A self-proclaimed foodie, I fall into the camp that carefully scans restaurant menus en route to long-ago-booked dinner reservations and pours through “best of” lists to ensure she’s well-versed in the crème de la crème of everything from almond croissants to birria tacos in any given city. Case in point: Nothing has excited me more than curating this issue’s collection of epicurean-focused stories to spark some much-needed joy for the Artful Living reader. Welcome to our spring food issue. If you too arrive at an eatery with your beverage, appetizer and entrée selections already teed up, the tales that unfold ahead will be especially alluring. I’m a firm believer that one of life’s greatest joys is to experience food — not only for fuel and nourishment but as opportunities to catch up with old friends, explore cultural traditions and perhaps fall in love with a new ingredient or wine varietal.
In our main feature, “What is American Food Now?,” Jeff Gordinier explores this layered query as we near the 250th birthday of our country. Here, renowned culinary figures from the likes of Padma Lakshmi to Andrew Zimmern chime in on the complexities embedded in the question. It’s a celebration of the diverse cultures, cuisines and individuals that shape the food we eat from coast to coast.
Photography by Ben Colvin / Spacecrafting
Elsewhere in the issue? In “Depth of Flavor,” Adam Erace dives deep into the practice of underwater wine aging. In “Raise Your Glass,” men’s style expert David Coggins encourages stylish wine bar visits from Napa, California, to Milan. In “Ancestral Wisdom,” Editor-at-Large Kate Nelson shares how healthy living practices are rooted in Indigenous cultures, along with a few recipes from Turtle Island: Foods and Traditions of the Indigenous Peoples of North America that should certainly be added to your weekly rotation. In “Restaurant Rebel,” Wendy Lubovich relays an exclusive conversation with famed New York City restaurateur Keith McNally. And, it simply wouldn’t be an Artful Living issue without a collection of breathtaking home tour stories — perhaps a kitchen refresh is on the menu this spring?
Of course, I can’t in good conscience choose a favorite issue theme (*wink*), but I’m confident the reading material to follow will inspire a spring full of memorable bites and sips. So as we enter the new season, let’s raise a glass (ideally containing a pinot noir aged 100-feet below sea level) to brighter days ahead.
From my kitchen to yours,
Lexi Sunberg, Executive Editor
