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I know I should have baked a cake, or rather, someone else should have baked a cake. But no matter. (Okay, so it matters a little…) I’m happy to celebrate the blog turning twenty this month!

I’m not sure how the twenty-year mark snuck up so fast, but it did. Who knew when I started posting a bunch of random thoughts, ramblings, and recipes online in October of 1999, that I’d be doing it this long. But here I am.

Back then, few people knew what a blog was, not even me. My first book had just come out, Room for Dessert, and I thought I’d use the internet to connect to bakers and cooks, so readers could reach out to me with baking queries and questions. Which at times, I think belongs in the “Be careful what you wish for” file ;)

At the time, I had forums and a “Recipe of the Month” feature. Other cookbook authors told to me that I was not making the best use of my time. Perhaps coming from San Francisco helped me become an early-adopter as we like to try new things and believe in the possibilities. And in France, the idea of sharing information digitally was viewed with apprehension. But I liked the interaction and kept going.

Five years later, perhaps around 2004, I learned there were others doing the same; Chocolate & Zucchini, Orangette, Noodlepie, Cooking with Amy, 101 Cookbooks, Simply Recipes, Chez Pim, Cooking for Engineers, Deep End Dining, Gastropoda, Beck’s and Posh, and The Amateur Gourmet, were some of the others that were blogging about food. We networked and added link lists to our blog sidebars, which were usually composed of the same six or seven food blogs, passing along new ones as we learned about them. Some credit me as being the first food blogger, which is a murky statement; I later learned David Leite had started his blog, Leite’s Culinaria the same year as I did, and perhaps there were others that started closer to when I did, too.

A few events brought attention to food blogs. One was when CNN picked up a story about Adam Roberts’ Janet Jackson Breast Cupcakes, which aligned with the coining of the phrase “wardrobe malfunction.” Another was when a New York Times food writer pondered whether food bloggers were just a bunch of people posting photos of grilled cheese sandwiches, which sparked food bloggers to band together to post pictures of – yup – grilled cheese sandwiches.

In spite of the less-elevated status of bloggers (to some), the upside of food blogging was that no matter where you were, you could get a taste of Germany, Vietnam, New York, Rome, and even Paris, via people sharing what they were eating where they lived. I loved that aspect of it and it was a blast seeing what people were cooking and baking, unfiltered, in places like Korea, India, Mexico, and Germany.

I plugged along with my site, getting a comment once in a while, as I added more recipes to the blog, as well as a goofy haiku about Italian espresso candies and tales about les jeunes hommes fawning over my midsection when buying blue jeans in Paris. I made some observations about my new home (a few that in retrospect, could easily be written off as rants of a newly-planted expat – which raised some, um, discussions…) Honestly, though, some things perplexed me…

I also met Romain, who became an important part of my life, as well as the subject of my stories. For those of you who’ve read L’appart, you know why he’s the hero of the book, and my life. I have a fantasy of writing a cookbook about him cooking because he’s such a character…in a good way, of course. But as is often the case, he doesn’t quite understand what motivates me. (In his defense, neither do I.)

When I moved to Paris, I thought the food and travel magazines back in the States would be interested in me sharing some of the small, and up-and-coming chocolatiers and bakeries I was finding in Paris. But most wanted stories about the already well-known places. But I (and other locals), had discovered little gems like Patrick Roger, Jean-Charles Rochoux, and Blé Sucré. After a major food magazine asked me to send them a list of new places I wanted to feature in an article I’d proposed, I eventually heard back that they were passing along my list to their Paris correspondent.

Hrrmph! So I decided to feature les bonnes adresses myself, including those in Paris as well as when I traveled.

I’ll be the first to admit, my photos back then weren’t perfect, like the ones below, taken at Pierre Hermé – with belated apologies to Chef Hermé for not doing justice to his beautiful pastries. No wonder places in Paris aren’t wild about people taking pictures in their shops. (If they are reading this, I’m happy to come back and do a reshoot. Get in touch.)

Probably the turning point for the blog was when I visited the KitchenAid factory in Ohio. This was wa-a-a-y before brands wooed bloggers (and eventually, influencers), and they hadn’t let anyone in their factory before to take pictures. It was a great visit and I loved watching my favorite mixers were made, and sharing it with others.

(On a related note, who knew that one day there would be awards given to people who are considered the best influencers?)

I was also the first person they let into Garrett’s popcorn in Chicago, who told me they had turned down Oprah’s request to bring cameras inside. But not everyone was pleased to be featured on the blog. A woman in a coffee shop screamed at me after I took this shot:

Even though I had asked the other woman, the one preparing the coffee, if I could take her picture, which she said was fine, the other one wasn’t having it and gave me an earful for taking a photo without asking. That was one of the many times I struggled to get pictures to share. If you’ve even been scolded for taking a picture in Paris, you know what that’s like. (Yes, always ask first, even if it’s just something as seemingly benign as a bunch of carrots sitting on a table. For some reason, those carrots must be protected.)

In 2008, the blog was given a major overhaul by Jesse Gardner of Plasticmind. The site was originally designed by Ben McCullough, whose mother was a cookbook editor, and it was a great fit. He’d installed Movable Type on the site, which was a new platform (and concept) at the time, which allowed me to update things on my own, but required me to code everything in html code. So writing a blog post looked like this:

I know…right?

So when people wrote, “You forgot a comma in the third sentence. Don’t you know anything about grammar?” It took a lot to write a post. In fact, most of it could be called coding, rather than writing. And looking at that screenshot now, I’m probably the first food writer to use “incontinence” in a story introducing a chocolate cake. That was probably the real scandal, not the missed comma.

Having to write in code meant that it took about ten keystrokes just to write an “é” in italics. Fortunately, I wasn’t writing about science, as words like hémidécérébellé would have given me carpal tunnel even faster than my wrists (and brain) were already giving out.

Jesse lighted up the design of the site, stripped out all the complicated code, and installed WordPress, which meant I no longer had to code everything and it was much easier to write a post. The blog design was tweaked and customized in 2015 by Cre8d, adding features and helping to keep the site on top of the avalanche of technology that is always changing, and challenging to me. I wanted to focus on baking cakes and cookies.

Sometimes, though, I had to handle more technology that this cake and cookie baker was prepared for. I almost abandoned the blog in 2011 when the site inexplicably went down continuously for several months. Readers were panicking because they couldn’t get my recipes (one reason to buy cookbooks, folks…they don’t go down) and I was panicking because I was trying to coordinate three tech companies I’d hired to fix the issue, which lived in different parts of the world, and didn’t walk to talk to each other.

Technicians were barking terms at me, like CDN, atom feeds, Apache configurations, S3 service, and PHP, which I had to relay between everyone, and fondly remembered how my life used to revolve around making ice cream and baking cakes. I never imagined I’d be spending time on the phone at 3am talking to service technicians in other time zones about things like sitemaps, access logs, Sucuri, proxy servers, IP addresses, and something called ModSecurity. (I like the snazzy name, though!) Anyways, that episode finally ended, which coincided exactly with the time that I lost two-thirds of my hair.

Another milestone on the blog was improving my photo skills. I started the blog with a little point-and-shoot camera that had a tiny lens half the size of a postage stamp. I thought the pictures it took were pretty amazing:

But a decade later, I bit the bullet and bought a DSLR which required me to do everyone’s least favorite activity: Read the instruction booklet. After many trials and errors, and thanks to some professional photographer friends who taught me about things like aperture sizes and RAW images, the photos on the blog got better, and I began to update pictures on older posts, and new posts featured images that I think were a little more appetizing.

Having nicer props helped, too, courtesy of years of scouring French flea markets.

What else has changed since I started? The biggest has been social media. In the past, most people used RSS readers to read blogs, putting our favorites in there so they’d all be organized and ready for us, automatically updated when a new blog entry was published. For some reason, RSS readers fell out of favor, and people either wanted to get blog posts emailed to them, or hoped to catch the update on social media. That meant that bloggers (like me) had to post notifications on Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook, Flickr, Pinterest, and the late, not-so-great Google+, whenever we updated our blogs. We were (and still are) also at the whims of algorithms, which curate what you see and what you don’t see. So it’s not necessarily the best way to find out when new blog posts are published. (FYI: You can subscribe to get blog posts as I publish them, sent to your inbox here.)

