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Lukas Volger's avatar

This interview is SUCH a delight -- I absolutely love this book, too.

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Jenna Helwig's avatar

I loved your interview with Rawaan too! I actually had a link to it in this piece, but I had to cut SO dramatically to make everything fit in Substack's email template. Apparently I am too long-winded even for the Internet.

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Lucy Williams's avatar

I taught myself to cook from Nigel Slater’s books. I love his unique style of writing too - it’s interesting to read your perspective of his work.

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Jenna Helwig's avatar

His books are lovely. They always make me want to head into the kitchen too.

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Sarah Copeland's avatar

Wonderful interview!! I love the ding ding ding moment (also: love Lucinda!). Can't wait to get my hands on Hot Date.

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Jenna Helwig's avatar

It’s totally worth having—such a special book!

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Lisa Goldstein's avatar

Hot Date is everything that Rawaan said she set out for it to be. Every time I open it, I read something new, or an illustration takes me in, or a recipe piques my "I've got to make this" sense.

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Jenna Helwig's avatar

Agreed Lisa! It feels like a book one could dip into over and over and still discover something new.

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Kerry Faber's avatar

Hot Date! looks incredible, and I'm obsessed with dates. Two of my favorite cookbook experiences are Hot Sour Salty Sweet and Ruth Reichl's My Kitchen Year. I equally love reading and cooking from them both.

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Jenna Helwig's avatar

Thanks for these recommendations! I am familiar with both books, but haven't spent real time with them. Happy to have more to add to my list.

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Laura Fenton's avatar

Love the video flip-through of the book! I would say that David Tanis's books are among the most experiential cookbooks on my shelf, and I love the idea as a way to evaluate any illustrated book--not just cookbooks.

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Jenna Helwig's avatar

Agree on all! A Platter of Figs was one of the first books I bought when I was really getting into food and cooking, and it was totally transporting. (Also, I am as obsessed with figs as I am with dates.)

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