27. happy 100 year anniversary to the caesar salad
its been the hottest week ever with a literal high of 116°f
WATERMELON
Nothing original here. I love watermelon—I used to eat half a watermelon every day I was home from college in the summer. I haven’t had the same capacity (or time) but I love a good bowl of fresh watermelon. Add a little sprinkle of salt on top for something new.
THE WEATHER
I get why people watch the weather channel for kicks—it can be so entertaining, like tell me why I can’t stop watching the weather fluctuate. It’s on an upward trend for the heatwave in Southern California. Suuuuper bad. Sleepless nights because the lowest the weather will go is like an 80°f in the middle of the night. But that is what’s going on this week
I need to remember to book a flight to my cousins’ home in the Midwest every year around this time.
UNDER THE INFLUENCE, Noelle Crooks
⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3/5
Written by Rachel Hollis’ former assistant, this fictional story bears many parallels to the newer niche of being an influencer. Crooks explores themes that plague the modern day—from understanding how social media presence can influence reality to the importance of holding strong values in personal and professional relationships.
Harper is a young woman struggling to make it in Manhattan’s publishing world after studying to become a writer until she fills the role of assistant to a famous Nashville influencer, Charlotte. She relocates to Tennessee and learns on the job—not only about her role but also about Charlotte. Though Charlotte has built her highly successful personal brand around her marriage, children, and health, Harper suspects something weird about her workplace and uncovers the dark behind the glamorous facade.
I think it’s an intriguing read, although I found the writing and characters too simple. I think Crooks could have developed a greater character arc for several, if not all, of the characters and wish for more subtly in how she described interactions. I wouldn’t recommend this book unless you’re looking to hear more about the culty side of the influencer industry or need a predictable read. I finished this fairly short read in one sitting—a fun summer/beachside book!
CAESAR SALAD
The most popular staple item found in almost every restaurant menu. Contrary to popular belief, the Caesar Salad is *not* an Italian dish and is not named after Julius Caesar. And surprisingly, Tijuana’s most famous dish is the Caesar Salad!
Chef Caesar Cardini, an Italian immigrant, worked his way through California’s food scene. From his first experiences in the kitchen at places like Brown’s Restaurant in Sacramento to Caesar’s Restaurant in San Diego.
Mexican border city Tijuana became a hot spot for drinking, gambling, and partying, so during Prohibition, Cardini opened up his second restaurant on Main Street in Tijuana where he could serve alcohol. Hotel Caesar became a favorite place for anyone and everyone (including Hollywood hotties like Charlie Chaplin, Clark Gable, Douglas Fairbanks, etc.) to have fun and avoid restrictions.
On July 4, 1924, Americans flooded the streets of Tijuana, looking for a way to celebrate their Independence Day free from the bounds of US Prohibition. Chef Cardini and his staff came up with an on-the-spot recipe and delivered a tableside show—mixing olive oil, egg, and Worcestershire sauce with lettuce, topping with shaved parmesan and croutons. And it was originally meant to be a finger food.
From then on, Hotel Caesar gained immense popularity for its tableside salad, attracting professionals and foodies alike from all over the world. Even Julia Child wrote about her vivid recollection of her experience:
Caesar himself rolled the big cart up to the table, tossed the romaine in a great wooden bowl…It was a sensation of a salad from coast to coast, and there were even rumblings of its success in Europe
From Julia Child's Kitchen (1975), p.431
Over the past century, the Caesar Salad has (controversially) evolved with food trends and modern adaptations, with chefs incorporating their unique spin or restaurants making the dish scalable. I haven’t had the chance to dine at the original restaurant, but have had several good Caesar Salads over the years. My personal favorite rendition has to be the White Sesame Caesar Salad at Ryla with little gem lettuce, white anchovy filets, toasted sourdough croutons, parmesan, and toasted white sesame seeds.
NOT LIKE US, KENDRICK LAMAR
oh my god. to release this on independence day? directed by dave free? bringing in his wife and his kids for a cameo? the piñata owl? crip walking down the hopscotch? the raptors’ demar derozan? push ups in a cell block? and the final caged owl shot? so creative, so cold. it’s been on loop for the majority of this week.
A FAMILY AFFAIR (2024)
I don’t know why I do this to myself, almost weekly at this point. I watched the Netflix version of The Idea of You and it seems as though both movies are competing for the worst romcom of this summer. 1 star. If any. ⭐️
Disclaimer/sidenote: I’m not perfect—I was going to comment on Efron’s new face, but when I looked into what procedures he may have had done, I found out that he’s recovering from a terrible accident in 2022. Efron lost consciousness when he accidentally slipped onto a granite fountain, waking up to find that his chin was literally hanging off his face. At one point during his recovery, the masseters just continued to grow bigger and bigger, leading even his own mom to question whether he’d gotten plastic surgery.
Though I reserve my negative judgments for only my mind and never aloud, I sometimes feel uncomfortable by how easy it is for my mind to make harsh critiques. It’s human nature to judge and critique others, but I find that the internet and social media have contributed heavily to my cynicism on like celebrities and influencers. Public figures are already so hyperconscious of their appearance and if I know that those comments can be so detrimental to an individual’s mental health, why would I think that? Every generation is hypercritical over some aspect of life or another, but I find that the newer generations are too comfortable with offering unsolicited opinions, especially on social media. After all, I wouldn’t know so much about plastic surgeries and cosmetic procedures without doctors on TikTok pointing out the signs of a buccal fat removal or under-eye filler.
Anyway, I want to be at a point where I can observe from a vantage point and be objective and insightful in my own thoughts. Ultimately, the way someone chooses to portray themselves does not affect me in the slightest. And this is particularly helpful if you’re struggling with your self-image. Women like the Kardashians have set unrealistic body trends for years but when we’re able to be unattached from what that means for us,1 we can feel more empowered in our day-to-day.
And if you walk through the world holding these judgments, you’ll start to assume everyone else is judging you.
Joey King plays a Hollywood assistant to a famous movie star (Efron) who finds out that her 50-something-year-old mother (Kidman) and boss are romantically involved.
Though I appreciate how romcom filmmakers are exploring the character of an “older” woman and finding her identity and finding love, especially this year, there’s just simply little to no chemistry between Kidman and Efron. Kidman is a renowned actress, so I’m sure she gave it her all, but the rest of the cast…oof. And the premise just feels so cheesy and expected. Which, I suppose, is to be expected of a fanfic romcom, but still.
KYGO, SELF TITLED (2024)
Kygo released his eponymous album last week and it’s stunning. Fun fact, he’s been one of my favorite musical artists for a decade, so to see his growth and rise to pop culture has been heartwarming.
Kygo is credited as the pioneer of the EDM subgenre: tropical house. This particular album encapsulates the blend of Kygo’s signature sound from his previous albums, earning its self-titled name. It’s clear that Kygo is incredibly proud of this album and I’m happy that he’s been steadily rising the mainstream charts in defining EDM as a whole, but I do prefer his first two albums—Kids in Love (2017) and Cloud Nine (2016). 7/10 ⭐️
And a sidenote discovery! Kygo has had a longstanding DJ residency at various clubs in Vegas including Intrigue nightclub, Encore Beach Club, and XS nightclub and it looks like his business, Palm Tree Crew, will be opening up an experiential hotel, Palm Tree Club, in Miami in December. Super on brand and an exciting development in his musical career.
Love you, see you next week, xx 💌 pk
Children and teens are a whole different story. They’re only then developing the skills for discernment, making them the most susceptible so that’s not who I’m talking about