Last night, some of you may have seen my post on Facebook about Changes. Its a new season–school has started, so yes, summer is over, stop arguing–and I’m excited to start new things!
Five years ago, I started this blog to share not only my own health journey but also to grab a tiny internet soapbox to talk about food, health and innovation. I wanted, first of all, to advocate for vegetables. DELICIOUS ways to eat vegetables. Because its good for you, good for the environment and just plain good.
I was frustrated at the internet–most of the healthy food sites, I couldn’t relate to. They all smelled like patchouli.
Not that I have anything against patchouli. But while I love the bounty that Mother Earth gives us, I also love things that are not quite as righteous. Like TMZ, for instance.
I wanted healthy food that has life, fire, flavor. Aggressive, not timid. OK, to put it simply not “healthy tasting” but just plain tasty…and healthy. You know what I’m talking about. So, The Brazen Kitchen was born.
Then in 2012, Pittsburgh Magazine called. They asked me to write a weekly blog about healthy food. I looked around. Me? The one who thinks AP style means “afterparty style”? I don’t even turn on autocorrect on my phone. But my then-editor, Sean Conboy was up for the challenge. So, The Brazen Kitchen on Pittsburgh Magazine was born.
It was the perfect time. I wanted to take time off from full time work to spend more time with a newborn (my last one, so I was determined to spoil him rotten). But I also knew that a SAHM life would drive me to the brink, primarily because I would probably spend too much time reading TMZ. What better way to save myself than to “pursue my passion” (sorry I just sprayed patchouli on you!)
These past five years have been absolutely fabulous. Maybe I can write–I got a national award yay! So I started writing more–beyond Pittsburgh Magazine. Then I started speaking about food and health–and getting more involved in food activism (one of the highlights so far was serving as a trustee on Awesome Food with Dan Barber!)
Then I started writing for NEXTpittsburgh–and started to meet people working on things, starting things, people who were taking action. And then I knew it was time for change and time to give attention to things I have keeping on the backburner.
412 Food Rescue is the first of these new things. My friend Gisele and I founded 412 Food Rescue one day last winter and this year, we have been so inspired by how many of you have raised your hands to support it. With your help, we look forward to growing 412 Food Rescue’s impact–not only in our region but nationally.
And more new things are afoot (stay tuned!)
But time is finite and with these changes, it is bittersweet that I have to let go of the BK on Pittsburgh Magazine. It has been a great three years and I want to thank the team – Julie Talerico and Sean Conboy (my first editors), Cindi Lash, Kristina Martin and Sean Collier- for a wonderful ride.
I will continue to write–weekly on NEXTpittsburgh and here and there from time to time ;) –expanding my work to the things that I’m passionate about (there’s another patchouli word!): food, health, innovation, technology and social enterprise. As Kat Kinsman said in response to #WhyIWrite: “It’s the best way I know to advocate for people who need to be heard.”
And so as tribute to my weekly column on Pittsburgh Magazine, I re-share my Top 10 favorite posts of all time. Picking these, I realize I love videos (I love how homegrown they were!). Mental note: must make more. Also, none of them are listicles (even tho this post is kind of a listicle, ugh. Can’t get away from it!)
Why General Sisters is a General Store Like No Other
This little store in North Braddock is the little store that could. Reading this post and reading my first posts, I can see what a difference (in focus) three years make.
What Trevett Hooper Eats At Home
AKA Chefs are people too. :) Seriously, I shot this with my iPhone and I love this slice of life (kids are so cute!)
Why you should fund Kevin Sousa’s Superior Motors
Superior Motors is audacious and has heart. I wrote about Superior Motors two days before the its Kickstarter was about to end. Over the the weekend, it made Kickstarter history. Humbled that Kevin Sousa credits this post with making a difference on that final weekend.
Technically not on the BK column but I have to include this as one of the most fun, memorable, posts. The drama, the blindfolds, the whole SHOW. Memorable. Amazing. I mean, looking back at all my posts, hats off to Kevin Sousa for giving me so much great material to work with!
From Laptop to Stovetop: 5 things I learned about surviving a restaurant kitchen
Notes from my first No Menu Monday at Bar Marco. What a fun evening.
Because bartending is an extreme sport. A tongue-in-cheek video on the GoPro craze.
The House Special: Baron Batch, Studio AM and Angry Man Salsa
I met Baron when we both spoke at TEDx. I love watching his evolution. Studio AM is part of that. This is one of the best House Special videos produced and it was made by Baron’s creative team.
Fearless Female Farmers: Maggie Robertson
Back then, I started a series called Fearless Female Farmers. The videos were decidedly amateur but all heart. I wanted to tell the story of the amazing female farmers we have. Maggie was my first subject–she is a mom, a farmer, an advocate for women. Inspiring. I wanted to film Tara Rockacy and Margaret Schlass and a few more but…life happened. :) Scroll down for Maggie’s video–what an amazing woman.
This video with Meredith Grelli, when Wigle first started.
Meredith is one of the most animated people I know–and again, one of the women who inspire me! (scroll down for the video–my first one :)
Finally: My first post
Sean wanted my Manifesto up–to this day it holds true.
And of course, The Recipes.
From Stoned Soup to Weed Dip to Fake Bakes and The 50 Shades of Grey Menu — all of them. Many of them, you will find here too. Recipes are the root of The Brazen Kitchen. It’s all about cooking and going back to the kitchen!
Here’s to a new season, new beginnings and all good things!
LOVE.
filed under the Ramblings category