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Fig Leaf Simple Syrup

Wildly underappreciated (in the US) — fig leaves taste like coconut-vanilla-toasted marshmallow (also a bit like pandan) and have a wide variety of uses, including medical applications. It takes just a few leaves to make a potent syrup that can be used to sweeten coffee or tea, deepen the flavor of baked goods and desserts, or be a base note for gorgeous cocktails.

Hyperspecific Museums

I love a museum that attends to something ultra-particular — whether it’s a niche collection, a certain creative process, or unique history. For example, a new art museum opened in SLC this week in a restored historic building; the exhibits include pieces from an extraordinary but largely unknown local folk artist, a deep dive into the works of one of America’s great landscape masters from when he took a frontier trip to Utah, and a touching exploration of the Julia Reagan billboard phenomenon that genuinely left me misty-eyed and inspired.

“The Past is Red” by Catherynne Valente, read by Penelope Rawlins

5-hour Pynchonesque post-apocalyptic literary triumph made even better by the inimitably dynamic performance of Penelope Rawlins. A true treasure for audiobook enthusiasts.

Porcini Chocolate Naive

Creamy, musky, unexpectedly perfect. Top tier bar.

Fig Leaf Simple Syrup

Wildly underappreciated (in the US) — fig leaves taste like coconut-vanilla-toasted marshmallow (also a bit like pandan) and have a wide variety of uses, including medical applications. It takes just a few leaves to make a potent syrup that can be used to sweeten coffee or tea, deepen the flavor of baked goods and desserts, or be a base note for gorgeous cocktails.

Hyperspecific Museums

I love a museum that attends to something ultra-particular — whether it’s a niche collection, a certain creative process, or unique history. For example, a new art museum opened in SLC this week in a restored historic building; the exhibits include pieces from an extraordinary but largely unknown local folk artist, a deep dive into the works of one of America’s great landscape masters from when he took a frontier trip to Utah, and a touching exploration of the Julia Reagan billboard phenomenon that genuinely left me misty-eyed and inspired.

“The Past is Red” by Catherynne Valente, read by Penelope Rawlins

5-hour Pynchonesque post-apocalyptic literary triumph made even better by the inimitably dynamic performance of Penelope Rawlins. A true treasure for audiobook enthusiasts.

Porcini Chocolate Naive

Creamy, musky, unexpectedly perfect. Top tier bar.