Sweet Somethings #7
An edible gift, sticky toffee pudding, a darling book, custom charm necklaces
Hello! How are you? It was a relief to get a glimpse of warmth yesterday in New York, though the sun faded fast and left us back in the clouds. My roommates and I took advantage of the sunny window and biked to Red Hook for a drink at Strong Rope Brewery, one of my favorite spots in the city. Strong Rope is right on the water, with a direct view of the Statue of Liberty, and there are always families and dogs lounging around, soaking up the light. And sometimes, if you’re lucky, as we were yesterday, Chaat Dog is there — a Desi-American pop-up selling exactly what it sounds like: hot dogs loaded with zingy-crunchy-perfect chaat. Later, for dinner, I met up with my cousin and his wife at Sukh, a neighborhood Thai restaurant in Fort Greene with exceptional food — bright, hot, and herbaceous. It was a good day of eating.
Today, I’m resisting the Sunday scaries by calling people I love, making art, watching Love Island, and staying in. Hope you’ve all had a peaceful Sunday, and that you’re prepared for whatever White Lotus throws our way tonight. Now, let’s wrap up March (!) with some sweet somethings: an edible gift, sticky toffee pudding, a darling book, and custom charm necklaces.
Sweet Somethings
An edible gift
My friends Ella and Lucy had me over for dinner on the Upper West Side the other night, and before I went, I stopped at Zabar’s to grab them a little gift for hosting me. On a whim, I picked up a block of fancy French salted butter and a jar of raspberry jam. Not to flatter myself too much, but I think the butter-and-jam combo was spot-on — and a gift I’ll repeat again and again. For the butter, I love Rodolphe Le Meunier Beurre de Baratte and the Isigny Ste Mère Salted Butter. Although not French, Kerrygold is also a favorite of mine. As for the jam, American Spoon is my absolute go-to if you can find it, but anything will work as long as the ingredient list is short and contains only the good stuff.
Sticky toffee pudding
Teo and I recently went out for Sunday lunch with friends at The Commerce Inn, and the highlight of our meal was the desserts — in particular the sticky toffee pudding, which was dense and buttery, with a rich, caramelized, complex sweetness. It reminded me that there really is no more perfect dessert for a chilly day than warm sticky toffee pudding. If you have a recipe you swear by, will you please send it my way?
A darling book
I never thought a book about dishwashing could be so captivating, but How to Wash the Dishes by Peter Miller, which we purchased at Three Lives, is exactly that. This isn’t just about cleaning dirty plates — it’s a meditation on the act itself, with words of wisdom about transforming a mundane chore into a mindful practice. The book’s thoughtful prose, clean design, and simple illustrations turn washing dishes into an activity that sounds peaceful, and not something that needs to be dreaded or rushed through. As someone who cooks a lot and does not particularly enjoy washing dishes, I’m finding Miller’s advice useful.
Charm necklaces à la Erika Veurink
My friend Eliza and I are currently making custom charm necklaces for each other, inspired by this article by fashion writer
Eliza and I bought matching gold chains from Wolf Circus, and are now on the hunt for charms to represent each other. I’ll report back when the necklaces are complete, but for now, here are some charms I’ve found that I love but am not picking for Eliza (no spoilers, E!).
Strawberry
Dragonfly
Moka pot
Flower bud
Branch
Sardine
Thank you for reading! I’ll be back soon with an April menu — and lots of other fun bits and bobs. This spring is going to be delicious, and I’m so happy to have you here.
x Phoebe
March 2025 on The Dish —
The MOKA POT!!!
My mom started gifting my sisters and me charms for christmas! I love getting to mix and match whenever I feel like it !