I’m always rabbiting on about honest writing, I know, I know. But it’s one of the things I find most endearing about blogs. I don’t care much for foodie talk, heck I used to try and pull it off in my earlier posts, but it’s just not me. So I stopped, mostly. For me it’s the stories of regular life that pull me into someones world so much so that I feel I can’t miss a post, and devour them greedily as soon as they pop up in my inbox. Take a little sneaky peek at the list of blogs I love and you will soon see that this whole being real and honest (both in writing, food and photography) is the common theme amongst them all.
I don’t think anyone out there keeps things as honest and real as the duo behind one of my favourite blogs, Happyolks. Kelsey’s writing is some of the best on the web in my humble opinion, raw and heartfelt and Shaun’s photos constantly take my breath away with their beauty. There’s movement and life in each and every photo, and don’t even get me started on how stunning their videos are.
Happyolks is a space where my life, fascination for the human experience, and love of cooking coalesce. I began playing around with a blog template in 2010, but it wasn’t until early 2011, when I returned from living in Africa and Asia, that the ethos of the site really came together. Today I still call Happyolks my playground — a place to practice writing and share in community with like minded individuals.
As to nourish. Nourishment can come in the form of herbal tea, a big bowl of veggies, or chocolate ice cream. Sometimes nourishment is not synonymous with nutrition. It’s about cooking to the seasons of life as much as seasons of the earth.
I feel grounded in the winter, liberated in the spring. It’s hard to pick a favorite, it seems whichever one I’m standing in always takes first prize.
Sweet or savoury?
I love the flavor complexity of global fare. Ethiopian, Lebanese, and Indian are the varieties I crave most. My favorite meals often are communal in nature. Sitting around the table, passing spoonfuls of this, dollops of that… it slows everything down and makes for a rewarding meal on a social level. I’m also a strong memory-based eater. I crave foods that somehow bookmark memories of friendship, love, and family.
I love Nigel Slater’s no rules/no fixed-recipe approach to cooking with vegetables, I reach for Cook’s Illustrated to teach myself new technique, and I have probably cooked most from Yotam Ottolenghi’s Plenty. Online, I look to Sprouted Kitchen, The First Mess, Delightful Crumb, Bon Appetempt, and Not Without Salt for consistently soulful recipes and writing.
What’s your favourite food indulgence?
My eyes turn green when I’m feeling emotional, I love baseball and throw a mean fast pitch, Lisianthus are my favorite flower, Buoys creep me out, and I am (without contest) Oprah’s biggest fan.
25 Responses
I totally agree with everything that you say about Kelsey's site. Kelsey and Shaun always offer such a fresh perspective on the world and make me look at things totally differently.
Absolutely! xx
I agree, great writing gets me every time. Part of what makes food beautiful is the thoughts and memories it invokes. Great interview!
Thanks love xx
Lovely post. These are the things that keep us going on ordinary days!
🙂
Absolutely fantastic interview and so happy to have just found your blog through Kelsey!
Thanks Ashley, lovely to have you here xx
Kelsey, I'll give you some of my cookie if you'll share your curry. Great interview! And what a lovely site you have here, Emma. It's my first time visiting, and I'll be back.
Thanks Jess, you are too sweet. Welcome! xx
I love Kelsey and I loved reading this interview..who knew she was Oprah's biggest fan? x
Haha, I'm more freaked out by the fact her eyes change colour with her mood! 🙂
Loved reading this post… am a firm fan of both your blogs…. thanks so much for the interview… xo
Interesting Article.
Thanks a Lot for Sharing
I really agree to all the comments! It's not just about the recipes but it's all about how good you write your content that will give interest to your readers to comment on.. That's why I always love reading your recipe blog posts.
Aww, thanks so much Will xx
Great post, really enjoyed it.
Love this. Love Kels. (duh) Nice one, Emma! 🙂 xo
Very honest, thank you. By the way Belgian strawberry waffles sound delicious.
Savory is the way to go!
Kelsey is a rockstar. Love what they do. honest, real and consistently good food!
I love Happyolks…Kelsey's writing is so so gorgeous. Also, a bourbon cocktail with mashed figs, i have both ingredients in my kitchen. Trying it out now!!
I completely agree… Those two somehow breathe so much substance and life into something as fundamentally simple as a food blog. Honest writing is so important, and something I'm trying to incorporate more and more in my own blog. In the first few months I was all about cramming as much information about ingredients and food history lessons that writing posts almost felt like completing homework assignments! Now I'm realising that it's so much more fun and fulfilling to write from the soul, and Kelsey's blog is the embodiment of that. Thanks for sharing this 🙂
I am a cheerleader of theirs as well. Really loving the Inspire Me series. So interesting to read little personal bits about people you admire. xo
Thanks Sara, I'm loving doing this series too. Me being the nosey girl that I am, I always want to know more about the people behind the blogs I love 🙂