Sitting in a coffee shop listening to a relative stranger tell her story, I was hooked. The story was the pivot of all pivots in a time when chaos ruled, and a virus had shut down life and seemingly hope... well not entirely. Everyone around the world suddenly reevaluating what their life’s purpose was, and then we cut to a family of three, a Uhaul and some hard decision to make in early March 2020. This is the story of a dream, upheaval, transition, and excellence in a period of a mere few months. Gives us pause for a little food for thought in this July edition of KARJAKA New York graced by the journey of Chef Jessica Masanotti.

“The Met is overwhelming” is often what friends and fam have said when I ask them how they feel about my fav museum in New York City. The Metropolitan Museum of Art IS overwhelming, but there’s a little bit of everything for everyone: crowd-pleasing Impressionist en plein aire flowers, the meditative water fountains in the Japanese art wing (by Noguchi!) and Islamic art wing, historic musical instruments from the beginning of music as we know it, the original Chicago Stock Exchange staircase by Louis Sullivan that you can actually use, and turn of the century earthenware and glassware that are the stuff of dreams.

Have you ever wondered how some people book basic economy tickets and *actually* manage to survive off just a small backpack (for domestic) or a carry-on (for longer & international trips)? They just grab their things and waltz off the plane, past the baggage claim, off they go. How can these people fit their skin care routine, hiking shoes and also swimwear into a backpack? You are envious of them saving money and time, by not paying for luggage and not having to wait to pick it up? Then this article might just be the food for thought you needed to rethink your packing habits and make your next trip hassle free.

In the ever-present world of “bio-hacking” and looking for the magic pill, there are claims of all sorts of substances that can mitigate certain human conditions and enhance a multitude of human performance measures. As much as I’d love to say Bradley Cooper’s metamorphosis in “Limitless” is a true story, there is yet to be an invention that can come anywhere close to the do-it-all genius pill his character was nearly killed for.

The fashion game, It’s deep. It’s complex. And when we talk about the struggles faced by people of color, it hits even harder. Let’s keep it real. In this industry, it often feels like (Poc) only gets one shot to make it, while our white counterparts can stumble, fall, and rise again like it’s no big deal. In examining the exploitative nature of the fashion system and the limited chances for people of color, I cannot escape the undeniable lived realities that many have experienced. The fashion industry, built upon the backs of marginalized communities, has long perpetuated a cycle of systemic bias, violence and inequality. This bias can be attributed, in part, to the scarcity of opportunities and the limited representation of people of color in positions of power within fashion. Those who hold the reins of influence—the executives, the designers, the gatekeepers—have predominantly hailed from white backgrounds. 

The pairing of food and music is a partnership for the ages. Classical composers like Mozart wrote music specifically intended to be what we would come to call “dinner music”. Entertainment and dining were synonymous with each other; Royalty and the uber wealthy would have in-house minstrels and orchestras, on call and tuned up and ready to crank out hits for whatever decadent feast was being prepared. Think about it…eating in complete silence just hits different, and not in the good way, like Sprite from the McDonalds fountain as opposed to the can. There have been very few instances where I’ve enjoyed a meal without accompaniment of some kind, from the dollar slice corner joint blasting EDM at 1am, to the authentic Mexican taqueria and their abuelita’s staticky AM/FM radio blaring mariachi music, to the ever-upscale Michaelin starred Alinea or Per Se playing delicate contemporary tunes. Music and food go together like peanut butter and jelly…so let’s make some sandwiches.

Somewhere along the way I find contentment beside the couple at the café, happily dazed in marital stupor, contemplating their thousandth crossword, the epic 9-letter author, minimalist piano composition…

From Issue 94 — Food for Thought Recollection, Study No. 11 A Musical score requires immense focus and understading. Practicing and bringing the notational language to life...

From Issue 94 — Food for Thought

“Tell me about your restaurant experience” “Well…I have none, but I have this feeling that I’ll be really good at this & I’m a super positive person, so I will smile every day. I thrive under pressure and want to have a chance to prove it.” This interaction and conversation with the Head Chef and General Manager at North Miznon began the most beautiful, chaotic and dream-come-true adventures of my lifetime.