My friend's quarantine shopping list ---- #27 Célia (Montpellier, France)

Me:
What is your essential food/item that made it on top of your quarantine list?


Célia:
I can’t figure out where time is going since every days are the same.

I discovered the last text message Hannes sent me the day before the lockdown: It was kind of emergency saying : «buy a few Tesa rolls! ». This is evidence-based :)

Me:
Ahaha. This is a mysterious item!
why this tape? Is this his favorite?

Célia:
The last text message I received from Hannes* before the lockdown was asking to bring some Tesa tape rolls back home. I rediscovered this message a few weeks after and it make me laugh. No food or toilet paper but masking tape! The Tesa tape is like an old friend. It was the everyday companion of my architecture studies. It useful for everything including making plaster when I cut myself.

* the half of everything I’m doing 

Me:
Oh ha! Tape is Hannes’ best friend! What do you use the tape for after you brought him back?

Célia:
This time we use it for painting the walls and ceiling of our home. Since September we’re in the middle of a total renovation of our house which was needing insulation everywhere.

We couldn’t work without this tape.

Me:
The tape saved you!!!! I’m being nosy here, how many did you get?

Célia:
I couldn’t get some, they were out of stock at the shop. Luckily I found two rolls in our house. They were for my teaching classes. Yes, I teach the students how important is this tape and I was horrified to find out that some 3rd year students didn’t know about it. 

Me:
Haha the tape drama! Yes tapes and tools are super important!
How are you doing in general? What is your day like now?

Célia:
We’re trying to find a balance in the day like a buddhist monastery. We’re influence by a documentary saw at the beginning of the quarantine. 

Morning: yoga, writing work on projects

Afternoon: Let’s get physical : painting the house, making ceramics, making bread, kefir, pickles or yoga. I would like to try to make some kimchi after Choi's receipt.

It’s nice to do something with an evolution at this moment where everything is still.

Me:
Nice! Yes try Choi’s recipe! (porkbellycomics.com)
I like you guys routine, creative works in the morning and more physical works in the afternoon. That totally makes sense!
Thank you so much Célia!!!!!
I got some photos of their beautiful ceramic pieces that they have been working at home these days.
You can also see their other design works (https://www.celiahannes.net/)

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Project Note:
The idea of “ My friend’s quarantine shopping list” started when I was peeking at people’s shopping baskets during the COVID-19. What are their essentials? Is there a one thing they can’t live without? I was curious about my friend’s. Everyone’s list was unique and I enjoy making the items and talking about them with my friends. I hope this brighten your day and maybe those items will make it to your next shopping list :) Have a nice staying home day!

My friend's quarantine shopping list ---- #26 Jimin (Baltimore, MD)

Me:
What is your essential food/item that made it on top of your quarantine list?

Jimin:
My essential item of my quarantine shopping list is coffee grounds. Thanks to my mom, she loves coffee and would drink every day. Growing up looking her, now I am a coffee lover and can't live without it. A warm coffee always wakes me for my day.

So far my favorite is this brand from Whole Foods. I enjoy brewing my coffee in pour over way. It is a sweet and smooth coffee taste. The process is very refreshing when I smell the coffee and the sound dripping down the filter. You should try it too! 

Me:
It seems like coffee is essential for many of my friends. I didn’t know till I started this interviews how many people enjoy good coffee in many different way of preparing it!
Do you drink coffee straight? and how many times a day do you have coffee?

Jimin:
I also love to drink latte as well. I am not much a milk fan, but when I am craving for it I love to use my milk whisk and enjoy my latte.  I drink maximum 2 coffee a day. Morning coffee makes me awake for the day and evening coffee is a refresher from my meal. With some sandwich or dessert, my coffee tastes even better! 

Me:
Yes! When I’m in Japan I have coffee all the time after dinner. There I would go out with friends for dinner and go out for all night coffee shop and keep talking for hours :) Here I think there not much custom for drinking coffee at night time. I love that your mom loves coffee. Did you bring back your favorite Whole Foods coffee to your home?

