heath journal
Behold this mother-daughter duo
Dear Home
Indeed, it’s Mother’s Day—so, happiest one to you and yours! All definitions of this day and its meaning are welcome, most especially those identifying motherhood as essential business—i.e., open and working, overtime!With that, dear home, may we borrow your spotlight for a moment, dedicating this week's letter to a mother-daughter duo we greatly admire? Surely, you've heard of Alice Waters and Fanny Singer—farm-to-table, ChezPanisse, Edible Schoolyard, Permanent Collection—ring bells?
Dear home, you must add Fanny's new memoir to your night stand—Always Home. Could the title be any more perfect? We couldn't wait to tell you.
Coincidentally, we're always home and so are you. For this reason, Fanny's stories will resonate all the more. She speaks of a rich and full childhood, with just the right amount of unconventional. She shares recipes, and her experiences with the best kind of sensory overload. Of growing up, with Alice Waters as your mother (leaving the rest of us hungry).
Here's what Fanny told us about keeping close to mom, during quarantine...
Tea is for Ritual
Every morning, my mom and I drink her pu'erh tea—a fermented Chinese tea that she's obsessed with—in café au lait bowls (we love the new colors of the Chez Panisse Line). Mugs have no place in my mom's kitchen! Never have, never will!No mugs? We'll let it slide, this once.
Excerpt from Always Home
"...It's a paean to the woman who was captivated by me from the very moment I emerged from her womb, and who, despite reaching the greatest conceivable heights in her career, has slipped me a note on every one of my birthdays inscribed with "You are the best thing that has ever happened to me in my life."Order Up
Let's just say we were invited to brunch with Fanny and Alice—dare to dream—what would we find on the menu?Fanny says: "Soft-boiled egg with soldiers, aka buttered bread batons to dip in the liquid yolks. A half-grapefruit too for a little vitamin c."
On our way...
Mother May I/We
Mother may I devour Fanny's delightfully descriptive memoir? May I follow and fawn over her Instagram? May I learn more about her? May we say how lucky we feel to supply dinnerware to such an incredible family and their restaurant? We may and we will. We're lucky!In Full Bloom
Fanny told us, then snapped this photo: "My mom's garden roses are blooming almost obscenely at the moment, but we've also been enjoying heirloom bearded irises from our friend's garden."Editor's note: Always Home features several beautiful passages about the duo's relationship with blooms.
Stop, smell, and all is well.
With gratitude to Alice Waters and Fanny Singer for virtually having us in their home.
Happy Mother's Day to you. Yours Truly, Heath Ceramics
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Photo credits: Alice and Fanny in the grass by Brigitte Lacombe. Additional images by Andrew Owen.