The pandemic is far from over but this past year and a half has been quite a doozy, no? I’m still processing everything we’ve all been through and trying not to be too nervous and anxious about what’s next, so I decided to get on my soapbox and talk about the 6 *positive* things cooking dinner for one during a global pandemic taught me while making a tomato salad (yummmy whole grain bread not pictured).  The salad is so simple and delish. It’s just cherry tomatoes, red onions, feta, and parsley.

Dinner For One

S4: EP 8 6 Things Cooking Dinner for One During A Global Pandemic Taught Me

My favorite Bahraini princess Manal Al Saleh joined me on this episode (kidding, she’s not actually a princess but she’s a princess to me!) We’ve known each other since university and what’s so funny about our post-university transition is that we both went from not cooking at all (the first meal Manal ever made for me was a cheese sandwich) and driving from Hartford to Boston because we craved lamb shank from an Iranian restaurant to it becoming one of our passions. We’ve come a longgggg way. In this episode, Manal shares with me (and you!) how the entire experience of cooking inspires her, has changed her life, and continues to motivate her to push herself to new heights. She also shares wisdom around being a mom and not falling into the trap of thinking you need to do it all. So sit back, enjoy Manal’s beautiful accent, listen to us reminisce about our transitions to being boss ladies in the kitchen, and giggle. 

S4 Ep 7:Cooking as an Experience w/ Manal Al Saleh

Once I started cooking more regularly and upping my culinary game I noticed that more and more people with similar interests began orbiting my universe, and me theirs. And this was definitely the case with the guest on the most recent episode, “For The Love of Cooking” w/ Rebecca Plotnick. Rebecca actually ticks two boxes: a love of cooking and Paris. She lived between Paris and the US for a few years and is currently based in the states, but that hasn’t decreased her love of Paris and the French way of life (including the food bien sur). She's the eye behind the beautiful award-winning blog Everyday Parisian where she shares all the lessons she's learned from her time living in Paris and traveling in France.  As a true Francophile Rebecca chose sweet potato quiche as her Dinner for One meal, which we cooked together as we chatted about Paris, cooking in Paris, moving to Paris, the magic of Paris, pretty much everything Paris, quoi. Rebecca's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/everydayparisian/ Rebecca's Blog: https://everydayparisian.com/

S4 EP: 6 For The Love of Cooking w/ Rebecca Plotnick

It's been 11 years since Gabbie and I lived together and almost 8 years since we've lived in the same country, yet she's one of the first people I turn to when I need a non-judgemental listening ear and let it all out. But that doesn't mean she doesn't tell me about myself when needed (and I need to be put in my place more than I would like to admit). Her well of love runs deep and wide and I'm so happy she joined me on this episode to discuss her approach to fostering a healthy romantic relationship, her journey to understanding and accepting her emotions, and how to be comfortable with yourself.  I attempted to make a shrimp scampi with her, but I kinda just ended up doing my thing. She was incredibly annoyed at me for not following the recipe and I enjoyed every single minute of grinding her gears.  Friendships like this are rare and I feel beyond lucky and blessed to know that truly there ain't no mountain high enough, valley low enough, or ocean wide enough to keep me from my Gabz. 

S4: EP 5 How To Love w/Gabrielle Barnes

I had the pleasure to chat with New York-based, Ghanian writer and creative consultant Natasha Nyanin about her tried and true Senegalese Yassa Chicken recipe that has made its way from Senegal to New York City to Poland and to my Parisian kitchen (and a few of my friend's kitchens too!) What I loved the most about this conversation was the way Natasha elevates cooking, hosting, and designing her tables to an art form. I highly recommend following her on Instagram and join me in drooling all over her delicious dishes and eyeing her killer wardrobe.   

Sisterhood of the Traveling Yassa Chicken with Natasha Nyanin

*Just a heads up, this episode is in French. Why? Listen to at least the first few minutes to find out.* Journaliste, fondatrice de l'agence de rédaction PLUME et animatrice du podcast Manger, Laurianne Melierre m'a rejoint dans ma petite Parisian cuisine pour enregistrer ce bel épisode où nous avons fait des pieds de porc pané, des œufs mimosa et quelques accompagnements ??. Avant l’enregistrement, j’avais une idée de la façon dont l’épisode se déroulerait mais notre conversation a pris une tournure complètement différente et je suis ravie. Nous avons parlé de tout... de l’identité française aux “food projects” dans lesquels Laurianne s’est lancée pendant le confinement de l’année dernière (comme cuisiner un pigeon qui me laisse toujours bouche-bée!) Je me suis régalée dans tous les sens avec l'enregistrement de cet épisode et j'espère que vous aurez le même sentiment après l'avoir écouté. 