Food blogging eventually morphed into blogs that now have staff members (sometimes in their own offices) to create posts and recipes. Here, it’s still me in my kitchen. Some are getting into it with the goal of making money, and to do so, they craft and create recipes specifically for search engines, loading keywords into posts, and writing sentences and phrases that make recipes and text Alexa-friendly. If you’ve ever read a recipe online that has several paragraphs of robotic information ahead of it, that’s why.

The upside to all of that is that food blogging has removed barriers, and created spaces for interesting voices that previously wouldn’t have been heard. The food world expanded with limitless possibilities; a world of multicultural cuisines opened up with fresh voices and new recipes that people are sharing, connecting cooks and bakers around the world in ways that weren’t possible before.


As for me, I’m happy to still be doing what I do here, and I don’t think I’m going anywhere. I’m still trying to cope with all those pesky typos (or gremlins, as Maida Heatter called them) by reviewing blog posts over and over, and over and over, until I think I caught them all, like the one below, which was reviewed 70 times:

Some readers have insisted I work with an editor, which I tried, but it added a few more layers to creating a post and I want to preserve the casual, immediate nature of blogging, rather being laborious, so I decided a missed comma or a “2 teaspoon” (rather than “2 teaspoons”) measurement was just going to happen on occasion. So appreciate those of you who’ve been able to cope with an errant comma or misplaced apostrophe, and stuck around.

When we were all just starting out, I was talking to Elise Bauer, who founded Simply Recipes, and I told her, “My blog isn’t a food blog.” She gave me a funny look, but this blog was never intended to just be about food or recipes, because we’re all more than that, and I find cultural differences fascinating. Readers seem to enjoy stories sprinkled through the blog about things I observe, like the Parisian penchant for sneakers, the importance of keys in the French capital (and the staggering price you pay if you get locked out), where (and where not to) faire pipi, the French umami bomb, the two hour goodbye, and the resistance (and value) of change.

You may have noticed that I’ve recently added a new voice to the site. Emily has been helping me out by doing things like formatting Pinterest images and answering emails. And because she’s such a good writer, I’ve asked her to write guest posts, so you can get more information about Paris and France. She also helped shake up – and taste – the cocktail and apéritif recipes for those chapters in my upcoming book, Drinking French. It’s been great having her around, and now that she’s a new mom, I’ve got a new baby (and an adorable one at that) in my life now, too.

It’s been especially great having you! Big thanks to all of you who read the blog, who have followed it over the years, or who just stop by from time-to-time to get a recipe or to pick up some tips for your trip to Paris. Many of you have left comments over the years, which I truly appreciate. I read all of them and am happy when people add to the conversation. I try to answer as many of your comments as I can because the interaction is a big part of what makes the blog special to me. And extra thanks to everyone who’s bought one or more of my books, and those who have also left a positive review online, which really helps with book sales. When I write a book, I devote my entire life to that project. The two years that it takes from start to finish, each one has been a labor of love. I’m always appreciative when someone gets a book and enjoys it as much as I did writing it.

Moving forward, I retired two projects; leading culinary tours and my Paris pastry app, because I only have the bandwidth for so many projects, and I want to narrow my focus on my books and this blog. And I’m also want to have more personal time as I work on that life/work balance thing. Still, I’ve been toying with launching a podcast and the rights to The Sweet Life in Paris and L’appart have been optioned for film or television projects. I keep thinking how great it would be to do more videos, especially cooking ones, and I’ve got some proposals floating around for other media projects, which may or may not come to fruition. It’s all a chance, like this blog was back in 1999, and I’m looking forward to seeing where everything goes.

 

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252 comments

    • Clary

    Congratulations on your 20th anniversary! I love reading your posts, and I really appreciate the recipes and your thoughts.
    The dedication to Romain in your last book should be among the list of greatest dedications in literature.
    What do you think about making an Apple Baklava?

      • David
      David Lebovitz

      Thanks! It’s hard to come up with something to say about someone who is special to you, so glad it came out the right way. I’ve made baklava-style pastries before (sweet and savory) but they’re not my area of expertise.

    • Linda

    Congratulations from Berlin!
    I love the blog and your book “The Perfect Scoop” was one of my better purchases. It really helped me crack the code to good homemade ice cream.

    Please, please do a podcast!!!

      • David
      David Lebovitz

      Glad the book was a help! The issue with podcasts, as with most things, is the technology. Those things always stump me, and take time away when I’d rather be cooking or baking, or in the case of a podcast, talking to people. Maybe there is a way to do it so I just get to do interviews and chat with people (and someone else can take care of everything else) so maybe that will come along.

        • Laura

        What a great blog! I’ve been with you since the beginning and have especially enjoyed your Paris recommendations. It’s my favourite city in the world and I hope one day to live there at least for a couple of years. Until then, I enjoy vicariously doing so through you and benefitting from your insights when we visit. Best wishes from Seychelles/Jordan/UK!

        • Rene

        My son is an experienced podcaster. I am sure I could talk him into coming to Paris to give you a hand!!

    • Rosemary

    Timely. The other day friends were talking about Dorothy Lane Market. I mentioned a cooking class I took with you at Dorothy Lane Cooking School after your first cookbook was published. They asked how long ago? I said maybe 15-20 years–seems like just yesterday, though.

      • David
      David Lebovitz

      Wow, that was quite a while ago! That was really my first introduction to the midwest and as I wrote in on subsequent book, people should be aware that there’s great food there, as I found out. Thanks for jogging my memory : )

    • Claire

    I first found your blog when doing research (2 years’ worth) prior to my first visit to Paris – a lifelong dream. I found it the most informative and interesting of all the blogs I found. Not only do you post mouthwatering recipes of a wide variety of foods from different cultures, but you gave me a sense of “real” Paris and not just places tourists should experience. For the last 7 years I’ve visited your lovely city and eaten in places I would never have found with this blog. You instilled in me a love of Paris off the beaten track and every year, from my rented apartment on Boulevard Richard Lenoir, I scour the flea markets, food markets, shops and places that you’ve written about that interested me. Bravo on twenty years!! Please keep it up! And love to Romain and his wonderful contributions as well as his saving your bacon during the rehab of your apartment! Can’t wait to see the movie.

      • David
      David Lebovitz

      Thanks Claire – One of the reasons I point out places in Paris are that I want people to have a good experience when they go there. Some are well-known, and others, not so much. But that’s what Paris is; a collection of places that are vastly different, from funky Portuguese chicken restaurants, to traditional bistros and cafés – and, of course, plenty of chocolate shops and bakeries. I especially enjoy sharing places that I think should get more coverage, like a new cider bar that I think is fantastic, so am glad folks (like you and others) can enjoy them, too.

      • Maggie

      Happy Anniversary! 20 years!! Wow!! Thanks for all of the great recipes and the stories that go with them. You are fantastic storyteller and writer.

        • Bonnie

        I’ve lived vicariously through your blog all these years (since 2003] David—buying your splendid books, and executing many of your recipes in your numerous books!
        The only regret I have is that I never took one of your chocolate tours:(
        Thanks for enriching so many of our lives David.
        Wishing you and Romain many more beautiful culinary adventures!

          • Jamila

          CCongratulations, David! I have followed you quietly for many years. You’re one of the gems out there because you have stayed true to yourself, a hard task today. May you continue to prosper in all that you do. Cheers!

    • Margaret

    Congratulations on 20 years of blogging!

    I remember meeting you a couple of times at Meg’s apartment (Too Many Chefs) when you and Clotilde were first blogging, and it’s incredible to me that over fifteen years have gone by since then. I’m impressed that you still post so frequently and always enjoy your writing, your voice, your insights and your stories, regardless of the odd typo. Thank you for all the time and energy that goes into your blog. It’s much appreciated by your many readers.

    • Sasha

    Congratulations on 20 years!! I love your blog and books and have been following along for a few years now. Truthfully, I don’t attempt many of the recipes, but I really enjoy your rambles and observations and reading through the recipes nontheless. Checking your blog and seeing a new post is like running into a friend I haven’t seen in a while, and always makes my day! I can’t wait to see what projects you embark on next and will be rooting for you from NY!

    • Cris S.

