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!
Site Title 
384 responses to “Eight Years”
There are only a handful of blogs that ellicit sounds of surprise and yours is one of them. Congratulations and many more books and blog posts ahead!
LikeLike
Congratulations! And thanks for all the inspiration I found in your blog!
LikeLike
Don’t worry Luisa, the toddler rearing gets easier, especially when they learn to talk and they can tell you what they want. Congratulations on the 8 years, been reading the blog for about four years and have loved it. I would love to win a paperback.
LikeLike
Oh ja, das klingt gut!
Dein Buch steht schon lange auf meiner To-Buy-Liste, aber da mein Englisch nicht perfekt ist, habe ich mich bisher nicht getraut, es zu kaufen.
Du und deine Geschichte, du und deine Rezepte faszinieren mich jedoch sehr, und ich würde gerne mehr wissen über diese wunderbare Frau, die dafür sorgt, dass meine Gäste regelmäßig Rezepte haben wollen – für das beste Ofengemüse, die leckeren Senf-Hühnerschlegel, Nachtisch…
Danke und mach weiter!
LikeLike
Gratuliere – congratulations!
I read your blog frequently and love your style of writing.
looking forward to the next eight years…
LikeLike
I’ve only recently started following, loving it! There will be time for cake later, trust me!
LikeLike
2 months ago I did what you did and moved back to the country that had held my heart for most of my life. Now I’m in England and trying to rediscover the land of my birth after 18 years away. You are an inspiration and I know that you will have many more beautiful years ahead of you on this blog.
LikeLike
Oh my goodness, your giveaway sounds brilliant!
LikeLike
I originally found your blog in a search for Berlin suggestions but kept reading because it’s interesting to take a peak into someone else’s expat experience mixed with recipes and foodie stories (I’m a fellow American living in Amsterdam who also loves to cook!). Of course, I’d love to win a copy of your book too and congratulations on you blogaversary!
LikeLike
Been reading your blog for the better part of the last 4, and I can’t tell you how much you’ve inspired me—for all things food, of course, but for just about everything else too (make my own blog! pursue what I want! etc). I’m glad you’ve kept up with this space the whole time. And by the way, that paperback cover is love-ly. x
LikeLike
Congratulations, eight years is a looong time!
Last weekend I had some plums that needed to be used up and in your archives I found your experiment with the NY Times Plum Torte. Like you I found the batter very thick so I just added some milk and the result was heavenly. Finally, something different from the usual yeast dough! I’ve made it another time since… Thanks for showing me the recipe 🙂
LikeLike
Yes, yes, yes, it sounds more than good.
Being blogless, I’m an avid reader of other people’s blogs on a variety of topics. After a computer crash earlier this year, it was kinda funny to see which blogs from my seemingly endless previous blogroll I HAD to find again. Yours is one on the now reduced list of 35 blogs. One reason are your fabulous recipies, other than your adorable son (one of my friends has a girl about the same age and it was sheer curiosity to see how the two of you fared) and, believe it or not, find out when your book would be published in paperback.
So, for many more years of blog aquaintance
M.
LikeLike
First of all, congratulations and “complimenti” on your 8th year of blogging – persistence we’re all grateful for. And “8” is a lucky number in China … you had three eights in your post – 8th year and 18th street and 8 lucky readers (Fingers crossed!) – so I’m hoping that your 8 will be lucky for me, too.
Although I have only commented twice, I look forward to your posts and enjoy them thoroughly. I have been making your roasted veggies regularly this summer (who would have thought I would turn on the oven during a Florentine summer!) and we all love them. I am awaiting news of The Cake with bated breath.
Thank you, Luisa, and auguroni for moments in which YOUR “opinions, needs and feelings” are taken into consideration … maybe blogging helps with that, too!
LikeLike
I for one am incredibly glad that you kept blogging. Earlier this year when you posted about starting the Whole30 I checked it out and tried it as well with two of my best friends – it will definitely go down as one of my most memorable experiences in nutrition and an affirmation of the strength we find in community. Thank you for your honesty and for sharing your passion and (authentically) beautiful life with all of us so graciously. Congratulations!
LikeLike
Congratulations Luisa! I’m so very thankful I found your blog, many, many years ago. Your writing brings much happiness to me and so many others. Cheers to another 8 years!