S4: Ep 3 French Soul Food w/ Laurianne Melierre

London-based journalist podcast host Hattie Crisell joined me on this episode where we cooked pancakes and had a wonderful conversation. We talked about gaining confidence in the kitchen, the therapeutic elements of cooking solo during a pandemic, our policy on wearing a bold lipstick color on a date and so so much more. Enjoy!  You can find Hattie's podcast, In Writing with Hattie Crisell here Hattie's Instagram Hattie's Twitter  

Lacy Pancakes w/Hattie Crisell

Fall of 2020 I skipped town and laid low Aix-en-Provence for a little bit. I went there with a specific goal in mind, but left with an addiction to mussels and so much more. 

S4: EP 1 - Mindful Mussels

I had a lot of grand plans for season 3, which mostly included hearing a tiny bit less from me and more from other people in my life, old friends and new, and their experiences in Paris. Alas, that wasn’t possible, so I cobbled together what I could.  So for this last episode of the season, I decided to turn the mic over to you and answer some of your questions. After almost 3 years of DFO, 24 episodes, and probably too many minutes spent listening to me talk about n’importe quoi, it felt like it was time. I answered as many questions as I could, but I had to reach out to two friends of the podcast for specific questions about wine and the French language. Wine expert Tanisha Townsend (https://www.instagram.com/girlmeetsglass was gracious enough to share her recommendations and The New Yorker staff writer and NYTimes best-selling author Lauren Collins (https://www.instagram.com/laurenzcollins) and I discussed French language nuances around the usage of "love" vs "like".  I hope you enjoy this episode and again, thank you so much for your patience during this peculiar, intense, and trying year. I hope you have a pleasant holiday, whether you're celebrating alone or with your loved ones, and we’ll talk again in 2021.

S3: E8 - 2020 Wrap Up

My friendships, my friends, these relationships give me another perspective on life. I get an intimate peek into how they see, and live, in this world. I learn what their values are, what makes them tick, and that has made me a better person because it has given me the ability to think outside of myself about people that are not family in any way shape, or form. We’re not bound together by blood or legal contracts, this is a relationship that is built on and nourished purely by mutual desire and that’s exactly what makes them so special. In this episode I talk about: What friendship means to me and how those relationships have helped to shape me.  Friendships during live transitions and explosions: like moving abroad and my divorce  The different type expat friends you *can* meet in Paris (this is not an exhaustive list)  

S3: Ep 7 Selfcare, Friendcare

For a long time, I felt like nothing could compare or be better than a New York City summer. There would be no city as electrifying, the pulse of no other city could match up to the beat of New York's, and the pace never outmatched. As a result even after seven years of living in Paris, I always craved a New York City summer until this summer. The coronavirus curtailed my usual summer of traveling,  which led me to lean into French summers, and while different from New York City summers, gave me a newfound appreciation for l'èté a la français.  Meal made: salade niçoise

S3: Ep 6 French Summer

This is part two of the pandemic centered episodes. In the last episode, I talked about how the pandemic helped me realize that I need to be more proactive about dating. In this episode, I dive deeper into how my views around dating have evolved, a few revelations I had around my pre-COVID dating habits, and how I plan on being a better dater in the future.  I spoke about all this while making mackerel patties. 

Dating in the time of corona

In this episode, I share the unfiltered truth around my experience living alone and cooking dinner for one during the lockdown period of the coronavirus pandemic. I talk about how the loneliness affected me and how this experience changed my outlook and approach to many ways I was living my life pre-corona. 

Dinner for one in the time of corona

What does that even mean? No, I am not talking about becoming a French citizen. In this episode, I discuss how I've come to the conclusion that the best way to experience life in Paris and lead a happy and successful expat life here is to create my own kind of Frenchness. 

S3: Ep 3 Canard à la Jamaïcain

I'm back in my kitchen, toute seule and in English, making one of my top 5 pasta dishes. To be completely honest I didn’t expect to still be cooking dinner for one, but here we are 3 seasons later. In this episode, I will talk about how I’ve tried to keep my optimism and guard my “softness” while simply trying to be a good person in this sometimes cold, harsh, sad, digital world we live in. 

S3: Ep 2 Don't Lose Your Softness

An audio exploration of what happens when the Paris fairytale ends and real-life beings. Location: a kitchen in Paris

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Dinner For One

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