I'm clueless if there is indeed some, but I think there needs to be more about that classic disconnect between what health professionals recommend for eating far from home and the reality of eating somewhere far from home.
As a Bolivian who has eaten at Gustu, I read this essay ravenously. Next time she goes she should visit Ali Pacha (vegan) and Popular, who I think are doing the local and national better.
Loved this piece! It also made me remember this past summer when I took my partner to Cuba (his first visit to La Habana). Like the piece’s author, he was warned by all of my family members to be cautious about drinking cocktails since the water is not often boiled for ice and could lead to an upset stomach.
We traveled in July during what was possibly the hottest summer I had ever experienced in Cuba (note: I was born there and grew up in Miami so I am accustomed to very hot days) and so we went to one of the iconic hotels that was known for their mojitos (and their cool breezy patio). When we approached the bartender and ask for “3 mojitos, sin hielo (no ice),” we got what was the strangest looks from the bar staff. Finally, as my sister, my partner, and I prepared ourselves to down our mojito “consommé,” we all agreed that perhaps the upset stomach would have been worth it in the end for a cold drink 🤣 cheers!
Alicia, I've been catching up on the desk dispatches recently and I've loved them. They're so immersive, well written and edited, and really interesting. It's been such a good idea on your part to commission work you, in your words, couldn't have written yourself due to these not being your identities or experiences - a really self-aware and selfless approach. I hope they can continue, I've enjoyed them so much
Thank you so, so much for this! The last one (for now) will be coming this month. Sadly I lost a lot of paid subscribers this year and can’t afford to pay contributors regularly.
I'm really sorry to hear you've lost paid subscribers - that's stressful enough for you on a personal/financial level, let alone the thoughts of what that means for hopes you've had for sections like this in the newsletter going on the back-burner for a bit. These have been wonderful to read, but it's far from a sacrifice to have to "make do" with just your words for now lolol
Jajaja we can’t drink mojitos anymore without reliving the consommé experience. It was a trip to remember (and is why I’m excited about the book club pick to discuss this further!)
Felt some of these lines in the pit of my stomach, especially the need to defy stereotypes - another great contribution from Hilary! Writing about who gets to plant what flag where, especially in regards to food, is a perfect fit for The Desk Dispatch.
While traveling, I've been guilty of booking a dinner at the "Gustu"s of the world thinking they might offer a hyper-distilled vision of a place's cuisine - sometimes they do, though sometimes, when helmed by outsiders like Meyer and his claim-staking view of Bolivia as "a great undiscovered larder of fantastic products", they leave me feeling unsettled and unfulfilled.
Loved this piece. Thank you for sharing and supporting independent writers!
I’ve totally been guilty of it, too—it’s so hard not to be! But I love this piece for helping us think through that compulsion a little deeper without slipping into self-hate. Thank you so much for reading! So glad you’re into it—and I think the contributions continue to be so exciting through the end of the year!
Dreaming of an origin trip to Tranquilidad next year, hadn't considered the microbiome yikes! I'm often asked if I go to the producing countries to source my cacao and consistently disappoint when I explain the realities of logistics and supply chains. I've always wanted to see the chocolate tree and immerse myself in the culture that produces it, hope to do so in a respectful and reciprocal way.
I'm clueless if there is indeed some, but I think there needs to be more about that classic disconnect between what health professionals recommend for eating far from home and the reality of eating somewhere far from home.
I would love to read it and / or publish it! It seems absolutely impossible to actually commit to.
If I was smarter, I'd pitch lol.
As a Bolivian who has eaten at Gustu, I read this essay ravenously. Next time she goes she should visit Ali Pacha (vegan) and Popular, who I think are doing the local and national better.
In other things… Mythologies. *swoon*
Mónica—I need more info from you!!! 🤣 I just read about these other restaurants and am so intrigued.
Anytime! I am always happy to talk Bolivian food!!
Hola, Moni, jajaja.
😘😘
loved this one and love that you’re paying $500 and transparent about it. very happy and proud to be a paying subscriber
Thank you so much, Mindy!!!
