Add to Queue #1: Best of 2022
What better way to kick off the year of our lord, 2023, with some of the best things of 2022?
An Introduction
Hey thanks for reading.
I know, I know…another newsletter to add to the mix. That being said, I’m trying to hold myself accountable to write more this year—and what better way to do that than to share my mundane experiences to the masses a couple people? So if you’ve found yourself here, my hope is that you find something useful or worth adding to your queue.
That being said, 2022 was jam-packed so let’s get into it 👇
Good Food, Good(er) Wine
Look, I love me a good weekly meal prep don’t get me wrong. But sometimes you want to break the monotony and aside from the pain that comes with burning a hole in your wallet, trying new places to eat is a top-tier activity (for me at least).
In no particular order, these are some of the best restaurants I’ve been to and worth an add to your lists if you’re ever in the area. It’s a given that the dishes at these places are incredible, so I’ll just include a little snippet of each place:
Ernest (SF) – tasting menu was incredible, even more so if you opt for their additional wine pairing (hefty pours too!)
San Ho Won (SF) – if you can swing it, just do the house menu
Oma’s Hideaway (Portland) – immaculate vibes, huge variation in dishes, incredibly flavorful without the post-dinner bloating
Estrela Da Bica (Lisbon) – you’ll be eating right in the street and it’ll feel like you live there…as for the food, look at that sardine toast!
Taberna De Los Mercadores (Porto) – small hole-in-the-wall restaurant that is just peak “holy crap I’m in a different country, we’re really doing this!”
2022 was also the year of exploring new wine for myself and I gotta say there is so much out there, especially when it comes to European wines. If you’re looking to expand your palette and want to go beyond some of the more typical wine blends, may I suggest:
Vinho Verde (white): slightly spritzy, easy-drinking, lowbrow Portuguese wine. If you’re looking for something super approachable and affordable ($7–15), look no further. Great alternative to pinot grigio or sauvingnon blanc.
Grüner Veltliner (white): an Austrian wine that offers subtleness, with primarily lime, grapefruit, and lemongrass notes. Great pairing with spicier, more flavorful foods as it’ll cut nicely with some of the acidity & dryness that it brings. Typically pretty affordable ($10–25) and bonus points if the bottle cap has the Austrian flag on it 🇦🇹
Gamay (red): figured I’d throw in a red, although over the years I’ve definitely transitioned more into whites and sparkling just so you’re aware of where my headspace is at with these recommendations. Think of the softer, laid-back French cousin to Pinot Noir and you’ve got yourself Gamay. Floral and earthy, it’s pretty easy to pair Gamay with most foods because it’s not super heavy or big on the finish.
Your overall mileage may vary but at the very least don’t be afraid to wander outside the typical wine varietals and blends you see at the store!
Libby for the Soul
I fell off the reading wagon for a few years leading up to 2022 and I’m happy to say I’ve hitched myself back on. I think part of it was just letting go of the expectation that books I read need to be informative or helpful in some practical way. You can just read…for fun, as silly as that sounds. And so that’s what I did.
Some of my favorite reads I’ve listed below, with my take of a one-liner summary:
The Midnight Library – woman explores all the possible lives she could have lived to determine what makes living her life worthwhile
Project Hail Mary – teacher with amnesia wakes up on a spaceship and has to save Earth from extinction…no pressure
An Absolutely Remarkable Thing – girl discovers a robot sculpture and shares it on social media, only to become an overnight sensation as these sculptures mysteriously appear all over the world
Remarkably Bright Creatures – woman forms an unlikely friendship with an octopus at the aquarium she works at and learns more about her past than she could ever imagine
Tuesdays with Morrie – heartfelt life lessons from a dying professor, told from the perspective of dear old student
From Here to Eternity – learning how the Western approach to death is so boring compared to the rest of the world 💀
Greenlights – Matthew McConaughey’s approach to living and knowing how and when to deal with life’s challenges
Speaking of Libby, if you’re a fan of digital reading/can resist the temptation to check social media, then I would highly recommend giving it a try. You just need to sign up with your nearest public library (possible within the Libby app too!) and you’ll get access to tons of free books.
Miscellaneous Mentions
Considering how long this post is already getting, I figured I’d sweep a handful of quick recommendations into this section before you give up reading (I know I would):
Any Day microwave cookware has saved me a ton of time when it comes to meal prepping—you’d be surprised how much you can make with your microwave. They’ve also got a ton of recipes available online.
I taught my fiancée’s family Palace a while ago and since then they’ve taught all their friends and now it’s basically all we play when we see each other. If you’re into quick and easy card games, give it a shot! I’d recommend 2 decks for 5+ people.
Magnesium lotion has been such a lifesaver on post-workout days when everything just hurts. Helps immensely with muscle fatigue & recovery, but do be aware it’s pretty thick so you really gotta rub it in.
What’s Queued Next
Expect this to be an ongoing repository of things you might wanna add to your queue. My hope is that these recommendations will stay within the realm of lifestyle and design, but the year has just begun and I’m not going to restrict myself too much.
Above all else, I’m excited to commit this year to sharing more of what I’ve been up to and things I’m enjoying (and want to share with you).
2023, here we come 🤝
– Alex