Hi there,
I hope this letter finds you before I do. (I'm kidding!)
Americans in particular this past week are moving further away from social media dependencies—though in many ways I feel like a lot of us everywhere have been doing so for some time now. For this reason, I’m feeling even more curious about connecting through this newsletter format, feeling more determined to maintain this space. One of my original intentions here was to provide an antidote to doomscrolling, which feels like an ever-increasing priority. I know our email real estate is also precious...there's a lot of junk to unsubscribe from, so I'm grateful that Twirlable Pasta has not yet been that for you!
After a couple of requests, I am also trying something new: adding voiceovers to select newsletter posts. Audiobooks and podcasts have long reigned supreme, they tell me—as has a preference for audio rather than (or in addition to?) a written format.
So for this short and sweet offering, I'd like to direct you towards an audio voiceover I just recorded for a newsletter installment from this fall, one about meals that woefully failed to meet their expectations. When you go to “Read full story” click “play” on the “article voiceover” button at the top—and you should begin to hear my voice:
Whether or not you missed it the first time, give it a listen (or an audio-read?! Apparently you can still say you “read” a book, even if you listened to it!) and let me know what you think. Based on the feedback, I'll hopefully get a better sense of how much to optimize and continue this voiceover component—and see how many folks might welcome an audio bonus or alternative, depending on how you see it. Send me a direct message by responding to this email, or feel free to leave a comment.
In case you were wondering, earlier this week my husband Gabe and I went to dinner at this incredible Korean spot not in Koreatown called Kisa, where the focus is seasonal bon chon (small side dishes). Go very hungry:
And last night, I made this eggplant and lentil stew. Both meals were perfect for these blissfully (to me) cold and cozy winter days we are having in New York.
Have a wonderful week, and until soon,
Insia
I vote yes for an audio option, it’s wonderful to hear it in your voice 😍
Insia, your voiceover of Great Expectations was a treat! Your voice inflections add a lot of humor to the story, a bit more than the written word to make it all worthwhile.