Jimin:
Yes, I did! Our family used to live in New Jersey and she would always love to look around Whole Foods. It was actually one of her favorites from the store and I ended up liking them. Now she is in South Korea and would always ask for me to buy three of them for her when I visit home. 

Me:
Aw! That is so sweet!!! Thank you so much Jimin for this interview!!!
I have been following your instagram and I love your sketchbook series. How did you start this series? Is there a story behind it?

Jimin:
There was a moment when I wanted to cheer myself with my drawings. I wanted to make myself busy so I decided to do some collages. Then I thought maybe putting some positive words and it all began. Instead of a sketchbook drawing, I want to call it positive vibe drawings. I am happy how it came out so far. I can't wait to see it combing all in a single book in the nearest future. 

Me:
I love that! Positive vibe drawing. That’s true when I look at them I do feel positive and calm. Doing daily drawing is challenging for everyone, where does the inspiration comes from and what medium do you like to use the most? And what’s your favorite things to draw currently?

Jimin:
My inspiration comes from the photos I took and my current mood while I make the drawings. Photos are captures from particular moments and that influences me. If I need more reference photos, I love to look in the world of instagram. There are so many good photos that are hard for me get my own but to get inspired. The quarantine days sometimes made me less joy in creations. I knew I had to make myself busy and wanted to stay positive as much as I can. So I started to write down simple notes and combined them with daily drawings. It is hard for me to choose one medium that I like. It makes the process of drawing more exciting when I am combining all the mediums I love to use, which are color pencils, cut out pattern paper I made, pencils and markers. 
My favorite things to draw changes often. Couple months ago it was houses and floating into the sky. At the moment I love to draw people and their surrounding environment. The green trees and flowers are a must too. I guess I am missing the people interaction. :)

Me:
Thank you Jimin!
I’m sharing one of her positive vibe drawing here! And you can see more here —-> https://www.instagram.com/jimnsuh

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Project Note:
The idea of “ My friend’s quarantine shopping list” started when I was peeking at people’s shopping baskets during the COVID-19. What are their essentials? Is there a one thing they can’t live without? I was curious about my friend’s. Everyone’s list was unique and I enjoy making the items and talking about them with my friends. I hope this brighten your day and maybe those items will make it to your next shopping list :) Have a nice staying home day!

My friend's quarantine shopping list ---- #25 Yuko (Manhattan, NY)

Me:
What is your essential food/item that made it on top of your quarantine list?

Yuko:
I thought about a few things. One is a jar of sun dried tomatoes. I got addicted after my trip to Malta last summer. Another, maybe more fun is a small Turkish Coffee maker. I learned how to make the coffee in Egypt recently. I didn’t drink coffee for a long time, but I restarted it as a mini morning ritual. I can’t drink a lot of coffee, so I only make one cup in the morning. 

Me:
Turkish coffee! This coffee pot is really beautiful. I like the design on the handle and shiny copper body.
I actually don’t know how to make Turkish coffee. How different from the regular coffee? 

Yuko:
Well, I didn’t really drink coffee till I got hooked to what Egyptians call “French Coffee” in Cairo, right before COVID19 quarantine started. I was there in early March. 

I am not a specialist, but Turkish coffee is made of almost powder like ultra ground coffee (and sugar) prepared directly in the one person size pot like this one. Coffee powder is in the cup you drink out of. “French Coffee” is Turkish coffee prepared with milk. It taste like coffee milk you had as a kid, but, like the better kind. 

You can find multiple ways of preparing and serving Turkish coffee on YouTube. Very simple, but you need to learn it because it is very different from how we prepare coffee in this part of the world.

For those of us who are not used to drinking Turkish coffee, the key is to wait a bit till the powder sinks down to the bottom. It’s a common sense for those who are used to drinking Turkish coffee, but we don’t know! 

