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”
Love your blog, full of flavour. Expect the book to be great. Would love to win it
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yay you are back! I´m so glad! I´m reading your book at the moment, and living just around the corner makes it kind of “connected”. your writing is heartwarming. and we go for a swim in the lake in Brieselang all the time, it´s still lovely. Because the copy I´m reading belongs to my sister, I really would like to win a copy for my own, hehe.
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Congrats!
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Dear Luisa,
Congratulations on your many accomplishments and celebrating 8 years! I am so very thankful that my friend enlightened me to your wonderful blog and book just 6 short months ago- wish I had discovered the blog long ago! Living as an expat in Buenos Aires (from Chicago) I found in you a kindred spirit as I read through My Berlin Kitchen. There were so many points in the book where I would shake my head in agreement and wonder at how exactly you nailed certain experiences, feelings, and even tiny little things about living abroad right on the head. You have such a clear, strong, unedited voice that comes through in all your writing and it is so refreshing. Thanks for sharing your journey with us! Here’s to you! Carolyn
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Congratulations Luisa! Eight years is amazing, and what is more impressive is that you find time to still blog w/ the distractions of work and a baby/little person in your life. My job might not be a baby, but sometimes I feel like it is – keeping me from posting as regularly as I would like, along with doing simple things like eating dinner at a normal hour 🙂 So impressed by you! And as lovely as I find your blog, Berlin, and you, I still haven’t managed to read through your book, so I’d love a copy!
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I read your book in hardback from the library and copied down more than several recipes. I’d love to receive your book.
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Thanks for the wonderful, honest posts- I like the diversity of recipes, travel, restaurants, etc.!
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Congrats on 8 years! I love hearing recipes from another Italian!! Here’s to 8 more years!!
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congratulations,luisa, here´s to another 8 years! would love to win the book. all the best,anja
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Congratulations! I have really loved reading your blog (and making many of your recipes) over the years. I started reading about 4 years ago, i think… it’s so interesting to have a peek at someone else’s life in another part of the planet. Thank you for sharing. I intend to read your book, whether i win it or not!
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Huge congrats on your milestone … would love a copy of your book.
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Eight years, huit années, acht jaren.. A long time. You begun with the phrase ‘Yet another foodblog’. True, I read a lot of fooblogs, there thousands of them. However, you survived 8 years and published a book. I started 4,5 years ago. I hope I will catch the 8, with or withput book 😉 Congrats!
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Hej Luisa,
I enjoy reading your blog now for several years, congrats on the anniversary!
During the years I lived first in Sweden, now in the UK but 2014 will see me move back to Germany (Berlin), with my husband. So your book would be the perfect preparation. After 12 years away, how will moving be?
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Love the blog — congrats! Would love the book too 🙂
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Hi Luisa 🙂 eating is my favorite thing to do, so I find this little corner of the internet delightful. Congrats for sticking around this long!
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Congratulations! Eight years fly by, don’t they? A toast to at least eight more!
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Thank you for keeping on keeping on! When I first started reading TWC I had just moved to Norway and was SO homesick, and your blog gave me a little slice of home every entry-you’re such an evocative writer. Now I’ve been stateside again for several years, and I’ve enjoyed reading about your experiences in Europe just as much.
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Congratulations on 8 years of inspiring blogging! Thanks for all the wonderful stories and recipes. :•)
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Congratulations! Many accomplishments along the way!
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I read your book and loved it, so I would enjoy getting my own copy to reread and share with my mom and friend. I just visited Berlin for the third time in May and want to virtually revisit all of the places I loved so much while I was there.
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I read your book before I read your blog. And you got me from the get-go. Through relocations across the ocean and living so far away from loved ones, I re-read your book to get me through the homesickness in my own version of the Dutch kitchen. But I think the hard deal is not the homesickness, the deal is the hollowness that at a specific point in time, we feel so distinctly. The chapter on you living in France for grad school but not enjoying it, is there for me whenever I felt the need to stop being the odd-one-out wherever I live, this part of the world or the other part of the world. It might not be how it happened for you, but reading your experience makes me feel a little bit better about being uncomfortable with surroundings.
I have a kindle version of your book, I wish to own one copy of the book in my hands.
Congrats on 8 years. Take the time you need to live on your life, somehow it always shines through, however frequently you post.
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Congratulations! Here’s hoping you’ll keep the blog going for at least another eight.
