Bad eggs

Surfs up on luxe handbags, great booze [View in browser]( [Bloomberg]( Happy Friday Pursuitsanistas, I’m [Justin Ocean](, deputy editor for our luxurious little corner of Bloomberg. And I’m here to talk to you about eggs. Yep, eggs. Not just because I’m ready to decorate me some bad boys for Easter, but because I want to spare you some existential foodie angst—and save you money. Filling my friend’s annual Ostereierbaum (German Easter egg tree) will be a bit more expensive this year. Photographer: André Pause Egg prices are soaring. The national average for a dozen large white eggs is $2.50 according to the Department of Agriculture, up from $1.60 last year. At Brooklyn supermarkets, I’m looking at $3.99 a dozen or upwards of $8 for fancier brands of ovum. An interconnected web of reasons is to blame. A [deadly avian flu]( has been ripping across the U.S., forcing some 23 million egg-laying hens to be culled (so far). There’s [inflation](, of course, and there’s [Russia](. Putin’s war on Ukraine coupled with drought and ongoing pandemic-related supply chain snafus have pushed the price of grain to [all-time highs](, as well as raising fuel costs for farmers. Then there’s marketing—the one factor you have control over. Visual delight aside, there’s no difference between eggs that are brown, white, green, or blue—except the latter can retail for $9 a dozen. Photographer: Gabriela Herman for Bloomberg Businessweek Fun fact: All eggs of the same size, regardless of shell color, or whether they’re “organic” or “pasture-raised” or “cage-free” are nutritionally the same. “All natural” and “hormone free” on packaging are meaningless buzzwords in the context of eggs and solely meant to sway consumers. Crack open a “farm fresh” or “free-range” egg and, of course, there is a visual difference. That vivid amber yolk may offer a smattering of micronutrients—and make for a prettier looking scramble—thanks to the hen’s more varied diet (bugs, flowers, supplements, etc.). But whether it tastes egg-ier or richer than your workaday yellow-yolked specimens depends on your palate and belief level.  So is all that worth $4 more a dozen to you? Hens in a Vital Farms pasture, one of a network of over 275 farmers producing more ethically raised eggs. Source: Vital Farms If it’s about your health, it’s best to ignore the relentless hype of the “clean eating cabal.” You know the ones, the talking-heads and influencers droning on with pseudo-scientific confidence about ridding your body of toxins (not a thing!) and whose [#eatclean]( lifestyles seemingly exist to make you feel bad about your culinary choices. There’s nothing wrong with a $2.50 dozen of white-shelled eggs. Food can be more nutritious or less nutritious, but it’s not “clean” or by extension “dirty.” That’s hokum. That this moral-driven duality often maps onto socioeconomic status or non-European, non-White cuisines is an especially problematic grocery bag worth unpacking another time. A Texas farm may be the next big bet in the $6 billion-plus U.S. egg industry: climate-friendly eggs. Photographer: Mary Kang/Bloomberg But Justin, you ask, What about animal welfare? What about more sustainable farming practices? Yes, cage-free and pasture-raised production [makes for healthier, happier chickens](. That’s not debatable even if, ironically, it’s [bad for small-time farmers](; it’s a net benefit with a cost attached. If the more humane treatment of animals is a priority in your life, that upcharge may be money well-spent. For our weekly Q&A section below, a reader asked, “At what point does a lifestyle become ‘luxury,’” and to me, that’s the answer. A lifestyle is luxurious when you’re buying the highest quality product you can—for you. Luxury is the space where ability, money, and values align. Just be sure to read up on [what those egg carton labels really mean]( before shelling out. I’d happily make Dominique Ansel’s Le Breakfast Sandwich part of my luxury lifestyle. Photographer: Zack DeZon/Bloomberg You can connect with Justin Ocean on [Twitter](, [Instagram](, or [via e-mail](mailto:jocean1@bloomberg.net?subject=Eggcelent to meet you). Now, let’s get cracking... [You’re Making Scrambled Eggs All Wrong]( Sorry about it! [Ferran Adrià ’s Potato Chip Omelet Is Brilliant]( An incredibly tasty hack to amp up the most-classic of egg dishes [Eric Ripert’s Easy, Elevated Breakfast in Bed]( What the star chef cooks for true romance [The Secret to the Perfect Bacon, Egg, and CheeseÂ]( Spoiler: it’s not the ingredients [Scotch Eggs Are My “Desert Island” Food]( Here’s how to make the U.K.’s best snack. It’s time to entertain. This weekend you can find me gorging on ham ([love a ham]() and Easter candy from my youth ([gummy raspberries]( and [See’s chocolate butter and Bordeaux eggs](, drool). And now that spring has finally sprung, you’ll also find me recommitting to putting my [roof garden]( through its entertaining paces. Here’s a selection of stories to put your party-host hat back on, too. [No, You Don’t Need a Different Glass for Every Kind of Wine]( [Help! I’m Alone at a Party. What Do I Do?]