Happy New Year, everyone!Â
As I mentioned last week, I celebrated New Year’s Eve with a luxurious dinner at Hart’s alongside Teo and a few friends. Hart’s dressed up for the occasion in shiny tassels, silver beads, and disco lights, its tables adorned with glittery crowns and masquerade masks. I knew almost everyone working that night (dream team!), so I started my evening with a series of hugs before sitting down for dinner. In terms of food, the opening dishes were my favorite — particularly the antipasto platter, which included pizza bianca, saffron-tinged mussels, wedges of sweet roasted squash, and artichoke hearts with Italian salsa verde. I also loved the crudi misti – a joyful assembly of raw seafood dressed with a zippy shallot vinaigrette. And Serin, my friend who recently became the sous chef at Hart’s, developed two excellent desserts for the menu, one of which was a rich, velvety coffee crème brûlée. A delight! Dinner was the big event of the night, and Teo and I were asleep by 12:30.Â
As I enter 2024, I have some clear intentions for myself, the biggest of which is to sort out more of a work routine. Since returning from Rome, my work life has been a chaotic jumble of food writing, private cheffing, and odd jobs like babysitting and dog-walking. Although it’s been nice in some ways to be my own boss, I’ve found it stressful to piece together a freelance career that yields enough income to sustain my life here. Almost every paycheck of the past few months has been from a one-off gig I created or discovered for myself. Gratifying, sure, but stressful.Â
In 2024, I’m seeking more regular employment — not necessarily a full-time job (although who knows), but more regularity. I’m starting an exciting part-time job soon, which I expect will help the situation, but there’s definitely more to figure out. My hope is that, by releasing some financial stress, I’ll have more creativity to pour into personal projects like The Dish. And who knows, maybe my personal projects could become a full-time job one day (crossing my fingers and toes!). January has shaped into a month of adventures, but I plan to spend the downtime within it determining my next steps.Â
Good things
Let’s end today with a list of good things, because even in the midst of the unknown, my days are full of goodness.
Primo, a new sitcom on Amazon Prime about a San Antonio teenager and his family. It’s hilarious and sweet and heartwarming and everything you want a sitcom to be. I’ve gotten Teo into it, too. Praying for many more seasons!
Coconut-Gochujang Glazed Chicken. Teo made it for us last night, and it was 10/10.Â
Secret History by Donna Tartt. Extremely late to the party, but I finally read this absolutely gripping book and loved it.
Medicine: walking around Prospect Park to see the cute dogs while talking on the phone with Eliza.
Seeing All of Us Strangers in the movie theater with my friend Allie. Such a gorgeous, sad movie featuring some of the best actors of our time. I recommend it, but if you have one ounce of my sensitivity, prepare to CRY!
As always, thank you for reading!
Love,
Phoebe
Speaking of late to the party, it’s been a few days but I love to give back some love every week. Woohoo! Food, dogs, books, movies, and work?!