Intermezzo: A CULINARY RENAISSANCE
A journey through everyone's new favorite album, with snacks.
We don’t know about y’all, but we simply haven’t felt quite the same since last Friday at midnight EST when B7 *officially* dropped. To put it simply, Renaissance has rebirthed us, and frankly, we’re a little fucked up in all the right ways. Our depression? Cured. Our serotonin? Off the charts. (SB: Just to complicate the narrative: my own Renaissance journey has involved a feverish trip to Rainbow to procure some mesh to dance in, more than one sun-hangover, and a mid-afternoon viewing of Party Monster. Serotonin is certainly off the charts, but the charts are confusing. I think I am still depressed, but it’s been a pretty fun ride.) (JS: Transparently, it’s possible that I’m actually on the brink of a manic episode, but we’ll cross that bridge when we get there!)
ANYWAY… In many ways this album has kept us fed for the past week, but since this is allegedly, supposedly, technically a *food newsletter*, we thought this might be an opportune time to suggest recipes and foods perfect to enjoy with each track. Until next time, stream on, sweet readers!
THAT GIRL
(SB) A nutcracker on the beach, inflation be damned. Cash is king, don’t bother to make her at home.
(JS) In the interest of keeping ourselves honest, Nigella’s no churn coffee ice cream, croquetas, and provolone have all been deemed “that girl” on this very newsletter.
COZY
(SB) L&B Spumoni Gardens iced treats: rainbow gelato [spumoni] in the streets, pussy pink (watermelon ice); limoncello glistening… swaggy: effortlessly. Bensonhurst location or bust, though.
(JS) Really excellent soft serve. Pistachio and strawberry from Softside: She’s a god. Ube and macapuno coconut from Soft Swerve: She’s a hero. A classic chocolate and vanilla twist with a side of fries from the Triangle Dairy Bar in Whitefield, NH: She survived all she been through.
ALIEN SUPERSTAR
(JS) Category, sexy bitch? Methinks Kladdkaka just might be the bar.
(SB) Too classy for this world? Stingy with her love? The plum-sauce pork chop summer special at Via Carota. Supernatural love up in the air.
CUFF IT
(JS) With enough watermelon soju, you too may well see stars, elevate, and/or meet God. At the very least, you’ll gather the confidence to ask someone “can I sit on top of you?”
(SB) I second the above. Have you ever had fun like this?
ENERGY
(JS) Jerk ribs, with proper credit given where credit is due (of course).
(SB) Sounds a little bit like a spiked milkshake… or does it?
BREAK MY SOUL
(SB) The kind of spicy food that makes you sweat even more in the summer. Xi’an cumin noodles; finger-licking jerk; aguachile.
(JS) I dig this interpretation and would add to the above list an array of cold spicy noodles (bibim naengmyeon, liang pi, suan la mian).
CHURCH GIRL
(JS) Breakfast for dinner, and more specifically, sweet breakfast. Wholesome at first glance but a little naughty in practice. Sourdough pancakes with ricotta and jam. Cinnamon toast eggos with vanilla ice cream.
(SB) Tiki drinks, I recommend the Painkiller from Rogers Garden or the Pina Colada at The Hudson.
PLASTIC OFF THE SOFA
(JS) Fridge cold pound cake, unsweetened whipped cream, berries. I love the little things that make you you.
(SB) Golgappa. Pani Puri. Puchka. Whatever you want to call it: Say you won’t change.
VIRGO’S GROOVE
(JS) I’ll admit it’s not the obvious choice for Virgo season, but sonically speaking this song is sticky toffee pudding. I want it right here, right now.
(SB) Summer peaches and cream, followed by a little shot of fernet. Baby you can hit this, don’t be scared.
MOVE
(SB) Sweet Green in the summertime?
(JS) Mango chili lime.
HEATED
(JS) Yaji suya. I gotta fan myself off.
(SB) Have you guys tried the XL melon slush at Shan Fu? It recently saved my life and I can’t think of a better way to cool it down when you’re [heated.]
THIQUE
(SB) I don’t do this usually… I don’t know what you do to me. (Chopped cheese with a side bottle of ketchup. Shin bowl with a slice of American cheese and butter. A Cali burrito from El Castillito, extra sour cream. Double double animal style, raw and grilled onions, chopped peppers.) Tell me how bad you’ve been wanting it.
(JS) Patty melt with Russian dressing; pulled pork nachos; lasagna, that oochy coochy lala.
ALL UP IN YOUR MIND
(JS) Cold brew concentrate. There’s something about this song that makes me feel overly caffeinated, moderately anxious, and generally alert.
(SB) I went dancing with Jake last week to celebrate this album, and came home so wired that I sat at my desk and genuinely thought about working… on my dissertation? So, in honor of my mental illness, I’ll say the category is: desk snacks. Pop chips, popped corners, almonds, too many little handfuls of granola.
AMERICA HAS A PROBLEM
(SB) Hot Cheeto Fries. Taco Bell Crunchwrap. Popeye’s Fried Chicken Sandwich.
(JS) Deep dish pizza. (No.)
PURE/HONEY
(SB) Oishii berries. Densuke watermelon. Mangos that just got off the PJ earlier this morning, contributing inadvertently to their own environmental obsolescence :(
(JS) This song is hot fruit. Any of the recipes we hyped last week fit the bill, which is to say, all my girls look so yummy, yummy.
SUMMER RENAISSANCE
(JS) Peak season BLT: well-done bacon, crisp iceberg lettuce, well-done bacon, kewpie mayo on toasted bread. I wanna crush you, I won’t overanalyze.
(SB) I’m still waiting for my Summer Renaissance.