Weekly A to Z, May 21st.

The one with the jaguar.

A (mostly) balanced week. I finished the second draft of a manuscript, which is now over to some of my favorite readers. I had some optimistic pitches, a few lessons in patience, and, of course, the ‘threat’ of a big cat in my beloved Springs 3. (Is anyone else Team Jaguar…even if it’s just a domesticated cat?)

On Tuesday I attended a tea seminar (courtesy of Haiyatea and Project Chaiwala), where I learned a ton on the topic (and enjoyed a lot of snacks and tea).

On Wednesday, I was over to ATM, which was…quiet. However, I’m glad the event went ahead, even as a sign of recovery and confidence in the industry. And yes, I would love to try the new Emirates premium economy seats on an upcoming flight.

I finished the week at Reif Kushiyaki (joined by Melody of Curious Elephant, have you tried the new sambal?). The Teishoku Trays are (of course) delicious, but the price point is what we should really be talking about. AED85 for a main dish, miso soup, green salad, and the dessert of the day (ours was a beautiful matcha fondue). I promise you’ll be full.

Links, please.

• A quick chat between me and Chef Gerard of folly workshop. Instagram

• What were the most prized items in your high school cafeteria? The Takeout

• Can you name the invisible spice? Taste

• PBR + Entemanns actually sounds amazing. Food and Wine

• Kurt Cobain makes chili. TikTok

• The latest in the Flamin’ Hot Cheetos controversy. Vice

• Horny grocery shopping? Grub Street

• Yes, there are Costco influencers. Jezebel

• How much would you pay for wine from space? Atlas Obscura

• What’s your familect? After twenty years together, Hubs and I have quite the vocabulary. #mp&dpforlife The Atlantic

• We’re all heading to Cablp. Vice

• You need to see this levitating hot dog. Gizmodo

• How much do customers care about sustainability? Nation’s Restaurant News

• Are you attending BOCA’s Matusalem Insólito dinner next week? Instagram

• Although a bit more involved the necessary, some good tips on starting a book club (or just ask me). The Good Trade

• The Spinneys incubator is back! I can think of a few local businesses I’d love to see on the shelves. Instagram

• In other local (awesome) news, congratulations to Side Hustle Brews, for their partnership with Etihad. (And I’d still love to see a selection of their products at Time Out Market!) Instagram

Next week The Bookers are trying out something new, Epitome, a vegetarian lounge. I’ll also be over to BOCA and Fi’lia for some lunches I’m looking forward to.

Keep an eye on your socials this weekend. I’ll be debuting a trial of the Carnistore x Haute Sauce collab (with bonus Hubs footage).

If you enjoy this newsletter, consider telling a friend, purchasing my books, subscribing to my podcast, or buying me a coffee.

C.