Closed Loop Cooking Weekly Newsletter 4.2.21

April 2nd, 2021Hi friends,A note–I’ll be taking the next 2 weeks off from the newsletter to rest & recoup after a not so fun bout with, you guessed it, shingles. (Why would you guess that?) Please send all your best relaxation tips (and favorite plant-based soups) this way.Where does community live now? How do we cultivate the closeness once felt in any number of public gathering spaces? Most of my formative relationships in high school and college came from 10 years working in the restaurant industry. My time in Portland was defined by a proximity to food and making room at the table. As we’ve distanced this last year and found some solace in shared content, the comfort of an infinite scroll fades quickly when you come to. I am hungry for connection.We need attention. Care. Thoughtful, shared moments together. Whether that looks like eating dinner over Zoom, working off of the same recipe in different kitchens, partaking in a cookbook club and sharing photos, it’s got to be intentional. Although I do wholeheartedly support excessive memes between besties (I live for internet chaos), at some point you have to ask yourself what an excess of content is doing for you. (Says to myself and no one in particular.) Are we finding connection or are we simply plugged in?We’re launching a thing over here at CLC in early May. A community focused on cultivating friendships, offering support, and making low impact living accessible. It’s the space I wish we had when *this* all started a year ago and something we can continue to grow and find resiliency in. The Loop (heh) is currently in beta. Chances are, if you’re reading this newsletter you’ll be a good fit. If you’ve already signed up on the waitlist, thank you! If you’re excited about what a sustainable community could look like, drop your email here to request an invite. More details to come.I am so excited to rest (force myself to relax) and think about the possibilities for this new space. The questions we can answer together, resources we can share, cheesy dinner prep playlists we can jam out to. And so much more. I hope I see ya over there.We’re committed to diversity and inclusivity for this membership. Scholarships for BIPOC folx are a priority and will be available on an individual basis.Keep those healing vibes coming please!Stay hungry,Hawnuh Lee | Founder, Closed Loop Cooking

Slosh body // @hawnuhlee

To-do’s and how-to'sMaking slow home improvements as a form of r&r. Taking in these hot tips for sustainable home swaps and upcycled decor from designers who know how to cultivate an heirloom aesthetic. 

This week’s required reading Sleuthing on these internet only restaurant schemes. The mysterious case of F*cking Good Pizza offers insight on virtual food skinning. On one hand, it’s keeping restaurants in biz, on the other hand, you have no idea where your dinner is being made. Let’s discuss.A repurposed electric milk float is serving up refillable goods for Londoners, known as the Topup Truck. A novel approach to low waste communal resources. Into it!Someone please watch Shiva Baby with me. Food in death and too many Zoom funerals. I’ve missed the ritual in mourning and this write up captures it perfectly.Farmer’s market season is upon us. Brushing up on tried and true produce recipes from these 10 cookbooks from BIPOC plant lovers.

Here’s what’s for dinnerI am all in, all ears, all forks for Mickey’s lemon sunchoke shiitake risotto. A sumptuous, bright bowl of hearty grain and seasonal tubers. Sunchokes are a lovely foray from winter into spring produce with savory shrooms to top it all off. I LOVE a creamy, lemon rice dish and this will be my go-to evening bowl for all chilly evenings, here on out. Join me, won’t you?And for dessert I will be imbibing with a mini caramel apple clafoutis because why NOT? Apple dreaming, every season.

We’re cooking withI keep making eyes with these beautiful, bamboo composite plates and can not, will not look away. Swoon worthy and saturated geometric shapes you can eat off!Feeling hecka organized and domestic with a full on counter caddy to host a myriad of scrubby buddies. A plastic-free pop up sponge will fit right in.

AttendReally intrigued by this upcoming virtual (free) workshop on a taste of African Heritage with Coleman Library. Snag a ticket for this Thursday, April 8th for a flavorful, plant-based offering. Already digging into this ingredient list.   

Listening inOne of our fav pod series is back! Home Cooking with Samin Nosrat and Hrishi Hirway talk to the hand with famed puppets from Netflix special, Waffles & Mochi.   

Can't stop staring Seriously drooling over these high end Kit Kats dreamed up by Yasumasa Takagi. Desperately want a yuzu or ruby chocolate flavored snappy chocolate bar.Fruit bus stops. Full stop.Maria Reading’s art is trash. Literally. Beautifully depicted landscapes on found items.

Make changeYou can still donate to #TransDayofSnack for trans visibility day. Because EVERYONE deserves a snack and to be treated as such. (Hot tip: your donations can also go to trans mutual aid efforts.) 

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