Truly an international effort between family, friends, and supporters, this book is dedicated to those who contributed to making this project a reality. I would like to thank the following people for their enthusiasm, dedication, and continuous support: Damion Lord, Nora Meiners, James Turner, Richard Murphy, Mr. “Baby” West, Barbara Lee and Charlie, Jimmy Walker, William Grant, Bruno Caesar, Alex (Abdul) Kettles, and Stuart Patterson.
Our publisher, Will Kiester, editors Amanda Waddell and Michele Wilson, creative director Rosalind Wanke, and art director Sylvia McArdle, as well as our photographers Jack Richmond and Eric Michael, and food stylist Catrine Kelty. This project would not have been possible if not for your continual patience, hard work, and creativity.
Marc L. Cooper, Jennifer Vickery, and our photo guy Eric Pearson, thank you.
The official taste-testing team in our Boston-based igloo: Lindsay Tomlinson, Lauren Correia, Becca Carey, Amy Suguitan, Paige Clark, Cady Vishniac, Julie Walz, and Michelle Kanehe; as well as the official Black Label taste-testing team, Ashley Bear, Emily Shannon, and Lady Dominique Skye.
I would additionally like to thank Max, for bringing me to Paris, and her grandmother Estee, for teaching me the ropes. Estee, you are a superstar! I continue to follow your words of wisdom every day, pushing the boundaries of taste and flavor.
To all my European people, who supported me when I didn’t have a shop, or fancy packaging, or a marketing plan. From the streets of Paris to the nightclubs of Ibiza, we rocked with nothing but talent.
Finally, we couldn’t have looked so good for so many years without the skills of two incredible designers in London, who have always created animal-friendly fashions for us: Ozwald Boateng and John Lobb. Please help us keep looking smart and sexy.