Present Joys: Carrot top chimichurri, monarch grandma, sandwich sprinkles and creating the good
Week of July 23, 2024
Carrot Top Chimichurri
Logging my Present Joys has made me realize the consistent joy that food brings me. Let’s rinse and repeat for this week’s rendition: carrot top chimichurri using free(!) carrot tops from Underwood Family Farms. During a recent farmer’s market trip, I noticed a lady collecting excess carrot tops from Underwood’s booth to save for her pet rabbit. Sharing in case anyone else was also unaware that patrons are free to collect gratis greens upon request. Our kitchen counter is now never without a jar of carrot top chimichurri–made with carrot tops, parsley or cilantro, vinegar, salt, and plenty of garlic and olive oil. My salad dressing of choice lately!
Knowing Your Neighbors
This is the first time I’ve been on a first-name basis with my neighbors. Lamenting past connections lost, but I’m also enjoying just how nice neighborly niceties can be. Hanging out over pizza on the stoop, exchanging homemade baked goods for homegrown garlic, and most recently, escaping the heat for a quick trip for ice cream. Our neighbors Chuck and Lindsay were just returning home from a date at Justine’s when Van and I were outside with Bruce. We shared a quick exchange then hopped in Van’s car for some cones and more conversation. Given how hard it can sometimes feel to coordinate hangs, I appreciated the ease and spontaneity of it all.
Summer Evenings
While I’m not loving this weather per se, the beautiful summer evenings all but eliminate the daytime anguish. Al fresco feels all the better after being locked indoors all day with our overburdened AC. Sunset runs in particular have been something special.
Nostalgic Movies
I guess I am entering a new era in life because I say things like “They don’t make movies like that anymore,” but re: Twister (1996), they don’t make movies like that anymore! With the recent release of Lee Issac Chung’s Twisters (2024), I was curious to revisit the original and, wow, what a ride. I vaguely remember the chokehold that Twister (and Helen Hunt, for that matter) had on us during that time, but couldn’t recall much else about the film. It's hilariously wholesome and an easy, good time. Roger Ebert buttons it up as succinctly as possible in his 1996 review: “You want loud, dumb, skillful, escapist entertainment? “Twister” works. You want to think? Think twice about seeing it.”
Monarch Butterflies
It’s been so lovely to see all the monarch butterflies fluttering about. One was paying me particular attention on July 17th–a detail I remember because that date holds significance as my late grandma’s birthday. I pretended that monarch was actually her and now fondly recall my halmunee whenever I see one float by.
Basketweaving
I’m in week two of an eight week basketweaving class at the Armory Center for the Arts in Pasadena and boy has it been an eye(and hand)-opening experience. It’s been very gratifying to do something so tactile each week; and moreover, feels healthy to be in community learning a craft together. Thanks to my incredibly talented friend Tana Gandhi for sharing the class with me. I’ll share more when there’s actually something of interest to see, ha!
Sandwich Sprinkle
If you’re a lazy sandwich maker like I am, looking for all the help you can get, look no further than the Penzeys Sandwich Sprinkle. The way this elevates a basic turkey and cheese or veggie sandwich is ✨. Make your own by following the ingredient list posted on the Penzeys site (coarse salt, garlic, black pepper, basil, oregano, rosemary, thyme and marjoram) or order some that’s professionally mixed here.
“Create the Good”
We had dinner the other night with our friends. The discussion weaved in and out as it does, but the topic of hope came up and stuck around for a bit. We all had our own perspectives on it, and, especially in the current political and social context, there was a sense of tiredness and confusion among the lot. To this, our friend Chris shared a personal ethos for making it easier to feel, if not hopeful, then at the very least, ok and ideally, well, good. Chris believes we can each “create the good” in our lives by identifying the things/activities/people/etc. that bring us joy, love, fulfillment personally and making them a conscious and active part of our everyday lives. For him, running and setting goals for himself with his running does this. In this way, we move from feeling like victims of circumstances outside our control to proactive shapers of our daily lives. The logic is that this then has a ripple effect within ourselves and, over time, outward to others. What gets you to “create the good”?
L.A. River Heron Sighting
After dinner at Loreto in Frogtown last week, Lee and I strolled along the L.A. river for a bit. The river, chock-full of water, was teeming with life. We saw many birds circling in and around the trees and shrubbery that sit mid-river, but our best sighting was this beautiful heron. Walking slowly, but methodically down stream, we watched the heron for a while before continuing our own stroll. Its presence reminded of the Miyazaki film which made it all the more fun. P.S. Keep up with our Present Walks and IG because we’ll be **birding** together very very soon!
A Top Chef Taste Test
Joyce provided us with the most fun and thoughtful brunch experience I’ve ever had. When we were over at hers for brunch last week, she surprised us with a Top Chef blind taste test—to which we all grinned like giddy children, simultaneously excited for the challenge but also nervous about what we would be putting in our mouths while blindfolded. Joyce set up 20 different ingredients to taste and 5 minutes within which to guess them all. I’m pretty proud to have brought home the win with 14/20 ingredients guessed correctly. It’s the most wholesome fun I’ve had in a while. What a truly sensorial and interesting activity. Highly recommend. 10/10. Thank you Joyce!
Walk with Us
July brings us back to Echo Park for a sunset walk in collaboration with Standing Invitation. The walk will be begin near Elysian Park and end watching the sunset together from the Echo Park monolith. Event location will be shared upon RSVP.
Wednesday, July 24th — 7 PM to Sunset
Our Latest Project: Noma Projects
Three-Michelin-Starred restaurant noma launched Noma Projects in 2022 to make the flavors of the restaurant more accessible to the world. Present had the incredible opportunity of building their new site.
the noma projects website looks incredible, huge congrats on the project!