    This was a wonderful look back. Thank you for twenty years of writing and generosity with your thoughts and opinions. I’ve really enjoyed it and it is wonderful, when I am stuck at my desk, to be whisked away to Paris (or wherever you have traveled to) via your writing. Happy Anniversary!

    • Catherine Newlands

    Thank you for your blog and congratulations. I re-read your books all the time and enjoy them all over again. Please keep up the blog and writing books while trying to establish a well-balanced life. Catherine, from Vancouver, B.C.

      • Tati

      Thank you for creating and maintaining us with your fabulous blog!! Yes, we are more than just someone who cooks. The recipes are perfect and trustworthy. I look forward to each post. Cheers to you and Romain!

    • Jana in Philly

    You never know where life will take you. I follow only two blogs and not because they offer great tips on two subjects of great interest to me — though they do! — but because they offer great insights on life. Your hard work is much appreciated. Thank you.

      • Claudia

      Congratulations on 20 years. I’ve followed you for 10 years and have immensely enjoyed each and every post. Your efforts are much appreciated. Here’s to many more years.
      Thank you

    • Elizabeth

    Congratulations! Your blog is a favorite of mine, for so many reasons. I love your way of writing, it’s honest, natural, and your joy and love of exploration, cooking and food comes through in every post. Happy Anniversary!

    • Rebecca

    Congrats and don’t change a thing! Unless you want to. I commented on your “faire pipi” post, suggesting that toilettes can sometimes be found near pétanque areas. A few days later on instagram stories, you referred to me as “a reader” as you tested the idea out (successfully). It was 10 at night and the story was going to be gone in the morning. I was over the moon and had to share it with someone so it could be real. So I woke up my husband and made him watch it! The joys of social media helping people feel connected. Here’s to 20 more years–I’ll continue to read every post.

      • ERC

      Yours was one of the first I had read. Love the information, but love the voice even more. Your writing has made me laugh out loud more than once. Many happy returns!

      • Sandra H

      Congratulations and continued success in all you do! Yours was the first blog I ever followed because I kept hearing so many good things about you and it, and it was all true.

      • JT

      David, we love you. I’ve been reading regularly since 2006ish (I think.) You’ve added a lot of fun to my life. I genuinely appreciate it. Whatever you do in life who your new adventures, keep the blog going! We all need it.

      – Cali Joe in Brill, England

        • David
        David Lebovitz

        Hi Joe, Wow, you’ve been here almost as long as I have : )

        Thanks for sticking around!

    • Rachel

    Congrats on 20 years! I started following the blog about 10 years ago after reading the Sweet Life, which I loved. For me, the blog is a way to escape for a few minutes and relax. If I start to get stressed out at work, I’ll take a little break and read a funny blog post or search for an interesting recipe. I can close my eyes and pretend that I’m whipping up a batch of cookies in a cozy Parisian kitchen instead of staring spreadsheets on my computer. I just have to make sure that I don’t do too much cookie daydreaming before lunch, otherwise I get really hungry, lol. Anyway, thanks for all the time and hard work that you’ve put into this. Here’s to another 20!

    • KATHLEEN E MANN

    Dear David, my profound respects for your literary and gastronomic accomplishments! And the humor with which you do it all makes us, your readers, happy and faithful. Enjoy this anniversary, it is no small thing.

    • Nancy

    Gosh, I’ve probably been reading your blog from almost the beginning as I was a web designer back at the birth of the internet so all things new caught my eye, and I‘ve always loved to travel and cook. Auguri on your 20th anniversary! From Nancy in Umbria Italy now, formerly from Washington DC.

    • Margaret

    Congrats on 20 years! I discovered your blog from reading your first book The Sweet Life in Paris and have been a regular ever since. I also have the rest of your books as well. I love reading about French life and food on your blog and it’s helped me tremendously when I travel there. Somehow my first trip to Paris seemed more exciting and less daunting because of your writings. Every time I make your gougeres for a party they cause a big scene and everyone asks for the recipe :) Yes to more videos!! My fave is your dreamy market visit —I love to recreate those dishes. Thanks David, here’s to your continuing success!

      • Gerlinde @Sunnycovechef

      I always looking forward to reading your books and your blog. I used many of your recipes and I visited some of the places you recommend in Paris. Wishing you another 20 happy blogging years.

    • Jarrod

    Congratulations! My wife and I have all of your books, and your recipes have literally never let us down. I made chocolate chip cookies from the Book of Chocolate this afternoon to celebrate. We’ve also made good use of your many recommendations for food and chocolate in Paris. Here’s to many more successful years!

    • Michael Quear

    Thank you for the posts which made me smile, the recipes which made a tasty exclamation point to dinner parties and your faith in the internet.

    • Basak Yilmaz

    Not from beginning but I’m a devoted follower since the day I saw your picture in a show girl headpiece (you guys were visiting someone somewhere) I admire your storytelling, your home cooked meals, tips and not inly the knowledge you accumulated over years, you also pass along and share everything you can. We (a bunch of people from Turkey) also recognize and applaud your hard work, it’s a tremendous effort to do everything what you do, you are a true hard working guy bot only blog world but social media planets too
    Well love you, adore your French man, you’re great, we’ll be here as long as you stick around Congratulations

    • Katherine

    Happy Anniversary! I love your blogs and books, as well as your Instagram posts. Your voice shines through all of it, like a friend saying come on, it won’t be that hard- it’ll be fun!

    • Laurel

    Congrats from Sacramento! I think I’ve been following your site for 19 of the 20 years. During this time you’ve placed me in sunny bistros many times over. Strolls to the bakery, as well as the market. Your book on remodeling your apartment is terrific! All your books are great. I’ll be reading as long as your posting. Best wishes :)

    • Kathleen

    CONGRATULATIONS!!! All I can say is I love your books and your blog but especially your sense of humor, honesty and genuine love of food and people. It really comes across in your writing. Can’t wait to see what the next 20 years will bring.

    • Mickey

    Congrats! Feels like I’ve been reading you forever. I’ve done a market tour with you in Paris (still feel very cool about having met you ‘for real’), followed your leads all over New York ‘cause you recommended the best Porchetta and the Lower East Side Ice Cream Factory. And the one in China Town. I make icecream following your recipes, and even though I know it by heart I always read your recipe before making Apricot Jam (with a hint of kirsch, ofcourse). I get your new books when they come out. In short: part of my culinary life and inspiration and I love you for it. Merci, thank you!

    • Teresa Madeira

    Congratulations from Portugal! I follow your blog since 2000 and I love your writing and recipes. Your books are also amongst my favorites. I have baked the Gateau Therese dozens of times :) it’s THE chocolate cake that we bake for every occasion. Always a success:)
    Please keep your genuine writing, it’s a pleasure to reed! Thank you for so many good moments! Best wishes!

    • Maureen O’Reilly

    On to nombre 30! Your blog lightens my day-thank you

    • Jill

    May the next twenty years bring much joy!
    I miss the Paris pastry app. I knew I wasn’t going to get to Paris again soon, but I loved looking at the pictures! Maybe a pastry calendar so we can ogle all the goodies all year?

    • Myk

    Vingt ans? Amazing! I’ve been a loyal reader for about half that time and have enjoyed each and every post. Best wishes to you and Romain for many more healthy and happy years.

    • Davena

    Congrats!! You’re one of the few people writing about food and culture that I carve time out for to check in on every day. I enjoyed The Sweet Life in Paris and hope to read more soon. Please keep up the great work.

    • Terry

    Congratulations on 20 years of blogging. I so love your blog! I know I can always count on you for a well tested recipe and amusing anecdotes! Here’s to the next 20.

    • Elizabeth

    Congratulations on the 20th anniversary of your blog David. Quite a milestone. This post has been most interesting to read the progression from early days ‘til now. Correct grammar is important, but then, often what may be correct American grammar, spelling and language is incorrect in UK or Australian English. Regarding the teaspoon measurement tsp is how I get around that one on my shared recipe blog! I do enjoy reading your posts and recipes as when we go to France (going again in 2020) we do not go to Paris, but certainly enjoy a most glorious culinary, wine and cultural experience. To the next 20 years

      • David
      David Lebovitz

      Yup, the grammar differences are interesting, and yes, different! Periods inside or outside of parenthesis, “favorite” vs. “favourite,” etc. Working with Emily, who isn’t American, we have discussions about the grammatical differences and I don’t necessarily want the blog to be specific to one country, but have to decide on one set of grammar rules, so I go with the U.S. At some point, the world (well, America…) will have to decide if everyone should go metric which would be great, so I could write in one measurement system, but until then, I’ll continue to write in both.

