Melanie’s Comments (group member since Jul 15, 2010)

Melanie’s comments from the Q&A with Melanie Rehak, author of Eating for Beginners group.

Hi Amber--

Thanks so much for dropping by and for all your kinds words about EFB. It sounds like you're doing great things in Chicago--how cool that your school is starting a garden and that you're participating. I really think being involved in growing food changes the way you see it forever.

I haven't ever been a food critic, though I do write a column about food books and cookbooks for Bookforum (http://www.bookforum.com). I don't know that I'd pursue being a food critic, but if someone offered me the chance I'd be hard-pressed to turn it down!

As for German food, I'm half Czech (as you no doubt learned in the chapter of my book with the orange peel recipe). I grew up eating middle European food and shopping in what was then the German section of Manhattan. German and Austrian food is the food of my childhood, and I love pretty much all of it, but some of my favorites are schnitzel, kasespatzle and bierschinken (and I totally agree with you about German bread and our lack of bakeries here in the US. I think Jules does, too--he misses being able to stop in for a pflaumetaschen or a schokocroissant on the way to school...). Where in Germany did you study?

Best of luck with your gardening. I love Chicago so will let you know if I get there any time soon.

Melanie

Hi Caroline--

I just posted on your blog as well, but wanted to say thanks again here for the nice review. My editor is especially enamored (as am I) of your world-weary, hilarious tone--"Oh Melanie, I hear you...!" Your blog is great and I so appreciate you helping to spread the word about EFB. Thanks also for the baby congrats. So far, so good with him...let's hope he eats!

Melanie

Hi Elizabeth--

Thanks so much for your great review and for posting here. I'm so glad the book resonated with you, and how wonderful that you're trying to find a way to help at your CSA. The work I did on the different farms was so interesting and rewarding--I'm sure you'll find that, too. I don't know if you've seen any coverage of a new book called Four Fish, but if not you might want to check it out. Since you're especially interested in fish, it might be something worth looking at.

As for how I managed to write a book, work at the restaurant, visit farms and take care of my son, I'll say first off that my husband is a huge help (and, as you learned in EFB, a great cook!). We also had a wonderful babysitter in those years who was with Jules during the day a few days a week. My husband made sure to be home to get Jules from the sitter on the days I was at the restaurant until midnight, and he really shouldered the burden when I did the farm visits. It was tricky at times, but we managed to work it out somehow. Of course there were some bad days, or days when the last thing I wanted to do was go into the kitchen (or stay home instead of going into the kitchen!), but in the end it was all so worth it.

Thanks again so much--

Melanie

Hi Hannah!

Jules is eating...should we just leave it at that?? But seriously, he's doing a lot better. One of his weird quirks is that he's always eaten a lot of fruits and vegetables in spite of being really picky about things like protein, so summer is always a good season for him. He also eats things like turkey meatballs and chicken now, which makes life a lot easier. And there's always pasta, which he finally consented to at the age of 3 (though of course if you even mention putting cheese on it, it's game over!).

My/our eating habits haven't changed so much as deepened, I'd say. I make a major effort to go to the farmer's market every Saturday (I even made it this past weekend, hauling my not-quite-two-week-old baby along with me) and I buy anything that looks good without worrying what I might do with it. I also feel a lot less guilty at the supermarket if I buy a few things that aren't organic, or things that aren't local. I've really come to realize that it's all about balance (isn't everything) as opposed to having some strict set of rules you can never vary from. Ironically, the people who showed me that are the people in the book who are most involved with growing and cooking and buying local.

Thanks for dropping by! Come again!

Melanie

Hi Goodreaders,

I'll be here to discuss Eating for Beginners from August 2-August 15.

I'd love to hear your stories about farming, cooking, shopping for groceries, parenting, picky eating, the works! I'd also love to hear your reactions to the book--what you like, what you think doesn't work, what's missing, what there's too much of. There's nothing like smart readers for good criticism.

We can also talk about the writing process, researching, influences on my writing, problems and surprises I faced or anything else having to do with the writing life.

I'll check in daily to respond (for those of you who don't know, I had a baby on the 19th, so while I can't promise what time I'll check in, I promise I'll do it every day!)

Feel free to post questions in advance, and thanks so much for participating. Let the discussion begin!

Melanie