M.F.K. Fisher

I read all of the great food writer M.F.K. Fisher's books years ago, but last night I picked them up in an attempt to find a great quote for a post I was writing on The Mistress' blog. What a pleasure it was to read her sophisticated yet charming prose -- if you've never read her, I highly recommend it.  Here's the bit that I quoted from on The Larchmont Larder blog.

On another note, you still have a chance to win the $100 Visa Card that I'm giving away on my review blog. For more information, go here.

The Larchmont Larder

Otherwise known as The Mistress, my husband's business is called The Larchmont Larder. I've started taking a bigger role there and have been working on the website the past couple of weeks along with a most creative web designer. I hope you'll visit the site but most importantly, check out the food blog that I've begun. I plan on posting exciting food news, recipes, photos and other quirky and eclectic stuff.

I hope you'll visit, read and comment. And if you live in Los Angeles, please come in and treat yourself!

Visit us HERE.

A Chip off the Old Block

Peach Crumble Squares

Last night, Oliver, Henry and I worked for The Husband and manned a small booth at The Taste of Larchmont, a fundraiser for Hope-Net, an organization that helps the hungry and homeless in Los Angeles.

Restaurant and food places from our "village" donated food and drink in an evening of music and conversation. People strolled from place to place, sampling the food of many merchants. I don't write often about The Husband's mistress -- The Larchmont Larder -- but if you're in the area, you should definitely check it out.

I tell you funny stories all the time about The Big O, but I don't think I've ever touched on his extraordinary capacity for work. At ten years of age, he is capable of setting up, cutting and serving food, and he does so in a dedicated, meticulous way. That he's a mini replica of The Husband is never more evident than when he helps out like last night.

Book Signing

Today was my very first official book-signing. I don't have A Book, technically, but I do have an essay in an anthology that is an actual book. And my local bookstore, Chevalier's (see sidebar for a link!), was kind enough to allow me a morning to sit amongst books and sign copies of A Cup of Comfort for Parents of Children with Special Needs. Thank you, Liz and Sue and Norman and Filis.

Many of my good friends came, the women who support and love me through everything. Thank you so much, dear women. I love you.

And others came, as well. One man grabbed a few goodies to eat (made by The Husband at The Larchmont Larder) and said, as he walked out the door, his mouth full I don't have one of those and he nodded his head toward the book. Meaning, not the book, but the special needs kid.

Lucky, you! I called after him, but I didn't really mean it.

I'm so very lucky, actually. Lucky in friends, lucky to have gone down a path that I never knew existed, lucky to have turned out all right despite the thickness and darkness of that path.

And guess who was in the next room, evidently cut from the same cloth as her bookworm mother?