T LOunge for January 31st, 2023

Yauza Bar and Restaurant – Tel Aviv, Israel

It’s TUESDAY, so we’re feeling like a little bit of plush luxury is exactly what we need to plow through the day. Let’s plant our asses on velvet and gossip!

Give Me All the Stories About Asian American Moms
When I became a mother, I desperately needed to see women like me reflected onscreen. Finally, it’s starting to happen.
We’re at my friend Inyoung’s house. I’ve dropped in unannounced, two daughters in tow, and she’s laying out a beautiful meal: gamja-guk potato soup, gyeran-mari egg rolls, and hobak-jeon zucchini fritters. Watching my daughter wolf down more zucchini than she’s ever eaten in her life, I begin to spiral. I can’t conjure up soup from the sorry depths of my fridge. I can’t make Asian food. I can’t even speak Mandarin. I’m a bad Asian mom.
But then I jerk myself back from the precipice. I’m Asian enough, I tell myself. I’m mom enough. I’m enough.
This defiance in the face of my own negativity is something I’ve been practicing for a few months now. I’ve been rewiring my neural pathways. I’ve been reconfiguring my thinking. And it’s all thanks to a new spate of books and movies about the Asian American mom.

Martha Stewart Goes Viral with Youthful No-Filter Selfie
The queen of the thirst trap is back.
Martha Stewart, the queen of the thirst trap and the original influencer, is back again with an Internet-breaking selfie.
Over the weekend, the lifestyle icon documented her trip to the hair salon by sharing a photo of herself looking fresh and youthful.
The photo soon went viral, and while many praised her smooth complexion, radiance, and confidence, others, of course, shared their doubts and insisted she admit to plastic surgery.

Can Poetry Heal a Broken World?
Ada Limón, the first Latina poet laureate, believes that the power of words can help us navigate this time of crisis.
For Limón, as for so many other writers, the pandemic has been its own special brand of hell. Not only the literal anxiety—personal, medical—but the artistic paralysis. Limón realized that she could write from a place of anger and rage and grief, but fear was an entirely different animal. “All the walls [went] up,” she says. “Fear…had me in its grip for so long. The anxiety of not just what was going to happen to my own body, but what was going to happen to my beloveds. To my friends and to my family. Then, beyond that, to the world.
But, she says, this place—the precarity of the body, the way in which the body mediates the way we occupy the world—is where poetry lives.”

One of Princess Diana’s Most Famous Dresses Just Sold at Auction for $600k
Designed by society dressmaker Victor Edelstein, the “Infanta”-style dress was immortalized in several ways on the late princess: portraiture, editorial, and even on a doll. On January 27, the dress sold for $600k at Sotheby’s, surpassing the estimate by over $400k.

UNESCO Adds Odesa to World Heritage List
“This inscription embodies our collective determination to ensure that this city, which has always surmounted global upheavals, is preserved from further destruction.”
UNESCO has designated Odesa, a port city in southern Ukraine, a World Heritage site in a move that is expected to help preserve the city’s cultural heritage amidst the ongoing war. Soon after adding Odesa (also spelled Odessa) to the list, UNESCO (which stands for United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization) immediately classified the site as “in danger.”
“Odesa, a free city, a world city, a legendary port that has left its mark on cinema, literature and the arts, is thus placed under the reinforced protection of the international community,” Audrey Azoulay, UNESCO’s director general, said in a statement. “While the war continues, this inscription embodies our collective determination to ensure that this city, which has always surmounted global upheavals, is preserved from further destruction.”

Everything to Know About Cooking With Black Lime
Boost your culinary repertoire with this tangy ingredient.
Black limes, also known as dried limes or black lemons, are often used in Middle Eastern and North African cooking. They add a sour and salty flavor to stews, tagines, and other dishes. The versatility of black lime, which gets its dark, dried appearance from being sun-dried until it turns black in color, makes the fruit a delicious addition to any cook’s arsenal.

The History of the Hero: The Bulgari Serpenti
2023 marks the 75th anniversary of the glittering snake designs loved by Hollywood A-listers and historic style icons alike
Bulgari, an Italian icon of fine jewellery making, has reached an important milestone. This year celebrates the 75th anniversary of its Serpenti collection. One of the maison’s most cherished motifs, the Serpenti epitomises all things Bulgari – passion for colour, flair for combining exotic materials, innovative artistry and effortless glamour – and the collection has become one of the most well-known and beloved symbols in modern jewellery.
Since the first iterations appeared in the late 1940s, the Serpenti has been worn by some of Hollywood’s biggest names and boasts a historic legacy to match.

