My Vegan Mondays

I did it. I got through the day all-vegan and without any sweets. A particularly worthy accomplishment seeing as I've had something baked, gooey, chocolaty or otherwise decadent and unnecessary every day since getting stranded in the Caribbean. 

There's been birthday cake and gifts of baked goods; the chocolate show, plus my chocolate loot from Grenada. I was on a film shoot last week, where I annihilated the craft services table, eating cookies, muffins, M&Ms, pastries, brownies and chocolate-covered god knows what, just because it was there. Ditto for my hotel mini-bar. This past weekend, after a family visit that included baked French toast, waffles with Nutella, homemade apple pie, red velvet-cheesecake, plus malt balls and Buffalo's signature sweet, sponge candy, my mom gave me a one-pound of Twizzlers for good measure. And then there were the three courses of dessert that topped off my 15-course (!) birthday dinner at Eleven Madison Park (it totally lives up to the hype).

In other words, unless I want my 40s to be my chubbiest decade ever, I need to lay off the sweets. And I fully intend to do so, starting today. With the exception of two days (Thanksgiving, bien sur, and an upcoming Breakfast Club at the Four Seasons), I'm not having any for the next two weeks. So, yes, today's highlights included some steamed veggies, almonds and fruit.

And since I haven't been able to keep up at my blog lately, I'll share a few completely random bits.

• I watched Saint Elmo's Fire on the flight home from LA. Awesome.
• There are only 35 days until Christmas. Have you started shopping yet?
• I miss 40-hour work weeks, regular yoga, my friends in San Francisco, and biking around Paris, but not necessarily in that particular order.
• Never underestimate the power of a hand-written letter. 
• It's been too long since I've karaoked. 
• I want to change my clothes, my hair, my face!
• Blood, Bones & Butter, Gabrielle Hamilton's memoir, is something else that lives up to the hype.
• I envy friends who can make good cocktails and good dinners.
• I haven't smelled the smell of dry, fallen leaves enough this season.
• I'm excited for pumpkin pie this Thursday.   
• Don't forget there's still money, time and blood to be donated after Hurricane Sandy.
 

Paris v. New York

French style, French style.

It's catching on in New York.

Where would you rather ride?

40 things I’m happy for

40. God. Damn. I have to say, I don’t know if it’s the distraction of Hurricane Sandy and returning to a cold and beaten up New York, having just spent over a week relaxing in the Caribbean, or just that it’s been a great year, but 40 isn’t bringing me down the way 30 did. Hallelujah!

I’m a big fan of birthdays. I love the attention (I do!), the celebrations, and the reflection. It’s great to have an excuse to hit pause and think about yourself—where you’ve been, where you are, and what you want next. It’s also a great reminder of all the wonderful people, thoughts and things that fill our lives. 

Here are 40 things, in random order, that I’m happy and grateful for.

• My health. That I can walk. That my body, nor my mind has given up on me.

• I was born into such a loving, kickass family

• Curiosity

• Chocolate

• I still send and receive hand-written letters

• Walks along the Hudson. And the Seine.

• Netflix

• Passion

• I realized my dream of publishing a book this year

• Milo

• High metabolism

• Soft cashmere

• My list of must-read books just keeps growing

• That it’s been over 12 years since I gave up red meat and I don’t miss it

• I have the most amazingly thoughtful, generous, caring, fun, goofy, smart, supportive friends

• Wanderlust

• That I get to see my parents often

• Velibs

• Back rubs

• Artists like Herbert Katzman, Didier Paquignon and Trey Bryan

• Bands like Phoenix, The Drums, Aimee Mann, Cut Copy and (always) The Pretenders

• Directors like Nicole Holefcener, Sofia Coppola and Terrence Malick

• I fell in love for the first time in a very long time

• A good Manhattan

• A good sidecar

• That I got to see my Aunt BJ

• Great conversation

• My niece and nephew are still full of unselfconscious affection

• Yoga

• Steve Martin

• I have wonderful “families” in three amazing cities: New York, San Francisco and Paris

• Dahlias

• That I ever started this blog

• Coffee with a sprinkle of cinnamon

• That Obama will be reelected tonight

• Magazine subscriptions

• Looking at photographs and remembering

• Splurging on something I love

• Giving to others

• Walking, exploring, noticing, discovering

My Vegan Mondays

It’s been such a weird few days of eating. In Hurricane Sandy’s aftermath, I didn’t have heat or hot water until today. So when I got home from Grenada this weekend, I was freezing. And sloth-like. Aside from some udon soup and a lovely brunch at Alimentari e Vineria, pretty much all I ate was cookies. Heated in the toaster oven. It was perfect. Aside from the freezing part.

Today was also weird, in a different way.

Morning

Coffee with soy milk

Energy crackers

Afternoon

“Thanksgiving leftovers” wrap at S’nice: Brussels sprouts, sweet potato, cranberry sauce and seitan

A beautiful apple grown in New York, but which I’ve forgotten the name of

Kashi granola bar

Evening

Pickled beets

Crackers

Chamomile tea

Goodreads Choice 2012 Nominee!