    • Franko

    congratulations on your 20th anniversary! goodness, i’ve been reading you for quite awhile. also, for what it’s worth, i still have your pastry app installed on my phone. as long as it continues to work, it will be there, a small sliver of hope that one day i’ll get to Paris to try it out. : )

    • Bruce Taylor

    Happy anniversary, David!

    • Kalyn Denny

    Very fun! Every time I’ve read one of your posts I have enjoyed it.

    • Anna

    Congratulations on 20 years! Your blog is one of the ones I’ve read the longest, and I’m one of those readers who still uses feeds to read (but I usually visit the blog too and subscribe if it’s a favorite). I’m guilty of getting rid of a lot of my cookbooks (thanks Marie Kondo), but I have a few I want to add still. Keep writing and we’ll keep reading!

    • normadesmond

    Mazel tov darling!

    • Donna

    Congratulations! I love your books as well as the blog and I consider your recipes to be some of the most reliable available. Looking forward the the new book and whatever comes next!

    • Pam

    Congrats on 20 years, and so glad to hear that there’s more in the future…in print and film!! And I would have totally made you a cake if I was closer.

    • g

    Twenty years of excellence. I’m looking forward to the next twenty. Thank you!

    • CRAIG RUTENBERG

    Just many, many thanks for your consistently entertaining and helpful blog from another American who lived in Paris decades ago while working at L’Opéra, L’Opéra-Comique and IRCAM.

    Great days. Great music. Always great food. And you bring back many happy memories.

    Congratulations and thank you again.

    • Anne

    Thank you David. I’ve never commented, but your blog is the only food site I read consistently. I own 4 of your books and 90% of the desserts I make are yours. Love the commentary and travel posts as well! Keep up the excellent work. Anne in Portland Oregon

    • AA

    Congratulations! I have loved your blog ever since I stumbled upon it.

    And if l’Appart gets made into a Hollywood comedy, I will d-i-e with happiness.

    • kat

    congratulations! look forward to your adventures in the years to come.

    • Bedobani

    Congratulations! 20 years for a blog is a huge achievement. I wanted to let you know that I make the Devils Chocolate Cake posted on your blog for my son’s Birthday every year. He’s 7 now and eagerly waits for it. Your blog undoubtedly has helped make memories for countless others.
    Thankyou !

      • David
      David Lebovitz

      Glad to be part of the annual celebration!

    • kats

    congrats on 20 years! I still use an RSS reader, and I enjoy all your posts (have most of your books too). Thank you!

      • David
      David Lebovitz

      I keep thinking I should go back to one because I miss posts from friends, and other blogs, that I want to read. Maybe I’ll try to find one that works well. The one I had, I don’t think, is around anymore!

        • sallyt

        I LOVE using a RSS reader – I use theoldreader.com (but subscribe to updates from your blog so I don’t miss anything!).

        You are a treasure- happy anniversary!

        • ab

        RSS readers are so great. I’ll never understand why they weren’t more popular. I still read blogs that way and use inoreader.com.

    • Jeanne

    Congratulations on your 20th anniversary! I have been reading so long that I remember thinking…wait he’s moving to Paris? Thank you so much for your wonderful posts. I have learned so much from you in so many areas, not just cooking. Every new post is a joy to receive and I cherish the moments I get to read one of your new adventures.

      • David
      David Lebovitz

      That was a while ago…wasn’t it? ;)

    • Ab India

    Congrats on your 20th anniversary. Any update on your blog is a delight and I so look forward to reading every post. It almost feels like I really know you. Thank you for being there, sharing your life, recipes and musings.

    • Pooker

    Your blog has accompanied me to China, Thailand and now Spain and I am so grateful for it! And as my husband is French and from Paris, your anecdotes so often ring a bell….Happy Anniversary!

    • Gabrielle

    time IS flying! as a long time follower I thank you for sharing so many interesting things in your blog. please keep going forever. best wishes from bangkok, thailand.

    • Amelie

    I have been reading since I was 15, am now 29 and though I’ve never commented (internet shy) I just wanted to say how much your blog has influenced and touched my life. I often read your posts exploring the tastes and incredible cultures of Europe and beyond as I studied and lived off very basic (but never in great part to you-uninspired) student food. Thank you David, beautiful words and a beautiful heart

    P.S- never get an editor, your writing comes from you and I appreciate that, typos are like wrinkles, they showed you laughed, cried and truly lived

      • David
      David Lebovitz

      Thanks so much and happy you’ve been around for a while ; ) Many blogs have become more polished and I think it works for some, but while I appreciated having someone check what I was writing before I posted it, it felt labored to me and call me old-fashioned, but I like the casual and less-polished nature of the blog. True, I like to have nice photos and well-tested recipes, but after seeing that one post that I reviewed 70+ times, sometimes you just gotta hit the “Publish” button, and get that post posted!

    • Susan Walter

    Congratulations on 20 years. I’ve been blogging for 13 so I know how much work you’ve done, how much effort you’ve put in. Your success is pleasing and deserved. I’m interested that you are happy to stick with blogging (as am I). According to rumour blogging died some years ago. Podcasting is the next thing and so I’m sure you will be great at it. Personally I don’t understand why podcasts are better than blog posts for the audience though. A blog post you can read anywhere, but a podcast requires sound so needs a more carefully chosen location to enjoy, surely? But heyho, I am clearly a dinasaur — I still pick up the blogs I read regularly by using Blogger Reader. According to a survey I saw recently by far the majority of readers pick up new posts by having them randomly appear in their social media stream! Imagine all the great stuff they are missing!!

    I’ve been wondering recently how the heck people will find us French resident bloggers with voice searches, when I hear the way anglophones pronounce French words. The prediction is that by next year 50% of searches will be voice. I’ve no idea how to address that.

      • David
      David Lebovitz

      Thanks Susan. Yes, people have been talking about the end of blogs, but some personal blogs are still going strong and others (like some of the food “blogs” I mentioned, that are created to be search engine-friendly) seem to be doing well. I like the personal voice of the blogs that I read, but I also think the format of a podcast is another way to share things with readers…or listeners. Videos have also taken off on YouTube however I like to have my content here on my blog. I do like using Instagram and Facebook (to some extent) but it’s frustrating when they don’t show followers my posts, which is why they follow me…and why I follow others.

    • Shira

    I discovered your blog about 8 years ago when, on a whim, I decided to try to make ice cream. The vanilla ice cream recipe turned out perfect even for a beginner like me so I started to follow you regularly and buy your books. Your recipes have been a success and have helped me become a better cook and baker. Little did I know that I’d become a Paris expat a few years later. Your books and posts took on a whole new meaning as a source of information and comfort in my new city. I truly believe my experience in France is enhanced by your insights. Merci!

    • Rachel

    Massive, massive congratulations. I’ve enjoyed reading your blog for years, learnt lots of information about French culture that has really helped me out during the 12 year period my family had a home in Brittany, and I’ve discovered both a load of great recipes and a lifelong love of Lillet Blanc, too. I’ve also loved your books (I can’t wait for the next one, making drinks at home is one of my hobbies, rather than the recipe development I do for work) and as someone who has only been blogging for 10 years, I loved this look back at the time before I arrived!

    Santé!

      • David
      David Lebovitz

      Thanks Rachel, Brittany is such a lovely part of France. The coastlines are beautiful and (as you know!) the salted butter is amazing. Writing about the drinking culture was fascinating for me because (as you also know) the French have so many drinks to explore, from café favorites like chocolat chaud and limonade, to apéritifs and cocktails. Enjoy the new book – santé!

    • DebbieN

    I think I’ve been following The Sweet Life in Paris since 2007-8, when I finally decided to jump in and try blogging myself, and this much later, I’m still reading your adventures as well as your books. You have staying power, you have kindness, and you have the willingness to finetune the recipes you publish, whether in books or this blog, but without the food becoming stiff or manicured to death.

    I don’t know if you get many comments on the helpful working notes for things that aren’t obvious but make a difference–or where you test them out and find that they don’t. I think that’s one of the most valuable aspects of this blog even though it flies under the radar. Thank you and I hope to meet you and Romain sometime in the next 20 years.

