Food is Joy, Joy is Food
If there is no joy, there is no food. Read further if you love food, want to have a better connection with food, or want to learn more about it.
Epiphanies etc.
Hello my cutie patooties!! My name is Madeleine, and if you know me in any manner you know that food is a huge part of my life, if not the main focus. At least... this was an epiphany I had recently.
It was 2am, I was in the middle of watching The Bear - very late to the party - and I stood still for a moment, and it came raining down on me like a feather pillow exploding in a pillow fight. Food is my main focus in life, my favourite thing, the one thing I have constantly been interested in. I saw the food shaped salt and pepper shakers, the framed Cordon Bleu Certificate from the 70’s I found in an old book, the fruit shaped tattoos, the tea towel pinned to the wall with different kinds of fish. This is my purpose.
Ask me my favourite movie? Julie and Julia - obsessed since the day it hit the theatres. I’ve likely seen it thousands of times and that is NOT an exaggeration. If I go on a trip, my main focus is restaurants, grocery stores, anything locally special about their food. I just love it. Feeding my friends, bringing sweet treats to the office, posting my dinners on Instagram. When other’s tell me they were inspired by something I made, or the way I approach food, literally nothing feels better. So here I am, starting what I can only describe as a love letter to food, and how it makes my life just that much sweeter…and savoury.
What to expect
I wanted to start a Substack as I feel I have a real romantic point of view on food, and honestly lately it’s bursting at the seams. I need a place to put this love and joy. I have a YouTube channel where I cook and share intuitive cooking (check here) in which I share how to cook by feel rather than recipe and that has been so joyous! I figure a written forum could pair well with that. A way to express my weekly goings on, something you can putter through while having your Sunday coffee, a slower form, with more nuance and information to digest - literally. On that point, my goal is to make this a weekly ritual for you and for me. Every Sunday, I will post. Every week something different. A reflection on my week, a favourite recipe I made, a restaurant that stopped me in my tracks, a movie or book that changed my life. Purely based off of vibes. Come along with me as I bumble through the written word, and the food lover’s experience.
Let’s get started
I don’t know about you, but life has been kicking my butt lately. The feeling of overwhelm, the uncertainty of everything, “the recession indicators.” It’s a lot. This morning I decided I really needed a reset and to take some time for myself. I made a (very fluffy) matcha latte and a bowl of oats topped with raspberries, a little bit of cinnamon and brown sugar, the maple Fatso peanut butter, Logan Petit Lot coffee cashew butter and a splash of milk. A Spotify Daylist titled “crooner jazz singer sunday morning” musing in the background. This is what I had as an accompaniment to starting this blog.
I feel as though I’m entering my Julie Powell era finally. I tried to start a food blog a few times when I was younger. Another indicator that this is where I need to be. The birds are chirping outside. My bed is made. My dishes are done (for the most part) and now I have a space to slow down and share this part of my heart. (also note, if you think I’m dramatic and emotional, CORRECT. I am a Cancer. So that is 1000% going to come through. Sorry, not sorry).
Now this evening, I’m having a few friends over for dinner. Hopefully on my porch, if the weather permits. I’m so excited to be entering into the summery season. Eating the best fruits and veg; cooked and fresh, lit candles; wax melting on the table cloth, cute vintage dishes; inevitably one breaks, a breeze through the trees; dust fills the air, flowers in bloom; would love to take a sprig of lilac and put it in a jar next to my bed. Almost forgot this is the whole point.
I haven’t fully decided on the menu just yet, it will kind of depend on what I can get today. I’m thinking herby biscuits, roasted cauliflower, bean salad, maybe some kind of roasted meat? Though time is running out haha and either a fruity scone with butter and cream and jam for dessert or a lovely olive oil cake dolloped with whipped cream and a smattering of fruits. MAN I’M AMPED just writing this haha. I recently read somewhere - or maybe it was a TikTok - but the circumstances that you eat in, actually effects your digestion! Meaning if you eat in poor company or at your desk (NAUGHTY) and under stress, you actually don’t digest your food as well. So that being said, pick your culinary companions wisely and NEVER EAT AT YOUR DESK! I’m looking at you coworkers haha
I think that’s all for now my sweeties. I really hope you enjoyed this first entry, please subscribe, comment, send me a little letter, whatever you’d like. I’m so hyped to start this journey with you <3
xoxo VeryMadeleine