The Foodstak Legacy Files

 This interview with a food-writing expert was conducted by  Rachel Ciordas . She writes  Next Level Gluten Free  newsletter and works to make gluten free living more delicious every day. You can see more of her work and subscribe at Next Level Gluten Free Image copyright Clay Williams Hello friends, Today, our expert is  Clay Williams , a fantastic award-winning photographer with tips and advice we can all use. Throughout our conversation, I noticed that Clay really lit up when we talked about his incredible community building work. He’s such an inspiration. I know you’ll really enjoy this interview! Rachel  Rachel:  Can you tell us a little bit about yourself? Who are you, and what do you do? Clay:  I am Clay Williams. I am a photographer specializing in food, drink, and hospitality. I am based in Brooklyn, but have photographed all over for, among other folks, the James Beard Foundation, the New York Times, The Washi...

Chapter 1 - Current downsizing and renovation. Q - Hello Alison. Please tell us about yourself, where you live and your substack publication. Alison at Lake Valhalla in Washington State. A - I am a writer, traveler, and avid home cook and cookbook collector , currently living in Seattle, Washington. I write  Slice of Midlife , musings (with a foodie focus) about this unique stage of life, generously defined. Q - Can you please describe the layout of your kitchen and how it fits in with family life Alison’s Original Kitchen A - Our house is 115 years old  and, though charming, the spaces are not ideal for modern family life. But our kitchen has a butler's pantry, where I've kept my extensive cookbook collection and small appliances, like my Kitchen Aid stand mixer, our Zojorushi rice cooker, and a heavy-duty mortar and pestle. I like to think of it as the creative center of the room. We've lived in the house for almost 30 years and kept its original footprint, cabinets, and ...

Q: Hello Stephanie. Can you please tell us a little about yourself, where you live and your Substack publication? Image credit Stephanie Hansen A: My name is Stephanie Hansen.  My brand is  StephaniesDish . I live in Minneapolis, Minnesota, which, due to recent election events, has people very focused on our city. I started in advertising and marketing, selling ads at newspapers and radio stations, and had my own printing and direct mail company for 10 years. Concurrently, I have been a broadcaster in the Twin Cities for over 20 years  at My Talk 107.1, a women's talk station that hosts my radio show,  "WeeklyDish".  I have been on television talking about food for 7 years, and 2 years ago I launched  "Taste Buds with Stephanie,"  an Emmy Award-winning show about food produced by Fox. I published a cookbook with the Minnesota Historical Press called  "True North Cabin Cookbook,"  which chronicled my summer cabin on an island in Ely, Minnesota...

Q: Hello Nicki. Can you please tell us a little about yourself, where you live and your substack publication? Image by Nicki Sizemore A: Hi there! I live in a small town in the Hudson Valley of New York.  Our house is nestled up in the woods, which I love, but we’re also about an hour and a half train ride from New York City, which is nice (although I go to the city less and less these days). I’ve been in the food industry for over twenty years, starting when I went to culinary school in my early twenties. I’ve worked in many different capacities (recipe developer, culinary instructor, food stylist, video producer, blogger) and have written three cookbooks, but I feel like I’ve found my soul’s calling with my Mind, Body, Spirit, FOOD  newsletter  and  podcast . In the newsletter and podcast (and in a forthcoming cookbook, coming out in January 2026),  I explore how we can find more presence, ease and freedom as cooks and eaters . We all need to eat to live, but ...