Inside Amanda Hesser's Hunt for the Elizabeth Holmes Yellow Egg Bowl
1. Overview of the Newsletter
The newsletter is titled "In search of that Elizabeth Holmes yellow egg bowl" and comes from Homeward, a Substack publication written by Amanda Hesser. The issue is dated November 6 and is a preview of a longer post, so much of the full text is locked behind a paid subscription. The subtitle promises two things: the search for a bowl, and a look at the reasons behind a Los Angeles chocolatier's move to the Berkshires.
Opening: a stomach virus and a pillow complaint
Hesser begins with a personal account. She has spent much of the past week in bed with a stomach virus, and while resting she has grown annoyed with her bed pillows. She notes that the pillow under her head is fine, which she has covered in an earlier post. The real problem, she concludes, is the pillowcases. They are so narrow that they squeeze the pillows, leaving her feeling as though she is sleeping on a freshly inflated bicycle tire. She jokingly files this under a problem she will solve another day.
Main topic: the yellow bowl from the film
Once she feels more like herself, Hesser turns to a matter she considers more urgent: identifying the yellow bowl used in the now-famous egg scene in the film You Can See Everything. The image credit is A24, the studio behind the film. In the scene, Elizabeth Holmes is whisking eggs, and Hesser admits that although Holmes is not skilled at the task, the bowl she chooses is well suited to it. Hesser describes the bowl as:
- a snappy golden yellow color,
- not too deep,
- white on the inside, so the ingredients are easy to see,
- finished with a thin but deep, layered rim that has sharp edges.
She also tries to work out the material by listening to the scene. The tinny scraping sound suggests glass to her, and the photo suggests the bowl is translucent. The sharp rim, however, points toward melamine or another plastic.
The search and the result
Hesser searches extensively for translucent melamine and glass bowls that match the description. The original bowl, she reports, could not be found. She then mentions a list of "good runners-up," but this list is hidden behind the paywall. The newsletter closes with a light aside in which Hesser jokes that she hopes Billy, a character in the film, will one day have eggs poured over his head for trying to take over the whisking.
Calls to action
The email invites readers to subscribe for full access, lists the benefits of a paid subscription (weekly posts, full archive, deep dives into home design, recipes, shopping, and travel, plus personal essays, Q&As with experts, and community conversations), and offers options to like, comment, restack, or get the app.
2. Products Mentioned
The main product in the newsletter is the yellow egg bowl seen in You Can See Everything. Hesser does not identify its maker, and the bowl itself was not located. The description is the only detailed product information available: a golden yellow bowl with a white interior, moderate depth, and a layered rim with sharp edges, possibly made of melamine or a similar plastic, or possibly glass.
Two other items come up briefly:
- Bed pillows and pillowcases: Hesser criticizes narrow pillowcases that squeeze support pillows. She does not name a brand or model.
- Runner-up bowls: Hesser says she found several alternatives, but the list is not included in the visible preview.
The newsletter does not provide prices, brands, or purchase links for any product.
3. About the Store and Publisher
The newsletter does not mention food52.com or any online store. It is published by Amanda Hesser through Substack under the Homeward name, and the footer lists her address in Brooklyn, New York. Because the email contains no information about food52.com, this article cannot describe that store's products, policies, or history based on this text. Readers who want information about food52.com should consult its own website directly.
What the newsletter does reveal about its author is her focus on home design, cooking, and kitchenware. She writes in a conversational, witty tone, mixing personal anecdotes with close attention to everyday objects. That blend of curiosity and humor is the main appeal of Homeward, and it is clearly on display in this preview.
