The Tasting Menu
Issue #12-I'm back!, Hustling Ants, Intentional Imperfection, Custom-Made Fragrances from Scent, Ricotta Toast & more!
Hi there old and new friends!
Reggie here. Yes, I am alive. I know it’s been a while but hopefully, the hiatus is over for good this time. I’m not here to unrealistically commit myself to a new post every single week but I am hoping to write to you all a couple of times each month.
Moving forward, I’ve decided this style of post is going to be called The Tasting Menu (Instead of Friday Tasting Menu), where I will still provide you with a curated spread of share-worthy things; this way I don’t limit myself to posting on a specific day. I would like to eventually move in that direction but right now I’m just looking to start again.
Hope this finds you well,
Reggie
Happy Sandwiches. 🥪 (Feels good to type that again. For good.)
On Today’s Menu
📖a read: The Art of Imperfection by Austin Kleon
📱a watch: A Man Who Can Recreate Any Fragrance
🎧a listen: Lofi Sunday-Mist of Blessing
🍴a bite: Whipped Ricotta Toast from La Pecora Bianca
💭a thought: On Tea
🗯a quote: James Clear on Desire
🍞a verse:Proverbs 6:6-8
📖 a read
Sometimes “creating art” or “striking creative gold” or “mastering your craft” can seem far fetched and out of reach. Try baking in Deliberate Imperfection.
Now, ironically, this makes me think of the jolly afro-man, Bob Ross, who coined the phrase,
“There are no mistakes. Just happy little accidents.” —Bob Ross
Bob’s approach to painting was to not allow the perhaps unintentional imperfection stop you from finishing the piece. A smudge out of place could easily be made into a rock or a shrub. This idea to beat the “mistake” to the punch is worth pocketing.
Austin Kleon writes about Navajo rug weavers that intentionally weave a defect into their pieces to show the humanity (imperfection) of the weaver and as a reminder that only God is perfect. Fascinating stuff.
Check out the original blog post by Austin here. And check the article he based his post on here.
📱a watch
I have a deep admiration for people who dive deep into their passions and crafts. This man creates and recreates fragrances from scent! You’ve gotta have some sharp olfaction (sense of smell) to be able to do that. Definitely gives me Stan Lee’s Superhumans feels. And I thought I had a good nose!
I’m also quite curious not only how he developed his sense of smell but what he’d be capable of in a kitchen!
🎧a listen
Lofi Sunday-Mist of Blessing
Spotify / Apple Music / YouTube / Instagram
If you know me; you know I’m a sucker for LoFi music.
“If we’re honest, hustle has had all of us in a headlock; we grind and and then burnout on repeat. So we are curating Lofi Music made to help each of us reimagine rest as a lifestyle that unlocks creativity and a fulfilling life. Join us in taking an active approach to slowing down and becoming more mindful,” wrote Reach Records.”
LoFi is slow down music.
🍴a bite
I recently took my wife out to eat at La Pecora Bianca (The White Sheep in Italian). To be honest, the service was sub-par. Despite the tasty fresh pasta dishes we had, the highlight of the lackluster experience was the appetizer: Whipped Ricotta, Truffle Honey with Country Toast.
The salty, creamy, slightly tangy whipped ricotta balanced beautifully with the fragrant and sweet truffle honey married together by the perfect vehicle: bread! Though not listed on the menu, it had chili flakes and a hint of lemon zest, and I’m pretty sure that wasn’t just honey in the little well of ricotta but also olive oil. Regardless this was delicious and it checked all the boxes.
I’m going to try to recreate this for sure! Stay tuned, because I’m going to be starting what I hope will turn into a long-term series for the future of this newsletter and beyond…And bread is involved.🍞
💭a thought
My friend Christian has always had a way with analogies since I met him. While catching up on the phone one night, we shared updates, thoughts, challenges, laughs, and encouragement; he said something like,
“The flavor of a tea bag is extracted in hot water.”
Not all analogies are perfect nor created equal; especially when it comes to trying to capture or convey spiritual truth. While I know that tea can be brewed in any temperature water, it is in boiling hot water that you can release the flavors of a tea bag the fastest.
The hot water represents the trials and battles and seasons that we all face. This is the means by which our characters are molded, our faith is tested, our dependence in God increases or decreases, our foundations are exposed, etc.
I’ve heard it said many times and have seen it first hand, God has a way of turning our messes into messages and tests into testimonies to share with others.
Something to think on.
🗯a quote
"It doesn't make sense to continue wanting something if you're not willing to do what it takes to get it.
If you don't want to live the lifestyle, then release yourself from the desire. To crave the result but not the process, is to guarantee disappointment."
-James Clear
James Clear is the author of the #1 New York Times bestseller, Atomic Habits, a book geared toward understanding and practicing the systems of building and breaking habits. Though I haven’t gotten around to reading his book yet, I’ve been a subscriber to his free email newsletter called the 3-2-1 Newsletter (Check it out here).
Each one features:
3 short ideas from James
2 quotes from others
1 question for you to ponder
It’s mind-boggling the amount of value chocked into his newsletter. Super distinct yet relatable ideas are how I’d best describe it.
The guy drops golden boulders 🪨 (not nuggets).
🍞a verse
This passage has come up a few times in 2023 for me thus far. In thought, in my devotional reading, and in a book I’m currently reading called Everyday Matters by Brandon Crowe. It uses creation as the example to follow for those who are lazy or unmotivated.
The tl;dr is: Go Find an Ant to Stare At and Take Notes
Guess who needed to hear/read it and still does? ME.
I hope you enjoyed some if not all of the menu today! Really grateful for your time and attention. Would mean the world if you could drop a like or a comment or both let me know what you think/like/dislike. I’m all ears! See you on the next one!