Welcome to Secret Breakfast / An exclusive newsletter, the best place to start your day with Baby Lasagna among flamboyant Martini writers and unstoppable bee bandits

Hi there!

It’s Eurovision Song Contest week. Who are we rooting for?

Nevertheless, Nemo (they/them) seem strong, our only viable candidate is Baby Lasagna, from Croatia. Born Marko Purišić he came up with this stage name while searching for a market in Novigrad to buy water and take a headache pill.

Is there any more secret-breakfasty than that?

He’ll sing Rim Tim Tagi Dim and with that, I rest my case.

Actually, I don’t because we also have Joost with Europapa who will be singing some foodie verses: “Yes, I have enough money, but there is no one to help me I hope there are escargots, I hope there are fish-and-chips I hope there's paella, no, I don't really know what it is”.

Piero

PS: no book section this week.

PPS: if you have time, give me some feedback at the end of the issue. It will help me improving things around.

From: instagram.com/Baby Lasagna

✦ Paul Auster, the Patron Saint of Literary Brooklyn.

NEW YORK CITY IS ALWAYS HUNGRY

One of the most controversial opinions expressed in this newsletter pertains to a certain city that has undeniably become a relic of the past - New York City. Its vitality seems to have dissipated into an indescribable realm, ranging from nostalgic recollections of "Sex & The City" to the prevalent aroma of marijuana wafting through the streets nowadays.

That being said, you will always find links from media companies based in NYC, as they have no competitors when it comes to producing high-quality content about culture and food.

Exhibit A: a Martini Tour of New York written by the flamboyant Gary Shteyngart.

Exhibit B: this incredible feature by Grubstreet called Who Ate Where: The Restaurants That Defined New York.

Maybe it’s not the future, but it’s something to taste.

Photo: John Vachon

dinarakasko

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To Save It, Eat It 
Taras Grescoe / The Long Now

An early victim of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine was the genetic riches of one of the traditional breadbaskets of humanity. In the first months of the conflict, Russian shells hit the Plant Genetic Resources Bank in Kharkiv.

The Rise Of The Bee Bandits 
Oliver Milman / Noema

The rich history of the modern American West is filled with stories of animals being slaughtered or exploited: millions of bison gunned down, wolves driven away, horses stolen, and cattle rustled. However, a new form of animal crime has emerged as a prominent issue today - the theft of bees.

The Food Blogger Cooking Through Gaza’s Hunger Crisis 
Sarah Aziza / Bon Appétit

A young man is seated cross-legged on the floor of a tent in the southern Gaza city of Rafah, his gaze locked with the camera.

➤ Last week's most clicked link was this: If You See This in a Restaurant, Put Down the Menu and Make Other Plans. And that's all for today.