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”
Dear Luisa,
I like you and your blog because you are warm and honest and funny. I could identify with you when you were cooking out of your apartment in NY, felt exhilarated when you got engaged, then sad and confused when things did not work out. You kept us guessing a bit but you landed on your feet and we, I, was happy to see you all sorted out and in a really happy place. I remember thinking to myself when you showed a photo of your baby bump, wait a minute, is she…preggers!?!?? :))
Such is blogging these days, such is a good blog, that you get perfect strangers across the world cheering you on.
So keep up the good work, and most of all, keep real !
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Congratulations on eight years of blogging! Hopefully, there’ll be many more, because I enjoy your posts a lot 🙂
I love your comparisons for living with a toddler – and I’m sure it’ll get easier, or at least the challenges will be different soon.
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Both my German mother and my Danish father have passed away in the last few years.
Very lonely without them. Reading your book this past winter soothed my heart and brought Europe into my home in a very sweet,tangible way. I prepared all the meals, and with the wonderful photographs that you posted, I created a little respite for myself. Thank you so much. Blessings and congratulations to all three of you.
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Congratulations! I’ve been reading your blog for a few years now, but rarely comment. Thanks for all the great recipes and stories you’ve shared!
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Luisa, So glad you get something of out doing this, because we benefit enormously! Blessings for the next season and I hope you continue to feel like you can take a break whenever you want. What a beautiful book!
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Congratulations! And before you know it Hugo will be eight, too. 🙂
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I think that I might like the cover of the paperback even more than the hardcover!
Hurray for eight years! These things warrant serious celebrating, which means I’m happy to wait for that cake recipe.
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Congratulations Luisa. I’ve enjoyed keeping up with the adventures and the clippings and the heart ache and the joy. Thanks for sharing it all with us. I’ve especially enjoyed reading about Hugo. He’s a smidgen younger then my grand daughter. Enjoy a beautiful fall and keep on writing. Looking forward to more books, posts and recipes.
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Congrats on 8 years Luisa!
Look forward to another 8.
Jenny (former JFK-er)
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Glückwunsch on 8 years!!! I’ve loved following here for the past few years. [And would love to put a copy of your book in my kitchen…]
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Thank you for this opportunity, you book is so personal to me for someone who was born in Germany many year ago and ended living in NY and now Nebraska. I love visiting Germany and having a delicious piece of cake. Your book is a book you need to recommended to your friends. I love reading your blog.
Gisela
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Congratulations! For 8 years! For book writing/publishing/surviving! For living with a crazy person/surviving living with a crazy person! I call my 16 mo my little dictator, but gosh do I love him. 🙂
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Your baby boy and my baby girl are the same age and it makes me smile to read your posts and hear your little complaints because you sound just like me 🙂 But I like to read your posts not only as mom but as a passionate cook and a food blogger, as well. Congrats for your eight fruitful years of cooking and blogging! Keep up the good work! I hope I’ll find time to read your cookbook in a year or so 😉
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p.s. I am trying to overcome the problem of not having time to cook anything but my girl’s food with finding new healthy and tasty recipes which all of us can it..And it works!
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Many warm congratulations! I have so enjoyed getting to know you over the last few years, only sad that I had not heard about you sooner. Alles liebe zu den nächsten 8 Jahre!
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I am reading your book right at this very moment… I comforts me while I should be sleeping.
Thank you. Love from Holland
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I am on my way to Berlin, for a trip inspired by your book! Thank you for sharing your stories, photographs, and delicious food with us.
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Congratulations on the paperback edition! – I’ve enjoyed your book (borrowed from the library) and your blog – two of my favourite posts were “Berlin Spring”, and “Leap, and the Net Will Appear”, both wonderfu and movingl examples of truly good writing. Many, many thanks for sharing your recipes, and your thoughts.
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I’ve been reading the blog for almost a year now, and I just got your book from the library. Congratulations on the eight years and the paperback edition! I’m looking forward to many more blog posts and your next book.
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Happy anniversary! I have enjoyed reading along.
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Congratulations!!! And to many more years of bloging.
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Congrats! I have been following your blog since I’ve returned to Berlin (for the third time, and likely for good now) and its always thoughtful and well-written. All the best to your success!
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Congratulations! I’ve loved reading your blog over the past 4 years since I found it. I’m long overdue to read your book – looking forward to it!
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Congratulations on completing 8 years of blogging and the new paperback book (which I hope to get my hands on)
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Congratulations on 8 years of blogging! We’re out of toddler-dom, with my youngest now nearly 5, but I sometimes miss all that chubbiness. Wish I could tell you it gets easier, but truth is that it gets easier in some ways and harder in others. Thank you for sharing great recipes and stories!
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Dear Luisa,
Congratulations on 8 years, getting married, having a baby, blogging with a baby, and still being here to write to us! Thank you for your beautiful photos, stories, and gentle humor. I love your honesty and multicultural take on everything!
Much love to you and your family from Canada.
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I have been following your blog for as long as I can remember – 2006?
I should get a copy of that book because (1) it is not available where I live and amazon makes it impractical and (2) it is so inexpensive to post it from Berlin (I know, I have a friend who lives in Treptow). Or maybe you can just post it to Treptow, no?
Welcome back, Luisa.
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I began reading your blog shortly after you began, and can’t tell you how much I’ve enjoyed your journey and your recipes. You have inspired me.
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I have come recently to your blog and I am hooked. As a busy graduate student trying to eliminate processed foods, your recipes have been fantastic inspiration. As an American who formerly lived abroad, the vignettes into your life in Berlin make me nostalgic. I look forward to the next eight years of following.
Thank you and happy anniversary.
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My mom has alzheimer’s so I know what it is like to live with a crazy person, but I made this fabulous casserole and she liked it. Life is good.
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Congrats! I love your blog. And the real talk about being a mama as I can totally relate.
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Congratulations! I love your blog -the food, the travel, and now the added bonus of reliving toddlerhood by reading about life with Hugo! Thanks for writing, and keep it up, please!
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Ooh, I hope I’m not too late! I was out of town this weekend & didn’t get to look at my regulars online. I do love your blog, and your honesty about toddlers! Mine are now past that stage & in school, but I still remember those days well. It’s amazing how our culinary adventures change! Yet, you still manage to bring magic to us online. Thank you for a beautiful blog! Congrats on your anniversary!
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I also have a sneaking suspicion (in the best of ways!!) that your time away this summer has meant the planting (if not spurting!!) of a new literary crop…will always look forward to your work.
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