Hello hello!
(aka: welcome new subscribers!)
September 16th, 2022
I normally don’t send my newsletter until nearly the end of the month, but over the past couple of weeks, there have been loads of new subscribers (thanks!) so I wanted to pop in and say “Hi!” and give you a sense of what the eat. live. travel. write. newsletter is all about (and who I am!). Also, ages ago, this newsletter came out mid-month, and I’ve been wanting to get it back on track, so this seemed like a good time! So instead of a “full serve” newsletter, here’s a taster portion (the newsletter, minified1 if you like!) and a little explanation of what this is all about!
who is Mardi (aka: the voice of the eat. live. travel. write. newsletter)?
I’m Mardi, an Australian-by-birth Canadian who has also lived in France. I live in Toronto, Canada and am a full-time French language teacher at the elementary school level.
writer
I’m also a cookbook author and food writer - I have been writing my blog, eatlivetravelwrite.com since May 2009 (!) and I’ve also contributed to countless websites and publications over the years (JamieOliver.com, Food Network Canada and Taste of France, to name just a few) and worked with brands like KitchenAid Canada and Le Creuset.
holiday home operator
We also have a house in Nérac in southwest France (about 1 hour south of Bordeaux and nearly exactly halfway between Bordeaux and Toulouse) that we operate as a vacation rental property.
teacher
(a beautiful “café gourmand” plate by one of my students)
In my spare time, I also teach cookery classes (for my own students but also for the public) - both in-person in Toronto and online (so you can join anywhere in the world).
Check out my upcoming in-person classes in Toronto! French baking, wine-pairing and more!
Check out my upcoming online classes with Context Travel. Loads of French favourites and some holiday cookie-making classes!
how often does this newsletter come out?
Free subscribers receive a once-a-month missive (with VERY occasionally another edition if something exceptional is going on). Paid subscribers (did you know that for less than the price of ONE cup of coffee per month, you can become a paid subscriber?) receive a couple more emails each month, including at least one bonus recipe! Click the button to review your subscription now!
So, it’s not a ton of extra mail in your inbox each month if that’s what you were wondering. You can also access the newsletter on the Substack app or website anytime.
what is this newsletter all about?
Well, settle in for a little story…
When I first started my blog, its tagline was “A blog about all sorts of things” because I couldn’t decide on a focus (hence the name - eat. live. travel. write). And, you know, a logo to go with it (with liquorice allsorts, of course!).
Ok, so I changed the tagline but not the allsorts…
Then I left academia and changed the tagline again…
A couple of years ago, I brightened up the blog and refreshed the header (all illustrations from the fabulous Lisa of Paper Garden Workshop).
I also commissioned the banner for this newsletter so it’s all pretty and matchy-matchy!
so what are the sorts of things you’ll read about here?
links I’m loving
While I still do write a little bit about “all sorts of things” on the blog, I’ve honed in on the “eat” part over the years (social media, especially Instagram, is where I tend to share more varied info). So in this newsletter, I write about lots of the “other stuff” I love to write about. Here’s a teaser… Typically here, I share loads of links but for this “taster” version, here are just a handful!
eat
The man who cycled 870 miles for a croissant via CNN Travel. I mean, that’s taking things a little far, non (literally!)?
live
Brave mew world: Lim Heng Swee’s cat landscapes – in pictures via The Guardian. Because who doesn’t need “digital artworks of cats camouflaged as landscapes” in their lives, right? ;)
travel
Become a temporary regular while on vacation via Eater. Do you ever wonder what it would be like to live in a place you travel to? Do you find and frequent a “local” (café/ bar/ restaurant) when you travel?
write
On the writing process (by me!) - some catch up posts for those of you who are new around here!
Writing a cookbook - a timeline, Part 1
Writing a cookbook - a timeline, Part 2
A little bit about self-publishing
what I’m reading, watching and cooking…
Each month I’ll share books and film recommendations as well as recipes you might have missed on my site.
Like these…
I LOVED Accidentally Engaged by local author Farah Heron. A fun, fast, laugh-out-loud read (and a food-centric storyline!)
Eiffel was NOT the Hallmark movie the poster suggests it might be. It was so fascinating watching the logistics of building that structure so long ago.
You might be needing after-school snack ideas right about now. How about these Petit Écolier-type cookies?
thank you!
Thank you so much for supporting my little creative corner of the Internet!
Thanks for reading, stay safe xo
Mardi
If you read my blog, you will know that I LOVE to “minify” recipes (there are only two of us in the house so we don’t *need* a cake that serves 16 etc.). “Minification” (and math and my kitchen scale) are my friends!