Well Rounded
Issue 9: Welcome to our Guidebook!
Hello all, it’s been a minute. Earlier this year found me in a whirlwind of things and before I knew it — spring, then summer. It’s been a while since I’ve published a letter, and I’m happy to be back. I’ve always been proud of the work I do here; all the hours I put into curating good content, stringing words together, creating beautiful graphics.
With warmer weather comes the sprouting of new leaves, but not without the pour and drizzle on gloomy days. It’s not too different from the human form. But it’s a fulfilling cycle to witness; the city stepping out of its shell; birds soaring and drifting through the sky; buskers out on the street; sunglasses sipping coffee outside sidewalk cafés.
In this ninth issue of Well Rounded, you will find personal project ideas to work on, a great 1977 record by Tatsuro Yamashita, a company called Palantir and more. For the first time, I’ve also wrote an 800-word Report, this one, about the Michelin Stars. Report might branch off into its own entity in the future. For now, you can read the entirety of it here. This week’s cover was inspired and is almost an exact replica of the Michelin Green Guide from the ‘80s. I hope you enjoy and thank you for sticking around. Also, new season, new byline. — C. S. Indoors.
They’re 15. Wait Until You Read Their Newspaper from the NYTimes
The Ditch Weekly is not your ordinary paper. A project led by 13-17 year olds in the Hamptons, it began when its 15 year old editor Billy was “looking for a summer job that was more stimulating than his usual gig squeezing lemons at a food truck.” Keep up with their work on their Instagram. Their next issue comes out July 4th.
This story’s great for multiple reasons. For one, whereas statistics on the youth seem to follow a pessimistic downwards trend, there is hope. For two, it’s inspiring. To see a level of proactiveness and community in creating something from scratch and having an outlet to pour your energy into, is motivational. Although it may be a story about teenagers, the general lesson can be applied to everyone.
I have some ideas in mind for a summer project or your 5-9 after your 9-5:
Build a website, and there’s 2 ways to approach this:
Instagram Archive Account: The barrier to entry is virtually zero, but you’ll need a vision. Does your city have a “what’s happening in town” page? A confessions page? Or my favorite genre: curated moodboard pages. Sporty and Rich, Every Other Thursday, and JJJJound are all great examples of moodboard-turned-brand by curating a specific vision, cultivating a community, then creating something tangible.
Newsletter: An obvious one.
Creating a magazine/zine: Document your summer. Bring a camera around and take photos. Then infuse creativity to make a physical keepsake to share with friends and family. It will take more effort, but it will be equal parts rewarding. Play with the layout. The arrangement. Scrapbook or are we thinking sleek? The possibilities are endless. Adobe InDesign is commonly used to layout images. If you have an iPad, Procreate is the way to go.
What are you doing this summer?
Into the World of Michelin, and Its Stars — An original report by C. S. Indoors.
Last year, it was announced that the Michelin Guide — the guidebook that contains recommendations in cities and countries around the world, among which includes their famous Michelin Star ratings — will come to the province of Quebec for the first time. By Fall, anonymous inspectors dined and wined in restaurants throughout the province, where servers and line cooks can only speculate as to who might be an undercover reviewer.
To bring the guide to Quebec was not a simple feat. CBC News reported, “It costs money to get Michelin to send inspectors to a region. The Quebec version of the Michelin Guide cost $2.1 million, paid for by a coalition of associations and multiple levels of government. The money goes to Michelin and serves to pay for the cost of producing the guide.” The “coalition” includes tourism boards.
Michelin is a French-based car tire company — one of the largest in the world. The question is, how did a tire manufacturer become the gold standard in food industry ratings?
The answer is simple, and quite genius actually. The guide was created by the Michelin brothers — André and Édouard, founders of the company — to encourage more people to take the road and boost their car tire sales; basically a marketing move. Although the first iteration of the red guide was created in 1900, it was only in the 1920s that they began to take it more seriously by sending inspectors out to rate dining spots, getting rid of paid advertisements, and distributing these guides for a price, which were originally free.
The Michelin Stars might be the most well-known rating, but Michelin also has the Bib Gourmand (“Good quality, good value cooking”) and Recommended restaurants. A map by the Montreal Gazette shows all 102 locations of these recommendations in the city. Besides restaurant recs, the book also included information about hotels, maps, and technical information (like how to change tires).
On May 15th, three restaurants were awarded one Star in Montreal. Out of curiosity, I visited their websites to dig deeper. Reservation wait time varies from restaurant to restaurant. At Mastard, the next available reservation is in September. At Sabayon, where reservations are open once a month on the first Wednesday, you can find a table for August. On the other hand, Europea accommodates more people and tables are available for next day reservations.
Many produce at these restaurants are locally sourced and grown; menus are seasonal. Things you can find: A 6-course “surprise” tasting menu for $144 at Sabayon or a 5-course for $90 at Mastard. Spring seasonal ingredients include foie gras (French for “fatty liver,” the liver of a goose or duck) and Louis d'or (a type of cheese originating from Quebec).
My curiosity lies more on the logistics and economics behind. What does it take for a restaurant to earn a star? What does it take to become a Michelin inspector?
Today, there are more than 25 inspectors around the world.* Chris Watson, who was a former Michelin Inspector and served in the role for five years, has this to say: ““It’s a lonely life,” he said. “You travel three weeks a month. The fourth week, you’re in the office typing up reports — and even then, doing London restaurants in the evenings.”” Another inspector Pina Belfiore, who served in the role for 2 decades says the experience was “a dream, a calling, and an extraordinary and enjoyable experience,” involving a “cultural approach and significant curiosity.” Like Watson, she also mentions the toll that frequent travel and eating does to the body.
