Notes on Turning 50

From Jamie’s Desk:

Well it’s official, this is my first newsletter as a 50 year-old. First, here are some terms I just learned to describe those in their 50’s:

I’m not sure I love any of those monikers, but I guess Primetimer isn't bad. Regardless of the name, it is obviously a big milestone. However, today’s 50 year olds are not the 50  year olds of the past. We have all seen the memes highlighting the fact that when All In The Family started, Archie Bunker was 46, and Rue McClanahan was 51 when Golden Girls premiered. It’s safe to say that the Quinquagenarians of today are much different, and I’m the prime example of that. I’ve never felt better, nor have I been more excited for a birthday.

Those of us hitting this milestone now are very lucky to be doing so in the sweet spot of the new longevity/wellness craze. Thanks to people like Peter Attia, Mark Hyman, Kelly Leveque and many others, we have the opportunity to get healthier as we get older. I am pretty sure that I am at the peak of my health journey, from the use of GLP-1’s to strength training to contrast therapy to protein intake, it is all factoring in to making us ready to live longer than ever. I also realize that a lot of that comes from the benefit of having money and time to spend on some of these tools, so I acknowledge how lucky I am. But hopefully with the advancements in AI and medicine, as well as access to lower cost tools, more people will be able to increase their health and their life expectancies as time goes on.

When I was 41, I saw a therapist who told me I was on the “backside of life”. That’s never a pleasant thing to hear, but after thinking about it some more, I can confidently say he was dead wrong (I never went back after that one visit). I would almost go so far as to say that life takes a big step forward at some point in your 40’s and early 50’s, based on personal experience and all the conversations I have had around age. Now don’t get me wrong, the dreaded mid-life crisis is real, and it hits everyone. However, another therapist told me to think about it as a mid-life opportunity, not a crisis, which I love. As one friend said to me: in your 50’s you are smarter, you have more perspective, you have deeper relationships, you have a bigger community and you can be intentional about what you want. You are no longer playing defense, now it’s all about playing offense. How you spend your free time, what you do for work, where you go for vacation, what you read, what you eat, how you relax, how you exercise–it should all be intentional. 

Now, I get it–I am blessed. I have (and have always had) my health. So many of my friends have dealt with major issues throughout the years, cancer being the number one culprit, so I do not take any of that for granted. In addition, I might be biased, because my number one role model is my 91 year-old father, who started a new fund in his 80s, went to Burning Man, and was the oldest person to complete the NYC marathon. He isn’t exactly your average “nonagenarian”, he has more energy than anyone I know, and is always looking for his next big opportunity. He’s my North Star.

At 50, I can confidently say my life is in a great place. My kids are thriving. Kelly’s work with Baby2Baby has changed the lives of millions (and I have the privilege of being their #1 intern). I’m spending time with the people I love, eating good meals, and fighting for what’s right. 

My career has taken me to amazing places–from the 20th anniversary of Half Nelson at Sundance in two weeks, to being part of Madu, which just brought home Nigeria’s first Emmy. None of those things were on my “life bingo card”, but I’ll take it. And despite all of that, I’m just getting started. Personally and professionally, my goal is to continue to grow. I know that the best is yet to come, and I want to thank you all for coming on this journey with me. We are all nothing without the people in our communities. For me I couldn't be happier when I look around and take stock of the community I am a part of. So thank you all for the first 50 years–and here’s to another 50.

Discussed in this issue: The best king cakes in NOLA, Texas BBQ in LA, and the importance of storytelling.

Have a restaurant rec, cultural gem, can’t-miss event, or a hot sauce that changed your life? Send it my way: [email protected]

🎧 Lunch With Jamie is available as a podcast—perfect for easy, on-the-go listening. Follow along on Apple, Spotify, or Amazon Podcasts, and don’t forget to like, subscribe, share, and comment. We want to hear from you!

As everyone knows, I love New Orleans. There are so many traditions and foods that I could write about, but with the start of Mardi Gras coming soon, it felt appropriate that I share a little on the history of king cakes and the best ones for you to try. I highly encourage you to order one through Goldbelly or from the stores directly below. It is so hard to pick a favorite, because they all do their own spin on it. Last year, I did the unthinkable and I actually drove the 45 mins to Dong Phuong and then brought back multiple cakes on the plane to LA. Crazy, but it was a fun adventure. 