LikeLike
Congratulations on eight years! I love your writing style, AND your recipes. I had the hard cover version of your book, but sadly it was one of the many cookbooks that were destroyed during Hurricane Sandy. I’d love to be able to replace it with that gorgeous-looking paperback. Thanks for the opportunity!!
LikeLike
How is it that I am in Toronto but I can understand exactly what you are going through?
You are so talented and you have a lot of reasons to celebrate. Do not worry, Luisa… take all the time you need. We love your blog and we’ll still be here when you are ready to come back. Here’s to 8 more years!
LikeLike
Congratulations! I love your blog and am quite happy you’ve kept it up 🙂
LikeLike
My goodness – if it’s been 8 years, that means I’ve been reading you for almost all that time! I first discovered you the summer I was working after college, also the summer I met my now-husband, and I was spending many hours surfing the internet while supposedly being a filing clerk. We had a son in Dec 2011 as well so it feels like our family has grown with your blog – the baby feeding posts came along just at the right time for us too. Many many congratulations and here’s to many more.
LikeLike
oh yay! I tried to purchase this in a UK shop, but they didn’t have it so I am totally throwing my hat into the ring here for a paperback.
LOTS of congratulations to you! Amazing what a few years will bring 🙂
LikeLike
I’d love to have a copy of your book! Cannot even remember when I started reading your blog, or from where I discovered it…but I always look forward to new posts. Keep on!
LikeLike
Congrats for the blog, Luisa! I’m a Luiza too, but with a Z, and I’ve recently moved from Brazil to Berlin (greetings from Wedding!), but I grew up in Italy with a brief stint in the US. So yeah, I guess it kinda makes sense that I was attracted to your blog as soon as I found out about it a few months ago.
I’d love to read your book and try the recipes, even though I’m a vegetarian… I love how you feature so many veggies (I’ve recently tried your aunt’s best-roast-veggies-ever recipe and it was glorious, even though they took forever to properly caramelize it was totally worth the wait).
LikeLike
Congratulations. I too am in the middle of that early toddler period, it is exhausting, but so full of discoveries. I have taken to making myself a packed lunch in the morning at the same time as my husband’s sandwiches to make sure i eat properly in the middle of the day.
LikeLike
I stumbled across your blog a few months ago and now enjoy your recipes and stories! Thank you and congratulations on 8 years!
LikeLike
I could only ever hope to find something that keeps my heart for 8 years, despite the ups and downs of life. You are blessed for it. Congratulations.
LikeLike
Wow, eight years! Congratulations, if you keep it up for another eight years you’ll watch little Hugo become a complicated bigger person the way I’ve watched my two through my blog.
I’ve only recently found you and look forward to discovering loads more here among your old posts. Thanks
LikeLike
Congratulations, Luisa! The cover of your book’s paperback edition looks beautiful, I would love to win a copy, your peripatetic childhood strikes a chord with me and I can totally relate to feeling an emotional pull in all sorts of (geographic) directions!
LikeLike
Congratulations! I actually own the hardcover version of the book but i would love to give the paperback as a present to a dear friend. xoxo
LikeLike
I started reading your blog…a year ago? I think. I love it, and am still slowly working through the archives (any blog I read I read in its entirety). I really don’t need any more books…but I never can resist them. That, and I will be visiting Berlin for a few short days for the first time in three weeks before I move to Ludwigsburg.
LikeLike
I don’t suppose I have much of a chance, leaving the 224th comment, but I love your book, your recipes, and especially the story about your journey to arrive where you have. I’m a children’s book author who started writing with a toddler in the house. How well I remember those days. I’m also a cook who tries to be inventive and is always on the alert for a different way of preparing food. I now bake my formerly-roasted peppers because of you, and drool over your summers in Italy, and got a great laugh out of the picture of your beautiful little boy reaching inside his mouth to drag out the abhorrent meal you’d lovingly cooked for him. I had one of those. At 27, he’s still giving me a hard time but now he eats what I cook. As long as it’s not salmon. Imagine. A writer and cook with a child who doesn’t like salmon. Happy anniversary.
LikeLike
A HUGE congratulations to you! I have loved following you every step of the way. I am home with my 8 month old and am (not) looking forward to the toddler years. So much love to you and your family.
