Dear Amanda, I first 'met' you when I stumbled onto your first book, oh those many years ago. Your writing then, and now, astounds. When my husband and I found you the next time, you were writing in the NYT Magazine with your Mr. Latte essays. We have been, and will always be, true fans of yours. To think your twins are now so old blows my mind. Time races on, and we must use each second. Bless you, dear writer.
Amanda - I have loved your first book since it came out. Back then I was an unmoored expat living in Asia, and your tales grounded in the abundance of seasonality, of ancient earth and following the rhythm of moonrises soothed my wariness immeasurably. Then came Cooking for Mr Latte, and your delightful recipes inspired by the bounty of farmer markets lured me back to New York. Around that time I met you briefly when you sat next to me at lunch at Esca; I told you how much I adored you and it happened that you were lunching with your agent!
Fast forward twenty some years… with some sheer twist of fate I come to inhabit an ancient family chateau in the Loire valley that had seen the Hundred Years’ war. In the glorious summer months when we spend time there, I tend to mon petit potager and what book do I have with me? Yours of course! Merci Amanda, merci Monsieur Milbert. Thank you for generously sharing your wonderment, your sensitivities and sensibilities, your wit and wisdom with your readers all these years. Sending you much love and well wishes for this next chapter in your life ❤️❤️
Karen, I remember meeting you at that lunch. I wasn't feeling well that day, and the chef, Dave Pasternack, made me a bowl of soup (Esca was down the street from the New York Times, so I was a frequent diner). I'm so glad to reconnect with you and hear about your own life in France. It sounds like a wonderful place. Thank you so much for taking time to reach out -- and for following along. xxAmanda
Amanda, I am an enormous fan. It all began with Food52…and then “Amanda messes up in the kitchen” series and I religiously read your newsletter and now your Substack. Funnily I never realized that you were a NYT writer not a trained culinary person until recently. You are the gift that just keeps giving! Haha. I just received my copy of your book today and loved this post on the French chateau. Ironically, as you write about your new home and other homes you’ve graced I wrote a story about our home last week that you might enjoy. It requires a bit of a sense of humor. Thanks for all you do!!! Keep doing it!!!
Hi Carly -- I'm going to write about neighbors at some point; your story is great. Sounds like you've had quite a collection of "neighbors"! Thanks so much for your note!
Thanks, Amanda! Yes, quite the "collection" indeed! haha. I will look forward to your take on neighbors! Love following your new-home journey, thanks for sharing it with all of us!
I have loved this book, since I first encountered it in 1999 in the San Francisco Public Library. My son was an infant and I decided the thing to do was to cook with the seasons for my new family. I knew I’d really arrived as a seasonal cook, when at the age of five he declined burgers for dinner. He only liked them with a giant slab of tomato - and it was January, a time of year he’d never seen a fresh tomato….i offered to go to the market and get “something that looks like a tomato” and he said - “ I can wait”.
I fell in love with this book, and the idea of seasonal cooking, at the tender age of 23 when it was first published. It informed my cooking ideals that I still adhere to 30-ish years later. So happy to hear it will inspire a new generation with its romantic yet attainable recommendations!
What a fantastic experience you had and thank you so much for sharing this. Loved to read every bit of it. Living in France (or Italy as for me) is something I wished for everyone to experience once.
I love the sentiment in your statement about homes having an ability to preserve us while building on others dreams. I am enjoying your writing of Homeward very much and how it expresses feelings about home.
I was taking a French Bistro cooking class at Greystone in Napa and was fortunate enough to attend a talk given by Anne Willan while I was there; she was speaking about her book: From My Chateau Kitchen. I am now looking forward to reading your new (old) book!
This article really connects the dots for me on how you went from being a food journalist -whom I followed- to an entrepreneur. At first I was puzzled and disappointed that you had left the Times but over time I got to know and appreciate Food 52. I like how this piece highlights the value of going back to places that influenced our development and teasing out the meaning of the earlier experiences in ways we might not have been able to when we were younger. As I am reading along about your journey I’m reflecting on my own. Look forward to getting your first book!
Thanks for your note, Lisa. I've always had an interest in the past, and it has informed a lot of the work that I've done (The Essential New York Times Cookbook; Eat, Memory; and even though Food52 is digital, its roots in recipe sharing are timeless). And now I've lived long enough that I can explore my own past (I say with hopeful enthusiasm). Thanks for following along, and I hope it helps you uncover insights about your own history.
Remember every detail of your writing from that time. Very special. Actually the book with the gardener: a serious admiration and partnership. Should read it again. And, then, there is the vastness of your reign at the nyt before throw-together- Asian- accents took over. All those great, great food writers never mentioned anymore in the nyt but still with so many of us. One thing. Need to hear about your son and daughter, husband life a touch. Where are they at school. How have things gone with the mini crisis of the family of 3 bonding with you entrepreuring and away a lot that you wrote about a few years ago. Something anyway. stuartitter
Hi Amanda, love your posts and would upgrade, but cannot in conscience do so. It is not personal, but...I am Canadian and cannot countenance your country's treatment of us--I think your readers should know that many of us are refusing to buy/support anything US.
Cheers and no hard feelings, and am sorry you are caught up in this, but the American people need to deal with it.
Dear Amanda, I first 'met' you when I stumbled onto your first book, oh those many years ago. Your writing then, and now, astounds. When my husband and I found you the next time, you were writing in the NYT Magazine with your Mr. Latte essays. We have been, and will always be, true fans of yours. To think your twins are now so old blows my mind. Time races on, and we must use each second. Bless you, dear writer.
Kathryn, I’m so glad to know you’re here, following along, after all this time! Thanks for sticking with me.
