My First Popsicle

August 15, 2022
In this nourishing collection, Girls star and Glamour columnist Mamet gathers food stories and recipes from an A-list cast of actors, comedians, musicians, and other celebrities. Contributions range from sweet childhood memories, such as Girls costar Andrew Rannells’s nostalgic Jell-O cake tradition and Patti Lupone’s love for the seafood she grew up eating on Long Island, to tart self-deprecating humor, including David Sedaris in true form, expounding on the humble hot dog. Other selections trend earnest, with several reflecting on recovery from eating disorders, which Mamet has struggled with herself; Fleabag star Sian Clifford’s take on intuitive eating is a standout. Each is accompanied by a recipe, such as for Rosie Perez’s tia’s pollo guisado (Perez defends store-bought Sazón seasoning) or the “Poor Man’s Cake” that Patti Smith’s mother made when the family ran out of eggs. A professed “potluck of words,” the tone and depth of the essays vary, though they are all generously served up, even when acerbic. “Isn’t that when food tastes best,” Mamet asks, “when it’s made with love?” There’s a cozy vibe, like a church supper cookbook (with famous congregants). It’s nifty to glimpse stars of the stage and screen through their menus in this delectable project. Agent: Mel Flashman, Janklow & Nesbit Assoc.

January 1, 2023

Actress Mamet offers a collection of essays about the power of food to connect, nourish, and comfort, as well as the countless emotions that food engenders--joy, grief, love, loneliness, helplessness, stress, and more. This book was inspired by a video of a friend's son experiencing a popsicle for the first time. The child's amazement and bliss drove home the point that, more than anything else, food connects with our emotions and memories. The 50 essays in this collection were contributed by Mamet's friends and colleagues--artists, actors, chefs, and comics. A full cast, including the authors, narrates the stories with vivacity and wit. Some author-narrated tales, such as Richard Shepard's remembrances of his visit to the renowned sushi restaurant Sukiyabashi Jiro, are simply exquisite in their honesty and relatability. Others, such as David Sedaris's essay about his diet of hot dogs and sugar-free Jell-O, are disappointing--not because of the story, which is fantastic, but because listeners miss out on hearing it read in Sedaris's iconic voice. Occasionally, listeners may be confused when stories by different authors are performed by a single narrator and with identical characterizations for each. VERDICT This somewhat uneven but scrumptious essay collection will please foodies and non-foodies alike.--Sarah Hashimoto

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