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I met Yasmin Fahr when I had just started thinking about my second book, Plenty. It wasn’t even a book then, just an idea, a total swirl of ideas. I knew the book was going to include amazing food women, and I didn’t know a whole lot else.
My friend and former Fairway coworker Ian told me, “Do you know Yasmin? If you’re writing about amazing food women, you must know Yasmin.”
I didn’t know Yasmin (yet), but it turns out he was right that I certainly should know her. We met for coffee in the West Village. I brought my notebook and took a flurry of notes, not sure how or if I would use them. I still have the notes on my bookshelf.
Instead, a friendship blossomed. We are both freelance food writers, and although we have a different focus and different projects, we bonded over the rollercoaster of freelance life, the passion for food and travel, and the excitement about writing more, seeing more, experiencing more.
We had pizza at Eataly and ice cream on the Upper West Side and walks in Central Park (I remember sharing the news, perched on one of those giant rocks, that I was pregnant with Simone). We both moved to new apartments. We got new gigs and lost gigs. I cheered Yasmin on as she published her first cookbook.
These days, Yasmin is a big deal. She writes beloved recipes for NYT Cooking like her sheet pan feta that went viral and a skillet mushrooms, onions, and chicken dish that has become one of my family’s favorite weeknight meals. She’s working on her third (!!) cookbook, which I had the pleasure of testing a few recipes for. They were simple but unexpected, soul-satisfying and deeply tasty, easy but thoughtful – trademarks of Yasmin’s food. Like her food, her vibe is warm, unpretentious, brilliant, and generous.
I’m hosting more classes, and when I thought about who to invite to teach with me, I thought instantly of Yasmin. She’s going to join me for a recipe writing intensive, where we’ll both share wisdom, tips and tricks.
xo,
H
PS We have a few scholarship spots - email me to snag one.
PPS Speaking of classes, there are a few spaces left in my second pitching class with Hannah Selinger. It’s going to be good, promise.
PPPS Here is Yasmin in front of a lemon tree, which captures her zingy, fresh spirit -and food. Photo credit Matt Russell.