Baguette Gazette: Things I'm loving + Southwest roadtrip highlights
Another excellent history podcast, new workout gear + more 🗞️
Hi friends! Welcome to the latest “Baguette Gazette”. (If you’re new here, this is a monthly catchup where I share recommendations, personal updates, and what’s going on behind the recipes at TNB HQ.)
I recently attended a Moth StorySLAM here in Brooklyn and left so impressed with everyone’s storytelling skills. Some of the stories were touching, while others were full of hilarious, wtf moments. I was so inspired, in fact, that I immediately picked up The Moth’s How to Tell a Story. It’s a digestible guide on how to build a story, what to include in it and what to leave out, plus plenty of excellent story examples along the way. Not that I’m planning to tell a story on that stage anytime soon, but I’m enjoying learning about it!
A fellow podcast-loving friend recommended American Scandal. I gave it a go with the Clinton-Lewinsky season and binged it in a matter of days. I didn’t know much about this historical moment until now (except the salacious bits that have been memorialized by pop culture), and I found the context, the Clinton team’s defense, and the aftermath of the affair really fascinating. The show is also produced exceptionally well.
Look, I don’t make the rules - and I don’t know why this is - but something about wearing a cute workout set to the gym makes you work out harder. (Can anyone back me up here?!) I usually wear stretched out t-shirts and worn-out leggings to the gym, but my some of my friends have been raving about this Crz Yoga brand, so I decided to treat myself. Their quality is apparently comparable to lululemon, but it costs a third of the price. If you’re in the market for new workout gear, I highly recommend it.
Wow, September really flew by. (Ha, accidental pun ^^^) As mentioned in the last Gazette, we recently did a 10-day roadtrip through the Southwest. I’d never been to that part of the country before, and was stunned by the unbelievable landscapes and hot, hot heat. The colorful rock formations, canyons, and red and white sands made me question if we were still on planet Earth.
In case you’re heading that way soon, a few of our favorite stops/memories…
El Paso: Drinks at the rooftop bar of The Plaza hotel, Middle Eastern-inspired breakfast at Salt + Honey Bakery Café + tacos at Taconeta.
Hatch: Greasy burgers at the kitschy Sparky’s.
Truth or Consequences: Drinks with locals at Los Arcos.
Albuquerque: Tex-Mex lunch on El Pinto’s sprawling patio. (A Bryan Cranston favorite, allegedly.)
Santa Fe: Tex-Mex lunch and daytime mezcal margaritas at Joe’s Tequila Bar + Meow Wolf, an enormous interactive art exhibit (10/10 recommend!) Also loved our Airbnb there.
Page: Swimming at sundown in a very warm Lake Powell.
In other news: back in the summer of 2021, I had the privilege of developing around a dozen recipes for Joe Yonan’s latest book. The book is now finally on store shelves! Mastering the Art of Plant-Based Cooking is a hefty encyclopedia-like tome that covers the A-to-Z’s of globally-inspired vegan cooking. If you’re going to buy just one cookbook this season, you will not be disappointed with this one.
(Here’s a video I made for Instagram showing one of my favorite recipes from the book.)Last but not least, I’m honored to be featured on the Eat Blog Talk podcast. I had the pleasure of sharing all my best food photography tips with Megan while discussing 7 Common Food Photography Mistakes to Avoid. If you’re a fellow food writer, recipe developer, or budding photographer, you’ll probably find this conversation helpful.
P.S. In case you missed any of September’s recipes…