Joy the Baker. Pioneer Woman. French kids who eat everything. Eek! Pretty stiff competition (and a few to add to my own reading list). But, as a nominee for Goodreads’ Best Food & Cookbooks Peoples Choice Award, I would be humbly obliged if you’d vote for Paris, My Sweet!

You can do so, here. Thanks so much for all of your support and for making Paris, My Sweet the little success it's been! Merci, mes amis!

Marooned on a tropical island

I was supposed to see Aimee Mann tonight. I've wanted to see her for years and was so excited to finally have tickets. Needless to say, the show was rescheduled and my thwarted attempt to see her is small beans to what's happened in the wake of Hurricane Sandy.

It sounds like New York is a mess. Lots of people—friends, family and strangers—are making do, getting by, offering help, and taking up offers from others for help. So who I am to say peep? I'm stuck in the Caribbean!

I do feel bad that so many people are without electricity and cleaning up atrocious messes. But if my flight was going to be cancelled and I was going to get stuck someplace, Grenada is a pretty sublime place to be.

This island is a paradise of fruit, spices and... chocolate!

 Amazing chocolate, at that.

 

The people couldn't be friendlier, the vibe of Grenada is peaceful, happy and mellow, and it's just... spectacular.

 I've hiked through the rainforest...

 ... swam in the sea...

 ... and am eating it all up.

Until I'm back in New York this weekend, I'm hoping everyone stays safe and well.

Thankfully, I have good neighbor-friends who are seeing that Milo is safe and well.

Sailing away

I’ve treated myself to an early birthday present and I’m off to sunny, beachy climes—Grenada to be exact. You see, I turn 40 (f’ing 40!!) in less than two weeks. I’m not afraid to say I deserve a little seaside reflection. So that’s where I’ll be. Not blogging. Not working. Not shivering in New York. Not doing anything but reading, napping, eating, drinking, swimming, hiking and dipping into the plunge pool. And then when I come back, it will be time for cake.

My Next Big Thing

This isn’t me willingly talking about it. I’m actually not quite sure what my next thing will be, much less my Next Big Thing. But when Karen Wheeler, aka Mimi Pompom of the fabulous Tout Sweet series, invited me to share details of my next project through this pay-it-forward web event, who was I to say non? After all, anyone who loves Spinal Tap, Anna Wintour and pink champagne (and France!), and graciously gave Paris, My Sweet a plug (“Willie Wonka for grown ups”), is someone I’m in with.

So, without further ado… let the questions begin!

Where did the idea come from for the book?

It’s been a slow simmer. I’ve been thinking through several different book ideas over the past few months, trying to figure out which has that perfect balance of excitement (for me), novelty (for readers) and salability (for publishers)—something I’d want to write as much as people would want to read. After mulling over these ideas and sort of shelving them, I just suddenly had a new idea while walking up First Avenue that I’m very excited about.

What genre does your book fall under?

If my agent is into the idea and it’s written and sold, it will be under the label of food journalism.

Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?

It would be awesome to have the real characters play themselves. In fact, it would be a killer documentary. Hmmm… I like it! I hadn’t thought of that before!

What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?

Too soon to say.

Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?

My fabulous agent is with Dystel and Goderich Literary Management.

How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?

I just started the book proposal so I’m looking at a long but delicious slog ahead of me.

What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?

I would never compare myself to my writer-idol, David Kamp, but The United States of Arugula is great inspiration.

Who or what inspired you to write this book?

Everything about the food world—from the sublime to the inane—and all of us suckers who worship it.

What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?

It will be timely, it will be fast-paced and it will be delicious.

Now I’m supposed to tag five writers who will share details about their next big thing, but my friends Ann Mah and Sion Dayson were already spoken for. So while I’m only tagging three, they’re wildly talented and I’m more than happy to pass the torch to...

Alyssa Shelasky. When I first discovered Alyssa’s blog, I was immediately sucked in. And seduced. Crazy girl crush ensued. She has a fabulous lifestyle, cool friends, dreamy writing assignments—and yet she’s totally honest, vulnerable and down to earth. And wickedly funny as her blog-to-book, Apron Anxiety, attests.

Jeryl Brunner is the sunniest New Yorker you will ever meet. Not only is she a lovely person in the flesh, but her wit, wisdom, generosity and passion come through on every page of her book, My City, My New York. Lucky for Angelinos, she’s spotlighting LA in her sequel due out in the spring.

Juliette Sobanet. If there is one thing that the publication of Paris, My Sweet has shown me, it’s that there are a lot of Francophiles and chocophiles out there. Juliette is a case in point. A kindred spirit, we share passions for Paris and chocolate. But if we’re to believe at least a little personal experience informed her two best-selling novels, Kissed in Paris and Sleeping with Paris she was definitely a little luckier in the love department.