Acknowledgments

LIKE MOST OF MY BOOKS, A Grandfather’s Lessons originated in our daily life. I’ve been cooking in the kitchen with my granddaughter, Shorey, since she was about six years old, showing her how to make chocolate truffles—since she, like most children, loves chocolate—and answering questions she asked about cooking, life, and school. We always have fun being together, cooking together, spending time together.

So we continued going to the garden, to the beach, picking wild leeks and mushrooms, collecting eggs directly from the chickens, and going to the market. She enjoyed all things associated with cooking and had a great time, as I did. Eventually, when she appeared on one of my shows, I realized that, like her mother (but unlike her grandmother!), she was very comfortable on television.

One thing led to another, and I finally said, “Why don’t we write a book showing the relationship between a grandfather and a granddaughter and how it can be enhanced and made better by spending time together in the kitchen? Why not film some 8- to 10-minute shows together that demonstrate simple recipes and the fun of cooking together?” At some point, Shorey started drawing in her book of menus at home and in mine. She loves to paint and draw, and this became part of her tradition. Of course, just like any book, A Grandfather’s Lessons needed a lot of coordinating and a lot of help to accomplish.

I want to thank my wife, Gloria, for putting up with us in the kitchen; Claudine for helping advise Shorey and directing her; and my son-in-law, Rollie, to whom I have dedicated this book in appreciation for his enthusiasm for the project and his love, ideas, and help in the kitchen when we taped or took pictures for this book and the videos.

I thank Norma Galehouse, my assistant of more than thirty years, for helping me put yet another book together and for her good-natured help.

I certainly want to thank Tom Hopkins a great deal for his friendship and photographic sensibility and for shooting hundreds and hundreds of pictures of Shorey and me cooking or just having fun together. I’m also grateful for his good ideas for the project and for working on the filming of the video segments to go with some of the recipes. I want to thank Rich Kosenski, who assisted Tom during the photo sessions.

Thank you to Sur La Table for sponsoring the video lessons, which express more than just the recipes themselves and help demonstrate the relationship between Shorey and me. Thanks, too, to Pete and Chris, for their video expertise.

I thank Rux Martin, my editor, for her confidence in and help with the project. Thanks, too, to Doe Coover, my agent, who, as always, was very involved and had great ideas for the production of the book as well as the videos.

More than anyone else, of course, I thank my coworker, my granddaughter, Shorey, for her love, her kindness, and for working with me so well. Shorey likes to draw, as I do, and she helped me with the illustrations for the book and the choice of drawings. She made me look terrific! I love her, and this book will cement our love even more.

Finally, my gratitude to everyone involved in the production of this book or the television segments. I’m grateful for your help and your dedication.

“The best meal I’ve ever had happens almost every day. A homemade meal with fresh, organic ingredients shared by family and friends.”

—Shorey