Letters from the Kitchen — February

Food and flowers are my love language.

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In February, love is often shared in grand gestures – endless red roses, fancy reservations, declarations – but in my kitchen, love has always been shown in simpler ways.

I have often thought about the idea of love languages, and how food and flowers are a natural part of my vocabulary. For me, making and sharing something beautiful, unexpected, or indulgent has always been one of the clearest ways I know how to say I love you.

When I cook for someone, I’m rarely interested in the ordinary. Love, to me, looks like a brûléed wheel of Harbison brought to the table still warm, a favorite cake made just because, or a box of handmade truffles – the kind that take time, intention, and a little imagination. These are not everyday offerings. They are gestures meant to delight, to surprise, to say this was made especially for you. I’ll be sharing that truffle recipe here in the coming days.

Food lets us say things without explaining them.
I noticed.
I remembered.
I wanted to care for you.

Flowers speak in much the same way – sometimes even more quietly. I’ve written before about the language of flowers and how certain blooms have long been used to communicate feeling and intention without words. Whether cut from the garden, gathered on a walk, or placed simply on the table, flowers invite us to pause. They remind us that beauty belongs in daily life, not just on special occasions.

This is the kind of love I come back to each year: practical, generous, deeply human. Love expressed through nourishment, through presence, through taking the time to make something just for someone else.

As February unfolds, I hope you find small ways to speak your own love language – whether that’s cooking something extraordinary, setting a beautiful table, or sharing food and flowers with the people you care about most.

From my kitchen to yours,

Joanna

If you’re thinking about how this month shows up on the plate, you may find our February seasonal eating guide useful.

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“Letters from the Kitchen” is a seasonal series reflecting on how we cook, gather, and live at the table throughout the year.