Michaela Coel on passing the baton
For Michaela Coel, openness, authenticity and a spirit of experimentation have been key to unlocking her creativity. Now, she tells Helena Lee, she’s helping other aspiring film-makers overcome the obstacles to success
Honesty has served Michaela Coel well. In an industry that thrives on opacity, the writer, producer and Black Panther star has consistently spoken out on subjects that are often considered taboo. Five years ago, she delivered the Mac-Taggart keynote address at the Edinburgh International Television Festival, candidly detailing the systemic discrimination she experienced at drama school and on the production of her own comedy Chewing Gum, not to mention the remarkable moment she turned down a one-million-dollar deal from Netflix in order to retain the rights to her multi-award-winning drama series I May Destroy You.
“I’ve not known another way to be,” she says. “Being transparent about my feelings has been the key to my success. I don’t feel it’s damaged my career in any way, so that’s what I encourage others to do. I think being honest and compassionate is what leads to better relationships, and better work.”

The campaign for a new dictionary definition of ‘beauty’ explained
Coty’s CEO has written an open letter to major dictionaries asking to change their outdated definitions of beauty
As a concept, beauty means something different to everyone, and we’re hopeful that the ubiquitous image that’s been indelible in our mainstream society – that of physical attractiveness aligned with limited standards – has evolved.
Take the current English language definitions of the term ‘beauty’ and the examples used to illustrate it, which in 2023 can be seen as anachronistic. Descriptions like “a beautiful person, especially a woman”, and “she was a great beauty in her youth” remain, but to many no longer reflect the values of today’s society.
This is why Coty, the beauty conglomerate with a portfolio of iconic brands under its roof, has launched #UndefineBeauty campaigning for new definitions in dictionaries.

How ‘The Last of Us’ Revived Linda Ronstadt’s ‘Long Long Time,’ Which Is Now Up 4,900% in Spotify Streams
Linda Ronstadt’s “Long Long Time” has soared up the streaming charts following last night’s episode of the HBO series “The Last of Us.”
After the episode aired, the 1970s song saw streaming numbers increase by 4900% according to Spotify.
“Long, Long Time” featured prominently and can be heard in scenes with survivors Bill (Nick Offerman) and Frank (Murray Bartlett), as well as later in scenes with Joel (Pedro Pascal) and Ellie (Bella Ramsey).

Leïla Slimani’s Lullaby Is Coming To HBO With Nicole Kidman In The Lead
If you, like me, devoured Leïla Slimani’s taut and horrifying thriller, Lullaby – the story of a Parisian nanny who murders the two children she is hired to care for – in a single, sweat-drenched sitting, we have news: a brand new adaptation is on its way from HBO and Nicole Kidman looks set to play the dangerous and beguiling figure at its centre.

What Is Dukkah? Here’s How to Make and Use This Fragrant Middle Eastern Spice Blend
The versatile mix can be used as a topping, crust, or condiment and adds crunch, spice, and flavor to just about any dish.
If you’re looking to expand your culinary repertoire, set your sights on dukkah. Also spelled dukkha, duqqa, du’ah, or do’a, this fragrant, earthy Middle Eastern seasoning mix lends texture, crunch, and plenty of oomph to proteins, salads, rice, and more.
Originating in ancient Egypt, dukkah mixes made use of cumin, coriander, and salt, which were readily available on the spice routes that connected the East and West—eventually becoming a Middle Eastern staple. Lately, it’s been making strides stateside, turning up on restaurant menus; several small companies have even started sharing their takes on dukkah. To learn more about dukkah, including its key ingredients and how it is used, we reached out to two food professionals who offer unique interpretations of this enduring spice blend.

How to Turn Grocery Store Flowers Into a Florist-Worthy Bouquet
Learn how to elevate a pre-made bouquet—and how to make an arrangement out of separate bundles of blooms.
Many grocery stores have an area dedicated to fresh flowers, with mixed bouquets and separate bunches of specific varieties. While adding a few blooms to your cart as you shop is one of life’s simple pleasures, figuring out what to do with them when you get home is less cut and dry. At what angle should you cut the stems? Is there a way to make your arrangement last longer? Can you elevate your pre-made bouquet with some artistic styling? With some forward planning and a few basic supplies, you can easily turn store-bought blooms into a stunning arrangement worthy of any flower shop.

