{"id":99424,"date":"2024-05-23T12:28:25","date_gmt":"2024-05-23T12:28:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2024\/05\/23\/founder-files-the-end-of-party-small-talk\/"},"modified":"2024-05-23T12:28:25","modified_gmt":"2024-05-23T12:28:25","slug":"founder-files-the-end-of-party-small-talk","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2024\/05\/23\/founder-files-the-end-of-party-small-talk\/","title":{"rendered":"Founder Files: The End of Party Small Talk"},"content":{"rendered":"


\n<\/p>\n

\n

Jojo, Food52\u2019s General Manager and Super Enthusiast, went to an industry party this past weekend where guests were encouraged to choose a sticker that \u201creflects how you\u2019re feeling.\u201d Options included \u201cnot sure why I\u2019m here,\u201d \u201cwearing the wrong shoes,\u201d and \u201choping for the best,\u201d among others.<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n
\n <\/svg>
\n <\/a><\/p>\n
\n
\"\"<\/picture><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>
\n

Photo by Food52<\/span>
\n <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\n
\n
\n <\/svg>
\n <\/a><\/p>\n
\n
\"\"<\/picture><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>
\n

Photo by Food52<\/span>
\n <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

As a despiser of small talk, I loved this approach to icebreakers. Some of you may be thinking, \u201cI don\u2019t want to go to any gathering where you\u2019d need icebreakers.\u201d But if you\u2019re an adult on planet Earth, you\u2019re likely to end up at all sorts of dinners, cocktail parties, and weddings where you don\u2019t know people but you\u2019d like to get to know them via something more interesting than: \u201cWhat do you do?\u201d I hear only New Yorkers ask that, but there\u2019s surely an equivalent lazy opening line in other environs.<\/p>\n

My husband, Tad, has a good question he asks people at parties: \u201cWhat\u2019s the best decision you made today?\u201d It never fails to lower the other person\u2019s guard and elicit a thoughtful answer that tells you something interesting about them.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s your party line? Let me know, and I\u2019ll share the best ones in a couple weeks! I\u2019m at [email\u00a0protected]<\/span><\/a>.<\/p>\n

Last week, we photographed these little rechargeable lamps<\/a> with bobble heads. I love \u2019em. I think you and your outdoor space will, too.<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n
\n <\/p>\n
\n
\n
\"\"<\/picture><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n

<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

We dug up a classic Lucas Sin recipe in which he taught us how to stir fry spinach with garlic \u2026 and a little sugar! Recipe here<\/a>. (He also taught us a saucy way to make pork chops<\/a> for his latest Why It Works<\/em>).<\/p>\n

I cooked Heavenly Hots<\/a>, delicate, blini-like pancakes made with sour cream, for Break An Egg<\/a><\/em>.<\/p>\n

Ali Slagle won our Tournament of Salads with her chicken Caesar<\/a>! See how close it came to Sohla El-Waylly\u2019s Big Fat Halloumi Salad and learn how to play along in the Tournament of Summer Sides<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n
\n <\/svg>
\n <\/a><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\n
\"\"<\/picture><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

<\/a>\n <\/div>

\n

Photo by Amanda Hesser<\/span>
\n <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\n
\n
\n <\/svg>
\n <\/a><\/p>\n
\n
\"\"<\/picture><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>
\n

Photo by Amanda Hesser<\/span>
\n <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

I spent last week in Tillamook<\/a>, home to the 110-year-old dairy company whose high-quality cheeses and ice creams adorn your grocery store. To get there from Portland, you cross the mountainous Tillamook State Forest, which ends suddenly in cow-flecked fields and a cloud of barnyard stink. Luckily, I was working outside of town, at a cabin along the Wilson River, on a Schoolhouse photoshoot of our summer and fall collections, including these stacking trays<\/a> and tulip quilt<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n
\n <\/svg>
\n <\/a><\/p>\n
\n
\"\"<\/picture><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>
\n

Photo by Amanda Hesser<\/span>
\n <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\n
\n
\n <\/svg>
\n <\/a><\/p>\n
\n
\"\"<\/picture><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>
\n

Photo by Amanda Hesser<\/span>
\n <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

From there, I headed to Long Island, where I visited the best vintage shop I know, Sage Street Antiques, and came home with a major cabbageware and cantaloupe bowl haul. You can check out the \u201cSage Street\u201d saved story on my Instagram page<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Now it\u2019s back to Brooklyn and my laptop\u2014boo! Don\u2019t forget to send me your icebreakers!<\/p>\n

Amanda<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n