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Congratulations! but you just took a break… Please try to come back soon. I enjoy your posts and your recipes. I now make your spicy tomato cod regularly. thanks.
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Happy anniversary! Would love a copy!
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I started reading your blog lately, when I have free time and just love it. Thank you and congragulation on blogging for 8 years. I can not even imagine and always wondered why people blog, as I wondered whether to start when time is a little better.
I would love to have a copy of your book.
Thank you again
Adele K
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Happy eight year blog anniversary, Luisa! I really loved your book and included it in my summer reading recommendations http://www.confessionsofachocoholic.com/review/summer-reading Looking forward to reading more – and that cake recipe!
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In a roundabout detour, I was rummaging through the farmer’s market for prune plums, inspired by the fantastic recipe for your spiced plum butter that I made last year. I vow to never live without it again. Back at my computer, I ended up on your blog for the first time today. I would love to read your book, it sounds wonderful! In the interim, however, I have eight years of posts to read!
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Congratulations! You’re a wonderful writer and storyteller. This blog was one of the first food blogs I started reading and it’s still one of my favourites.
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Love your blog. Congrats on 8 years.
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Congratulations Luisa! I’d love a copy of your book. Here’s to 8 more years!!
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Congrats on the book. A 2 yr old and a 2 month old make for wonderful, crazy times here too.
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What a coincidence! I just clicked over here from an old post on Food In Jars where she was talking about this book and how much she loves you! And I’m very curious about the cake!
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What a coincidence! I just clicked over to your site from an old post on Food In Jars where she talked about your book and how much she loved you! I’m eager to read more of your blog, and I’m very curious about the cake!
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I really enjoyed reading your blog for years. I borrowed the book from the local library. I accidentally dog-eared most pages. So heartwarming the manner you’ve written. It will be great to receive a signed copy…
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Congratulations!
I love reading you, it comforts me. What I love must is your honesty, feeling you are real.
Big hug from Barcelona.
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I hope you’re thoroughly enjoying your summer vacation!
Thanks so much for eight warm years in this delicious little corner of the internet.
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Congratulations! I very much enjoy your blog and recipes!
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Congratulations! Happy blogging too!
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8 yrs! congrats! I read your book last summer and loved it—would like to own a copy of it. It’s neat now when you mention people or places in your blog that were in the book and I feel like the people/places are familiar. 8 more years??? :0)
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5 years later and I’ve moved back to the US from germany… With a supply of weck jars thanks to you! I wrote you after your lovely strawberry jam blog about the jars and you told me where to get them. Thanks and congratulations!
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8 years! Love you, love your blog.
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My dear Luisa,
Thank you for your blog and your book. I missed you during your summer break. I checked out your book from the library after reading the first bits on Amazon. I loved it. Your story of growing up in several worlds struck a cord. I love Berlin, too. Studied in Germany and visited Berlin before the wall came down. I’m also enjoying your Berlin blog and am taking notes for a future visit. Would love to have my own copy of your book and try more of the recipes. Count me in!
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Congratulations on 8 years full to the brim!
Desperately want a copy! I’ve been waiting til it came out in paperback in order to take it on the plane with me as I fly to my own long-distance love.
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While planning to visit Berlin with my 80 year old mom I searched for books about contemporary Berlin. It was so difficult to find any that were not about WW2. What a thrill I had to discover your delicious work. I devoured it. And so did my mom. And then for dessert – Berlin on a platter! I live between NYC and Alaska so your story truly resonated with me. We visit Berlin next week. We are so excited we don’t have to just eat sausage. Thank you for your work!
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Congratulations! Your blog always makes me want to visit Berlin.
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Congrats on your 8th anniversary; that is quite an accomplishment! I love your blog & know that I will love the copy of your book that I win. 😉
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I found your blog through a friend that recommended it to me. I had to take the book back to the library before I got a chance to copy down the recipes, so I’d love to win my own copy.
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I love reading your blog and following along with all your adventures. I read your book last Easter in a copy I got out from the library, but I’d love to have one of my own to have the recipes handy!
You definitely make me want to go to Berlin – I’ve never been! Maybe my husband can get his next sabbatical there…hmmm.
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Congratulations on the great milestone!
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Congratulations! And many THANKS for all you inspiration! I would totally LOVE a copy of your paperback book 🙂
All the best for the next 8 years!
Alles Liebe und Gute, Anja
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