Your Friend in Food #1: October 12, 2023
we're back with a new name but the foodie energy stays the same!
Hi, its been a minute so allow to me to (re)introduce myself!
I’m Abena and I’m your friend in food. I started this newsletter when I co-founded a company eager to create a platform for community builders in the food space. Le Digestif was our way of sharing the things in food that we loved in a friendly and fun way.
That company has flamed out but my passion to share interesting pieces around food hasn’t. This newsletter has been dormant for a while, but I’ve felt this creative spark to bring it back with a new flair.
Why not continue with Le Digestif? That is an excellent question! Partly because the people in my proximity had a hard time saying it and also the name reminded me of a past life that I have since bid adieu. (You can read a selection of old posts here)
Say hello to Your Friend in Food, a casual newsletter that gets serious about food.
In my day-to-day, I am consuming food in all the ways possible. Whether it’s whipping something up or scheming on a sought-after reservation, diving deep into some gastronomic literature, or creating docs and Google Maps lists for my travels, food is the lens by which I look through life.
I’m starting Your Friend in Food because I want a place to nerd out, get mushy, curate lists, interview other friends in food, offer recs or advice, and wax poetic about the things I love about this wonderful and complicated culinary world. Think of this newsletter like that weekly check-in from the one friend who constantly talks about food and gives the best advice or food for thought.
A little bit more about me. I’m the founder of The Eden Place, an emerging community of food lovers. This project has been on pause for a minute but more soon! I’m also the 2023 James Beard Emerging Voice winner for my show on the Cherry Bombe Podcast Network, The Future of Food is You. Each Thursday, I interview emerging talent in the food world and chat about their stories, projects, and aspirations. I’ve learnt so much and met such amazing people!
I’m also splitting time between CDMX and NYC while I try to scheme on the next iteration of my company.
So here’s the deal. Every week, I’ll share what’s been inspiring and exciting me in the food world. It could be an essay, a chat with a friend or two, a curation of recipes or restaurants, or just a little rant I thought of on my morning walk. I promise it will be (chaotic) good!! I will also share weekly updates on guests that I interview on The Future of Food is You.
This is perfect timing because TODAY we are launching season 4 of the podcast!! I had a chance to chat with the lovely duo Aliza Abarbanel and Tanya Bush, co-editors of Cake Zine. Cake Zine is a literary publication that intersects culture and food. I am a big fan of the zine and an even bigger fan of the parties dedicated to each issue.
Aliza, Tanya, and I chat about the friendship that sparked this project, their individual projects in food, and the current state of food media. They also gave me a sneak peek of their issue dropping during the holidays dubbed TOUGH COOKIE! Check out their Instagram and website for more info! Listen here!
Aliza and Tanya are also on the Cherry Bombe Future of Food 50, our inaugural list inspired by the podcast! Snag a copy of our latest issue to read more!!
I’m really excited to be writing again and express my love of food in a medium that has brought me a lot of peace and one I’ve been inspired by. I’ve been cooking up some good ideas and I hope you join me on this journey!
Cheers!
Your friend in food
Abena
Love the Contramar dessert tray but DREAM about their Tuna Tostadas 😍
Love all of this. Can’t wait to be reading more!