I first discovered Jeannette Ferrary’s writing when I stumbled upon her short essay, Aesop’s Fable for Food Writers. I’ve since followed her work through the pages of Gourmet and Via, and just last week I was excited to learn that she teaches writing classes just ten minutes from my house at the UC Berkeley Extension program. Once financials have solidified, I’d love to take a class with her!
Jeannette has been kind enough to send me a short blurb about her most recent book, Out of the Kitchen: Adventures of a Food Writer. This memoir follows Jeanette through her life as it relates to food, complete with recipes and superstar chef appearances. I’m really looking forward to reading it, and I think you will enjoy it as well.
So without further ado, here’s Jeannette discussing her book Out of the Kitchen: Adventures of a Food Writer:
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If you’re a food writer, or even a food reader, you might enjoy this culinary memoir (gosh, I certainly hope so)! It begins with a fascination with food accompanied by a sneaking suspicion that all interest in cooking must be avoided by any woman with aspirations for a real career. Stories about the neighborhood candy store and the ice cream man are really about how such encounters represent the child’s first sense of independence and control over the food supply. The book has something to say about the strong pull of food as heritage and legacy, about the power of food with its myriad levels of meaning. The “adventures” of the title encompass experiences like Simone Beck’s cooking class in the south of France, totally unexpected introductions to many food world “rock stars” several of whom appear in the book, and a 14 year personal friendship with M. F. K. Fisher (about whom I wrote a biography/memoir). Eventually all this rather unfocused activity led to a career as a writer contributing regular monthly food columns for The New York Times and for dozens of publications, writing eight full-length books, and teaching food-writing courses at Stanford and UC Berkeley extension. What the book is basically about, really, is following one’s dream and having a whole lot of fun doing it.
The Library Journal wrote of it: “Though to read her recounting, you might just believe that Ferrary accidentally stumbled into food writing and acquaintance with such culinary greats as M. F. K. Fisher, Craig Claiborne, Julia Child and Alice Waters, her deft touch proves that this was no mere coincidence. Enthusiastically and frankly written, yet with a knowing wink and wry smile, this memoir is delightfully executed, presenting course by course the recollections of a one time precocious child, “home maker of tomorrow,” faculty wife, poet, entrepreneur, activist, and gourmand — as well as the accomplished author of numerous articles appearing in such publications as the New York Times, six cookbooks with Louise Fiszer (e.g. Sweet Onions and Sour Cherries), and the memoir
M. F. K. Fisher and Me. Recipes follow many of the vignettes.”
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Click here if you would like to buy Out of the Kitchen: Adventures of a Food Writer, or visit Daniel & Daniel Publishing for more information. Jeannette has also written a book about her close friendship with M.F.K. Fisher, entitled M.F.K. Fisher and Me: A Memoir of Food and Friendship.
