Earlier this week, a group text conversation between friends discussing Alexa Chung’s go-to café order (breve cappuccino and eggs a la coque, allegedly) triggered a vague memory. I pictured a cartoon character sitting at a table eating soft boiled eggs. I was suddenly nostalgic for this visual, but I couldn’t put my finger on where exactly it came from. Well god bless Reddit because, strangely, I was not the only one.
I had read Bread and Jam for Frances and was a huge fan of Little Bear as a kid. Even the second reference still is from a short film from 1977 that eventually aired on Nickelodeon called “The Killing of an Egg”, which felt familiar. I was flooded with recognition of comforting things I hadn’t thought about in decades.
the eggdel test
But as I relished in my Nancy Drew skills, I still felt like I hadn’t cracked the entire case. I remember being so enamored by soft boiled eggs as a kid, so surely I’d seen them in more things, I just didn’t know what. The internet came through once again with this Letterboxd list someone curated that is literally called ‘movies where someone just really likes eating hard or soft boiled eggs’; this seemed like a good place to start.
Runaway Bride (1999)
Call Me By Your Name (2017)
Agatha Christie’s Poirot (1989-2013)
Phantom Thread (2017)
While looking for soft boiled eggs in pop culture I came across this other reddit thread that still has me giggling. I love that the idea came to this person in a dream. Next time you’re watching something, ask yourself if it passes the Eggdel Test.
final thoughts
I’ve never had a soft boiled egg, let alone seen anyone eat a soft boiled egg IRL, only through art. Apparently, Americans don’t really eat them. Just another reason we confuse and every other country. Oh, in case you’re wondering where they originated, it’s believed to be Ancient Rome, then largely adopted by Asia.
Maybe this is part of their intangibly idyllic aura. The sheer fact it needs its own special, pretty cup to be consumed. The way it sits up so prim and proper, urging you to mirror its sophistication, have some respect. And, it seems like the attentive care that must be taken to get it cooked to its titular texture comes across somehow to whoever is about to eat it, like a song successfully evoking an emotion. Its subtext is delicate, frivolous. Be gentle with me, it begs.
For the record, I did type in “soft-boiled egg aesthetic” into Pinterest and was severely disappointed so I think I’m gonna have to get this thing started.
misc. thoughts
I’m writing this on a Wednesday, which is normally when I send this newsletter out if that’s any indication of where I’m at mentally. My attention has been ping-ponging between different interests and errands. I’m also hosting a pop-up shop this Saturday (which you should totally come to!) so a lot of this week has been setting up for that. Other things on my mind:
Finding gear at the last-minute for a ski trip I’m going on in two weeks and have known about for like six months 🫠
Tweaking music projects
The fact that the Stanley Cup craze is just sneaker culture??? In short, the former CMO of Crocs who was responsible for making them cool is now the president of Stanley Cup and is basically using the same (admittedly brilliant) marketing tactics
Profoundly regretting not buying a 12-string Celtic harp on facebook marketplace
Waking up with head and body aches and worrying I was getting sick – false alarm though. I told Daniel about “period flus” and he replied, “Oh, like Sharknado.” I think we’re both still trying to figure out the association…
Until next time!
– Er 🌹