King cake is one of New Orleans’ most beloved traditions, tied to the religious holiday of Epiphany and brought to Louisiana by French and Spanish settlers. Over time, it became a Mardi Gras staple, decorated in purple, green, and gold and shared from January 6th through Fat Tuesday, which marks the start of Lent. The small baby baked inside adds a bit of fun: whoever finds it gets prosperity in the coming year—and the responsibility of bringing next year’s king cake. If you want to bring this NOLA tradition to your home, here are some of the best places to purchase one. I’m also including spots that are pick-up only, if you happen to be in Crescent City between now and Mardi Gras.

King Cakes:

Haydel’s – This bakery has been around since 1959, and for good reason. Their king cake, topped with fondant icing, is both delicious and nice to look at. They also broke the Guinness World Record in 2010 for the largest king cake and are a favorite of the ragin’ Cajun himself, democratic strategist and Lunch With Jamie alum, James Carville. SHIPS NATIONWIDE.

Ayu Bakehouse – This one is a little different from the traditional king cake, because it’s inspired by a croissant. Flaky and light, it’s sprinkled with the standard colored sugar, and is a good option for someone looking for something less heavy. SHIPS NATIONWIDE.

Commander’s Palace – This James Beard Award winning restaurant is known for its Cajun cuisine–including the Mardi Gras king cake. It has a cream cheese filling, and serves 6-8. SHIPS NATIONWIDE. 

Sucre – Known for their macaroons, this bakery sells a bundle with their famous cookies AND a king cake. It was voted the Best King Cake in NOLA by the Washington Post in 2011. SHIPS NATIONWIDE. 

Tartine – If you want something rich, this king cake with cream cheese filling is a good choice. They also have a gluten free option! SHIPS NATIONWIDE.

If you happen to be in The Big Easy during king cake season, here are some spots that don’t ship, but still have amazing options.

This week, we’re going back into the vault to release a conversation recorded in September 2020 with social justice activist, lawyer, and founder of the Equal Justice Initiative, Bryan Stevenson. 

We spoke about his work at EJI, the bias he’s faced in his life: from attending a segregated school to being profiled in his career as a lawyer. We also spoke about the responsibility Hollywood has to portray events accurately and the need to prioritize Black filmmakers in telling these stories. 

While this conversation is evergreen, it’s important to note the ways in which America has changed since it came out. We were at the tail end of the first Trump administration, and all of us were hopeful that the tides would turn in the November election. Still, Donald Trump was re-elected and much of the narratives Bryan discussed are still being suppressed. We currently have a President who recently said that the Civil Rights movement was bad for white people, and is determined to control the school curriculum to whitewash some of the uncomfortable truths of American history. We’re back to glorifying confederate soldiers, with their names going back on military bases and schools. 

But hope isn’t lost. Bryan lays out many action items in this conversation, but the most important one is learning. Educating ourselves is how we can get through this and build a world that is more equitable for everyone. 

I really hope you enjoy this conversation and find it as powerful as I did. 

You can listen to the full conversation on Youtube, or as a podcast on Apple, Spotify and Amazon.

Aaron Michaelson, Aaron Stern, Adam Saper, Adam Smith, Alex Tse, Andy Wang, Anthony Jacobson, Ashley Sawyer, Ben Hundreds, Blake Lively, Bobby Kim, Brian McGinn, Chad Colby, Chad Gutstein, Chris Rice, Condé Nast Traveler, David Gelb, David Katzenberg, David Nathanson, Evan Funke, Eater, Eli Meyer, Food & Wine, Goop, Kristina O’Neill, Iman Dakhil, Infatuation, James Beard Award, Jason Spivak, Jerry Greenberg, Jeremy Smith, Jerrold Son, Jessica Alba, Joe Varet, Jon Buscemi, Jon Alagem, Jon Shook, Jordan Okun, James Ponsoldt, Kate Burr, Katie McNeill, Kelly Sawyer Patricof, The LA Times, Leonardo DiCaprio, Lloyd Sacks, Marc Rose, Marc Mezvinsky, Martha Patricof, Matt Haimes, Matt Karatz, Max Chow, Max Shapiro, Max Winkler, Michael Kives, Michelin Guide, Nicole Richie, Neal Moritz, The NY Times, Paul Zucker, Peter Goldwyn, Phil Rosenthal, Phill Ettinger, Rachel Halilej, Riley Patricof, Sawyer Patricof, Shu Chowdhury, Todd Steinman, The Hungry Tourist, The Infatuation, Vinny Dotolo.

Today’s email was brought to you by: Jamie Patricof and Michaela Sullivan