      • David
      David Lebovitz

      Thanks DebbieN – The great thing about blogging is that you can write more (or less) about things, adding extra notes and photos that help readers. Also the interaction with readers, like you, has been really terrific. I appreciate when people leave comments and learn from all of you. Appreciate your kind words!

    • Paul

    Hi David,
    My french focus has been enhanced by you blog and reading you books. It led to me learning french now and planing a new trip to Paris in sept 2020. Congrats for the 20 years

    • Mardi (eat. live. travel. write.)

    Uh, where did the time go? I remember coming across your blog all those years ago like it was yesterday! I’d just left Paris myself to move to Canada so it was like a little taste of my second home. You’re one of my favourite voices online and I’m so glad you’ve stuck around (also, never get an editor, those little things/ typos make you real!). Congratulations on making it this far (with such great successes along the way) and I can’t wait to see where the next 20 years takes you (and Romain)!

      • David
      David Lebovitz

      Thanks Mardi! xxx

    • Małgosia z Akacjowego Bloga

    Congratulations, I look with pleasure here and use the book, I admire the pictures. I wish you satisfaction from further blogging, best regards from Poland

    • Lisa RR

    Congratulations – I really enjoy your blog posts, the instagram photos and your books. Glad you kept at it over the 20 years! Quite a milestone.
    from Toronto

    • monique

    Congratulations!
    And thank you.
    I think the books turned into movies would be a great idea and I know I would love them..
    Cast?

    • Tomese

    THANK YOU for everything! Your wonderful, delicious recipes. Your witty and clever insights. Your eye for the unusual, the beautiful. Your hard work to bring so much joy to your followers.
    I knew that doing a blog was a lot of work, but to see that code that you had to do years ago is kind of mind-boggling! I can’t believe you kept it up, but thank you so much for doing so.
    I’m not sure which “life-time” achievement award is appropriate for you, but there has got to be one!
    Bonne anniversaire!

    • Marius Cavasdan

    Congratulations! Really like the blog&Instagram account. I find myself browsing the site for recipes/hints. This weekend will have a Jura wine tasting(Cremant and a Chardonnay ouillé) with the Mont d’Or recipe plus will make the Far breton recipe for dessert. :)

    • Susan Gage

    Congratulations! You are my daily link to Paris! I loved meeting you and Dorie Greenspan years ago at the American Library.

    • Becky

    Congratulations on twenty years of educating and entertaining your readers. I think your blog is one of the best I have ever seen, and I have followed you for a very long time. I hate that so many bloggers have abandoned their blogs for instagram, etc. It’s just not the same! So thank you, David, for continuing! I appreciate how much effort and work it must create. Good luck on all your new ventures.

      • David
      David Lebovitz

      I like Instagram but it’s hard to find things on there (like recipes) and since they ‘curate’ who sees what, not everyone sees everyone’s posts. It’s very good for sharing pictures and ideas, but I like the format of the blog so I can keep all the posts and recipes organized so readers (and travelers to Paris) can easily find them. But yes, IG is a lot easier than blogging and “influencers” like it better because it’s a lot less work, and advertisers are focusing on them right now and some of them are doing quite well with the platform. (However I think that could likely change in the future. Another upside of having a blog is that you’re not at the mercy of an algorithm that can change at any time, as happened with Facebook.)

    • Sue

    Felicitations! This is the first time I’ve EVER commented on a blog, but yours is the only one I read religiously and your books are my first go-to. Looking forward to the next 20!

    • Dana

    ❤️❤️ I follow a lot of food blogs but yours is the one I save in my feed until I know I have time to calmly and thoughtfully read every word. Thank you and congrats on this well deserved celebration. ❤️❤️

    • Cindy

    I’ve been with you for most of your 20 years, and yours is the blog that I find the most personable and actually worth my time nowadays. So many now seem to consist of recipes from others and articles the blog author gleans from other sources. Very little in the way of original content. It feels to me like they are rushing through to get it done. But I sense the time and commitment you put into your blog and that makes it worth my time and commitment to read it and pay attention! Not to mention your always great recipes. Thank you for 20 years and I look forward to many more. Cheers!

    • Debra

    Congratulations! Thank you for all the pleasure you have given us. In my book, you would be immortalized if only for the chicken liver/apple spread recipe, which has pleased so many of my friends. So instead of cake, I’ll be making pate today in your honor.

    • Kate Dickerson

    Congratulations, David! Wow!! Your blog has been so popular because of your voice – as you said, casual – and because your sense of humor is always present. I enjoy every single post from you and have tried many of your recipes, both online and in your books.

    Thank you and here’s to the next 20 years!

    • Cadry

    Congratulations, David! 20 years is huge! I’ve been blogging for just over 10 years, and that seems like an eternity. Very impressive that you’ve doubled it.

    I’ve been a reader of yours for about 8 years, and I really appreciate that you tell stories and haven’t given in to the call for just sticking to the recipes. It’s your storytelling that really keeps me here post after post. (And I subscribe to your RSS feed on Bloglovin – old school style.)

    I look forward to seeing where you go next!

    • Lisa

    David, congratulations on your blog anniversary. As a fellow writer who has made several unsuccessful blogging attempts, I know what a huge effort it is. The fact that you’ve kept it going – and kept it interesting (yours is the only blog I ALWAYs read) is quite a testament to both your skill and your tenacity. So, thank you! And keep it going… you bring us a little bite of happiness with every blog post.

    • Joan Sherman

    Congratulations, David! You are the best! I look forward to your blog and it is the first message that I open when I read my email. I have three of your books and have made many of your recipes from them and your blog. I don’t know how many years that I have followed you but look forward to many more.. Thanks

    • Alice

    I was looking for a recipe for celeriac salad. Yours popped up & I’ve been a fan ever since! You and your writing are so inspiring. Love all the cultural tidbits & recipes & observations you share with us. Here’s to another 20!

    • Carla

    Congratulations! I only became aware of your blog after buying “The Perfect Scoop.” I may be late to the party but I’ve thoroughly enjoyed reading everything you’ve written. I look forward to continuing.

    • JerrytheK

    Congratulations on the 20th! I enjoy not only your blogs, but also your books. You are also a hero to me in that you pulled up stakes and pretty much reinvented your life (in another language to add!). If ever you feel unsuccessful, banish those thoughts! I (and I’m sure all your followers) hope you have many, many more productive years!

    • johanne tremblay

    Bonjour David,

    Toutes mes félicitations!

    J’ai adoré votre livre ´the appart’ et je continue de lire tous vos blogs.

    C’est un grand plaisir de vous lire.

    Merci!

    • Jennifer

    Thank you for your blog, and congratulations on 20 years! I found you through “I’ll Have What Phil’s Having,” and your posts have been an entertaining and enriching addition to my days since then. Reading your books has been on my to-do list for some time now, and I hope to get to them soon. Looking forward to seeing what you come up with in the years ahead!

    • Ariel

    It has been such fun following along over the years — not to mention feasting in Paris based on your recommendations. Thanks for sharing your stories, David!

    • Kristen

    Congrats! Thanks for sharing your love of food and glimpses of Paris with us. I enjoy your posts and always learn something. It is such a pleasure to read. I enjoy your books as well.

    • Maryn

    (Hums) Bonne anniversaire, bonne anniversaire! It’s really a feat to have maintained this place for so long, and kept it authentic and personal and fresh. You deserve all the congratulations. I started reading you when I was beginning to spend time in the 11e and somehow Google led me to one of your posts. That was maybe 2004, and I continue to look forward to every email!

    • barbara

    Thank you very much for all the hard work and all your wonderful books.

    You are a real joy

    • Joy Mara

    Ever since I received “The Sweet Life” as a gift, I’ve been a huge fan. When my husband praises a dish or sweet I’ve made, I just say “David”, and he understands. I subscribe to no other blogs, and I have all your books except the ice cream (why waste the calories when there’s pie and cake). Thanks for the great recipes and fun reads. To another 20 years!

    • Tegan

    Here’s to twenty more wonderful years of food and drinks and stories and travel.

    I never saw the first version of the website, but I remember the second one, and how surprising it was to go from colour to a more streamlined look (I like both of them still)

    Emily’s posts have been great fun and congratulations on the new baby!

