Inspiring Women Summer 2018

start our Picnic Club, so
each recipe has an
anecdote that helps
bring it to life and give it
some context.
Being able to, in some
ways, immortalize my
c u l i n a r y c r e a t i o n s
through writing has
allowed me to move
forward in my career as
a chef. Through both
cooking classes and
recipe testing for the
book, I’ve learned to put
down in words what I
had previously only been
able to replicate by
hand, in photograph or
in painting.
I am always so surprised and delighted by people’s reactions to the book and how they
appreciate the time and effort we’ve taken to intertwine our story into the recipes. We had
been working on the book so long and had seen the words so many times over that we had
almost forgotten what a labour of love it is.
Like most things, and especially artwork, I’ve discovered that the most successful writing comes
from authenticity. I think, in some ways, I had always hidden behind other forms of art and had
avoided using words to express myself. Now I feel more comfortable in doing so and in
embracing my own voice.
17
GETTING TO KNOW JENNIE
Tell us about an event in your life that
made a big difference and why it did.
After college, I moved to rural Italy to
work on a series of organic farms. It
was there that I truly learned how to
cook and to respect and accentuate
the attributes of the beautiful, fresh
produce that surrounded me. It also
had an incredible impact on me
personally, as I felt so removed from
the material world and realized that
decent wine, good food and great
company are all you really need in life.
If you could only save a copy of one
book from the flames, what would it be
and why? To Kill A Mockingbird - I read
it when I was in fourth grade and I
distinctly remember discussing it, and
its ethical implications, with my Dad.
Not many books hold such a special
place in my memory.