A restaurant would have been visited several times by different inspectors before a star is given. What distinguishes 1 star restaurants from 3 stars? “Personality,” Belfiore says.
To become an inspector requires quite a few qualifications. A recent job listing by Michelin detailed them, among which includes a degree in a hospitality-related field, 10+ years of experience, 3 weeks of monthly travel, no food allergies, and good writing skills that would come in handy for reports. Speaking Spanish is an asset. Pay? Starting at $90 - 100K, but one would have to be based in New York City. After getting the job, the inspector would shadow a senior for months before having the ability to evaluate. Once set free, they can eat up to 10 meals a week.
The landscape is changing a bit. With the presence of social media and online reservations that details phone numbers and credit card information, staying anonymous is becoming more difficult. One source wrote: “While we strive to remain anonymous, restaurants try to discover us. They engage in counter-espionage, sharing information to figure out who and where we are. Once, I arrived at a restaurant unannounced. After eating and paying, I introduced myself to the chef, as was the custom. Minutes later, a friend from the area texted me that the local chefs already knew about my presence. A waiter shared my photo via WhatsApp. Today, inspectors are instructed to never reveal their identity.” That leaves me with one last question. Who knows? “Of course, inspectors have lives and relationships—so it’s up to them [to decide] as to who they can trust. Personally, my immediate family is aware of what I do.”
Later this year, restaurants in Boston and Philadelphia are set to get their first stars.
Editor’s Note:
* The number of inspectors seems to be inconsistent from year to year. This is the number given by the current international director of the Michelin Guide, Gwendal Poullennec in a 2024 interview. In a 2009 New Yorker article, the general director at the time, Jean-Luc Naret “tells journalists how many inspectors Michelin employs in France (about fifteen), throughout the world (ninety), and in the United States (ten).”
After this newsletter was published, I learnt of Michelin’s expansion of the Michelin Guide to the American South later this year.
I Worked At Palantir: The Tech Company Reshaping Reality on Youtube
You’ve heard of Apple, Google, Microsoft, Facebook — the big names in tech. How about Palantir?
Founded in 2003, Palantir is a software company that create tools using AI to power data analytics on a large scale, based in Denver, Colorado. Last year, it was the best performing stock on the S&P 500, with a return of 340.5%. Its founders include Peter Thiel, one of the guys who invented PayPal.
Over the years, Palantir has scored huge contracts with well-familiar institutions — domestically and internationally — and with this brings much power and influence. In the States, they’ve had deals with intelligence agencies such as the FBI and a $1 billion contract with the U.S. Navy last November. Internationally, they have contracts with England’s National Health Service (NHS).
How Frank Lloyd Wright’s Architecture Changed America from Architectural Digest
At some point in time, you’ve probably came across Frank Lloyd Wright, the great American architect that built over 1000 structures throughout his life; most notably, the Fallingwater house in Pennsylvania, where it is now a UNESCO World Heritage site and you can tour starting at $18/person (I’ve come across this Substack post by hauskeeping who visited the property and a few others; the photos are fantastic.) This video is a great introduction to the design ethos of Wright’s work, beginning with the Prairie style in his early career.
American Government: Constitutional Foundations from Harvard University
Harvard is offering a free online course about the US constitution. According to the description, some of the things you will learn include “the foundations of the American political culture” and “what individual rights are held by today’s Americans.”
Self-paced and a time commitment of 2-4 hours/week for 4 weeks.
Un homme et une femme/A Man and a Woman (1966): Directed by Claude Lelouch. A French romantic film shot in black-and-white, sepia, and color; starring Anouk Aimée and Jean-Louis Trintignant. It’s a perfect watch for a rainy afternoon. The film won several awards; notably, the Palme D’Or at the Cannes Film Festival, 2 Academy Awards, and 2 Golden Globes. The soundtrack is impeccable. Trailer here.
How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days (2003): Your classic early 2000s rom-com starring Kate Hudson and Matthew McConaughey. Featuring a special rendition of “You’re So Vain” by Carly Simon. Trailer here.
The Phoenician Scheme (2025, In Theaters): I went to see the new Wes Anderson film the other day at the cinema. The cinematography’s great; all classic Wes Anderson style: yellow-hued colors, symmetric frames, a classic wardrobe. I had a bit of trouble following the storyline, but the humor makes up for it. Give it a watch. Trailer here.
Records I’ve been listening to lately and would recommend:
Pure Heroine by Lorde: A classic coming-of-age story in sounds. Feelings that may arise: nostalgia, longing, brief-contentment, I-don’t-want-to-grow-up. Best listened: on a rainy evening walk just before sunset. Lorde was 16 when she put out this album.
Summertime by Paul Desmond: Some jazz-y background tunes while working or while laying on your couch and thinking. Desmond happens to also be part of the quartet that created the genre’s most popular track, Take Five.
SPACY by Tatsuro Yamashita: You can’t find him on Spotify or any streaming service. However, you will find his songs on Youtube where enthusiasts re-upload tracks that regularly disappear. Described as the re-inventor of Japanese City Pop, this record will fill you with joy as his vocals oscillate back and forth between high and low. In some ways, his music’s similar to Stevie Wonder.
That is it. Thank you for reading the ninth issue of Well Rounded, and I hope you enjoyed. Keep up with future editions and have a lovely evening. — C. S. Indoors.
What a treat to see in my inbox. Tatsuro Yamashita can't get enough love and *thank you, for acknowledging an album other than Ride on Time haha