Meeting Annabel - what an experience!

Like a giggly teenager, Annabel signed both my books!

What an amazing experience!  Fancy only 6 months after starting this blog I would get the chance of meeting the woman who wrote the book, and to think Julie never got a chance to meet Julia!
Rachael, Bron, Anita, Pauline, John and I ventured into Dymocks in the city for Annabel's Melbourne launch of "Free Range in the City", yet another magnificent cookbook full of beautiful recipes that are easy to follow and taste delicious.  We were so impressed with her beautiful down to earth manner, we felt so comfortable in her company and listening to her life story was incredible.  What an amazing journey she has had through her life from possum trapper to celebrity cook! 

Annabel seemed truly grateful for her life, she thanked us from the bottom of her heart for loving her recipes and for simply enjoying food.  I loved hearing Annabel say that food can be so much more than just what to eat to satisfy your hunger.  She told us the story of her daughter, calling Annabel while she was traveling with her book launch and letting her Mum know that a sad thing had happened back home in new Zealand.  A friend of her daughter's Dad had passed away and Annabel's daughter's first thought was to  make a lasagna to take around to the family.  That hit a real cord with me and all of those who were there that night at the book launch.  I think we all feel that food is a good way to show the people you love comfort and support as well as to share in times of celebration.  This was truly an amazing night and I can't thank Rach enough for getting it all organised for us to go, I feel so lucky to have met Annabel but even luckier that I got to share the experience with my besties!

I think the most incredible thing to come out of this experience was hearing about Annabel's connection with Julia Childs.  The movie "Julie and Julia" is what insiped this blog.  Annabel told us how she wrote to Julia Childs looking for some advice on what she should do with her life, having had a catering business and writing for a local food magazine Annabel was looking for someone to tell her what direction she should take on her food journey.  Julia wrote back to Annabel and told her to join the American Association of Cooking Schools.  Taking the advice on board Annabel sold up her catering business and moved to America where she met amazing people who really taught her to cook.  So after hearing this encounter with Julia Childs, we felt that we had come full circle - how amazing and how lucky we were to hear her tell her story in the flesh! 

So after hearing Annabel talk about her life and us sitting there mesmerised and in awe, we had the chance to sit with her, chat personally and get our books signed.  She was so lovely and was really interested in this blog.  She said she would have a look at it, which may have once scared me to death, but now, having met her and realising how down to earth she is, I would be nothing less than honored for her to read my blog! 

In my book Annabel wrote: " Catherine, This is the blog copy! Yay! Happy cooking and have fun in the kitchen.  Annabel Langbein"

In my new book she wrote: "Dear Catherine, so thrilled you are loving cooking - so lucky to have such a fabulous fan!  Keep up that blog!  I'm looking forward to reading it!  Annabel Langbein"