Hi there!

Welcome to Bittersweet, a somewhat regular newsletter, written by me (Jaime). I’m an out-of-practice food writer, theoretical chef, self-proclaimed poet, aspiring farmer, sporadic baker, slightly reluctant barista, and a lot of other things. And yes, it is exactly as exhausting as it sounds.

In all of my work, I maintain the belief that food is about so much more than what is on our plates. It is a lens through which we can see the world and connect to one another. It is a tool for communication, and a vessel for change. It crosses social, economic, and political boundaries to showcase the many hidden paths that bring us back together. And that’s pretty cool.

With this publication (as with all of the ones that came before it), I hope to encourage an ongoing and constantly evolving conversation about the food that we eat and where it comes from. Recipes, menus, and shared meals will become a tangible way to unpack the complex issues facing our modern world, as well as a framework for moving towards a more equitable and sustainable future.

So, what exactly can you expect to see in your inbox? To be honest, I’m not really sure. You will probably get semi-regular essays, a few poems, and maybe a recipe every now and then. There could be a dinner invite or cake order form coming eventually, but no promises. I certainly can’t guarantee a shortage of angry ranting and harsh criticism, but rest assured there will be plenty of cautiously optimistic sentiments sprinkled in. Hopefully.

For now, I’ll be starting out slow and seeing how things go. As with any new and creative thing, there will be lots of changing and growing along the way. But that’s kind of the whole point, right?

Regardless of how this evolves, thank you for being here. Now, let’s get to it.