    • George Ann Brown

    Congrats. Always a Woo Hoo knowing that
    a blog update or instagram photo has arrived in my world that day.

    • Bonnie

    Hello David
    I’ve read your blog for years and only regret that I never had the opportunity to go on one of your chocolate tours. But I went along via your blog on a number of them. Yes, I still have your pastry app too. I use it when I am visiting Paris, for a few weeks, to find the best pain, etc. As others have said, you are authentic in your writing and that keeps me reading you. I read L’Appart in almost one seating. I don’t know how you got through that without killing yourself or the contractor. Thank Heavens for Romain!
    Keep it up please. I’m not a podcast listener, as I’m too busy to listen. But sounds as though it would be of interest to many.

      • David
      David Lebovitz

      That was quite a story, and it took a while to get it all down. In retrospect, it was a very formative experience (although not necessarily in ways I thought…) We’ve been thinking about looking for a new place with outdoor space, but the idea of doing it all over again keeps us from actually doing it ;)

    • E

    Congratulations on finding your voice – one that is so human – in capturing the joy of going to the market and the wonder of what you find, in celebrating the change in seasons, in sharing your annual cooking traditions, and the marvel of Paris and the gratitude you have for your life there – it always comes through in your writing.
    From an admirer in Marin County – E

    • Rene

    I discovered your blog about 15 years ago and have several of your books which I use, in particular, ‘The Perfect Scoop’. Through making ice cream with my son, he began to enjoy cooking and has become a great home cook. You helped inspire 3 trips to Paris so far. I greatly appreciate your voice and the tone of your writing. Thank you for hanging in there

    • Linda Beuret

    Congratulations on 20 years. I enjoy the postings and all your comments on life in Paris. We were there 2 weeks in Sept. and we chose all restaurants/bistrots from your blogs. Had a wonderful time and some great meals. Loved Breizh, Baita and Rotisserie d’Argent. Keep up the good work!!

    • Katherine Shipley

    Congratulations David on 20 years! I wish we had discovered you sooner. Your information and tips on living in Paris were so very helpful to our daughter, and to us, when she spent a semester studying in Paris. Your restaurant, coffee shop and chocolate shop recommendations were always the best. (Along with the info about how to order, what certain terms mean to the French, etc..) Whenever we had a question, we would say, “What does David say about that?” Thanks!

    • Clair Beckmann

    I LOVE the blog…I print tons of recipes off of the internet, some are horrible…as in ‘Did someone actually taste this”…but yours are always my GO TO recipes for everything and I write DAVID L in big letters so I’ll know that of the various pavlova recipes or panna cotta recipes in my dessert file, yours is the one I choose. Love the stories for sure, but the thoughtful way you provide recipes is THE BEST. Thank you so much.

    • Christina

    Congratulations and gratitude for sharing your insights, recipes and humour over these years. I am familiar with you from your Chez Panisse days and have followed the blog for at least 15 years. I so appreciate the accuracy of your recipes and metric measurements! I go to Paris at least every other year and do so primarily to cook. The most important thing my friend and I look for in an apartment is a gas cooktop. We will be spending Christmas in Paris and so looking forward to the markets! Thank you so much for sharing your life over the years. Merci bien!

    • Mark

    David, I’m one of your fans that doesn’t chime in with comments but wanted you to know how much I look forward to your new posts. Congratulations on your 20th anniversary, and many, many more.

    • Molly Pisula

    Congratulations on 20 years, David! I have been a fan since a cooking class you did at Sur La Table in Los Gatos at least 15 years ago. I worked for Apple at the time and got you a discount on a new Mac! Anyway, I’ve happily followed your food and your France adventures since then and have recently moved to France myself where I’m writing my own food blog. (Not that I’m stalking you or anything. ) Keep doing what you’re doing–I love the humor and the realness (is that a word?) of your posts and the fact that they are not just a list of keywords! All the best to you for 20 more years of success!

      • Kathi K

      I love your blog, your cookbooks, your sense of humor & your great writing style! Your recipes always shine & draw rave reviews from my friends. I always credit you, of course!

      Last night, I had to have something chocolate so I made “Robert’s best brownie” recipe that you have shared. I should just ditch all my other brownie recipes. Haha!!

        • David
        David Lebovitz

        That’s such an interesting recipe…but it works! That one minute of stirring really does the trick…

      • David
      David Lebovitz

      I remember! Thanks for helping me get a badly-needed new computer : )

        • Molly Pisula

        My pleasure! Happy to have been able to support you in even a small way. Your recipes and writing are just the best. And thanks for being a lifeline to me here in Paris with all your tips and advice!

    • Dora

    Congratulations! You deserve all the awards and accolades that come your way. And you found Romain! Thank you for this wonderful blog. I have been reading it for many years now. You have yummy recipes and beautiful pictures, you make me laugh with your lively stories and I also love reading The Comments – you have the nicest commenters. This space helped me get through a sad time in my life… it became a place of comfort for me. Thank you.

    • Janice

    Congratulations, David, for 20 years of recipes, stories, travelogs and delicious humor. A movie would be wonderful, may it be so.

    • Claire,

    Congratulations and thank you for all you do. Your blog is one of my favourite (Canadian spelling!) food and travel resources I read. I love your writing, the humour you bring to everyday moments, and your Paris and France suggestions (which I use when I’m there). And I appreciate being able to read all of your content, without worrying I have missed something because of the FB and IG approach to their feeds. Keep up the great work!

    • NancyC

    Congratulations on the 20th anniversary of your fantastic blog! Ironically, I found out about you and your blog in 2012 while standing in line for a book signing for Deb Perlman’s first cookbook. The person in front of me in line was praising your recipes and looking toward the heavens. I googled right then, and have been subscribed to your blog ever since. Thank you for all of your hard work and wonderful recipes!

    Oh, and your banana bread/cake recipe is just fab, and our favorite.

    • lorie brock

    congratulations!!! have enjoyed the peak into your life and profession for many years via your blog and books. thank you so much for sharing with all of us! peace and all good to you and yours and am hoping you’ll continue for at least 20 more years!

    • Laurie

    I loved reading this and seeing the history and progression of the blog. I guess I’m hopelessly out of date, but I still use an RSS feed to keep up with my favorite blogs, yours included.

    • Mel

    David, I’ve commented on your blog maybe once or twice over the years, but I read each and every post, and I have each and every one of your books! I appreciate the approachable and friendly nature that comes across in your writing.

    I remember the “a ha” moment a few years ago when I realized YOU were the one responsible for making my life-altering ginger ice cream dessert in the 90’s at that now-defunct SF restaurant!

    Thank you so much for being my go to source for outstanding, well-thought out recipes over the years.

    Should you find yourself in PDX, please let me buy you a drink!

    • Bernadette

    Many congratulations David and here’s to 20 more! Ongoing best wishes to you in life, with Romain and in your continuing career.

    I found your blog 10 years ago when a fellow baker suggested your madeleine recipe for my daughter’s 4th birthday with a Madeline theme. I’ve enjoyed your sense of humor, your baking and cooking smarts and beautiful photos. Your chocolate ice cream is by far the very best ice cream on this Earth. We love you for that alone!

    All the best!

    • Aly W

    Congratulations! LOVE all your recipes, vacations and travel explores,(everything) and all of your recipe books! (Which I now own) And the typos, all of which reassures me that there is a gifted, talented and creative chef tapping away on their keyboard.
    I have always wanted to visit Paris. Because of your blog, I have looked up each and every place you write about and I have stared and placed in a special “Paris dreams” folder on my google maps. Now if I back out of Paris on google maps to view Europe the view of Paris is one massive collection of stars!!! So as long as google maps doesn’t dump this feature and I can afford cell service in Paris on my first visit…. I have my own special David tour ready, just in case I do a cool random spontaneous visit!
    Cheers and salute to your mastery of connecting us all to your passion and love.
    PS, I made your Pasta Bolognese last week. It was a hit! And now I know what Spanish Chorizo is. :) Tasty!!!!

    • margaret gault

    As your money mommy way more than 20 years ago, I salute you for your many talents, your humor, your strength of character, the pleasure you give so many others. Thank you.

