The End of Party Small Talk

Jojo, Food52’s General Manager and Super Enthusiast, went to an industry party this past weekend where guests were encouraged to choose a sticker that “reflects how you’re feeling.” Options included “not sure why I’m here,” “wearing the wrong shoes,” and “hoping for the best,” among others.

As a despiser of small talk, I loved this approach to icebreakers. Some of you may be thinking, “I don’t want to go to any gathering where you’d need icebreakers.” But if you’re an adult on planet Earth, you’re likely to end up at all sorts of dinners, cocktail parties, and weddings where you don’t know people but you’d like to get to know them via something more interesting than: “What do you do?” I hear only New Yorkers ask that, but there’s surely an equivalent lazy opening line in other environs.

My husband, Tad, has a good question he asks people at parties: “What’s the best decision you made today?” It never fails to lower the other person’s guard and elicit a thoughtful answer that tells you something interesting about them.

What’s your party line? Let me know, and I’ll share the best ones in a couple weeks! I’m at [email protected].

Last week, we photographed these little rechargeable lamps with bobble heads. I love ’em. I think you and your outdoor space will, too.

We dug up a classic Lucas Sin recipe in which he taught us how to stir fry spinach with garlic … and a little sugar! Recipe here. (He also taught us a saucy way to make pork chops for his latest Why It Works).

I cooked Heavenly Hots, delicate, blini-like pancakes made with sour cream, for Break An Egg.

Ali Slagle won our Tournament of Salads with her chicken Caesar! See how close it came to Sohla El-Waylly’s Big Fat Halloumi Salad and learn how to play along in the Tournament of Summer Sides.

I spent last week in Tillamook, home to the 110-year-old dairy company whose high-quality cheeses and ice creams adorn your grocery store. To get there from Portland, you cross the mountainous Tillamook State Forest, which ends suddenly in cow-flecked fields and a cloud of barnyard stink. Luckily, I was working outside of town, at a cabin along the Wilson River, on a Schoolhouse photoshoot of our summer and fall collections, including these stacking trays and tulip quilt.

From there, I headed to Long Island, where I visited the best vintage shop I know, Sage Street Antiques, and came home with a major cabbageware and cantaloupe bowl haul. You can check out the “Sage Street” saved story on my Instagram page.

Now it’s back to Brooklyn and my laptop—boo! Don’t forget to send me your icebreakers!

Amanda