hello

I’m Madévi.

I’m a travel and occasional food writer. I live in London. I’ve written for the Guardian, The Independent, High Life, Metropolitan and Monocle, among others. I also write personal essays, like this piece on housesitting, or this one on posing nude. I have a funny kind of love for Belgium.

I started this newsletter in the middle of the coronavirus crisis. My work disappeared overnight, and like many, I have found solace in cooking elaborate feasts. Even if they are just for one. I’ve planted seeds in my garden: peas, beans, beetroot, radishes, carrots and tomatoes. Chard and lettuce. I’m watching them grow.

On hunger is a meditation of sorts on bounty and scarcity, desire and satisfaction. It’s about food, and pleasure. It will feature essays, tried-and-tested recipes, and chats with people doing interesting things around food.

I’m a little bit French and a little bit Cambodian, so it’s likely the recipes I share will have flavours of both. I’m interested in people, too, and I hope you’ll recognise something of yourself in the ones I pick out for you.