Next chapter of my food career. Food Whore came out two and a half years ago and now I’m searching for the next phase. I’ve never been married to food fiction. I’m mostly interested in exploring food storytelling. Maybe that’s on the page… or maybe it’s on the screen.
I saw a gap. I doubt Ghandi was thinking about competitive cooking shows, but I think his famous quote still applies. Be the change you want to see in the world. I’ve loved cooking shows forever, but I rarely see people who look like me, approach food like me, or have similar backgrounds as me. Instead of waiting for that person to come along -- why not be that person?
Multi-hyphenate idols. When you’re looking for direction, it helps to consider who you admire. For me, it’s women like Amanda Hesser (startup co-founder, cookbook and memoir author, food critic, editor), Ree Drummond (blogger, TV personality, store/cafe/hotel owner), and Martha Stewart (needs no further explanation). What do these women have in common? They could have “stayed in their lane”, but instead they chose to break free and become powerhouses on their own terms.
A secret dream. This is one of my favorite quotes ever:
"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure .... We ask ourselves, 'Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?' Actually, who are you not to be? …. Your playing small does not serve the world." - Marianne Williamson
When the casting agents called me, I thought about retreating. Oh I’d never make it past the first episode, I thought. Who will take care of the house and the puppy? Only this type of person would do that, and I’m not that.
But I realized that was my fear talking. I was making excuses for myself so I could avoid playing big and potentially falling… or potentially soaring. Once I identified this self-sabotage, I decided right then and there I’d go on the show and summon everything in my power to get as a far as possible. You only have one life, so you’ve gotta make it count!
