Sweet Somethings #6

Public libraries, Sunday television, Michigan-made jams, a fun new cookbook

A new month is upon us! There’s so much to love about March — the arrival of Daylight Saving Time, shedding the puffer coat you’ve been wearing for months, remembering what the sun feels like on your face. I had lunch plans with a friend yesterday, and when I arrived at the restaurant, she was standing just outside the entrance, head tilted to the sun, eyes closed. “I’m photosynthesizing,” she told me. When we went inside, we requested the sunniest table, ordered Arnold Palmers, and it felt like spring.

Today, I’m sharing a few sweet somethings: an appreciation of public libraries, a Sunday television ritual, a Michigan-made jam discovery, and a fun new cookbook.¹ Thank you for being here!

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Sweet Somethings

Public Library Appreciation Moment

In elementary school, I took an art class at a gallery on Main Street in my hometown, steps away from the public library. It’s a special library, with friendly librarians and three floors of well-organized shelves and cozy reading nooks. As I remember it, our art teacher would walk us to the library and up to the third floor, where the bigger books are kept: art books, cookbooks, travel books, that sort of thing. She’d invite us to check out a book or two with images that inspired us. We’d then walk back to the gallery, to our classroom, open our chosen books, and draw what we saw. I still think about those library trips, and the magic of choosing a book that felt shimmery to us, for whatever reason.

When I lived at home during the pandemic, I often drove to that same library, masked up, browsed the shelves for shimmery books, and went home with a fat stack of cookbooks, memoirs, mysteries, and whatever else called to me that day. Every time, it felt monumental — sourcing entertainment for the next several weeks, until the books were due and it was time to replace them.

Library hauls over the years

I feel inspired to write about public libraries today because I’ve been putting my Brooklyn Public Library card to work lately. After leaving the office the other night, I took the train a couple stops further than I normally do in order to visit the library’s central branch at Grand Army Plaza. There was still a bit of light outside, and the library’s façade looked majestic, the gold leaf glimmering. Inside, it was astir with people from every walk of life, speaking in hushed tones, honoring the space. I browsed for a while, checked out several books (which always makes me feel like a rich woman), and made my way home by way of the grocery store for dinner supplies. It rocked; that’s all. If you don’t own one yet, get thyself a library card!

Central Library façade

A Sunday Television Ritual

Like so many others (and you, probably), Teo and I are watching White Lotus Season 3 on Sunday nights at 9 pm. I can’t remember the last time I watched a weekly show right when it came out, and it’s both infuriating and precious to watch only one episode at a time and spend the week anticipating the next one. This season is as unsettling and brilliant as ever, and the casting is spot-on (Aimee Lou Wood, I love you!). We’re also listening to the official companion podcast with Jia Tolentino and Josh Bearman, which is smart, funny, and as pleasurable as eating dessert.

Aimee!! c/o HBO

American Spoon Jam

Back in December, my food writer friend Devra texted me about a “really really good jam” from Northern Michigan that she and fellow food writer friend Gabby had recently tried. They were organizing a group order with friends to split the shipping cost (I love food people!), and invited me to participate. I’m not a big jam person, so I was about to politely decline when Teo glanced at the text and stopped me, declaring that he wanted in. I forgot that Teo is a fiend for jam! He ordered a few jars, demolished them in record time, and subsequently ordered another whole box.

This is how our household loyalty to the North Michiganian American Spoon began, all thanks to Devra and Gabby.

We’ve tried several, including black raspberry and strawberry rhubarb, and all are excellent — just the right texture, not at all cloying, and with the purest, loveliest fruit flavors. Even I (normally neutral on jam) find myself reaching for them to eat on Hart’s olive oil cake and buttermilk biscuits and French toast with crème fraîche.

Jam vessels

A Fun New Cookbook

I’ve long admired Fishwife, the tinned fish company, and Vilda Gonzalez, the cook and writer, from afar. So it felt like kismet when I learned that she was co-authoring the Fishwife cookbook with the company’s founder, Becca Millstein. I received my pre-ordered copy in the mail last week, and am enjoying it so much. It’s playful, actionable, and chock-full of darling illustrations and recipes for things I’d like to eat. Sardine fritto misto with charred lemon and aioli! Heirloom tomatoes with garlic toast and anchovies! Seaweed snacks with chili crisp salmon, mayo, scallions, and sesame seeds! It’s clear to me that I share a palate with these people. Anyway, my fellow tinned fish freaks, you might want to check this one out.

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Thank you for reading these sweet somethings! I love you all. As always, my inbox and chat are open, and I welcome your thoughts.

More very soon.

x Phoebe

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February on The Dish:

1. Lest I seem truly ignorant, let me say that the news is nightmarish and makes my stomach churn. I write these letters as a respite — for myself and hopefully for you!