    • s

    Congratulations on your 20th Blog
    Anniversary! I have all your books and I read your column religiously. Thank you so much for all the effort you have put into your work.

    • Barbara

    Having enjoyed as many podcasts as I could find where you were the guest – a podcast rights from the “horse’s” mouth would be wonderful!

    Videos too always welcome.

    Just saw your Patrick Roger ones – I visited the shop on my Taste of the Left Bank food tour – Thanks from a fan in Western Canada

    • Beverly Burgoyne

    Thank you so much for all the care and love you put into your blog. Now a faithful Canadian reader, I first heard you on a cookbook show on CBC Radio several years ago. I love your books too. Keep on truckin’, David. You are an essential part of our lives.

    • Laura Higbie

    David, Your humor, perspective and recipes have enriched your readers’ lives. Many thanks for your blog and books. Your postings bring people together. Onward and upward!

    • Nancy in Santa Cruz, CA

    Two decades(!) of:
    teaching and entertaining,
    enlightening the uninitiated,
    conscientiousness and caring.
    Two decades(!) of nonstop giving!

    Now, David, what can we do for you?

      • David
      David Lebovitz

      Honestly, I am just happy that people read the blog, maybe get a book, and/or leave a comment. They all keep things moving for me : )

    • Tom L

    Appreciate your recounting of the years. I’ve enjoyed them and copied more than a few of your recipes, in addition to buying several books (which are so much fun to read I reread them!). So here’s to another 20 years of great stories about Paris, France, and cooking…

    • Sherry

    Congratulations on twenty years! I enjoy reading your blog and books. We took our kids to Paris this summer, and went to the French Bastards based on your recommendation. We loved it.

      • David
      David Lebovitz

      Happy you liked them. It’s a fun place and nice to see young French people put their own spin on the classics.

    • Lisette

    Congratulations on 20 wonderful years! Yours was one of the first food blogs I followed, and it’s the one I return to time and time again. Thanks for all the great recipes and Paris tips over the years! They’ve certainly enriched my life!

    • Victoria

    Congrats from Texas! A friend of mine and I made your French Apple Tart last Christmas and her husband said it was the best apple tart he’d ever eaten (I agree). They lived in Europe for ten years so had eaten a lot of apple tarts :) This year a friend asked me to bring an apple pie for Thanksgiving dinner and I’m going to bring your tart since it’s fabulous I know everyone will love it. Thanks David!

    • Sabine

    Hello David,

    Its rare for me to comment on-line but on this occasion of your 20th anniversary I wanted to let you know how much I enjoy your writing, sense of humour, recipes and books since finding you in 2008!

    In 2011, I participated in your fall Paris/Lausanne tour. I have been on other small group tours since, but the week touring chocolate shops, Poilane bakery, Vevey market and cheese shops….remains one of my favourite experiences.

    I look forward to the release of your “Drinking French” book next year.

    In a world of strife, your words, stories and photos are an escape, enjoyment and necessity for me…and they keep my dream of again visiting Paris alive.

    Wishing you all the best from Vancouver, BC Canada!

      • David
      David Lebovitz

      hi Sabine: Glad you came along on one of my trips. They were really fun, and I always was happy to meet so many great people leading them. Thanks for commenting!

    • Nina

    Congratulations on 20 excellent years of giving all us readers such joy and inspiration along with excellent recipes. Here’s to another 20 more years!

    • Maria

    Dear David, I love you just as you are, don’t ever change… reading your blog is always a lifting moment in my day. Thankyou so much for your efforts, they are much appreciated.

    • Paul Huckett

    I found your blog like others posting here, by researching an upcoming Paris holiday. I had been a few times on buying trips but my wife hadn’t. What a joy we have had since discovering your blog, your books and yourself. It’s been a wonderful experience and like countless thousands, we feel we know you and feel a connection to yourself and your life in your chosen city. Many thank yous David. Long may you write…

    • Lynn Beaumont

    Lovely David – I’m happy to keep reading your blog and hearing your “voice” through it. I enjoy your recipes and the cultural wandering/wonderings that you write about. Congratulations and may you have many more blogging years to come!

    • Danita

    Happy 20th. I hope one of those movies is made, that would be fun. I’ve followed your blog for almost 8 years. I like that I can trust your recipes and I enjoy your sense of humor and travel posts. Pease don’t change to having an editor. We like “you” not an edited David.

    • Lenita Firth

    Congratulations on your 20th anniversary. I love your blog and the way you write and the photographs are wonderful.
    I met you when you taught a class called Baking With Summer Fruits” at Sur la Table in Kirkland, Washington. I bought your book “Room for Dessert” that day too.
    Keep doing what you’re doing as long as you love it.

    • Kimberly

    Congratulations David. I remember when you started this blog because you had a picture of me feeding you a piece of chocolate from La Madison au Chocolat, taken on my first chocolate tour with you.

    • Ellen

    Happy 20th! I remember buying your book The Perfect Scoop and making Salted Caramel Ice cream, which friends have requested over and over. Thank you for all the deliciousness.

    • Susan

    David, so glad you are still enlightening us as to the tastiest treats we need….even before we knew we needed them!! And David Leite is another great addition to the culinary world. He grew up in my neck of the woods and now calls Lisbon home. I wise choice. Thank you for all of it and please do keep on keepin’ on.

    • Jadie

    Twenty years! Though you are undoubtedly now fully “Parisian,” you have somehow retained your own voice so well I can imagine you hanging out here in Mill Valley. Guess that’s part of your genius!

    • Brenda

    I’m so excited for you -what an achievement, congratulations !
    I love your blog… great recipes, great stories, always engaging.
    Thank you so much for all you do!

    • Nicolette

    Mostly everyone has ‘taken my words’ that express my thanks for being my French friend that not only shares great recipes, but takes me along to the markets and out to the countryside and even on occasion, other countries. For all your books sitting on my shelf, and for your shred passion for pottery. You have made my mouth water. You have made me laugh. And like Marcel Proust, you have made alive my memories of living in Paris as a graduate student. And sometimes I’ve shed a tear, because I was introduced to Paris by my late dad. Thank you for all that you have done for the past 20 years and looking forward to your next 20 at least! But one thing no one has as yet asked….Who would you like to play you & Romain if indeed a movie is made (which I would endorse)!

    Again, congratulations!

    • Melanie

    I feel so happy every time I read your blog. I laugh out loud, I dream of my next trip to Paris, I plan my next recipe to make. I’m always inspired. I bought mimolette cheese yesterday because of your blog post. Thank you!

    • Maria

    Congratulations on the 20th Anniversary of your blog. Grateful for your writing, your recipes, your teaching, and helping in the kitchen despite never having met in person.

    May I ask – any plans to release a digital version of ROOM FOR DESSERT and RIPE FOR DESSERT such as for Apple iBooks? (Realizing that you have some of the same recipes in READY FOR DESSERT My best recipes…)

    Thank you!

    ACK! I meant to comment here but I ended up adding to Multigrain and Seed Biscotti. Sorry!

      • David
      David Lebovitz

      Oops. I answered your question there, but the short answer is that the cost the publisher of those two books, which are out-of-print, wanted to buy the disks (what books I guess are, or were, put on and formatted before being published) was prohibitive. So I updated the recipes and put the best in Ready for Dessert.

    • Julie

    Thanks for your blog and your cookbooks and your stories. I appreciate everything including errant commas and chocolate cakes.

      • David
      David Lebovitz

      It’s funny how typos show up, even in books. When you write a book, you read it over and over (as an author), then an editor reads it a number of times. Then a copyeditor, whose job it is to find errors. Then a proofreader (whose job is also is to find errors). Then there is a production editor, who readers things too. (I’ve also sent the proofs to someone for a “cold read,” who hasn’t seen the book, so they see it with fresh eyes.) Even so, books sometimes have gaffes (!) which is pretty amazing, although I’ve heard that Julia Child spent 10 years correcting goofs in her seminal work, Mastering the Art of French Cooking, so it happens to the best of us! : )

    • Emma

    Congratulations! I’ve been reading your blog and books for years and have always appreciated your incisive but never cynical sense of humor about Paris. And while my attempts at your recipes rarely come close to the finished product in your photos, several of your dishes are so much a part of my repertoire that I know them by heart. The mustardy French tomato tart of many years ago is an almost-weekly favorite in our home. Thanks for all your work—in the kitchen as well as at the keyboard!

