There are those who cook. There are those who entertain. Then there are those rare people who blend both activities seamlessly and effortlessly, making even a casual evening with friends seem an inspiring work of art. I am fortunate enough to have met Anna through one such friend. Julia has taught me so much about how to host people, how to cook and about what kinds of food and drink bring out the bon vivants in any crowd. Julia mentioned her good friend Anna's blog to me not too long ago and after a quick visit to The Yellow Table, I knew that I had found yet another kindred spirit in the kitchen.
Anna was kind enough to do an interview with me about her latest venture, The Cookbook Diaries. I will let the following video and Anna's own words inform you of the boldness and brilliance of her unique approach to writing a cookbook, except to say the following:
1. Anna needs to increase the traffic on her blog and Facebook page in order to secure a publishing deal. So please add The Yellow Table to your blog feeds and click here to "like" the The Yellow Table Facebook page. And...
2. I am beyond excited for her and hope to see her beautiful cookbook on bookshelves everywhere in the very near future!
What personal story or memory summarizes your philosophy as the cook and writer behind The Yellow Table?
The philosophy of The Yellow Table was developed from a childhood of eating nearly every meal with family and friends around the (yellow) table. I grew up viewing the table as a place of warmth and security, of laughter and fun. The table was where I learned to have a conversation, to share my heart, to tell a story, to love and to be loved. I learned at the table the importance of sharing - your home, your food, and your lives - with others.
Today, as a cook and a writer, I hope to seek to share this philosophy with others. For friends, through homemade food and a table where there's always room for one more, and via the blog, through authentic stories and simple, delicious recipes.
Besides the lovely photography and delicious recipes, what is unique about The Yellow Table and your approach to cooking and entertaining?
I think cooking (and entertaining) should not be a stressful, overwhelming endeavor. Convenience (i.e. fast food, takeout, or frozen dinners) often trumps cooking these days, and I think when people here the word entertaining, images of intimidatingly-perfect Martha Stewart tablescapes come to mind. This discourages people from wanting to entertain! I want to inspire people to cook daily - not anything complicated, maybe a soup or a salad or some grilled fish or meat. Something that doesn't have to be hugely time-consuming, just a way to nourish your family and friends simply and healthfully. I like finding ways to maximize flavor while minimizing prep time. Most of all, I want to inspire people to spend time talking and sharing their lives around the table.
My three mottos for easy entertaining are: 1) Keep it simple. 2) Plan ahead and do as much in advance as possible. 3) Throw perfection out the window. Easier said than done, but these three things are my keys to staying calm when throwing a dinner party.And a pre-party glass of wine always helps!
Tell me about the moment (or series of moments) when the idea for The Cookbook Diaries struck you.
It was kind of a long time coming, actually. I had been really wrestling with what I wanted to do career-wise, as I had spent the past several years working as a freelance journalist, a private chef, recipe tester/developer, food stylist, and blogger. I felt like I was going in a million directions, but didn't have much to show for it.
My husband Brandon encouraged me to really think about what I'd do if I could only pick one of these things for six months. Once I took the time to really think about that question, it became clear that I wanted to write a cookbook, and it seemed that dedicating myself to growing the blog seemed to be the best way to reach my goal.
But the real "aha" moment came when I was walking down my apartment stairs one day in August and it suddenly hit me like a ton of bricks: rather than waiting to write the cookbook until my audience was big enough (which could take years), why not go ahead and start creating the cookbook and blog about the process - sharing all of the ups and downs and funny behind-the-scenes moments. It was literally like God spoke to me in that moment - I've never been so sure of something.
Nothing resonates with people more than someone pursuing a dream, and my hope is that by sharing my story, it will inspire others to pursue their own dreams. The first hardest part was getting started, and then the second hardest part is to keep going when the excitement dies off. I'm trying to be totally honest about my fears and frustrations and fatigue (as well as the exciting and joyful moments), so people can see what this journey is really like.
Every entrepreneur has cheerleaders and skeptics. What were some of the initial reactions to the idea of documenting a cookbook-in-the-making without a publishing deal?
I'm fortunate to have an amazing husband and really supportive friends and family. I was terrified to tell people at first, because I thought they might think I was crazy. But the reaction has been overwhelmingly positive, even from fellow bloggers who know how hard the process of getting a cookbook deal is - not to mention the process of creating the book. Everyone has said "Go for it!" and their confidence has certainly bolstered my own courage!
What is your goal for this project in the next month? What about in the next year?
Over the next month I'd like to get most of the recipes for the book tested, so I can start sending recipes out to readers to cross-test. I have over 40 volunteers from around the world who have volunteered to test my recipes for this book, and then to host Yellow Table dinner parties! I'm going to post pictures from these dinner parties on the blog in the coming months.
I'd also love to keep getting the word out about the blog, and the cookbook project. I've met with a few publishers and agents, and they've told me that unless I can dramatically increase my blog traffic (like by ten times!) the chances of getting a cookbook deal are pretty slim. I have no idea how this is all going to play out, but I feel confident that I will one day hold a Yellow Table Cookbook in my hands.
Time to dream big! Where do you see The Yellow Table, The Cookbook Diaries and yourself in 10 years?
Lord willing, I hope that Brandon and I have 2 or 3 healthy kids by then. At that point, I hope to have written a few cookbooks, and I'd love to continue writing about food, entertaining, and travel for a variety of magazines and newspapers. I hope to do some teaching and speaking. But most of all, I hope I'm still cooking and eating with friends and family around the yellow table, every day.
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