I had my 30th birthday party at this restaurant entirely because of the Brussels sprouts and that's really saying something.

They were so, so good. I've never managed to wholly crack the code at home, but I did ask the chef - deep fried Brussels, served hot, on a puddle of apple cider cooked down to syrup. Toasted pistachios. Dollop of crème fraiche. And Granny Smith, sliced thin. One of the best things I've ever eaten.

There used to be a restaurant in the west village called ALTA, which had the best Brussels I've ever encountered. Fried (you could do it in an air fryer) to make the outer leaves crisp & centers tender, served w/ apple cider reduction, + crème fraiche, slices of Granny Smith apple, & pistachios.

all the constituent parts finally knit back together, camera slowly pans up to the face, turns out it's cate blanchett

❤️❤️❤️❤️

Yep, it sucked sooooo much. I remember the shock of being able to actually get insurance by myself without being denied. Whoooof. This timeline right now is so evil.

I finally got health insurance from a day job that could still have denied it to me, & then was able to leave that day job bc I got married to someone who had union healthcare. When we split up, I held onto that healthcare thru cobra until the ACA passed & I could finally buy insurance for myself.

Thank you. It's rough times right now. Sending hugs to you too!

❤️ sending you love.

Ooof I'm so sorry, about both sorrows, cat & mom. Coming toward a loss of parent myself, & trying hard not to fall apart the way I did when my dad died, but nothing ever prepares you, even what you're a writer and think you can make it make sense by writing about it. :/ sending my huge sympathies.

I was so happy to see it, and then I read your lovely alt text and felt even happier. ❤️

This is one of my favorite paintings ever.