Hildegard of Bingen Composes the Cosmos
How a visionary medieval nun became a towering figure in early musical history.
Disibodenberg, a nine-hundred-year-old Benedictine monastery in the Rhineland region of western Germany, is a majestically dismal ruin, its roofless buildings overrun by ivy and interspersed with stands of oak, ash, and beech. When I searched out the site, last May, I was the only visitor. I half expected to come across Caspar David Friedrich painting at an easel. One sector, consisting of scattered blocks and fragments of walls, is marked with a sign, in German: “Area of the Hildegard Convent (12th Cent.).” This, according to one guess, is where the nun, theologian, poet, and composer Hildegard of Bingen spent about forty years of her eight-decade life. In her teens, she was enclosed with two other nuns at the monastery, seemingly destined for a life of anonymous devotion. Something of the ambience of the place seeps into Hildegard’s hymn to St. Disibod, the Irish bishop for whom the monastery is named: “You hid yourself out of sight / drunk with the smell of flowers in the windows of the saints / reaching towards God.”

Marc Maron, Christina Ricci, and more slam Oscars’ campaign review after Andrea Riseborough’s nom
Actress Christina Ricci and director Rod Lurie also defended Riseborough’s surprise Best Actress nomination for To Leslie.
Marc Maron and other stars are slamming the Academy’s decision to conduct a review of the campaign tactics behind this year’s Oscar nominees following the surprise nomination of his To Leslie costar Andrea Riseborough.
The actor and podcast host, who, in To Leslie, plays a motel owner who helps Riseborough’s alcoholic character get her life back on track, defended the grassroots campaign behind her nomination as “earnest” on Monday’s episode of his WTF with Marc Maron podcast.
“Apparently, the Academy of Motion Picture Sciences, or whatever the f— it is, has decided to investigate Andrea Riseborough’s grassroots campaign to get her the Oscar nomination,” Maron said. “Because I guess it so threatens their system that they’re completely bought out by corporate interests in the form of studios.”

Uncomfortable Shoes of the Middle Ages
Getty medievalist Larisa Grollemond discusses the feet of fashionistas of the past
Ever worn uncomfortable shoes in the name of fashion? You have something in common with the glitterati of late medieval Europe!
Pointy-toed shoes were all the rage, especially in the 14th and 15th centuries. Called “poulaines” or “cracows,” they appear mostly on men in manuscript illuminations from the time. However, as you can see in the image above, women got in on the action too. Some of these very pointy shoes have been preserved. Like this striped number from the 14th century or this silk pair from the 15th century.

Wynonna Judd, on Her Own
Last spring, the country superstar lost her mother and longtime singing partner, Naomi Judd, to suicide. At 58, she finally hopes to become the musician she’s wanted to be for 50 years.
FOR MUCH OF the ’80s, the Judds were country music’s sweethearts next door, the mother-daughter duo mistaken for sisters. The Judds’ preternatural Kentucky harmonies politely rebuffed the “Urban Cowboy” craze sparked by the 1980 film, and country’s increasing slickness. Wynonna and Naomi sang about grandpa and the good ol’ days, and then held each other in love or heartache. Naomi was the playful one, charming crowds as she sang backup; Wynonna, more stoic, was the generational singer out front.

The Restless Quest for a Better Frozen Pizza
As shoppers flock to the freezer aisle, artisan pizzaiolos are using new tech and express shipping to give them pies that taste like the real thing. But the translation from fresh isn’t easy.
Since 1962, when the Minneapolis entrepreneur Rose Totino introduced it to American shoppers, frozen pizza has been an after-school snack, the quickest route to dinner, a midnight temptation of last resort.
But in the last five years, frozen pizza has become something else entirely: a piece of culinary craft, an authentic taste of Italy, a connection to buzzy pizzerias like Roberta’s in Bushwick, Brooklyn, and Pizzana in Los Angeles and Dallas.
Sales of frozen food surged during the pandemic, according to IRI and other market research firms, boosting premium mass-produced brands like Talia di Napoli and Table 87, and pushing even the most traditional pizzaiolos toward the freezer aisle.
The challenge of pizza is to cook each element to peak deliciousness at once. When ice and shipping are added to the equation, that becomes even more complicated. Fresh mozzarella becomes clumpy, tomatoes dry out, crusts become soggy.

[Photo Credit: Arkadi Raskin, yauza-tlv.com]

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