Welcome to Secret Breakfast / An exclusive newsletter, the best place to start your day with Olympic Feasts, Norwegian Treats, and Jalapeño Watermelon Margarita

Hi there!

If you haven’t been to Mars, you’ve probably heard that the Summer Olympics Opening Ceremony was overloaded with extravaganza around something related to the four-letter word we celebrate here: food.

Some Christians were offended by this sort of representation of The Last Supper. Except that wasn’t Jesus Christ's last meal. Anyway, to cool things down, the organization said it was never an intention to show disrespect to any religious group.

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I find way more interesting the fuss about vegan food in the village. Before the Games started we read articles about the elite athletes powered entirely by plants.

Then, we had the former Australian swimmer James Magnussen accusing the organizers of running out of meat on the first day (I think the menu was unbalanced and there were too many vegetarian options for athletes not used to non-animal proteins).

Again, we heard about woke and non-woke foods. That sounds a little weird to me. Anything with the word “woke” sounds off, actually.

Enjoy the Games, forget the word “woke” and don’t forget the snacks.

Piero

✦ Pete Wells, former New York Times food critic. More about him is below.

SWEET NORWAY

I spent last week in Norway. Actually, I was there til yesterday.

I’m not ready to tell you everything I learned about this beautiful country and its cooking heritage.

I’m starting with three things and their recipes.

Vafler – The Norwegian Waffles. Thin, sweet, you must try them with Norwegian brown cheese and berries jam.

Bergens Fiskesuppe (Bergen Fish Soup). Make a batch, keep for the day you miss the sea.

Vestlandslefsa Lefsegodt pastry with buttercream is a common snack. Imagine a rectangular potato-based tortilla filled with cream. You can cook Norwegian Lefse this way, or try this recipe.

Picture by me.

My Secret Vegan Crush

★★★★☆

You probably noticed I’m addicted to ‘The New Vegan’ column by Meera Sodha on The Guardian. Some time ago I also wrote I dream about an alternate reality in which we switch Tupperware while waiting for our kids out of school. Now she has written a brand new book about vegetarian dinners, it’s practical and full of inspiration. To get an idea look here(★recipes), start with the turnip cake. When was the last time you cooked turnips?

Dinner. 120 vegan and vegetarian recipes for the most important meal of the day by Meera Sodha
→ Shortplot: 🥔 🍜 🥥 🍪

tepozan

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After 12 Years of Reviewing Restaurants, I’m Leaving the Table
Pete Wells / The New York Times

Vitriol-powered Pete Wells has been the most feared restaurant critic in New York City, and that made him the most feared reviewer on the whole planet. In this article, you can read his approach, but I suggest you read this old New Yorker’s feature and his most memorable reviews. I remember Eleven Madison Park former co-owner Will Guidara fighting to please Wells, who finally gave them four stars by writing a piece about how he disliked the place. I need a movie about him as soon as possible.