( [Colorful, One-of-a-Kind Crockery to Set Your Table With a Smile]( [Texture, Flavor, Funk! Six Rules for Building a Better Cheese Board]( [The 50 Best Wines Under $50]( [The Quickest Way to Master Your Favorite Cocktail]( What I’ve been watching. I saw [Everything Everywhere All at Once]( three weeks ago and can’t shut up about—and I’m not about to start now! Go see it. Go see it immediately. Don’t delay. Seriously. There’s a reason the absolutely absurd, surprisingly poignant, insanely creative film from indie hitmaker A24 has the [best per-theater opening of any film of 2022]( and maintains a [97% on Rotten Tomatoes](. I’d try to explain the plot, but it really doesn’t matter. [Reviews]( don’t even do it justice. I’ve paid to see it twice now—rare on its own accord—and both times I’ve left wavering between a euphoric high and on the verge of tears. Michelle Yeoh harnessing some big mom multidimensional energy. Photographer: David Bornfriend Yes, it’s about 30 minutes too long, but after two years of pandemic weariness and deep questioning of our lives, it’s an ideal salve. Also: Michelle Yeoh is a goddess, Ke Huy Quan (child star from The Goonies!) broke my heart, and the scenery chewing by Stephanie Hsu and Jamie Lee Curtis is pure joy. One last enthusiasm: Everything Everywhere is a movie made for the energy of a theater. Streaming it in a few months while casually looking at your phone is doing yourself a disservice. Even if the word “metaverse” makes you break out in hives, you’ll love it. And if you don’t, well, message me in this dimension or other, and I’ll buy you [a pack of googly eyes]( to lighten up your life. - OK, if you’re not quite ready to head back to theaters, season two of Netflix’s mind-bending, whip-smart series [Russian Doll]( comes out on April 20. I just rebinged season one in preparation, and star Natasha Lyonne’s gravel-voiced, zinger-a-minute grappling with life hit just as hard as the first time around. Plus, Greta Lee is a national treasure. So, you had some questions... Every week we’re soliciting your luxury lifestyle questions [over e-mail](mailto:daydreams@bloomberg.net?subject=I%20have%20a%20question) and to our [Bloomberg Pursuits Instagram]( and answering them exclusively here. What are some up-and-coming handbag brands worth splurging on? Gabriela Hearst remains one of the hottest named in bags right now, even though she launched in 2015. Chalk that up to a [true commitment to sustainable luxury](, where even the [instantly recognizable Nina model]( has to be special ordered and is only produced in limited quantities. Gabriela Hearst handbags on display at her Manhattan flagship. Photographer: Jonathan Hökklo Kristen Shirley, founder of [the luxury encyclopedia La Patiala]( and one of our key fashion contributors, also recommends [Savette]( and [Mas](. Both were founded in 2020 and are made outside Florence, Italy. On Savette: “The silhouettes are timeless, and I love the signature hardware. It’s unique, and it’s not the brand’s logo, which I think is a beautiful statement of quiet luxury.” On Mas: “It was founded by Marie-Philippe Thibault, who worked at Hermès, Louis Vuitton, and The Row. As you can imagine, she’s an expert in discreet luxury with impeccable craftsmanship. Having wooden hardware (and sometimes handles) is an interesting design twist.” Any travel recommendations for surfers? Here’s a hot tip with more to come: One of the world’s best surfing resorts, [NIHI Sumba]( in Indonesia, is opening up a [sister property in Costa Rica](. Called NIHI Santo Tomás, it’s near famous surf spots such as Playa Cabuyal, Witches Rock, Papagayo—all of which you can visit now. The 10 steps to achieving surfing Nirvana. Photographer: Jake Stangel for Bloomberg Businessweek If you prefer something a bit more un-tread, consider Nicaragua. Its “unicorn winds” and 155 miles of “raw, refreshingly real” coast had correspondent Jen Murphy [daydreaming of a trip]( during the heady days of Covid-19 lockdowns—and she already lives in Hawaii. Here’s her [itinerary for a Nicaraguan surf holiday](. And on the luxury end of the spectrum, my colleague Jim Gaddy learned to ride with Tropicsurf—[while also proposing to his wife!](—in Los Cabos, Mexico. Talk about catching a break. Been drinking anything delicious these days? Lately I’ve been really into [agave spirits](, so was happy to discover that [Fósforo, a new mezcal brand owned by Jim Cramer]( (yes, that Jim Cramer) wasn’t just a celebrity money grab. The $125 tobalá penca is a style I’ve never encountered before, where roasted agave leaves known as penca are left to rest with the distillate in glass jugs. It’s a bit like a smoky-sweet reposado tequila, best enjoyed like a whisky, straight up. On the booze beat. Source: Vendors I’ve also been making my way through a bottle of [Yebiga Prva, a plum brandy from Serbia]( known locally as rakija. It’s been barrel-aged for 18 months and takes me straight back to my travel writing days. Vanilla notes from the oak mellow out the piney, fruity astringency despite a hot 43% ABV. And even though [hard seltzers are on the wane](, I’m still searching for ones that don’t hit like artificially flavored buzz water when the sweet-tooth calls and a beer won’t cut it. [Amass “botanic” hard seltzers]( are my current No.1s thanks to delightful flavor notes you don’t normally see in ready-to-drinks, like oak, hibiscus, turmeric, and cardamom. Plus the marketing copy is pure L.A. and makes me laugh. (“Faerie Fizz is an effervescent garden escape … soft blooms of rose and jasmine dance around the tongue.”) Bonus: they make great mixers, too. Chris Rovzar will be back on newsletter duty next week after some much-needed R&R following the [Watches and Wonders expo]( in Geneva. Ask him anything via [Twitter]( and [Instagram]( or [e-mail questions direct to Pursuits](mailto:daydreams@bloomberg.net?subject=I%20have%20a%20question). Follow Us Like getting the Pursuits newsletter? [Subscribe to Bloomberg.com for unlimited access]( to trusted, data-driven journalism and gain expert analysis from exclusive subscriber-only newsletters. You received this message because you are subscribed to Bloomberg's Pursuits newsletter. If a friend forwarded you this message, [sign up here]( to get it in your inbox. [Unsubscribe]( [Bloomberg.com]( [Contact Us]( Bloomberg L.P. 731 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY 10022 [Ads Powered By Liveintent]( [Ad Choices](