Eight years ago today, I wrote my very first blog post here. I was living in a ground-floor apartment with friends in Chelsea then, commuting by foot to my office just a few blocks away. I had a window that looked out onto noisy mail trucks rumbling down 18th Street, there were massive black cockroaches who periodically liked to terrify me in the kitchen (water bugs, to get specific) and I had to tiptoe into my roommate's bedroom each morning to take a shower while she slept. But it was glorious! (Well, except for the water bugs.)
One year was the time limit I gave myself to write the blog. Just a year and then you'll be done.
Ha.
Eight years later, I live in an apartment at the very top of an old building in a quiet neighborhood in western Berlin. I have a toddler who is (blessedly) asleep in his room, a lovely husband who (still) works in another city, I'm the author of a book, a book that will be published in paperback in a few short days, and I'm still blogging.
Ha!
To celebrate, I wanted to give you a cake. The tender, gorgeous, simple cake my friend Gabriella made for Hugo's first birthday, the one that made him faceplant into a slice of it (though, admittedly, it might have just been CAKE in general and not that cake, but I'm sticking with the first version). However, my life these days is not conducive to cake-baking. It is not conducive to any kind of baking or cooking or time in the kitchen at all beyond making Hugo's meals and cleaning up after them. I realize this sounds sort of complain-y (I do sometimes fantasize about live-in help), but really, more than anything, I'm just trying to be honest. Life with a toddler – newsflash! – is like living with a crazy person? Who can't speak? Or walk? But has OPINIONS? And NEEDS? And FEELINGS, LOTS OF THEM? I'm still trying to figure it out. (Don't worry, I'll get you the cake eventually – give me another week or three.)
But I still want to celebrate. I mean, eight years! My book in paperback! Me, still here! You, still here! So instead of cake, let's do books. I want to thank you for being here, for reading me, for being my lovely audience and for being patient when I take a little time off. So, if you'd like to win a copy of the paperback edition of My Berlin Kitchen, leave me a comment and by the end of the weekend, I'll pick eight people to send a copy to. Sound good?
Eight years!
xo
Update: The comments are now closed. The eight winners are Carol, Lynn, Kara, Jen, Helena, Yvette, Laura and Abby Lutman. Congratulations!
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384 responses to “Eight Years”
I’ve been following your blog for the last two years and love it. Here’s to eight more!
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Congrats on 8 years! That means I’ve been reading for about 5, which is sort of amazing as well. Here’s to 8 (or more) to come…
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Happy anniversary! Congratulations on the 8 years, the fabulous blog and the book. What is gonna come in two years? A TV Show? Fingers crossed!
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Congratulations on 8 years! I’ve been reading for the past three & I hope you’re able to keep it up for more to come! And many happy returns on your book, too 🙂
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Luisa,
Congratulations — so many milestones to celebrate! I’ve never left a comment before, but I have been reading your blog and cooking your recipes for years now. As I’ve graduated from uni and moved out on my own, your recipes have played a very influential role in my formative kitchen years. Many of them are staples for me now! Here’s to the next eight years!
Caroline
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Thank you for continuing to blog for eight years! My older daughter will be eight on the 25th. I may have discovered your blog while I was on my maternity leave. In the intervening years, I have probably made at least 75% of the recipes you posted about. Thank you for that, for deeply changing my relationship with vegetables, for making me truly love soups and for helping me to get better acquainted with my kitchen. That almost-eight year old now has a really genuine interest in trying new foods. Her sister, who just turned five, is not yet there, but I’m hopeful, if I keep reading and making the kinds of food you post about, that she’ll get there too! Congratulations.
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Congratulations. I loved your book and enjoy whatever you end up sharing. Here’s to many more years of writing for you.
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Congratulations on 8 years, AND on getting your book published in paperback – both great achievements. I’d ove a paperback copy of your book –
thanks
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Congratulations on 8 years! I’m so glad you’re still blogging; your blog helped inspire me to get into the kitchen and cook something other than plain noodles. I still remember the first recipe I tried–the broccoli and shrimp with cumin and coriander. I still make that often! Thanks again for writing and helping me learn how to cook.
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Luisa, loved the book! Would love to have a copy. My mother was from Berlin, so I have fond memories of living there! Karen
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Congratulations on 8 years! I’ve been reading for a long time and it has been great to follow your journey!
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A tasty blog, a tasty book. Thank you.
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Oh Luisa, I’m so happy for you, for everything you’ve accomplished. Here’s to another eight years!
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That is quite the accomplishment. Congratulations and good luck with that little person. They say it’s like being in prison:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mike-julianelle/10-ways-living-with-a-toddler-is-like-being-in-prison_b_3726549.html
Sadly true!
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Congratulations! You’ve helped me make so many meals that have warmed my home and family.
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Bravo All Three!
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congratulations on eight years! i love yuor blog and it makes me a little homesick every now and then for the year i spent in berlin.
