Catching up
A look into what's happening in my life (plus exciting news)
Though I’ve shared posts about everything from Elizabeth David to favorite winegrowers and from summer recipes to art, it’s been a while since I’ve written a more personal post, one where you, my dear reader, get a peek into what’s happening in my life. And if you’re wondering what that would be, the short answer is – a lot.
Back in February, I was offered a job as editor for Discover Benelux, an inflight magazine published in London, to which I had contributed to for many years. As some of you might know, besides translating and publishing my words in several publications, I am also chief editor for DUTCH (a bimonthly magazine about the Netherlands and the Dutch in North America) and copy editor for Inside Rotterdam (where I also have a wine column). Taking on this new position was definitely a challenge, especially because creating a monthly magazine (my work involves much more than commissioning and the actual editing) pretty much means no days off. In fact, on holidays, I put in some hours very early in the mornings and check mail at least a few times a day. Workaholic? Crazy?
During my walk this morning, I was listening to a brilliant podcast hosted by Julia Louis-Dreyfuss called Wiser Than Me. She was talking to food writer and editor Ruth Reichel about her life and work, and one of the things Ruth spoke about was when she was offered the role of editor at Gourmet, a daunting idea as she had never edited a magazine before. Ruth thought she wasn’t quite ready to take on the job, but one of her friends gave her a great piece of advice: “It’s never the right time. You have to take the opportunities when they come along.” Even though I have more than a decade of editing experience under my belt, for me, the dilemma was time. Admittedly, getting things started (from learning the ropes of this specific publication to acquiring a pool of freelancers) was a challenge, but I am glad I jumped right in and went for it. I still love the freedom of deciding my own hours, and working from anywhere is a huge bonus. It’s also extremely rewarding to see all three magazines in print. In a way, they’re like my babies, as weird as that may sound.
It doesn’t end there, however. In June, I was also asked if I wanted to become the food and drinks columnist for Reader’s Digest UK. As you can imagine, it didn’t take long for me to accept. What an absolute delight to be able to share my food musings in my own little column again! The first piece has just been published in the magazine’s August issue and it’s about stress-free entertaining. I do hope you’ll check it out!
In other news, I have started work on a new cookbook which will feature thirty plant-based recipes inspired by French and Italian cuisine. It’s been brewing in my head for quite a while, and last weekend I finally decided to start writing and testing the recipes. My mission with this small collection of some of my favorite dishes is to prove that plant-based eating is not only incredibly healthy, but also easy and delicious. Just look at one of the recipes I’ve included, my hearty pasta e fagioli, which is fully whole-food plant-based and made without any added oils.
If you want a sneak peek into some of the recipes, make sure you follow me on Instagram where I will be posting previews. You can find a few under the ‘Cookbook’ story. I will be headed to Provence next week and can’t wait to continue testing in what will undoubtedly be a very inspirational environment!
The book (which will first be available in a beautifully laid-out PDF) will be free to all my paid subscribers, who will receive it a week before it goes on sale, so this is the perfect opportunity to upgrade your subscription. If you are already a paid subscriber, count on me personally delivering a copy straight to your inbox. I appreciate your support immensely.
Bon week-end!