no one asked: vintage designer, online friendships and a seen library meet up in LA
21: what i'm reading, where i'm eating and what i'm thinking about these days
Eating…
Everything from Ammatoli in Long Beach. My cousin had been raving about it for a while now and we finally went as soon as I got back from my trip.
Ammatoli’s Chef Dima was raised in Amman, Jordan and influenced by her Palestinian father and Syrian mother — her menu encompassing the richness of her family history in the region. We ordered so much food and everything was truly incredible, but especially the shawarma, mixed mashawi, date cake with ice cream, osmalieh ice cream, and mint lemonade. It’s become one of my new favorite restaurants and I’m already planning to go back to try their dinner menu.
They also had a section in the restaurant where they sold olive oils, honey, cookies and cakes and we loved our meal so much, we left with even more food. My cousin and I got olive oil from Canaan Palestine to give as gifts and cookies to bring home.
I also recently discovered Ya Albi olive oil from my friend Noor’s TikTok. They’re family and female-run with 100% of proceeds going to Palestinian charities. There’s no additives and it’s cold-pressed, unblended, unfiltered and high-quality — perfect for cooking, drizzling, and dipping — and sourced from orchards in the West Bank, Palestine. Also, the packaging (and social) is really, really cute. I just bought 6 — some to keep in our kitchen and some to give as gifts for upcoming birthdays.
Reading…
The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai, which was given to me by a friend for my birthday. I told everyone no gifts, but if they must, to only bring tequila (I don’t normally drink, but when I do, it’s only tequila and for a special occasion) or a book they think I’d like.
I read on a Goodreads review that it’s a “sweeping gay masterpiece that A Little Life should’ve been” which was what sold me. It’s about friendship and queer love and loss, set against the backdrop of the AIDS epidemic. I love it so far and have realized how little I know about that time in US history. Anyone want to buddy read it with me?
Listening to…
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