03 | At the table

Chai tea, end-of-the-season market haul, and a cozy dinner

Hello eaters and readers! Welcome back to another issue of The Supper Letters. I am traveling this week, so most of my time was spent packing and wrapping up work. However, I did drank a lot of chai tea and ate takeout from places around Franklin.

It is officially fall! How are you planning on spending the autumn equinox? I’ve been trying to make the most of the markets and the outdoor dinning while the weather is still comfortable. This image is from our Friday night dinner. The night sky was starry and clear and the atmosphere was rich. The perfect beginning to a week of travel.

Market haul

The end of the market is slowly but surely coming to an end. This whole market season has allowed me to meet many fantastic farmers, bakers, and people who are good at what they do. Be on the lookout; I will list my favorite vendors I've befriended this season in the next couple of weeks. 

Wednesday market haul: Basil, vanilla chai kombucha, salami, mini cucumbers, Wild Spirit coffee, honey from Honeycomb Acres, a bar of lavender soap, and a small bouquet of end-of-season flowers. 

What's on my plate

Many coffee shops in town are already serving their pumpkin lattes and chai teas. My two favorite lattes come from Main and Madison and Coffee House Five-Franklin. Both have a heaping of whip cream and warm notes of pumpkin, cinnamon, cardamom, and ginger.

Pumpkin Spice Latte from Coffee House Five-Franklin

Pumpkin Pie Latte from Main and Madison Market Cafe

My favorite cafe chai tea has been the fall-o-ween chai latte from Bakehouse 1823. I was so shocked by how good this little cup of joy was. It's the perfect drink to hug on a cold rainy day.

Fall-o-ween chai latte from Bakehouse 1823

I also tried to make chai tea at home this past week. Unfortunately, I failed miserably and ended up with a bland, lukewarm mess. Still craving the creamy cup of goodness, I resorted to this chai tea concentrated mix from Rishi that was a m a z i n g. 

I'll end with this dinner that was the kickoff to our weekend. Caleb and I walked to Richard's Brick Oven Pizza and ordered pizza and pasta under a tree strung with lights while the sun dipped below the horizon. I sipped a fruity wine and nibbled on artichoke dip and pitta bread. Then for the entrée, I went with my regular: three cheese tortellini with Alfredo sauce. Richard's meals are always excellent, but it was precisely the outdoor atmosphere that I needed on a Friday night after a long week. 

Three cheese tortellini with Alfredo sauce and a fruity California wine I can’t remember the name of.

What are some of your favorite meals or warm drinks you've had within the last week?

Recipe box

I know I failed at chia tea earlier in the week, but below is a link to a recipe I really want to try. How about we try it all together, shall we?

The failed chai tea. It looked the part, but didn’t quite taste the part.

Things I am into right now… 

• This two-part podcast from Tara Brach on how to navigate conflict mindfully (as a person who hates conflict, I found it so helpful and validating. Here is part 1. And here is part 2. 

• These flowers. Gorgeous, aren't they? I love how the flowers in the Pacific Northwest are blooming in Septmeber.

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This week I am in Seattle, WA. Next week’s issue will be all about food and restaurants from the Evergreen State!