Me:
Wow that sounds delicious.
How did you learn how to make this? 

Yuko:
I asked my Egyptian friends, then watched a few different YouTube videos. I went with the one where Egyptian grandma explain it to us. It looks like Egyptian way of preparing is a bit different from Turkish way. But there may be multiple different ways. (Turkish coffee videos I saw all put coffee in cold water from the start, the one I watched from Egypt put the coffee powder into the already boiling water. I am not used to taking too much coffee, so the Turkish version seems too strong for me.)

Me:
I do want to try Egyptian grandma way of making coffee! Can we find those special pot and Turkish coffee in NY?

Yuko:
I brought one from Egypt, but it was too small, and dangerous to use in my big American stovetop. It was actually not hard to find at all. There is an Arabic deli Samad's Gourmet on the block where I live. They had like 10 different ones. This was the prettiest. 

Turkish coffee is ground to the max, it has the texture of flour. I guess we can ground the coffee ourselves. But many coffee sellers have Turkish ground, or specialty stores must be able to ground it for us. And there is always internet. 

Samad’s Gourmet is closed right now, but I will go ask them when they are open again. 

Me:
That will be one of the place I will go once the quarantine is over!
Egypt is one of the place I dream to go as a child. I was so into “Ookeno-monsyo” (Japanese syojo comic about Egypt). Would you give me a one spot you recommend for us to go in Egypt?

Yuko:
Local artist friends took me on an overnight trip from Cairo to a small pottery artisan village called Tunis. It is gorgeous there with flowers and lush greens everywhere. From there, we took a full day trip to the Sahara. There is an area in the middle of the desert where they find fossilized ancient whales. You can only get there with experienced 4 wheel driver.  They are so old and they have legs! They preserved some in the place where they found them, and you can walk around and see the fossil legged whales in the middle of nowhere surrounded by sand. it’s very poetic. 

It’s a pottery village, so it’s perfect for you. You should go. Or we go there together when all this madness is over!

Me:
It is perfect for me!!! Yes let’s go together.
Sounds like a painting how you are describing this place!
How is bear doing with the quarantine?

Yuko:
He got use to staying home. He misses neighbors at the studio, but he won’t complain because momma is always home!

Me:
:) Bear and his momma :) Cute Bear photos attached on the bottom!

Thank you so much Yuko for the interview!!!
I wanted to share Yuko’s illustration she did last week for NYTimes. 17 illustrators quarantined in New York and were asked by NYTimes to draw outside the window. I think it’s a super interesting project. We get to see all the artists windows and their views.
Here is Yuko’s:

I am facing Columbia University office. So for the last one month, I am just staring at an empty building. It’s so quiet here in my apartment, I can’t believe I live in Manhattan. (By Yuko Shimizu)

Bear :)

———————
Project Note:
The idea of “ My friend’s quarantine shopping list” started when I was peeking at people’s shopping baskets during the COVID-19. What are their essentials? Is there a one thing they can’t live without? I was curious about my friend’s. Everyone’s list was unique and I enjoy making the items and talking about them with my friends. I hope this brighten your day and maybe those items will make it to your next shopping list :) Have a nice staying home day!

My friend's quarantine shopping list ---- #20 Diana (Brooklyn, NY)

Me:
What is your essential food/item that made it on top of your quarantine list?

Diana:
My hoarding ways have prepared me well for this crisis lol, so the top things on my essentials list remain relatively the same as in my daily life: eggs, frozen veggies, frozen dumplings (a must!!), oatmeal, and canned fish (my favorite is fried dace).

One thing I was less prepared about was restocking baking ingredients. So I recently ordered 50 lbs of flour and 50 lbs of sugar, as well as a big bag of bittersweet chocolate! I think once I get a large amount of butter, I will be set for all the baking orders to come :D

Me:
YES! Your cookie business!!! Let me ask about that in a bit.
First I want to ask you about this fish can which I have never seen it before. Is this like a canes sardine? Does this have a unique seasoning?

