Happy Blogday

A year ago today, I took my heart in my hands and wrote the first post of this little blog of mine. While the idea of you going back and reading my first posts kind of makes me wants to stick small pins in my eye, it's pretty thrilling to still be here one year and 177 posts later.

Not only have I stumbled upon a little universe for myself where I've found countless other kindred spirits, discovered more new blogs and writers and cooks than I thought possible, and become penpals with some of my newspaper food world idols, but I've made some true friends for life, too. Pretty amazing when a year ago, I was hoping that my father wouldn't be the ONLY one reading every day (but thanks, Pops!).

So, with a virtual glass raised, here's to taking risks and jumping out into the big ship of Doing What You Want To. How will I be celebrating today? Well, I'm hoping you might help me with that. I have a small circle of loyal commenters, but I know that there are so many more readers out there and I'm dying to know a little bit about you. So, while it may not be National Delurking Day, I urge you to leave a comment: tell me about yourselves, where you live, what you do, how long you've been reading, what you like to cook, or even just say hi.

Hi!

I won't bite, I promise. Thanks for reading, everyone.

Lots of love, Luisa

Comments

[Melissa]

Happy Blog Birthday, Luisa! Congratulations on your first year, and here's to many more! Your blog is a true gem.

And 177 posts?? You go girl. I haven't even hit 100 yet!

[gemma]

congrats on making it a year. Thanks for the recipes, the great ideas and for giving me some fun reading to look forward to almost every day :)

[Molly]

Look at you, you lovely thing! You look just radiant! Happy Blogday indeed.

I'm so happy to have met you and gotten to know you over the past year, in person and on this site. Yours is one of my favorite corners of the Internet, and one that I look forward to visiting every day. I raise my glass, chere Luisa, to another year!

xo

[deb]

I only found your site a few months ago, but wish I had sooner, as ever since I was a teenager I have actually looked forward to Wednesdays in the name of all of the refreshed food sections. I find sheer brilliance in your building a site around giving some of these recipes a spin (and warning me about many I have clipped). Happy blogiversary!

[sam]

what a coincidence - you share your blogday with The Weekly Dish which is confusing me, since I always get you two muddled up because of the posting on a Wednesday thing and the blog name beginning with a W thing.

I am one of the lucky ones to have met you, Luisa, and I sincerely hope that our first meeting won't be our last.

Clink Clink to another year and many more after that. A bientot...

[tokyoastrogirl]

Happy blog birthday to you. I live in Los Angeles, work in the entertainment business (surprise surprise) and have been reading your blog for over six months. Some of my favorite things to make include beouf bourguignon (makes the house smell delicious!), chopped salads, mushrooms sauteed with wine and garlic, biscotti and pear frangipane tart.

I love the honestly of your blog, and your writing style is very relaxing. Thanks for the wonderful prose and recipes!

[Pam]

Hi and Happy Blog-day! I've been visiting for a few months now, but have adhered to the philosophy of not "speaking" if I have nothing of extreme importance to share. I'm new to the blogospere,so I hope this wasn't a breech of blog etiquite. I've always loved food literature- Ruhlman, Reichl,Bourdain,Steingarten,etc., and your blog appeals to me in the same way-great writing,great recipes!

[ilva]

Happy blog birthday Luisa! I always enjoy reading your posts and I will continue that as long you cook. I hope. I just wish we could have met when you were in Italy...

[Petra]

Hi Luisa.
Wow. Congrats. So nice to read your thoughts and be reminded that the days do go by and if not now - when! I have been toying with the idea of starting a blog now for well almost a year.... i just need to start ! Thanks for sharing. Have a wonderful day and here are to the next 177 posts!
Best, Petra
ps.
made the balsamic halibut the other day and it was fabulous.

[Jessica]

Luisa,

What a treat to get a glimpse of the girl behind the blog! I faithfully read your blog - it's one of my favorites, and one of the handful that inspired me to start my own.

It's a great idea to ask everyone to leave a comment today ... I'll bet it's nice to make the blogging world a little more transparent, and meet some of your loyal fans!

Congratulations on your wonderful blog - it's a pleasure to know you through it.

[VeuveClicquot]

Happy Blog Birthday!!

I love your blog - your honesty about the recipes, and the photos, which are always drool-worthy. Thank you for sharing a part of your life with us. :)

[Pim]

Happy blog birthday Luisa.

[Emily]

Just started reading this site a little bit ago--mostly because it was fun to see recipes I had read actually tested. And then I realized I loved your writing and your photos, and you inspired me to start my own small site. I hope some day people look forward to my silly little posts as much as I look forward to your gems.

[beth]

hey,luisa! good to see your smiling face! congrats on the 1 year mark. i have enjoyed your blog and maybe someday i will learn to cook!
hope to see you soon.

