Turning 40, and a Stellar Debut for Eating Again

Hi guys, 

January, birthday month, coldest month (according to an old Italian fable), month of new beginnings… 

How was yours?

Having been writing these newsletters for a while now, I try to not plan the topic excessively; more and more often, in fact, I write them the day before the end of the month, and doing so helps me pause and think about the time that has just passed.

I look at what I did right, and at what I could have done better, at what I have achieved, and at the missed marks, the redirections. I like doing this, as it has become for me a practice of self-reflection, as well as a way of keeping you close to me, up to date with what is going on. 

The other day, as I talked to a friend here in Los Angeles, we realized that, in the 1990s, absolutely not knowing each other, we were in the same place, frequenting the same music scene, just different circumstances. I didn’t meet this friend until 3 years ago, and we both marveled at how we are all connected. We may or may never meet in this life, and yet our existence are linked to one another in a magical way.

It’s pleasantly shocking to me that some of you have been reading the evolution of this newsletter for close to ten years! The level of connection I have with each and every one of you is priceless.

Before I get into what happened in January, I wanted to let you know that I will have my own booth in the heart of the Hollywood Farmers Market on February the 20th, from 8am to 1pm (at the intersection of Ivar and Selma): I will be selling signed copies of my cookbook (Eating Again), and offering sample recipes that feature some of my favorite local farms. So come say hi, I would love to see you all, and meet those of you I still don’t know. You will be able to buy the book directly from me, but if you have purchased it already, I will be happily sign it for you.

Also, Publishers Weekly wrote a beautiful review of my book, calling it a “stellar debut”. Here is the link if you want to read it.

I am thinking that, if this farmers market goes well, I may plan a farmers market tour for the spring.

One of the main things I have learned in the month of January, I learned during a wonderful gateway in Ojai with my best friends Marthe and Tessa to celebrate my 40th birthday. Through them, I let in a sense of comfort and strength, confidence and easiness.

I left my friends and Ojai with an eagerness to be myself more fearlessly, with a sense of comfort in knowing my thoughts, doubts, imaginations and escapes are okay, with a desire to enjoy good storytelling for the sake of it, and with an insatiable thirst for a gallon of water per day, and for friendship, female energy, and jumps into the unknown. 

My friend Amy, a few days before, reminded me that everything in life has to flow: money, energy, love, knowledge… for everything that is stagnant is unhealthy. Remembering this concept, that I had first come across in a wonderful book by Lynne Twist, The Soul of Money, helped me trust the process and the investment when transitioning to a new publicity team. 

My friend Meredith took me out to lunch to celebrate my birthday, and she reminded me of how important it is to take the time to stop, and cultivate a new friendship. 

My friend Cynthia showed me grace under pressure, my friend Alison showed me the many creative ways I can go about solidifying my business and my career; she also showed me loving understanding when I was overwhelmed by anger, while Sofia showed me the inspiring art of learning new crafts for the pure sake of enriching our soul and our life.

The rest of the month has been hectic getting ready for publication day (02/08/22). So many of you have pre-ordered the book already, thank you so much!

Ultimately, this January has been a month of embracing the new: new age, new team, new goals, new feelings and new solutions to old problems. New. I want new! I feel new! And I feel great!

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Updates: 

I turned 40 on January 25th!

I bought a Peloton bike and loving it! 

This week recipes will include: homemade granola, pasta with peas, dill, and homemade ricotta, sweet red wine and orange taralli (from the book), Sicilian orange and fennel salad, and more.

It’s amazing what a gallon of water can do for your body.

I will be on KTLA on February 13th (more on that soon)! 

I love you.

See you next month. Thank you for following me.