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Luisa, 8 years – glad I discovered you after 3 🙂 Just about to start my own first cooking blog with two foodloving friends and would LOVE a copy of your book!! All the best and here’s to another 8 years x
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Congratulations!! Happy 8 years and many more!
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Happy anniversary! Can’t wait to read the book.
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Congratulations! Here’s to many more years 🙂
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Beautiful story, ever unfolding. Congratulations! Your stories make me happy.
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I downloaded your book onto my Kobo and was glued to to it this summer. I would love to have the paperback version!
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Happy 8th birthday! 🙂
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Congratulations! Your success only reinforces the importance of authenticity, and that once you discover it (or allow it to find you), there is nothing that can stop you. I love your blog and your book, and they have been very inspirational in my desire to live a good part of the year in Berlin. We’re taking the plunge and have rented an apartment for the month of October, and I’m hoping that I can soon start thinking about composing the shelves of my own Berlin kitchen.
As an aside, whenever I see a can of Heinz vegetarian baked beans I think of you and your father making a meal of them with a side of broccoli.
Oh, and the paperback cover is magnificent!!
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Fantastic blog. Congratulations!
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What a wonderful adventure. Congratulations and I hope you enjoy every minute of the years to come!
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Fantastic blog, congratulation!
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Simply said, 8 is great! Congrats.
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Thanks, Luisa, for your blog and your generous book offer. I recommended your site to several friends who returned to Germany after many years abroad, it resonates with them. Do not worry about cakes, recipes of simple homely dishes is what I like best about your cooking style.
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This was one of my favorite books. I have recommended it to many friends.
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Congratulations on eight years! I’m so glad you’re here. I love your style of writing, how you discuss food and recipes and combinations. It’s unique. Also, we mothers of young children out here? We totally get where you’re coming from, and we can patiently wait a few more months until Life becomes more manageable for you.
I have a 4.5 year old and a 20-month old…. I’d love to mention that signing at this age (Hugo’s current age) becomes a life saver. If you’ve ever considered it, Baby Signing Time is a fantastic resource that taught us about 100? signs. They can explain that: they want a specific book; an orange not an apple; ouch you just rammed my knee into the table please pull my chair out a bit; look at that person wearing a funny hat (it’s a wig)…. I could go on and on. Anyyyyyway— free books by you?! Yes, please! And congratulations again.
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Congratulations! I love your blog and would love to read your book!
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Congratulations! Love your blog and have tried numerous recipes and they are all amazing.
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A hearty congratulations to you and cheers to new adventures!
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Oh, Luisa, congratulations! I’m so glad you’re still here 8 years later, because I always look forward to seeing what you cook up next . . . From me on the prairies of Canada to you in the big city of Berlin: well done!
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I would love to own a copy of your cookbook.
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You’re an inspiration to me as a cook and mother. When the days seem long and utterly frustrating with a 9 month old I look to your blog, as I have done in many times of stress and happiness. I look to your words for comfort. Thank you for everything.
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congrats! yay!
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Yay for milestones and yay for cookbooks!
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Wow- quite an accomplishment. I love my copy of My Berlin Kitchen and would love to share it with a lucky friend. And good luck with the toddler phase.
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Congratulations on eight years, I found your blog after buying the book. So many good recipes both in the book and your blog.
Take your time with your lovely son, he will be growing up pretty quick.
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I started reading your blog a month ago, after reading your book. I’m afraid I no longer remember how I first heard about your book- quite possibly the title caught my eye. As a beginning student of German, anything that references Germany immediately catches my attention. Anyway, regardless of how it wound up on my reading list, I am so glad I found your book. I enjoyed the stories you shared, your insights into life, and felt quite hungry while reading several of the recipes and meals you reminisced about. There were happy tears in my eyes when I read the chapter about your wedding.
Congratulations! I hope you and your family are well.
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Happy Birthday to Your Blog.
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Love your blog. Only discovered you this past year. So glad I did<3
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I already own a copy of your book but maybe if I won a new copy, could send it to my friend in Germany? Less postage for you as well! 🙂 Congratulations –
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Congratulations!!! It’s a big feat 🙂
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Happy 8th Anniversary! I’m so excited for the paperback — I promise I’ll put it up on the shelf right next to Tamar Adler’s “An Everlasting Meal” (right after I read it, of course!)
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Your characterization of life with a toddler is all too true. Congratulations on all that you’ve accomplished!
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I bought the ebook on a cold, windy, winter weekend. I spent Saturday reading the entire thing. I could relate to the story as both a memory for food and passion for baking, as well as an immigrant to Germany.
As much as I loved the book, I was immediately wishing I had invested in an actual book, as the ebook made searching for recipes next to impossible, and rendered the index useless… I’m so excited for the paperback version to be out, so it can be kept in it’s rightful place, and the pages can start to get covered in drops of tomato sauce, melted butter and chocolate.
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