Re: print subscriptions - def Eaten Mag!
I’ve bought a few copies here and there!
Loved this piece! It also made me remember this past summer when I took my partner to Cuba (his first visit to La Habana). Like the piece’s author, he was warned by all of my family members to be cautious about drinking cocktails since the water is not often boiled for ice and could lead to an upset stomach.
We traveled in July during what was possibly the hottest summer I had ever experienced in Cuba (note: I was born there and grew up in Miami so I am accustomed to very hot days) and so we went to one of the iconic hotels that was known for their mojitos (and their cool breezy patio). When we approached the bartender and ask for “3 mojitos, sin hielo (no ice),” we got what was the strangest looks from the bar staff. Finally, as my sister, my partner, and I prepared ourselves to down our mojito “consommé,” we all agreed that perhaps the upset stomach would have been worth it in the end for a cold drink 🤣 cheers!
Also last summer was so wildly hot in Puerto Rico—I cannot imagine not having a cold drink in certainly similar conditions!
“Mojito consommé” 🤣 I am obsessed!!!
Pit is great, see below.
I haven’t read Sandwich yet but I’m intrigued
https://issuesmagshop.com/en-us/products/pit-10?pr_prod_strat=jac&pr_rec_id=eee627af4&pr_rec_pid=9151200821549&pr_ref_pid=9169917247789&pr_seq=uniform
Alicia, I've been catching up on the desk dispatches recently and I've loved them. They're so immersive, well written and edited, and really interesting. It's been such a good idea on your part to commission work you, in your words, couldn't have written yourself due to these not being your identities or experiences - a really self-aware and selfless approach. I hope they can continue, I've enjoyed them so much
Thank you so, so much for this! The last one (for now) will be coming this month. Sadly I lost a lot of paid subscribers this year and can’t afford to pay contributors regularly.
I'm really sorry to hear you've lost paid subscribers - that's stressful enough for you on a personal/financial level, let alone the thoughts of what that means for hopes you've had for sections like this in the newsletter going on the back-burner for a bit. These have been wonderful to read, but it's far from a sacrifice to have to "make do" with just your words for now lolol
Jajaja we can’t drink mojitos anymore without reliving the consommé experience. It was a trip to remember (and is why I’m excited about the book club pick to discuss this further!)
So glad you’ll be participating! Looking forward to your insight!
Felt some of these lines in the pit of my stomach, especially the need to defy stereotypes - another great contribution from Hilary! Writing about who gets to plant what flag where, especially in regards to food, is a perfect fit for The Desk Dispatch.
While traveling, I've been guilty of booking a dinner at the "Gustu"s of the world thinking they might offer a hyper-distilled vision of a place's cuisine - sometimes they do, though sometimes, when helmed by outsiders like Meyer and his claim-staking view of Bolivia as "a great undiscovered larder of fantastic products", they leave me feeling unsettled and unfulfilled.
Loved this piece. Thank you for sharing and supporting independent writers!
I’ve totally been guilty of it, too—it’s so hard not to be! But I love this piece for helping us think through that compulsion a little deeper without slipping into self-hate. Thank you so much for reading! So glad you’re into it—and I think the contributions continue to be so exciting through the end of the year!
I've been delving back into Logic(s) Mag, remembering how much I get out of reading what they publish about technology https://logicmag.io
Dreaming of an origin trip to Tranquilidad next year, hadn't considered the microbiome yikes! I'm often asked if I go to the producing countries to source my cacao and consistently disappoint when I explain the realities of logistics and supply chains. I've always wanted to see the chocolate tree and immerse myself in the culture that produces it, hope to do so in a respectful and reciprocal way.
So interesting! I’ve loved getting to see chocolate production at small scale in Puerto Rico.
THIS!!! Hooray for manufacturing in producing lands! Especially small scale by the people who live there <3
I credit Barthes and Saussure for putting me on the path to becoming a chocolate maker :)
Now that’s an essay!