What began as our little pandemic project together – to share what we were cooking, baking and eating with a wider audience than just our family group chat – has been so gratifying on so many levels. We loved hearing from friends and family near and far about how much they enjoyed a particular recipe or what they make that is similar. We enjoyed documenting our culinary successes and expressing how much a recipe or meal means to us. But it has also been a lot of work – a labor of love to be sure – but something that we took on knowing that we were not going to keep at it indefinitely. We have decided that the end of the year is a good stopping point for our blog. The pandemic is not over, but there is a clear path forward and we are hopeful that life will increasingly return to normal in the coming months.
Katya: I have particularly enjoyed being able to showcase Noah’s prowess in the kitchen. I admire the way he learns not just a recipe but the technique and culinary philosophy behind it. I am so proud of him for the smart and accomplished person he is, but there is a special kind of pride that comes from seeing your adult child take something you tried to teach and model when he was young and totally make it his own. Our shared love of food is a bond we have that will see us through many culinary adventures in the years to come, and I now have a long list of things I want him to make for me the next time we are together. Kitchen Kinship ended up being a really apt name for this blog because there is a kinship we all feel when we appreciate good food. But when that kinship also applies to your relationship with each other, and not just to your relationship with the dishes you are making and enjoying, that takes it to a whole other level. It has been a really special ride.
Noah: I also never imagined that this little pandemic project would last this long (add to the list of things I didn’t expect about this year), but I’m so glad we got to do this together. I think this blog will be so interesting to revisit in the future, both as a log of all the great food we made and a chronicle of this weird year. I think we’ve both done a lot of new exciting things in the kitchen, partially because I needed things for this blog, but also because finding new recipes or techniques was a proven way to distract myself from the craziness of this year. Not that this year was all bad – I got married, bought a house, and adopted a second dog. But even as I continue to hit these milestones and get closer to starting a family of my own, it’s important to remember the things that connect me with my parents and the things we share. I’m so glad I got to do this project with my mom, and share our love of cooking with so many other people.
We plan to continue our culinary adventures and we look forward to the day when we can cook together, side by side, in one of our kitchens. We will continue to gush about how well something turned out and laugh about a kitchen fail, but with a smaller audience. What will remain constant is our love of making good food, learning about it, and, best of all, eating it. And our love for each other, which has been a nice thing to express during this challenging time when we have been unable to be together. We wish all of you kitchen kinship as well, in whatever form that takes in your own lives. Thanks for sharing this adventure with us.
It’s been enjoyable! Continued happy kitchens to you both.
I have tears in my eyes reading your blog today. What a beautiful and fun adventure you have both been on this year-together yet many miles apart. I find it so amazing that a mom and son did this together. I loved hearing about all of the milestones in your life this past year, Noah. And I loved reading about both of your culinary adventures (and of course I feel lucky that I got to taste/eat many of these featured foods!!) Katya-I know you know what a hard year Marc has had and I thank YOU for making it so much better-he was the lucky recipient of so many first responder appreciation meals and I was also the lucky recipient of so many as well! You are such an incredibly special and dear friend and extraordinary person. I feel so lucky to have you and all of the Lieber-Lezins in my life! xoxoxo
Thanks for your so, so, so, so (inside joke!) kind words!
HAPPY NEW YEAR to all of your FAMILY and FRIENDS who have been so lucky to benefit from your Kitchen Kinship( I love alliterative wording!:})Well done Katya & Noah-you have both been blessed with this special connection!
All good things must come to an end. We’ve looked forward to each and every blog. You’ve led us on a wild and diverse culinary journey. You will be missed.
I enjoyed all your posts and have many of your recipes stored in my archives. Thanks so much for sharing your love of cooking and family with us!
Happy New Year to you, too! I have enjoyed reading about all of your different dishes and trying a couple here and there. I have them in a file on my computer so I can return to them whenever I want.
It was a wonderful way for you both to communicate and work together on the love you both have of good food. You have opened my eyes to some new things as well as oldies. Thank you for your time and effort in this endeavor!!
I am very proud to be your mother and grandmother.
It does my heart good seeing how close you are and how you share your interest in food. You are a special family and we are proud to be a part of it. Bebe and Baba
I have enjoyed your wonderful emails
Sorry they are ending
Happy and healthy new year to y’all