noshing with nostrat

if you happened to be dining at nostrana in portland last night, you were at the same venue as famed samin nostrat, author of cookbook (and the popular netflix series) "salt, fat, acid, heat". 

later in the evening she was speaking and signing her book illustrated by wendy macnaughton.  after an hour of both thoughtful and hilarious Q & A with her interviewer on stage, samin greeted us in the book line.

i bought several and took my place.  not wanting to appear overly star-stuck, i said the only thing i could think of when it was finally my turn, "your laugh would make the coolest ringtone" which, in turn, produced the effervescence of her joy echoing from the walls.

her book has helped me to become more confident in the kitchen, stepping away from the recipes, tasting more frequently as i cook, and thinking more about the process the food is going through.  it has also helped me at the winery tasting room, where i can discuss food and wine pairings more creatively based on guest's flavor profiles. 

samin has a huge heart.  her experiences in restaurants, notably chez panisse, have influenced her path and connections in the food world.  what came through in addition to the warmth and nourishment of food was her compassion for the underpaid food producers around the world.  she is truly using her fame and power to feed souls in sustainable ways.

we were all happy to hear that she has a new show and book coming out.  meanwhile, i'm just happy to try her buttermilk chicken.