Diana:
Sort of, except with a different sauce. The kind I like is doused in fermented black beans and oil. It's super salty, delicious, and instantly transports me to my childhood.

Me:
Mmmm sounds so good. Does your cat go crazy when you open the can? Lol

Diana:
Haha she does when I'm opening it, and then gives me a dirty look when I let her sniff the can :)

Me:
How do you usually eat this?

Diana:
It is best eaten with rice! I even save the oil and black beans for future meals. Recently I tried it on top of grits and that was pretty delish. If I'm being really good, I'll have it over riced cauliflower, but it's definitely not as satisfying. 

Me:
I am voting for white rice! It sounds really good!
Ok I HAVE to ask you for your cookie subscription business? I think it’s the best subscription I have ever heard. ( I actually subscribed right when I saw about it on Diana’s instagram!)
How did you start backing Diana?

Diana:
From Here to Sunday (Diana’s store front in Gowanus, Brooklyn) actually began with baking. After I left a full-time job in early 2016, I had much more time to play, so I started to experiment. That summer, I was working at Tom Sach's Bodega at the Brooklyn Museum, so I would bring extras to share. A co-worker suggested that I should start selling out of the Bodega, so I paired baked goods with zines by artist/printmaker Todd Irwin, and voila! From Here to Sunday was born :)

The Taster's Club Cookie Subscription started with a similar premise. I used to sell cookies along with other art goods at pop-ups, or I would try a new recipe, but I'd end up with a lot of extras. I didn't want to throw them out, so I started offering the cookie subscription as a solution. It started slowly with friends joining as a way to support the growing business. Now I actually bake specifically for the subscribers (although they still get extras when there are some.)

Me:
Yum Yum Yum! I can’t wait to get my first cookie box!
And here is a very important announcement:
From Here to Sunday is currently offering Mini Cookie Care Packages for frontline worker friends. Each package includes 6 cookies and a custom handwritten note. Pay-what-you-wish to @heretosunday on Venmo with an email address to order. Suggested donation is $10 to cover shipping & handling.
I love this idea so so much.
If you have a friend in frontline please do send them a cookie package :)

Have you been cheering 7pm everyday?

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Project Note:
The idea of “ My friend’s quarantine shopping list” started when I was peeking at people’s shopping baskets during the COVID-19. What are their essentials? Is there a one thing they can’t live without? I was curious about my friend’s shopping baskets. Everyone’s list was unique and I enjoy talking to them about it. I hope this brighten your day and maybe those items will make it to your next shopping list :) Have a nice staying home day!

My friend's quarantine shopping list ---- #17 Francois (Paris, France)

Me:

What is your essential food/item that made it on top of your quarantine list?

Francois:

The first thing I bought was a carton of 20 packs of menthol cigarettes… Twenty lucky strike menthols made me feel instantly safer.  I wanted a diet in touch with the changing of the seasons: mint flavor is super springy.

But then the next day, I decided that quarantine was the perfect time to stop smoking. No social smoking equals less temptation. And also, with better lungs now, I was lowering the risks of complications if I ever caught the Rona. So, I bought my own « quit smoking package » made of nicotine gums and patches. And so far, so good: not one cigarette since March 17th (the beginning of quarantine in France).

Me:

Aw this is funny.  Yes I have heard that smoker is not good with this virus. 

And I love that idea of quitting something using this confinement time.

I wanted to quit social media for sometimes... but I guess I'm not doing a good job at all during this.  But maybe that's something I should think about!

Francois:

I understand! I wanted to also. Unfortunately, I was sucked back in by friends’ invites to Netflix Party movie nights, drinking games on the app Houseparty …and the discovery of Ina Garten’s giant quarantini. I needed to know the recipe!

Me:

Haha I want a massive cosmopolitan now! And what else was on your quarantine list?

