more gratifying than any other place I’ve ever found comfort in because these relationships aren’t attached to living in a certain building or going to school together – they grew from both of us putting in the effort. My college friendships started from being in the same major or student org or running club, but here, I’m friends with people I may not have encountered through sharing common ground. The experience made me more confident in my ability to find solace in the unfamiliar. I don’t mean to romanticize the idea of starting fresh and moving away from everyone and everything you know, but it was the right decision for me! I think I learned things I may not have learned if I stayed in California this year.

I didn’t expect it to be so hard to say goodbye to people I’ve known for such a short time, but a catch-up call once a month is not the same as feeling sewn into the fabric of each other’s lives. “I’ll be visiting LA 5 months from now” is not the same as “what should we do tomorrow.” But I guess that’s the bittersweetness of being in your 20s – everyone’s life is a little transient. Getting to know people and then saying goodbye is part of it. 

In my little circle, I’m obviously the one who wants to have a picnic with dips every time the weather is cooperative. I’m the one who invites people to my apartment to cook with me. And now, I’m approaching the period where every time I cook for or with someone, it might be the last time. And I hate that! So much!

The other day was probably the last time I’d cook with someone I care a lot about. The next day, I tested recipes for the Farm to People pop up dinner with another friend. Deciding what to make with someone comes from noticing what they gravitate toward at restaurants. Latching onto everything they’ve ever said about food. Combining their preferences with an element of fun and practicality!

So here is a super random collection of recent meals – at home and outside – that I’d like to remember.

Crispy rice paper rolls with nori, rice, tofu, cabbage, cucumbers, carrots, and a gochujang peanut sauce. A great hands on activity to spend a few hours on and get a little messy and creative. Served with the herby pea tofu ricotta I’m making for the pop-up, japanese sweet potatoes, and chili crisp. Also tested the gochujang cauliflower chickpea curry which is a pretty fun fusion of Indian and Korean flavors. And tried Ghia, the NA aperitif brand, which is kinda expensive for a teeny can but really good. If this was the last time, I’m glad it was a good time.

The other day I woke up in a funk and wanted nothing but a croissant. So I walked a few miles to Clementine Bakery, the vegan bakery in Bed-Stuy, for a pain au chocolat. A few hours later, I went next door to their sister ice cream shop, Dreamery, and got cookies and cream gelato. I can’t really explain why, but eating dessert for lunch felt quite necessary on this day. The best thing I could do for myself, really. Then I walked the two miles back, melting gelato in hand, sad playlist in ears. It was the most unemployed I’ve felt after ending my job a few weeks ago.

I’m working with a tempeh brand right now so I have a lot of tempeh to use up. I like crumbling it and then cooking with wild garlic or scallions, kale, cabbage, and mushrooms. Seasoning with soy sauce, vegan oyster sauce, rice vinegar, red chili flakes, and black pepper. Serving with cold sesame noodles!

I was also craving pasta salad on the one 80 degree day last week so I made eggplant pasta salad! With plenty of arugula, cherry tomatoes, olives, and calabrian chili. Intended to enjoy it at the park but I had to pee because I drank too much water and Olipop, as one does.

Superiority Burger, finally!!! The TLT slapped. The tofu was THICK. Next time, I would skip the title burger, try more of the sides, and go for dinner for more sandwich options. The gelato was also so so good – I have a thing against chocolate ice cream which is kind of annoying because it’s one of the most common vegan flavors. I got it for someone who likes chocolate ice cream but I ended up loving it too!

Quick hits:

1. All clubs should serve spaghetti with vegan meatballs at 10pm.

2. Vegan margherita slice at NY Pizza Suprema was great.

3. My favorite thing is when a friend and I mutually agree that a spot is our spot. The last ones at Tofubox (us) befriend the waitress, who kindly spoils us with little treats that aren’t on the official menu.

4. Spicy Moon lunch special! Mapo tofu and a glorious variety in the three-cup vegetables.

5. PAPAYA AND COFFEE?! HELLO? Not As Bitter in East Village does super rad fruity lattes with coconut milk!

6. Took Anjali of BeExtraVegant to A&A! We had doubles, pholourie, and roti stuffed with okra and eggplant – controversial combo for slimophobes but I’m thankful we both love em.

7. After giving up on a full day treasure hunt that sends you running up and down the streets looking for the grave of someone who made Hamilton’s dog angry, the girls treat themselves to dips and breads at Shukette.

8. I do not go to FiDi on purpose but sometimes it happens. Dim Sum Palace was lovely. The taro buns reminded me of a marshmallow (but in a good way).

9. The fastest I’ve ever acted on a TikTok: the idea is go to Tokuyamatcha and Onigirazu Bar and then take your little onigirazus and matchas across the street to 6BC, this botanical garden with a treehouse and plenty of outdoor seating.

Hope some of you can make it to the supper club and reminder to add your email to the form if you’ll be in NY on 6/1 and want to have a cute dinner party moment!