The Monthly Memo: May

A monthly dispatch on life, food and things worth sharing.

Happy May. Here’s what’s been on my mind, on my table, and in my ears this month.

1. Devoured Strangers by Belle Burden in 36 hours. It’s a memoir about the sudden end of her twenty-year marriage, and it reads like a love story and a horror story at the same time. Unflinchingly honest but never bitter. I couldn’t put it down. Next up is Lena Dunham’s new memoir Famesick, which I’m really looking forward to.

2. Another book on my radar: How to Raise a Feminist Son by Sonora Jha. As Tedros’ mom, I think about this a lot, and I’m excited to dig into a book that takes it on directly.

3. I Miss My Old Life. This article by Mahmoud Khalil in New York Magazine stopped me in my tracks. It is powerful and moving and I think everyone should read it.

4. Just got Tedros Stapelstein stepping stones and he LOVES them. I was hesitant about the cost, but read so many positive reviews that I went for it, and they are worth every penny. They’re made in Germany, open-ended, endlessly versatile. He stacks them, sits on them, climbs on them. One of those toys that actually gets used every single day.

5. It’s gardening and seed planting time of year, and I want to highlight the Alliance of Native Seedkeepers - Bertie County Seeds. If you’re buying seeds this season, consider supporting an Indigenous woman-owned seed company. They specialize in over 1,000 varieties of heirloom, open-pollinated and ancestral seeds designed to boost food security and preserve agricultural biodiversity.

6. I’ve made my Pistachio Rose Cardamom Stuffed Dates with Tahini Magic Shell from this month’s recipe post 2x this month, and I’m still not over them. If you haven’t tried these yet, this is your sign.

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7. Vitamina T by Jorge Gaviria and Fermin Nunez of Masienda. This cookbook is incredible. Over 100 recipes for tacos, tortas, tamales, tostadas and all the Mexican street food staples. Living in Mexico City, I eat these things constantly, and this book makes me want to actually learn to make them properly at home. It’s beautiful, too.

8. I’ve been using Urban Moonshine bitters for ten years and I will never stop. A few drops in water before or after a meal does wonders for digestion. I keep a bottle in the kitchen at all times. If you haven’t explored bitters yet, this is the brand to start with.

9. These Thai Basil Chicken Dumplings from NYT Cooking. Rice paper wrappers instead of traditional dumpling skins, which makes them lighter and easier to work with. They come together fast, and they’re delicious. A new weeknight favorite.

10. Mizuba Matcha. My favorite matcha brand, through and through. I’ve tried so many over the years, and I always come back to Mizuba. The quality is consistent, the flavor is smooth, and it’s the first thing I reach for every morning. If you’re a matcha person, this is the one. They also have hojicha now!

11. Downloaded the Speak app to start practicing Italian. We’re heading to Italy next month, and I want to at least be able to order food and say thank you without embarrassing myself. The app is really well designed and the lessons feel more like conversations than drills.

12. Saltwater sandals for Tedros. I completely forgot about these until I saw them online and had an instant flashback to wearing them as a kid. They’re the perfect summer sandal: simple, durable, goes with everything. Just bought him a pair and I’m unreasonably excited about it.

That’s the memo! What are you loving this month? Tell me in the comments. I always find the best stuff from you all.

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