[L]

Dear Luisa,
This is the first time I've ever posted on a blog -- I just want you to know how much I enjoy yours. I love that you write about the frustrations of cooking -- it makes your successes all the more sweet and true.

And me: I live in Arlington, I've been reading for maybe 4 months, and last night for dinner I made polenta and ratatouille, on top of which we sprinkled kalamata olives and parmesan.

Keep up the great work! L

[Rebecca]

Happy blog birthday, Luisa! It was such an honor to meet you on Monday; you have been a real inspiration to me, both with your writing and your cooking. Many is the time I have said to myself when I have felt too tired or lazy to cook, "If Wednesday finds the time to cook a real meal, you can do it, too!" You seem like such a beautiful person, inside and out, and I wish you much success in your second year, whatever you decide to do with your blog.

[Lydia]

Hi, Luisa! Wow, you look so tanned and relaxed in the above photo -- I'm jealous. I don't recall how I stumbled across your blog, but I've been a faithful reader for about six months now. Similar to you, I frequently clip recipes from the NY Times and other newspapers (Washington Post has a small but decent food section), but I hardly ever have time to actually make the food. Your appreciation for good food and honest appraisal of the recipes nudges me back into the kitchen. I recently made the crab cakes you mentioned and the Belgian chocolate brownies. Sooo good! Thanks for the recommendations, the cooking, and the spirited writing.

[Zarah Maria]

Happy blogday Luisa! A fantastic photo on a fantastic blog - keep up the fantastic work, 'cause you know we love it! (and I think that was about all of the "fantastic"s I'm allowed to use for one day - but they were so appropriate here!:-))

[Maureen]

Congratulations Luisa! I want you to know that the recipe you posted for Le Pain Quotidien's Belgian Brownies has become a favorite in my circle. Within 5 min of taking them out of the oven they are gone - even the crumbs are non-existent. I look forward to more such winners. Thanks

[Julie]

The Wednesday Chef is one of my favorite reads, and usually one of my first reads of the day. I love your writing and I'm impressed at the frequency with which you post. You seem very disciplined.

Happy blog day to you and your wonderful blog. I'm looking forward to the next year of posts.

[Cathy]

Happy Blogday Luisa! I enjoyed the chance to meet you this past spring and continue to enjoy your blog. Keep up the great work!

[Beverly]

Happy blog birthday. I started reading your blog about three months ago. In Boston, love food, always look forward to your posts.

[Susan L.]

Luisa,

It was eleven months ago that Richard told us about your blog as we were taking a walk around the Wellesley pond. A number of family favorites later (Blueberry Bannock Scones, Porc au Cidre, Belgian Brownies), you've become a part of our dinner conversation.

Your blog has been so much fun for us. Thanks for all the delights.

Susan, Neil, and Ellie

[liz]

Happy Blogday. I have enjoyed your comments and recipes so much since I discovered you a few months ago. Keep on sharing your recipes and your wonderful photos. Thank you. You are a treasure.

Liz

[Leland]

You are the among the best, Wednesday, and I hope you'll continue! Yours is the only weblog of any sort of which I happily read every word.

What a beautiful picture! What a beautiful girl!

[Andrea]

Happy Blogday Luisa!

What a beautiful photo! And, congratulations on a year of wonderful posts! I have been visiting your blog regularly for several months now, and comment occasionally.

I live in LA and ever since high school have been reading the Times' Food section as a Wednesday ritual. I love visiting your site to hear about your experiences with various dishes, and have discovered several delicious recipes through you as well! My most recent favorite is Russ Parsons's Peach Gelato: cool, delicious bites of summertime!

Keep up the great work; you are making a wonderful mark in the food blogosphere.

[marjorie]

Love the idea of your blog and you do such a great job. I always thought it would be fun to do a new recipe from the Wed. NY Times every week but that's never going to happen! Thanks for making it easy to be an armchair cook. Congrats.
Marjorie in Tribeca

[Rose]

Happy Blog Birthday, Luisa!

I have been reading your blog for only a short time; I found it through Tingle Alley, one of my favorite book blogs. My husband does most of the cooking at my house, but I am interested in food, cooking, and food writing. I like your writing very much; you have a nice, light touch-- neither too dry and technical, nor too goopy and overheated. I like that you write about the recipes that don't work so well, as well as those that do.

Thanks for writing! I will continue to read.

[Bri]

Hi! I'm from Australia, I can't remember how I found your blog but was immediately drawn in by your writing style and in particular the Garlic Soup with Mussels recipe - I still intend to make that sometime!

[Julie]

Happy Blogday, dear Luisa. Long may your pen and your spatula and wooden spoon all wave, much to the ever-deepening enjoyment of your readers and fans...

[Sui Mai]

Hi!

Love your blog and style!

Congrats on your blogday!

