Hello, 2024
A fashionably late new year newsletter + January updates
There’s only one right opening paragraph to this first newsletter of 2024, and it starts with me thanking you for being here. Shru’s Kitchen, naturally, would not exist without the love and support of all of you. Whether you have ordered a cake, liked and shared an Instagram post, left a review, cheered me on from afar, or subscribed to this newsletter - every act has been instrumental in contributing to what I’m able to offer today. I appreciate it beyond what words can express. This little bakery has had its ebbs and flows and the fact that you are all still here often leads to shock and surprise, but mostly immense gratitude.
January Schedule
Jan 6th/7th | Regular cake orders (slacked a bit and offered only 1 flavor :) )
Jan 13th/14th | Regular cake orders (2 rotating flavors)
Jan 20th/21st | Regular cake orders (2 rotating flavors)
Jan 27th/28th | Regular cake orders (2 rotating flavors) + monthly slice box drop
Twenty Twenty Four ft. Cakes
I don’t have any wild and ambitious plans for Shru’s Kitchen this year. Shru’s Kitchen took up so much of my brain space for a large chunk of last year. I went down a number of different rabbit holes to make it work on a larger scale, but didn’t see things pan out the way I’d hoped to. While I’m grateful that I had the opportunity to explore this path, some of the realizations along the way were quite disheartening to say the least. With that in mind, I’ve entered this year with a more simple goal of continuing per usual; this means 2-3 weekly rotating flavors, a monthly slice box drop, and variety boxes during holiday weekends.
2023 was also a year of many (by my standards) popups, and it’s likely that I won’t be doing them as frequently this year. I hope to make up for that with my variety boxes where you can still try some non-cake vegan pastries. And stay tuned for new flavors and more savory too!
Twenty Twenty Four ft. the world
The fact that we have entered the new year with not just the genocide in Gaza still ongoing, but also with people still denying it, is beyond understandable. Worse, we have normalized the experience of watching death through the screens of our phones. The dystopianism of scrolling past a father kissing his dead daughter’s toes and moving on to posts of beach vacations and family reunions will never be lost on me. And between all of this, my own desensitization where I almost mindlessly accept the contradictory, conflicting nature of what my social media feed is showing me, is what makes me realize the almost psychotic state of the world.
I feel like my last few newsletters have ended on morose notes, but it brings me to wonder - if we’re unable to bear the burden of thinking of, reading about, and watching this massacre, then what are we doing to stop it?
Twenty Twenty Four ft. books
On that note, I have 2 book recommendations by Palestinian authors. I’m always trying to balance out fiction and non-fiction. Both these books were extremely engaging and Rashid Khalidi’s historical work taught me so much. I’m looking forward to reading Etaf Rum’s new book, Evil Eye.
Twenty Twenty Four ft. nature
After the busy holiday baking madness (I was not proud of the state of my kitchen after the last holiday box weekend) I was lucky enough to unplug for a few days in Honolulu, with lots of nature and fruit. Tropical vibes all around, and there’s nothing I love more than the sun. Also the vegan food there is top notch.
Thank you all, once again, from the very bottom of my heart. I hope this new year brings you everything you want and more.