After years writing and editing "real life" articles and books set in and around the food and restaurant realm, Ruth Reichl recently wrote her first work of fiction, The Paris Novel. The book follows young protagonist Stella as she discovers life's pleasures, and gets to know herself, in the most romantic city on Earth. In this Special Conversation, Ruth discusses the book's genesis, its examination of sensuality, and why writing it allowed her to enjoy the writing process as never before.

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Thanks also to S.Pellegrino. The application process is now open for the S.Pellegrino Young Chef Academy Competition 2024-2025!

* This was a remote interview. Photo of Andrew & Ruth taken in 2018 at Porter House Bar and Grill by Evan Sung.

THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW:

Andrew is a writer by trade. If you'd like to support him, there's no better way than by purchasing his most recent book, The Dish: The Lives and Labor Behind One Plate of Food (October 2023), about all the key people (in the restaurant, on farms, in delivery trucks, etc.) whose stories and work come together in a single restaurant dish.

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Please also follow Andrew's real-time journal of the travel, research, writing, and production of/for his next book The Opening (working title), which will track four restaurants in different parts of the U.S. from inception to launch.

For Andrew's writing, dining, and personal adventures, follow along at his personal feed.

Thank you for listening—please don't hesitate to reach out with any feedback and/or suggestions!