Yassou! Yours truly is back from two glorious weeks in Greece, and friends are blaming/thanking me for bringing this hot weather back. (I could barely fit it in my bag full of caftans, tunics, mastiha, spices, and Apivita skincare products.) If you follow me on Instagram, then you’ve seen all the cool places I have visited (Thassos, Kavala, Thessaloniki, Rachis Pierias, Volos, Skiathos, and Athens), while learning about kiwis and cherries (more on this soon)! It was a deeply restorative and delicious trip (#dailytarama), full of wonderful personal connections and lots of time swimming in the Aegean (truly my happiest of happy places).
Of course, it was hard to come back, but Fortuna helps a lot with that part (and I wouldn’t want to miss Pride, especially when Vinny Eng is one of the grand marshals and I am so honored to march in his contingent of LOVE on Sunday). If you’re looking for some ideas of how to celebrate, here’s a Pride piece I wrote for Local Getaways (you do NOT want to miss having a pink triangle tin of glittery Pride gummies from Kiva, it’s so awesome!), and then there’s Marke B’s ever-amazing Pride Guide in 48 Hills, with allllll the parties. Stay hydrated, gang. We’re out of practice.
I also loved seeing this Pride Snack Bag, with snacks from La Cocina entrepreneurs, featuring queer-owned and BIPOC-owned businesses! You can pick it up at the marketplace at 101 Hyde St.—just a block from the parade route—on Sunday June 26th 11am-3pm (snack bags will be available for those who haven’t pre-ordered, but in limited quantities, so don’t show up late).
While I was away, the James Beard Foundation announced the 2022 Restaurant and Chef Award winners—congrats to alllll the winners, nominees, and semifinalists (including Best Chef: California: Brandon Jew of Mister Jiu’s!). I’m sure it was great to be back in person for the ceremony and parties.
I need to take Fortuna into the backyard to cool off before we spontaneously combust in my top-floor apartment, so let’s catch up on some news! Happy summer solstice.
Drinking a mastiha mojito at sunset at Karnagio Beach Bar on Thassos. Yamas!View tablehopper Newsletter from Tuesday, Jun 21 2022
