Amanda Hesser Is Someone We Really Like
Photo Courtesy of Amanda Hesser
by The Candidly Team
Amanda Hesser is a woman who needs no introduction. But we’ll give it a try.
Amanda is a food writer. Sorry. Amanda is THE food writer. She’s a former NYTimes food editor and author of The Essential New York Times Cookbook.
She’s also the founder and CEO of Food52, our favorite and most likely your favorite brand for the most beautiful cookware on this planet or any other.
We like Amanda.
We were verging on giddy to have the chance to ask her all about her life— the meal she loves to make, her actual bedtime routine (get ready), and her deliciously bad guilty pleasure TV show.
The Candidly Questionnaire
1. What’s something you really like about yourself?
That I can laugh at myself.
2. What is your biggest challenge?
Being an introvert in an extrovert’s world.
3. What kitchen or house tool do you use daily that’s changed your life?
This Ortwo pepper grinder.
4. When do you feel most confident?
After my first great cup of coffee in the morning.
5. Are essential oils anything?
I sure like the way they smell.
6. How do you create boundaries?
I don’t, and I like it this way — I love my family, and I’m passionate about what I do. And for this, I know I’m incredibly lucky, so I’m not going to get worked up about a need for boundaries.
7. How do you dampen self-critical thoughts when they get too loud?
Sleep — I’m much less self-critical when well rested.
8. Describe the most “you” outfit of all time.
James Perse mix media jersey pants, Hurley t-shirt, Adidas cross-trainer sneakers, a bunch of small earrings.
9. What meal can you make the hell out of?
Dessert — I make pretty good tarts and cakes.
10. What book has made the biggest impact on your life?
The Preppy Handbook, which I read when I was 12 and took very s-e-r-i-o-u-s-l-y, not realizing it was a send-up of preppy culture.
11. Apart from family, what woman do you deeply admire?
Nora Ephron. She didn’t give a hoot about barriers, did what she wanted, which added up to lot of different and amazing creative endeavors. She was a great friend to many, and threw fun dinner parties, always with a surprising array of guests.
12. Which Insta account is creating the greatest content and why?
Other than @Food52 and @Home52 (sorry, couldn’t help it!). At this moment, when it feels like we’re tearing each other apart, I’ve been going to back to @HumansOfNY, which I’ve found grounding. It seems like one of the few places online where human frailty and forgiveness are honored.
13. What quote or phrase has really stayed with you?
“Why are you asking permission?” A professor of mine asked me this when I was telling her my ideas for what to do after college. I was clearly looking for approval, as we are trained to do. It’s been the most liberating advice I’ve ever received.
14. What’s your most effective form of therapy?
Going to answer this one literally: CBT. Been doing it for the past couple of years, and for me, it’s the perfect mix of talk therapy with practical solutions. And figuratively: exercise.
15. What’s your approach to mending conflict with people you work with?
Addressing it head on, with calm, curiosity, and openness.* (*This is not always the approach I take, but it’s clearly proven to be the most effective).
16. How do you feel about cilantro?
He’s a really good pal at the right moments.
17. Describe your actual bedtime routine.
Oh. man. This is embarrassing. My husband, Tad, is always first to bed, which means I’m scurrying around trying to catch up.
I used to wash my face before bed but after many years of reading skincare stories that tell you to avoid water on your face, I stopped doing this (bonus: a time saver!). I brush and floss, yadda, yadda, and during this process, to-do’s will pop into my mind, so I’ll email myself with “TO-DO!!!” in the subject line.
I go to the bathroom about 3 times before bed because I don’t want to wake up in the middle of the night. Then I go to my kids’ rooms and say goodnight, and spray “sleep mist” (from Among the Flowers) on their pillows, before doing my own and having Tad make a big fuss that the mist stinks and to keep it away from him! I do sometimes taunt him with it just for fun.
Then I drink a lot of water because I think hydration is important — therefore guaranteeing that I’ll have to get up in the middle of the night anyway.
Then I arrange my pillows — Tad calls said arrangement my Pillow Fort because it’s a king pillow on either side of me and a foam pillow for my head. Sometimes I’ll tuck a hot water bottle in there for my back. And then I lay down, and even though I’ve already said goodnight to my kids, they’ll pile in our bed so we can all play Spelling Bee together. We’ve decided that getting to “Amazing” is good enough, that getting to “Genius” is for people with too much time on their hands — except for the rare occasions when we do get to Genius quickly, and then we just feel, well, genius.
Then I’ll go to the bathroom again, which means rearranging my pillows upon my return. And settling in, at last, so Tad can turn off the light and I can answer some more emails in the dark because I never get done quite enough before bed. You relaxed yet?
18. What’s the best thing you’ve ever read on the internet?
This question is too difficult for my easily distracted brain! Going to turn to the Borowitz Report, because it’s the thing that consistently gets me to laugh during these dark days.
19. What’s your relationship with bangs?
Bangs and I don’t have a relationship. Strangers to each other.
What is your single favorite:
Wellness product that *actually* works: Fresh air.
Lip balm: Aquaphor.
Jeans brand: Always the latest pair I’ve purchased. Currently: Rachel Comey.
Mascara: Estee Lauder or Glossier, depending on my mood.
Robe: White terry robe with a thick elastic waist, clasped with a big button, that I bought in Tokyo.
Sex product: Our twins.
Last-minute gift: Five Two wooden spoon.
Bra: Third Love.
Shampoo: Davines Minu.
Comfortable shoes: Marni Fussbett sandals.
Splurge skincare: Tata Harper.
Drugstore skincare: Nope.
Everyday bag: Caraa crossbody Mini Circle.
Guilty pleasure TV show: American Ninja Warrior.
Drink: Americano (Campari, Sweet Vermouth, club soda, orange wedge).
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We have to eat.