LikeLike
Hi Luisa,
I enjoy your blog for a year now and love reading it! I grew up in Berlin and moved to the country side only three years ago, so it feels a little like coming home when visiting your blog and seeing my city through an expats eye is really fun, too! I love that you’re being so honest, about life, food and life with a toddler especially! When I’m a mum one day, I’ll be relieved knowing that I am not the only one that encounters struggles and I’ll surely be thankful for all your insight!
Of course, I’d love winning a copy of your book which has been on my long, long book list…
Take care,
Isabelle
LikeLike
Hi Luisa,
I’m an avid reader of your blog for one year now! I grew up in Berlin and visiting your blog feels a little like coming home (I moved to the country side three years ago), plus seeing my city through an expats eye is really fun, too!
Of course, I’d love a copy of your book that is on my long, long book list…
Here’s to the next eight years!
Isabelle
LikeLike
Oops… sorry about that! Didn’t mean to cheat, my browser had a hang-up, though!
LikeLike
Congratulations! Food and cook books
are my favorite reads.
LikeLike
Eight is great! I love your recipes and would be psyched for a paperback version!
LikeLike
Congrats on 8 years!
love the cover of this. I have been wanting to read your book (it’s not available at my local library!) so would love to win & read!
thanks!
LikeLike
What an accomplishment! I love following along with your cooking and adventures. Looking forward to reading and cooking from your book.
LikeLike
I love reading your blog with its honesty and humor. And the food. YUM. I’ve made your new mother meatballs 4 times in the past month. During the summer, no less. So uncomplicated and comforting. My kids love them, too. I am waiting anxiously for the cake recipe! Congratulations on your achievements – I’m glad we get to be the recipients of your hard work.
Molly
LikeLike
congratulations! I think that your blog is wonderful, and I am so happy you did not stop after merely a year! Also, I love the design of your paperback book a lot!
LikeLike
Congratulations!!!!
I must admit: I’ve been secretly (is it secretly or simply silently?) reading your blog for… 6 years? I started reading it in University when I was 1st learning to cook, and had found myself in the strange position of head chef for my roommates (the blind leading the blind haha) and have been a devotee ever since. Sometimes my life would get busy or complicated or entirely too much, and I wouldn’t be able to devote myself to it as religiously as I could have liked. But whenever I got myself back on track you were there: with your sweet voice and your lovely, sincere outlook and your delicious recipes and spectacularly suggestions, all of which have shaped me as a cook and the lives of the people I’ve loved and fed in that time.
Thank you; and congrats 100 times over!
LikeLike
I’d love a copy of your book for my very own…it’s lovely.
LikeLike
Congratulations, Luisa.
Believe it or not, when these “crazy” days are over, it will seem like they went way too quickly.
Here’s to eight more years.
xoxo
LikeLike
Congrats on 8 years. I am pretty new reading this blog but have really enjoyed it. Glad you are back from vacation.
LikeLike
Congratulations for the 8 years! Can’t seem to remember when I started reading, but you had just broken up with a guy named Ben and I had broken up with a guy named Ben. Somehow, I felt connected (not to mention the FOOD!). Funny how life works and points you in the right direction. Fast forward years later and I’m married to a wonderful man and am still happily looking forward to reading your blog posts. Thanks for the inspiration and for sharing your wonderful life with us!
LikeLike
Take heart! In about 6 to 12 months, you will start cooking and baking with Hugo, and you’ll have lots of fun! My three kids (6, 4, and 2) and I are currently trying out every single different zucchini muffin recipe we can find to somehow handle the masses of zucchini we have. It’s chaos in the kitchen, and we all LOVE it! And as long as they don’t find “green strings” in their muffins, they will actually eat them! 🙂
I would love to win a copy of your book!
LikeLike
Congrats on 8 years! I love your little space on the internet, so cozy and charming. Would love to read your book!
LikeLike
I’m an American expat in Munich – never been to Berlin, never had a book published by a publisher (though I have one I published myself – does that count?) I enjoy reading your blog, and I think we live somewhat parallel lives, though mine includes the added cultural and culinary spices of Turkey…
LikeLike
Congratulations! It’s wonderful your book will be in paperback. I have the hardback copy and loved it. I love reading your blog.
LikeLike
Congratulations on your 8 years! Looking forward to reading more.
LikeLike