Welcome to the August edition of Food & Culture TidBits—a monthly roundup of stories, flavors, and ideas that celebrate the ways we eat, gather, and connect. This month: a breakfast chat with Bono on Ruthie’s Table 4 podcast, a weeknight-friendly apple pie with graham-cracker crust, a Filipino favorite for Restaurant Week (Naks), an all-Peru food festival landing in Brooklyn, and a forthcoming cookbook from NYT bestselling chef Samin Nosrat. I hope something here sparks a plan, a craving, or a great conversation.
At the Table with Bono: Ruthie’s Table 4 + Stories of Surrender
On Ruthie’s Table 4, Bono pulls up a chair to share early food memories, the diplomacy of breaking bread, and even a tender “Amazing Grace.” Then continue the thread with Bono: Stories of Surrender on Apple TV—a cinematic reimagining of his acclaimed one-man show, weaving music, family, faith, and activism with iconic U2 songs. Together, they’re a powerful reminder that a meal (and a story) can bring unlikely people together. Listen on your favorite podcast app; stream on Apple TV+.
From the team at Unapologetic Foods, Naks is a love letter to Filipino comfort, shaped by Chef Eric Valdez’s personal memories. The name—“Naks!”—is Tagalog for that involuntary “wow” when something delights. Expect good vibes, bold flavors, and East Village energy in the former Jeepney space, a location destined for amazing Filipino food. (My wife and I both went to Jeepney, another amazing Filipino restaurant, before we met, and had some moments of nostalgia when we visited the now-Naks spot together during Restaurant Week. And it absolutely lived up to the hype—warm hospitality, big flavor, zero pretense. And the Restaurant Week deal has been extended to August 31.
Save the Date: Perú Mucho Gusto (Brooklyn, Sept 19–21)
Peru’s celebrated gastronomic festival lands in NYC for the first time coming to Greenpoint Terminal Warehouse with three days of tastings, demos, pisco, superfoods, crafts, and live music. Expect top Peruvian restaurants from across the U.S. and the full spectrum of flavors that put Peru on the global map (with cebiche recently recognized by UNESCO). If you love food as culture, mark your calendar.
Recipe We’re Loving: Apple Pie with Graham Cracker Crust
Granny Smiths in the fridge + graham crackers in the pantry = this irresistible twist on a classic. Salt & Baker’s pie layers a buttery graham crust, cinnamon-soft apples, and a brown-sugar crumble for maximum comfort with minimal fuss. Sweet, simple, and weeknight-friendly—file under “instant crowd-pleaser.” Maybe bring along to that Labor Day BBQ?
Book to Pre-Order: Good Things by Samin Nosrat (Sept 16)
From the bestselling author of Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat comes 125 meticulously tested, flavor-forward recipes along with related rituals to share with people you love —comforting, communal, and inspiring. As Samin writes, “Recipes, like rituals, endure… A written recipe is just a shimmering decoy for the true inheritance: the thread of connection it will unspool.” Expect the kind of tips that change how you cook and infuse joy into your life and relationships.
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At Eyestorm, we’re always exploring new ways to tell meaningful stories, celebrate culture, and spark connection—through strategy, design, and the universal language of food. If something here resonated (or you have a favorite to share), just hit reply.