SuiMai

[Jessika]

I live in Sweden and came wandering by one day via a site that listed your blog in September last year. I recently turned 30 and have been crazed about cooking since I got my own kitchen. I like to cook anything basically and I am an incessant bookworm.

[Richard]

A very happy blogday - congratulations on making it this far!

(my first visit)

[for Joke!]

I can't even remember how I found your blog... but I adore cooking, and I love your site. I wish I remembered a camera while I cook, I'd post some recipes as well... but you are much more diligent and organized about trying out famous recipes... I love that about your blog!

It'd be awesome if you could make archives in the form of "dinner" "dessert" "vegetarian" "Fish" etc.

I am going to try that veggie rice soon!

Thanks for writing!

Oh, I live in Amsterdam by the way.

[Kaffeebohne]

Concrats for one year in the bloger's world. I don't know exactly how I found your blog but it was very fast in my favorite link list.
I started my own german blog in October 2005 and I think I read your blog since then.
I live in Germany at the edge of the Rhein-Main-Area (Frankfurt is nearly 25 km from her). I'm a 'stay at home mom' with a 5 year-old son and a 4 month-old daughter. During the week I try to cook fast and healthy dishes and during the weekend I test new receipe. I'm a 'nearly' vegetarin and I bake my bread myself.

[eg]

Happy Blogday!

I have only been visiting for a couple of months but I did enjoy reading through all of the archives. I think I got here through Toast.

I have made the chewy Pecan things. They didn't quite work out like yours did but they did taste very, very good.

I live in Bethesda. I work with computery stuff. I mostly cook easy stuff -- I enjoy eating more than cooking, usually.

Thank you!
eg

[ann]

Happy Blog Bday Luisa!!
Congrats, and wishes for many years and fabulous dishes to come!

[gail]

Congrats on such a beautiful creation. Count me in as one of those who enjoy the eye candy along with the vicarious closeness of your shared experiences and meals. My glass and fork are raised, my head bowed. Gail

[Kathryn]

Happy Blog Birthday!

I live in Pittsburgh and have been reading your blog for a few weeks after finding you through Rebecca of eat.com.

I think right now my favorite things to cook are things from my garden and other fresh simple veggies and meats. Of course, I also have a very soft spot for sweets.

Thanks for sharing your blog with us all.

[SBitterolf]

Luisa, you're a good friend, but frankly, I wouldn't read your blog if it wasn't any good. It's good - actually, it's better than that! I wish you all best on your blog-b-day, and Jenny and I will surely raise a glass of fine wine to you tonight.

From NYC with love, Stephen

[Elizabeth]

Luisa,
A hearty congratulations on your first Blogday. One toast for what has been a wonderful year of tasting and posting, another for all the more to come. And, personally, a thank you. Your post on Romesco Potatoes introduced me to Suzanne Goin's book, and in doing so made me a fan both of her work, and yours.

[lobstersquad]

Happy blogday!
It´s great that you´ve been there for a year. Your blog is a big favourite, and I hope you´ll go on for many more posts.
Felicidades.

[jenjen]

I am only fairly new to your blog. It's wonderful, im looking forward to many more posts!

Greeting from Sydney, Aus!

[Christina]

Happy Blogday! I love the idea of your blog and the sheer pleasure you take in food exploration. Thanks for sharing the best of both coasts with everyone.

Christina

[bittermelon]

Hi Luisa, Love your blog, both the idea and execution. I came across it through David Lebovitz's blog (and I see your comments there on occasion as well) while I was on maternity leave last year. I work mainly in NYC with several food publications doing recipe developing, testing, and food styling so your take on recipes that are in print are very interesting to me. Love your honesty and voice. Looking forward to more.

[Ali]

Happy Belated Blogday! Your posts and pictures have been a pleasure to peruse! I hope to read many more in the coming year! Cheers!

[yulinka]

Congrats, Luisa. Your blog has one of the best 'themes' and food writing around--never gushy or mushy, always practical, honest and funny.

[andy]

Hey Luisa - congrats and what a beautiful photo of you! I've been checking out Wednesday Chef pretty often at work for a bit now and its one of my favorite reads up here in Portland. I used to live in LA and miss the great food down there as well as Gold's writings at the LA Weekly. Cheers!

[MyDigitalis]

Hi! I do love to cook, but a lot of times it seems like I'd rather read about food and cooking than actually doing it! I've been reading your site this past year mainly because I love the food section in newspapers and I like that you try a recipe and then give the straight story. Like that green pea pasta sauce from GDL! hahaha I totally read that and when it got to my state's paper I remembered how gross it was and laughed and laughed...

[Donna]

Delurking to say that my husband and I have eaten very well many times thanks to your recommendations - I should probably have a whole caegory of recipe bookmarks just for you! Thanks for your insightful commentary and great cooking - I look forward to many more tasty posts!