one spice rack for 23

only the best of the best

This year I graduated, applied to more school, moved to New York, started a new job, and as of recently, felt mildly uninspired but also fun and as type B as my type A heart has ever been! I’m currently at home in San Jose – hibernating, plotting, throwing the occasional dinner party, daydreaming, etc. Next month is Veganuary, so it’s kind of a big month for chronically online vegans who like to cook. Until then, it’s been a while since my last spice rack, so here is one spice rack to stand for the year!

Things that made my life better 

1. Cabbage

2. The little cardholder thing on the back of my phone

3. A lamp that changes colors

4. Headphones that double as earmuffs 

5. Switching to soy milk

6. Public transit that mostly suffices

3 lessons

1. It’s hard to do things on the side for fun because sometimes it’s also work and other times it’s a void to spit words and photos at while questioning what it all means! I didn’t feel very creative or productive this year, but the pace also felt the most realistic as I move on to new things. I don’t know what this means for the future, but for now, I’d like to take things week by week. 

2. I don’t have to try a new recipe every time I cook dinner. I don’t have to buy something every time I go thrifting. I should really take advantage of every morning I don’t need an alarm!

3. Saying yes all the time isn’t good but sometimes it’s good for the plot ;)

3 recipes 

Not a big recipe development year, but here are three that have become well-established in my rotation!

1. Schezwan broccoli - It’s like if broccoli was cauliflower’s understudy and took over in gobi manchurian one day, messed up a little, and ended up slaying regardless. 

2. Charred cabbage with curry leaf ranch - I gave cabbage the number one spot in my “things that made my life better” list for a reason. Served with a vegan ranch that includes fried curry leaves and fresh cilantro!

3. Rasmalai tiramisu - The flavors of Indian heartthrob rasmalai in tiramisu structure. My next step is trying it with vegan ladyfingers made with aquafaba!

3 books

Of the books mentioned at some point of this year’s spice racks, these were the ones that made me love reading the most. 

1. A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry - After finishing this I blankly stared out the window for an hour and that’s when I knew it was really special. 

2. Stay True by Hua Hsu - :(

3. Our Share of Night by Mariana Enriquez - What didn’t this novel do!

3 movies

The best movies I saw this year were all devoured in the past week during my annual film bro spurt.  

1. Get Out (2017) - The Jordan Peele thriller that isn’t new to anyone but it was new to me and hello? Why hadn’t I seen this yet? 

2. Tampopo (1985) - Ramen western that feels chaotic in the moment but actually isn’t that chaotic once you think about it. Great for food people. 

3. Before Sunrise (1995) - One of those nothing-really-happens movies with literally two characters. 

3 albums

1. Did you know that there’s a tunnel under Ocean Blvd by Lana del Rey. Almost cried on the subway once I comprehended Fingertips…

2. SOS by SZA. Something for the bad girl mood, the sad girl mood, and everything in between. 

3. Snow Angel by Reneé Rapp. She can sing AND crack a joke! 

3 watering holes 

Coffee shops that made me temporarily feel like a part of the neighborhood as I hopped from LA to the bay to NY. 

1. Chitchat in Sawtelle of LA - Pricey but some of the best matcha I could find in LA with plenty of dogs on the weekends!

2. Excelsior Coffee in San Francisco - Most people are not usually wandering this part of SF but if you ever happen to be, I think this is my favorite coffee shop ever!!! 

3. Passionfruit Coffee in Bed-Stuy - My favorite thing to do at Brooklyn coffee shops is overhear people talking about their scripts and birthday parties and books and this is a beautiful place with beautiful coffee to do just that. 

3 restaurants

1. Trini food in that one part of Bed-Stuy for hearty flavorful lunches under $10? I’m obsessed. 

2. Buntopia in Bushwick for affordable and unique vegan sushi and bao burgers 

3. Indian buffets in Jersey. Specifically here and here! 

(more than) 3 Substacks 

1. The Molehill
   by
   Viv Chen
   for all things fashion and secondhand shopping (One to start with: the palestinian origins of fair isle pattern)

2. From the Desk of Alicia Kennedy
   for playful and thoughtful writing about plant-based eating, food writing, hospitality, and life itself (One to start with: On Lifestyle)

3. Oy Vey It's A Food Newsletter
   by
   Kay(la)
   for riveting food systems news with a vegan lens (One to start with: Vol 2, Issue 19)

4. Antiracist Dietitian
   by
   Anjali Prasertong
   for nutrition, the food system, and racial equity (One to start with: The Mediterranean Diet Is a Whitewashed Fantasy)

5. The Good Enough Weekly
   by
   Devin Kate Pope
   for empowering pieces about food and intersecting social justice issues (One to start with: What does "food security" really mean?)

6. Hung Up
   by
   Hunter Harris
   because sometimes a girl just needs the juicy details! (One to start with: the recent Friday post)

7. VeganWeekly
   by
   Jack McNulty
   for admirably detail-oriented recipes (One to start with: My Vegan Cheese Relationship)

Lastly, thank you for sticking around this year! Wishing you a restful/exciting/whatever-you-want-it-to-be holiday season and new year <3

- Anisha