Isn't it funny how and idea will be vaguely swirling around out in the ether over time, and then suddenly a Moment happens when it all coagulates, solidifies, and becomes a thing of beauty on everyone's lips? Such has been the case this past year for jello. Yes, jello, once merely the province of kindergartners and Bill Cosby, that substance that manages to be slightly tacky but miraculous at the same time-- it goes from being a liquid to being a solid! It is a technicolor plasma that can be modeled and molded and layered! It is a way to conjure a feast reminiscent of Marie Antoinette's Versailles on a peasant's budget! Let them eat cake? No. Let them eat Jello, we say.
Our fascination with jello began last November when we were approaching the annual local tradition of Friendsgiving (like Thanksgiving, but with less relatives and more booze) and Jenni had the genius idea to channel her inner Betty Draper and bring a classic jello mold to the occasion. The research began, the anticipation built, and we all waited with bated breath, picturing the resplendent terraces of Jello emerging, shimmering and otherworldly, from their mold.
So, we still had a lot to learn:
Although the bottom layer collapsed slightly, in this mold's defense let us say that it worked perfectly as an effective and tasty social lubricant. But we knew that this was only our first foray into the strange new world. As the long winter months went on, jello kept cropping up on our radar every so often. Mia remembered seeing an exhibit of artist Liz Hicock's jello ode to the San Francisco earthquakes at Mass MoCA earlier in the summer. Jenni discovered the ultimate online resource for mold recipes at Jello Shot Test Kitchen. Our friends benefited from our experimentation at parties, band rehearsals, and Wednesday nights. By the time we got to springtime and styling our mad tea party, we were pros.
Our resident mad scientist examines a glowing jello mold. When Vogue's longtime food writer Jeffrey Steingarten featured jello molds in the July issue this summer, we knew that the trend had truly arrived. We have a lot more to say about jello, so check back soon for recipes and styling ideas. All photos courtesy of Oliver Scott Photography
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