    • Cara M.

    Joyeux Anniversaire! I’ve been a subscriber, and occasional commenter, since 2012 and your posts always make me smile. I discovered your blog when dealing with some changes in my life but following along with your travels in and out of Paris provided a small escape that I really needed at the time. Not only have I discovered some great new recipes, and shared a few with my brother, a CIA grad, I made a point to re-read your 2013 Lebanon posts before I traveled there in 2016 and I loved it just as much as you did! Congratulations on 20 years and I look forward to joining you for many more…and hopefully attending an event should your new book tour bring you back here to NYC.

      • David
      David Lebovitz

      Lebanon was fascinating and I’d love to explore other countries in that part of the world. The food is a big draw, but I met some really wonderful people. We often just see edited looks at places in the Middle East, which aren’t representative of daily life. And it’s easy to forget that leaders aren’t necessarily representative of the people. I’m doing a few book events with friends in New York at the end of this month and the beginning of the next, but will be back in the spring for the release of Drinking French. Thanks for chiming in!

    • Parisbreakfast

    I’m late saying, Thank you David!
    At first, I was smiling so hard reading this my face hurt. And now I’m crying…maybe so much personal history. I took an amazing tour with you at Marché d’Aligré in 2006. Your savvy knowledge was endless and every vender welcomed you. I had just started Parisbreakfast that year. You said you thought there were already a lot of Paris blogs out there. Maybe that was a challenge to keep me going. I never thought it would move me to Paris 6 years ago but so glad I did. Thank you for all the real life Paris info over the years. And all the jokes :)) Much appreciated xxxCarolg

      • David
      David Lebovitz

      Glad you found your place in Paris!

    • Sally Hirst

    Like everyone else I want to say thank you for keeping going, being so relatable, maintaining such a high standard, creating delicious recipes, sharing experiences, and…keeping going. As a long term follower and purchaser of your books I really appreciate all that effort.

    • Katy

    You are a smart, charming, interesting person. I love your blog! I believe, I love you!
    Keep on doing what you do so wonderfully. Commas or not!

    • Helen

    Dear David,

    Congratulations! Yours is the only cooking site I follow regularly. I love your real and down-to-earth writings and photos. Good luck with your new projects on TV.

    • Ingrid Emery

    I have been following your blog about a decade and it always makes me happy to see a new post – thank you for your stories, observations, honesty and amazing recipes. Congratulations on 20 years!

    • Rudraneil Sengupta

    Many many congratulations David! A wonderful milestone, and a journey full of superb recipes and stories. I feel a surge of happiness every time you post!

    • Susan Riggs

    Congratulations!! I absolutely love reading your blog, it came into my life at just the right time and your adventures, recipes and writing are such a pick me up. Looking forward to many more blog posts, books and what ever you want to try your hand at!

    • Jo

    Thank you for your generosity in sharing your wonderful writing with us, and congratulations on 20 years of this blog. Especially for the warmth, knowledge and humanity that you bring to each post – it is always a pleasure to read what you say about any subject.

    I couldn’t remember how long I have been reading your blog, but I do remember the showgirls post as one of my favourites. A quick search shows that was ten years ago – so I have been reading for a while now :-)
    You are an international treasure. Thank you.

    • Sarah

    Congratulations! Have loved your blog since forever. I pray that RSS readers never go away as I completely depend on mine (Feedly) to keep up with about 100 sites. I honestly don’t know what I’d do without it.

    • heidi husnak

    Congrats!!! You delight & inspire and are appreciated.

    • Teri Robus

    Congratulations!

    • Mare

    Congratulations on 20 years of your blog! and many more! I loved your book The Sweet Life and have been reading your blog for many years. I wish I had found it sooner. I enjoyed your book talk at RJJulia Bookstore in Madison CT. Will look forward to any new project you take on! Thank you for all you do!!! I really enjoy your blog and your voice!

    • Cheri Salazar

    Congratulations from the Bay Area! I’ve enjoyed your blog over the years and loved your books too. I dreamed I was you while reading L’Appart– buying my own Parisian nightmare. And I’m still too chicken to actually make anything from your recipes. Cooking and baking always lead to some disaster with me. Not sure why that is. But I am actually going to try the bolognaise you posted a few weeks ago. It seems like something I could do with few pitfalls. Anyway, thanks and best of luck for the next 20.

    • Regina

    Dear Daveed, Congrats on 20 years. Love you! Always have always will. Should there be a comma in there?
    Regina

    • Martin

    Congratulations on an impressive milestone. I’ve loved every one of your posts that I’ve read and my wife bought me My Paris Kitchen for Christmas. Thank you for all the hard work you put in to this blog that reliably brings a smile to my face.

    • Alexandra

    Congratulations on your 20th Anniversary! I’m always happy when I see your name in my In-Box, “What will he have to say? What adventure have the two of them recently been on?” I have all your books, to me they’re not just cookbooks, but books. Thanks for taking me along. Alex

      • David
      David Lebovitz

      A reader I met once said to me, “I like your blog because I never know what it’s going to be about until I get the next post.” I like that aspect, and rather than just presenting recipes, or stories, or travel tips, it’s nice to mix it up to keep things interesting. Glad you’re enjoying my books as well! : )

    • Blanca Barquera

    Congratulations for the first 20 years!
    I eagerly open your website every weekend to read your post. I have learned a lot. I have made many of your recipes, all so delicious!!!!

    • Emily

    First time commenting but I can’t tell you how much I have enjoyed your blog over the years. I started reading your blog in 2008 when I was an intern in Paris and quickly read through most of the archives. I have followed blogs throughout the years, but yours is the one I always come back to, the one that brings me comfort in an ever-changing digital world. It’s more than the recipes but the stories, the anecdotes about living in France, and the way you make food about more than just the recipe.

    Congrats on 20 years! Blogging has definitely changed a lot in that time, but I am glad you have stuck with it. I hope to continue reading your blog for years to come!

    On another note, I received your ice cream book for Christmas a few years ago (un peu par hasard), and the caramel pear ice cream is always a hit.

      • David
      David Lebovitz

      It’s interesting how many Paris blogs were started over the years. Many of the voices faded away as people move away (or back “home”), or they lose interest, or for whatever reason. I’m always fascinated by the city and there’s no shortage of things to write about, from the food to the culture.

    • EAH

    What I think is best about your blog, is that you clearly know what you’re doing. Many post recipes on sites and they’re lousy and/or untested too much of the time. Your commitment is impressive. Thank you for your dedication and knowledge.

    • Rafter B Ranch

    Congratulations and many thanks! So many of your recipes are part of my lexicon. Sometimes my husband (the Marlboro man – I live on a cattle ranch in Kansas) earnestly asks ‘Is this one of David’s recipes?). That, my dear, is when you know you resonate. Please keep your wonderful, droll sense of humor. Know we appreciate an original voice. And don’t get jaded as we love your sense of wonder. Lastly, thank you.

    • Chelsea Liddell

    Thank you for adding your voice to the internet – I enjoy it immensely. I also want to chime in as a person who loves to read musings and recipes, but has no interest in videos or podcasts. I hope you keep writing!

    • P Adams

    Congratulations on your great achievement – 20 years is amazing. I’m a long time reader and appreciate you and the lovely sentiments being expressed today. I think you are so beloved because we recognize a kindred spirit. Your voice is authentic and you see the absurdity of much while never being mean. It’s been a wonderful journey that you share with us.

      • David
      David Lebovitz

      I was having drinks with someone who’d had a blog for a while, a number of years ago, then gave it up and focused her energy on Instagram. Now she wants to get back to her blog. I like social media just fine but a blog feels more like “home.”

      She’s also had her share of people being not so nice to her on social media, and I always feel like I spent years as a line cook, so I know all the names you can call people…and vice versa. As you get more mature, you realize that stuff gets tiring, especially as it’s proliferating online. There’s so much going on in the world that it’s nice to have a place where people can still come together. So I am happy that readers have been so kind over the years, too!

    • claire silvers

    As one of your appreciative readers, thank you for persevering! (& now my 23-yr-old son, an excellent cook, reads your work & learns from you too). To celebrate, I opened the last jar of D.L. inspired apricot jam from this summer. It is SO good.

A

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