Hello lovely readers! September is knocking on the door (or maybe it has one foot through it by now) and I’m eagerly anticipating the arrival of fall. I’m not wishing away the end of summer - I’ll take any extra pool days I can get! - but as I sit here typing on my porch in Roanoke, Virginia this morning, there’s a light chill in the air and it feels delicious. Speaking of delicious, this Saturday I’m travelling to Paris for a week of feasting, cooking, exploring, and writing! Paris holds a special place in my heart as I lived there as a little girl and again as a fashion student, and it’s been many years since I’ve been back (and I haven’t been as a food writer, so that adds new dimension!). It’s a full itinerary and I’ll have lots more to share on that upon my return, but I’m open to receiving recommendations too! Read on for today’s apt mini word essay, check out some exciting memoir updates as well as memorable books, bites, and beverages. Wishing you all a smooth transition into the new season!
FLIGHT: The action or process of flying through the air. A flock or large body of birds or insects in the air, especially when migrating. The swift passage of time. (Source: Oxford Languages)
Of course there are many more definitions of flight, but the one that really speaks to me is the one for “flights of fancy,” described as '“an extravagant or far-fetched idea or account.” There’s something whimsical implied here, and the idea of being prone to extravagance and far-fetched ideas really appeals to me. I think often about how some ideas “take-off,” but before they could take flight, they were swirling in someone’s imagination. Grounded, but always pushing, flapping, reaching for new heights. It is this desire to push beyond the status quo, to imagine what is possible, that really drives me as a writer and as a person. What becomes possible if we allow ourselves to dream, to indulge the fantastical, the far-fetched? How high will we fly?
What I also love about the notion of flight is that it’s a reminder to always look up, to take in what’s around and above you. We realize then that the sky may be the only limit. It’s something that I want to keep at the forefront of my mind, especially during my upcoming travels. It’s so easy to become all-consumed with doing, seeing, eating it all, but if we’re always focused on checking off the next thing on our list, then we are robbed of the present moment. Often, this has the effect of making time fly by all too swiftly. I want to make space for spontaneity, strolling, sitting. I want to watch life go by, not let it pass me by.
I can have a destination in mind, but to truly take flight, I’ll need to be a little more footloose and fancy-free.
Memoir Updates
I polished up my query letter and started submitting to agents! I’ve gotten a few rejections and a few bites, so I’m feeling encouraged overall. I submitted my book proposal to two agents, though I suspect I’ll be making it even better from the next round after this How to Write a Book Proposal workshop with Hannah Howard (whose food writing classes I adore) and Hannah Selinger (another dynamo food writer). Keep those fingers and toes crossed for me!
Published Articles & Media Appearances
Most of my recently published articles have been for Food Network’s Cooking School vertical and I’ve gotten to interview experts and write about sake, quark, pozole, and egg rolls vs spring rolls. What I especially love about these articles is that at least once a week, someone texts or DMs me to tell me they Googled something (like ‘how to roast garlic’ or ‘what are capers’) and my Food Network article comes up!
Books, Bites & Beverages
Books: In preparation for my upcoming Paris trip, I’m reading My Life in Paris by Julia Child. It’s so transportive, both to another place and another time. When Julia first lived in Paris, television was just starting to become a thing in the U.S., which is wild to think about given her meteoric rise as a pioneering TV chef. I love how Paris awakened her appetite and transformed her into a gourmande, as Paris did for me as a child and again as a young adult when I attended fashion school.
Bites: I’m here to tell you that there’s no better way to chase away the Sunday Scaries than with dinner out. My mom, daughter, and I went to a local Mexican restaurant that’s perched on a hill and offers lovely views of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Warm tortilla chips, salsa, and queso arrive at your table right away, and you could easily while away the evening with a margarita in hand. My mom and I both loved this shrimp dish with zucchini, peppers, and rice, which was more platter than entree, but happily that meant leftovers for lunch the next day.
Beverages: I was lucky to get to sample Component’s 2022 'Vin de Fleurs' Cinsault Rosé, a stellar rose from Provence (thank you to founder Michael Kennedy and PR maven Ellie Munie for generously sending me a bottle!). As I wrote to Michael, “I’ve never had a rosé like it! It checks all the boxes and you expect the platonic ideal of a rosé then it goes and surprises you with all these twists and turns on the palate. It’s got body to it as well which I like. Really supple and juicy and quenching all at once.”
My Life in France is one of my favorite books ever! I have re-read it a ton of times. Safe travels, I can't wait to hear about your adventure, phone date soon❤️ xo Carla
Hi!
I just read your blog post and loved hearing your news. In mid September I am going to Paris. We’re staying at 35 Bd de la Tour - Marburg, 75007. If you come across a restaurant or cafe in the area, please recommend!
Bon Voyage
Kathie Giltinan (Grads of Grads)
tel:304-299-3539