Francois:

A new box of ODEFSEY was also on top of my list. It’s my HIV treatment. I wanted to have some medication in case there were a shortage of the production of the drug. Realness diet is sexy.

Me:

Oh my mom, too! She has a health condition so her doctor filled 3 months of medication so she doesn't have to go to the hospital for a while. I think that was a good move. I'm glad you got the extra. Any food items?

Francois:

I got a couple bottles of bubbly because if you’re locked up in your apartment, you need to feel that life is still worth living. And sparkling wine definitely does that for me. I wanted to still have a positive and gay regimen, so I opted for Crémant de Bourgogne, a wine similar to champagne. But champagne felt a tad too festive for these circumstances. I also purchased coffee capsules because I’m French. And addicted to caffeine. But don’t you judge me! Coffee capsules can be recycled now over here.  Well I do feel guilty using these wasteful pods. But if the virus takes me away, I’ll be leaving this world as a honest weak person who spoke the truth about their diet. Then I purchased eggs as I love making quiches! And I got some bananas because one fruit a day keeps the virus away? The phallic form is a decent visual stimulus for my confinement sex life. Soymilk was also on my pandemic shopping list because let’s give the cows a rest during these stressful times. Everyone needs a break. Let’s not forget canned food of spinach, eggplants and lentils. Don’t believe I buy these because of the quarantine. These are part of my ordinary shopping list. Yeah I have a solid track record as a lazy cook. Can France revoke my nationality because of these? We’ll find out!

Me:

Thank you so much for the full lists Francois!!! I love your honesty always ;) And it was fun to read all your decision making!

 Great idea on giving cows a rest in this stressful time, I'm really into oat milk now.  I think it's as delicious as cow milk.  

 Did you hear the tiger from Bronx zoo got the coronavirus?  I hope the farm animals will be safe, they are much closer to humans. I'm still puzzled over this tiger case. 

Francois:
Poor thing… Another good reason to let animals live in the wild so that they can develop stronger antibodies against viruses in their native ecosystem and among their own species.

Me:
I'm posting a photo of Francois and his bestie Kiki having a dress up video chat party from Paris and New York. It's hard to socialize these days but it is good to be connected.  

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Project Note:
The idea of “ My friend’s quarantine shopping list” started when I was peeking at people’s shopping baskets during the COVID-19. What are their essentials? Is there a one thing they can’t live without? I was curious about my friend’s. Everyone’s list was unique and I enjoy making the items and talking about them with my friends. I hope this brighten your day and maybe those items will make it to your next shopping list :) Have a nice staying home day!

My friend's quarantine shopping list---- #2 Eun-Ha (Brooklyn, NY)

#2 Eun-Ha

Me:
What is your essential food/item that made it on top of your quarantine list?

Euh-Ha:
It was oat milk!
I read that oat milk purchase went up more than Purell?  I bought hair ties too coz I got rid of all of them when I had short hair and it looks like I probably won't be going to get a haircut anytime soon.

Me:
What is your favorite way drinking oat milk?

Eun-Ha:
I use bamboo matcha whisk I got when I was in Japan and froth it up to make latte. So glad I bought it, I held off for months thinking it would be really impractical since I never make matcha but it's the only thing I use every day.

Aya:
Wow I have unused matcha whisk that I’m not using. How do you do it? Do you have a favorite way of eating them?It was oat milk!

Eun-Ha:
I froth the oat milk first and put coffee.

Thank you Eun-Ha!!!!

Oat milk did make to my top 3, too;)

———————————————
Project Note:
The idea of “ My friend’s quarantine shopping list” started when I was peeking at people’s shopping baskets during the COVID-19. What are their essentials? Is there a one thing they can’t live without? I was curious about my friend’s shopping baskets. Everyone’s list was unique and I enjoy talking to them about it. I hope this brighten your day and maybe those items will make it to your next shopping list :) Have a nice staying home day!