Meet Suzanne
Ciao a Tutti,
During my long culinary career, I had always wanted to write a cookbook, but my life as a single mother kept me too busy to do it. Finally with my son off to college, I decided to move to Italy to write a book and to fulfill my teenage dream of immersing myself in a foreign language and culture.
So a couple of years ago, I shipped twelve boxes of personal items to Italy, rented out my house in the Napa Valley, and moved to Umbria to do research for my book. (Note: Umbria is bordered by Tuscany on the west. The Marche region and the snow-capped Apennines form the eastern boundary, and Lazio surrounds Umbria in the southern region.)
Before moving to Italy for a year, I had previously spent six months in Umbria–during which time I fell in love with the region. I adored my adopted Umbrian family, and I was especially fond of Mario (my Umbrian “son”) who had patiently tutored me in Italian during my first five-month stay. When I returned to stay for a year, I was welcomed by Mario, his partner Michela, and his family like a lost parente (relative). During those twelve months of living as part this old Umbrian family, I cooked with the family and dozens of other people.
My car and upstairs apartment in Umbertide.
While I lived in Umbertide, I was immersed in the daily lives of my adopted family. I gained insight into the cuisine, customs, and lifestyle that few outsiders are privileged to have. I attended birthday, holiday, and graduation celebrations. I was one of the first to visit Michela in the hospital, just hours after she gave birth to a baby boy. I went into forests inhabited by wild boars and poisonous viper snakes to gather truffles and wild asparagus. I harvested grapes to make vinsanto wine. With a family who lived up the hill from me, I picked olives and watched them being pressed. So many adventures—and they’re all in my book.
In my blog, you’ll meet Mario and his family along with many of my Umbrian friends. These are the folks who populate the anecdotes in my book, The Dog Who Ate the Truffle: A Memoir of Stories and Recipes From Umbria.
By the way, St. Martin’s Press, under Thomas Dunne Books, plans to release my book August 17, 2010. If you’d like to be kept in the loop about my book, join my email list—go to “Sign-up” on my blog.
Experience
Food has been my love since childhood—I developed my first recipe, apple pie filling, at age ten while my mother was at work. I went on to study food, cooking, and nutrition at university. Since I graduated, I have been teaching cooking and nutrition; developing recipes, styling food for photos, and shooting food for major food companies; and writing for major newspapers, including the San Francisco Chronicle and The Oakland Tribune. I have written for Cooking Light, Wine Enthusiast, and Sunset. I have also worked in advertising-public relations agencies and been a PR director for Beringer Blass Wine Estates’ Italian portfolio—Castello di Gabbiano, Campanile, and Travaglini. My client list has included major food companies and commodity boards, such as Del Monte Food, Nestlé, and The Dairy Council of California. I have returned to the Culinary Institute of America, Greystone (one of the best-regarded chef training programs in the country) as a part-time demo chef after a two year absence.
I am passionate about eating and buying organic, local food—which is one of the reasons I have spent the last six years on the board of the St. Helena Farmers’ Market.
I hope you will stay in touch with me as I blog about food, wine, and travel.
Cin cin, Suzanne
Hi Suzanne,
This is so great! I’m eager to”stay in touch” with you on your blog.
xoxo,
Cristine
Wonderful stories. Excellent writing. I can’t wait to hear more!
Hi Suzanne, I want to be among the first to comment on your new blog. LOVE it! Can’t wait for your book to be on the shelves!
Hi Suzanne,
Great blog. Love the recipe with color photos of all the steps. Beautiful.
Ciao Suzanne sono Alessia,ricordo di averti conosciuta circa 7-8 anni fa ad una serata gastronomica.E’ passato tanto tempo ma ho ancora un bel ricordo di quella serata e di te.Arrivasti con Rita Boini,e siccome conduceva la serata insieme a mio padre,ci lasciarono sedute a tavola insieme.Mi ricordo di te con un quaderno di appunti che scrivevi in continuazione perchè stavi lavorando ad un libro e io che cercavo di spiegarti un po’alcune tradizioni umbre.Ti scrivo perchè giorni fa ho letto sul Corriere dell’Umbria,il nostro quotidiano locale,dell’uscita del tuo ultimo libro,percio’ mi faceva piacere mandarti un saluto e ringraziarti per aver diffuso nel tuo paese le nostre ricette e la nosta cultura!Tanti cari saluti da Alessia e in bocca al lupo per il tuo libro!
Ciao Alessia, saro’ molto contenta quando ho ricevuto il tuo email! Ricordo di te e la serata molto bene. Ho scritto una storia di questa cena nel libro. Mi e’ piacuito la serata molto. In fatti, quando ho scritto la storia, ho pensato a te. Chi ha scritto l’articolo sul giornale? Rita Boini?
Provo di scrivere qualcosa ogni settamana sul questo sito. Quando hai tempo, fa una visita sul sito. Mi fa molto piacere sei scrivi una ricetta dalla tua famiglia sul sito! Oppure mi spedice un email con qualche ricetta e cucino a casa e metto le ricette nel sito. suzanne2umbria@yahoo.com
Dear Suzanne, I’m from Argentina and I would love to have a copy of your best seller!!! Where could I buy it?? Are you going to send it to other countries??
Saludos desde Salta, Argentina!!!
Caro Natalia! When you come to visit, I’ll give you one! I miss you. Mum
Congratulations to you Suzanne……your long and diligent work is coming to fruition, my good friend Marianne Bihan sent me your blog and article about your book, looking forward to good reading and good cooking,
Wishing you all the best,
Nancy Bronstein
Ciao Nancy, thanks for writing. I am glad that Marianne sent you my email. I hope you have subscribed so you can see what I am doing here in Umbria. Grazie. Ciao, Suzanne
Congratulations Suzanne, this is wonderful. I am looking forward to your August book signing in Sonoma. I leave in September for my first visit to Italy. Your stories are making even more excited. Grazie, Rosemary
Ciao Rosemary, thanks so much for writing! I look forward to seeing you in Sonoma. I think the date of that signing may change because of a conflict with another event. Please check back in a week or so. Buon viaggio! By the way, I’d love to hear about your trip–what you discover etc. A presto, Suzanne
I envy your pursuit of your dream. I am looking forward to following your culinary adventures.
It was good to see you in August. Thank you for takig time out of your busy life to attend our reunion
Take care,
Linda
Ciao Linda, thanks for your comments. It was good to see you last August too. Enjoy the rest of the summer! Suzanne