Amanda - I have loved your first book since it came out. Back then I was an unmoored expat living in Asia, and your tales grounded in the abundance of seasonality, of ancient earth and following the rhythm of moonrises soothed my wariness immeasurably. Then came Cooking for Mr Latte, and your delightful recipes inspired by the bounty of farmer markets lured me back to New York. Around that time I met you briefly when you sat next to me at lunch at Esca; I told you how much I adored you and it happened that you were lunching with your agent!
Fast forward twenty some years… with some sheer twist of fate I come to inhabit an ancient family chateau in the Loire valley that had seen the Hundred Years’ war. In the glorious summer months when we spend time there, I tend to mon petit potager and what book do I have with me? Yours of course! Merci Amanda, merci Monsieur Milbert. Thank you for generously sharing your wonderment, your sensitivities and sensibilities, your wit and wisdom with your readers all these years. Sending you much love and well wishes for this next chapter in your life ❤️❤️
Karen, I remember meeting you at that lunch. I wasn't feeling well that day, and the chef, Dave Pasternack, made me a bowl of soup (Esca was down the street from the New York Times, so I was a frequent diner). I'm so glad to reconnect with you and hear about your own life in France. It sounds like a wonderful place. Thank you so much for taking time to reach out -- and for following along. xxAmanda
Amanda, I am an enormous fan. It all began with Food52…and then “Amanda messes up in the kitchen” series and I religiously read your newsletter and now your Substack. Funnily I never realized that you were a NYT writer not a trained culinary person until recently. You are the gift that just keeps giving! Haha. I just received my copy of your book today and loved this post on the French chateau. Ironically, as you write about your new home and other homes you’ve graced I wrote a story about our home last week that you might enjoy. It requires a bit of a sense of humor. Thanks for all you do!!! Keep doing it!!!
https://open.substack.com/pub/carlyfoley/p/many-men-many-windows?r=29j03j&utm_medium=ios
Hi Carly -- I'm going to write about neighbors at some point; your story is great. Sounds like you've had quite a collection of "neighbors"! Thanks so much for your note!
Thanks, Amanda! Yes, quite the "collection" indeed! haha. I will look forward to your take on neighbors! Love following your new-home journey, thanks for sharing it with all of us!
I have loved this book, since I first encountered it in 1999 in the San Francisco Public Library. My son was an infant and I decided the thing to do was to cook with the seasons for my new family. I knew I’d really arrived as a seasonal cook, when at the age of five he declined burgers for dinner. He only liked them with a giant slab of tomato - and it was January, a time of year he’d never seen a fresh tomato….i offered to go to the market and get “something that looks like a tomato” and he said - “ I can wait”.
He's set for life! Thanks for sharing this story, and so glad you've enjoyed my book. xxA
I fell in love with this book, and the idea of seasonal cooking, at the tender age of 23 when it was first published. It informed my cooking ideals that I still adhere to 30-ish years later. So happy to hear it will inspire a new generation with its romantic yet attainable recommendations!
It makes me so happy to know this. Sounds like you and I grew up as cooks together.
What a fantastic experience you had and thank you so much for sharing this. Loved to read every bit of it. Living in France (or Italy as for me) is something I wished for everyone to experience once.
I love the sentiment in your statement about homes having an ability to preserve us while building on others dreams. I am enjoying your writing of Homeward very much and how it expresses feelings about home.
Thanks, Pamela -- I appreciate you following along!
I was taking a French Bistro cooking class at Greystone in Napa and was fortunate enough to attend a talk given by Anne Willan while I was there; she was speaking about her book: From My Chateau Kitchen. I am now looking forward to reading your new (old) book!
That's a great book! I also love her French Regional Cooking and LaVarenne Pratique.
Thank you for sharing this beautiful origin story! I can't wait to pick up a copy :)
Hope you like it!
I love this post so much. You remind us of the value of trying new things, and holding on to their lasting lessons.
Thanks so much, Erin -- glad to hear this!
I just found you for the first time and as a lover of French food always, I have purchased your beautiful book. Thank you
Thanks for letting me know -- and I hope you like the book!
This article really connects the dots for me on how you went from being a food journalist -whom I followed- to an entrepreneur. At first I was puzzled and disappointed that you had left the Times but over time I got to know and appreciate Food 52. I like how this piece highlights the value of going back to places that influenced our development and teasing out the meaning of the earlier experiences in ways we might not have been able to when we were younger. As I am reading along about your journey I’m reflecting on my own. Look forward to getting your first book!
Thanks for your note, Lisa. I've always had an interest in the past, and it has informed a lot of the work that I've done (The Essential New York Times Cookbook; Eat, Memory; and even though Food52 is digital, its roots in recipe sharing are timeless). And now I've lived long enough that I can explore my own past (I say with hopeful enthusiasm). Thanks for following along, and I hope it helps you uncover insights about your own history.
Remember every detail of your writing from that time. Very special. Actually the book with the gardener: a serious admiration and partnership. Should read it again. And, then, there is the vastness of your reign at the nyt before throw-together- Asian- accents took over. All those great, great food writers never mentioned anymore in the nyt but still with so many of us. One thing. Need to hear about your son and daughter, husband life a touch. Where are they at school. How have things gone with the mini crisis of the family of 3 bonding with you entrepreuring and away a lot that you wrote about a few years ago. Something anyway. stuartitter
Mui muii
Hi Amanda, love your posts and would upgrade, but cannot in conscience do so. It is not personal, but...I am Canadian and cannot countenance your country's treatment of us--I think your readers should know that many of us are refusing to buy/support anything US.
Cheers and no hard feelings, and am sorry you are caught up in this, but the American people need to deal with it.