Last week, I had a spiritual experience with an almond.
Smoked chilli and lemon almonds from a farmers market in LA, gifted by the girl-with-great-taste, Milena Dambelli.
Something about the nuts and this Ezra Klein podcast sent me into a spin, and I started madly cataloguing every life-changing snack; the snacks became books, songs, movies, and misc. things that had left a similar mark.
At the end of the fever dream, I had a jumble of things that I wouldn’t necessarily consider my faves, but seeing them all together felt (ridiculously) profound. Like a map of my changing tastes and points of view. Quite deep, no?
So inspired by a packet o’ nuts, here are some things I’ve been thinking about.
Breath by Tim Winton
I definitely picked this up to seem more mature at the time, but I have the clearest memory of thinking, ‘This is what I like now’. And it confirmed everything I’d already assumed: that adults are a bit shit and beach = life.
Will Davidson for Russh
I must have had this on my wall or stuck to a book because this shoot, especially this shot, has been tattooed behind my eyelids. Every year, I feverishly hunt it down just to make sure I can find it. Turns out I can.
InnerSpeaker by Tame Impala
Picture me, 16, staring out a train window on a family holiday in France with this album playing on repeat, repeat, repeat. Main characters aren’t made etc.
Get Free by Major Laser
Listening to this now is so funny, but at the time, I remember my brain feeling like it had cracked open.
Trick Mirror by Jia Tolentino
Another brain crack that came at the perfect time, this one with a reminder that being confused and conflicted is a rite of passage. And there’s no such thing as a unique experience.
Sunbathing by Isobel Beech
Post-pandemic, with a brain fried from too many best-sellers and must-read lists, this reminded me what I liked/disliked. I liked this, I disliked things I read after this.
Life changing eats
I couldn’t dedicate this to smoked almonds without shouting out other life-changing bites like the first time I had Pepe Saya butter, Nigella’s chocolate olive oil cake, Alison Roman’s shallot pasta, Anna’s fish tacos (everyone needs an Anna), NYT’s Spanikorizo, Farmhouse’s rainbow trout with caperberries, a fishy hot sauce from Spain, Omeio’s veggie sandwich, the Brickfields broccoli and parmesan sandwich, bread and butter pickles, harrissa, a plate of salted zucchini with lemon and chilli in Italy, Alberto’s vongole, Matt’s crispy potatoes, Yalla eggplant salsa (!!!), sumac, a fish curry from Jane, The Unicorn’s side salad, black vinegar and oomite.
TY for being here. Send me your life-changing lists!