Leah Campbell from Diner Journal contacted me some time ago asking if she could send me a copy of the latest issue of their publication. i politely replied HELLS YES thinking perhaps i could get a digital copy since i live on the other side of the world, but she very kindly posted me a hard copy which i was thrilled to receive shortly afterwards one fine boring day at work. i wanted to get stuck into it that evening, but as things go i didn’t get round to reading it until quite a while later (something that happens in all aspects of my life, no offence to the cool peeps at Diner Journal.)

in the meantime my flatmate Jessica, who i have spoken about a number of times on here and who i do the sporadic food series with, picked it up and immersed herself in it. she’s a chef, you see. she appreciates good food, and great events, and people coming together to make food and take beautiful photos of said food and and and… that’s what Diner Journal is! well, that’s a very succint way to put it. basically -

Diner Journal is a quarterly magazine with original art, lit and recipes, published by Brooklyn restaurateur Andrew Tarlow of Diner, Marlow & Sons, and Roman’s and butcher shop Marlow & Daughters. The journal is produced by a group of people from our community of restaurants, and Diner’s bartender Anna Dunn is our editor in chief. Ad-free and three hole-punched since 2006.

issue no.17 is filled with stories, toasts, recipes, art and music that came about from a dinner party inspired by the ancient greek epic the odyssey. i loved this quote from the introduction by anna dunn,

telemachus tells athena, “here in our house you’ll find a royal welcome. have supper first, then tell us what you need.” one of life’s great thrills is to make an unhappy person happy, to care without condition, to satisfy the unsatisfied. it can be a small moment when you understand the opportunity you have to change things for other people. be it by touching their shoulder, offering them food, simply seeing them or, say, offering to take their sword. i get a chill every time i feel someone travel from the darkness to light.

there are many highlights in the journal, not least of which are the recipes, beautiful design and photography – the centrefold spread of the feasting table is enough to make your mouth water. i came away from it feeling completey inspired (and hungry) with the sudden urge to band together a group of friends and have our own feast.

you can purchase past diner journals here, and be sure to visit their website for more info.

currently getting an ip banned message on their website (ugh, south africa!) but also try their blog