The Underside of the Tapestry and the Strawberry Tart

Dear Friends at the Table, Cara amici a Tavola,

This week has been full of unexpected gifts and connections.

I'm honored to be featured as Author of the Week in Eleanor Wagner's Creeping it Reel community, where I've been sharing stories about food, travel, writing, family history, and the winding roads that eventually became The Elysian Legacy.

Eleanor Wagner’s Authors Supporting Authors Facebook Page

I'm also delighted to share that my essay, "The Hunger We Carry," has been accepted for publication in *When We Gather to Eat: An Anthology of Hunger, Heritage & Healing* from Scotia Road Books.

The editors Lynne Golodner and April Krassner. Lynne says this about her essay, Dishes,

“We create so many stories of our lives. But really, there are no momentous occasions, only ordinary ones. In my twenties, I thought the items I owned somehow conveyed the value of my life. I know better now. It’s never the stuff, only the moments, the people, the experiences. What goes on the plates – not the plates themselves. I have become content with a sleek bowl of spaghetti swirled in ramp pesto and garlic and a drizzle of olive oil, a homemade meal, forked into my mouth, with all the flavors of the season.”

And on June 18, I'll be joining Dara Bunjon on *The Food Enthusiast podcast to talk about cooking, storytelling, travel, teaching, and the surprising ways food shapes our lives and memories.

Lately I've been thinking a great deal about how cooking and writing have always been intertwined in my life. Years ago I wrote a piece called "The World With-In and The World With-Out," exploring the two paths I've walked as both chef and writer. Reading it again, I realized they were never really separate worlds at all.

Summer is fast approaching.. anfd the tumble of Kid-Chefs cooking and learning will be wafting its way through this section of Carrboro within days.

Risi e Bisi with Shrimp

A creamy rice-and-pea classic enhanced with juicy shrimp—simple, cozy, and delicious.

Minestra di Farro

A hearty farro soup filled with veggies and Italian herbs—rustic, nourishing, and fun to make.

Duo of Bruschetta

Two colorful versions of Italy’s favorite appetizer—kids build their own stacked, garlicky, crispy bites.

Angel Food Cake with Fresh Strawberries

Light, fluffy, and topped with sweet berries—a perfect mountain-town summer dessert.

Strawberry Galette (the most buttery pastry..it is so delicious!)

Perhaps that's why kitchens continue to find their way into my stories, and stories continue to find their way into my kitchens.

As always, thank you for reading, following along, and sharing these adventures with me.

Warmly,

Dorette

P.S. If you'd like to follow my Author Week posts, I'll be sharing them throughout the week on Eleanor Wagner's Creeping it Reel page.