Beginnings: an introduction -- The old world: my earliest memories and my father's family -- The new world: New York City and my mother's family -- My childhood years: from Providence to Larchmont -- Back to Rhode Island -- Broadening horizons: from summer camp to summer abroad -- University years -- My junior year in Paris -- Graduation, a taste of New York, and graduate school -- New York, New York: stepping into the real world -- Jerusalem: learning about living and the meaning of a meal -- A short sojourn in Africa -- Planting the seeds for a writing career -- Love, marriage, and a new beginning -- Learning to be a food writer -- A move to Washington: big changes, my first baby, and The Jewish Holiday Kitchen -- My kitchen is my laboratory -- A gastronomical awakening in Washington -- A mentor for the two of us -- Our life in Washington and on the road as a food writer -- Motherhood and raising children -- My holiday is Passover -- Leo Lerman and Gourmet magazine -- Moroccan food: a long love affair -- My work writing for The New York Times -- A trip to the Soviet Union -- A legendary editor -- PBS's Jewish Cooking in America with Joan Nathan -- Meeting some of the greats in the food world -- On the speaking circuit -- Food culture USA: the Smithsonian recognizes American food -- The power of food and generous chefs -- Journeys with Joan -- My last travels with Allan -- Summers on Martha's Vineyard -- Mourning, the pandemic, and coming back to life.