Community

Why Home Is More Important Than Ever

Let’s find new ways to connect.

by:
March 16, 2020

Hi Food52ers,

As we mentioned on Saturday, we’ve closed our offices for the time being. Like so many people across the country and around the world, we’re working away in our homes: testing recipes, taking photos, filming videos, sourcing Shop products, writing code, and tending to all the other activities that keep our business humming.

Home is a powerful place for all of us, and its role as a refuge and solace feels particularly acute right now. Home is also where we often express our personalities most intimately and creatively, a value that’s central to Food52’s very existence.

We started this company in a home—in Amanda’s kitchen (see the pic below)—and for ten years, you’ve shared recipes and tips from your own homes as our community grew.

Flashback to the old days in Amanda's home kitchen.

We realize that the specific impact of the current situation is different for everyone, but we’re all affected in some way. Many of us are spending more time around the house, whether it’s cooking to feed ourselves and our families or finding distraction through projects—from deep-cleaning the oven to fixing a broken bookshelf. We understand that these humble activities won’t change the course of global events, but we believe that Food52ers can find comfort by sharing how we’re all spending our time. In this way, what we’re doing separately can become what we’re all doing together.

Join The Conversation

Top Comment:
“And for those of you suffering from public library withdrawal (that would include me), don't forget that many libraries have large eBook collections -- many cookbooks included!!! -- that we can take advantage of during the shutdowns. The cookbooks are not as beautiful, for the most part, but who cares? Here in Boulder County (Flatirons Consortium), we also have access to the Hoopla library, which has not only cookbooks but hundreds of thousands of other great titles. (I'm working my way, quite happily, through Balzac's "Human Comedy", among others.) Stay well, everyone. ;o)”
— AntoniaJames
Comment

Each week, we’re going to post different themes on Instagram (@Home52, too), Twitter, and Facebook—from what we’re cooking (creative pantry meals, recipes to make with our kids) to our best cleaning hacks. Our team members will share their own photos, videos, recipes, and tips. We hope you’ll share yours as well. Then we’ll highlight as many as we can on the site and across our social channels for everyone to see.

And if you have ideas for themes or content you’d like to see or share, please let us know. As always, we’re at our best when we act collectively.

Warmly,




Amanda Hesser & Merrill Stubbs
Co-Founders, Food52

See what other Food52 readers are saying.

  • Michele Farley
    Michele Farley
  • AntoniaJames
    AntoniaJames
  • Gibson2011
    Gibson2011
  • Kate Hartt
    Kate Hartt
Food52 (we cook 52 weeks a year, get it?) is a food and home brand, here to help you eat thoughtfully and live joyfully.

4 Comments

Michele F. March 22, 2020
Pip, my beautiful, darling, perfect Pembroke Welsh Corgi and I are hunkered down at home and coping as best we can. I’ve been a widow for more than three years now so I’m used to being alone.

But, before my husband died and afterwards, my greatest pleasure has been planning and hosting dinner parties. I pour over my 250 (!) and growing cookbooks, as well as websites for ideas . I’ll order special things on line to make my menus delicious and special.

In fact, even alone dinner parties have been my main form of socializing.

I love gathering fun, interesting, often loud, friends around my table that can squeeze up to 10, cheek to jowl, as they say.

Alas, this is no longer possible.

However, a group of women friends and I now hold zoom “dinner parties” . I get to plan and present fantasy menus of expensive, hard to make, extravagant meals. When this horrible pandemic is over or tamed at least, we plan to celebrate around my table as never before.

I hope everyone is finding ways to stay home and stay safe during this terrible time.
 
AntoniaJames March 16, 2020
And for those of you suffering from public library withdrawal (that would include me), don't forget that many libraries have large eBook collections -- many cookbooks included!!! -- that we can take advantage of during the shutdowns. The cookbooks are not as beautiful, for the most part, but who cares? Here in Boulder County (Flatirons Consortium), we also have access to the Hoopla library, which has not only cookbooks but hundreds of thousands of other great titles. (I'm working my way, quite happily, through Balzac's "Human Comedy", among others.) Stay well, everyone. ;o)
 
Gibson2011 March 16, 2020
We went to the library the day before they closed, but I would have gotten more had I known! I'm reminding myself that it's a great time to reread the favorites that are on my shelf. :)
 
Kate H. March 17, 2020
eBooks and audio books! I love listening to old favorites while working in the kitchen or around the house - nothing makes cleaning go by quickly like listening to a Robert Galbraith novel!