I felt like I was there, sitting at the dinner table in Greece, soaking in all the fragrances and aromas of the dish and the essence of your family intertwined through it all. This felt so sensual to read, while also so nostalgic. I felt the stirring of emotions at the end of the piece, when you spoke of Grandma as your anchor and feeling your love for her weaved throughout the whole story 🥹 thank you for sharing this beautiful piece of writing!! 💕
It means a lot to know that the piece resonated with you so deeply. Writing about my family and memories, especially about Grandma, is always an emotional experience, so it’s incredibly touching to hear that those feelings came through and im so so glad the story brought you into that moment.
Your feedback made my day, and I’m so grateful you took the time to share it. 💖
I literally ate this up (no pun intended lol). I love how you interweaved your memories with this beautiful dish. It also struck me that you were the leftover rice, stuck at the bottom of the pan. It made me think of this Korean dish, bibimbap, and how that leftover rice is scraped and broth is poured on top, making yet another dish! So so beautiful, can't wait to make this 🍅❤️
Everything I said on the Discord and more. This is just stunning. So exquisitely and tenderly crafted, Nadia. I’m so moved to know that this felt therapeutic for you. It certainly felt therapeutic to me as I read it. I feel so soothed by it. Much like the water in the ‘slice of ocean’ that you’ve described in your piece.
By the way: I also happen to notice that the sea (and its smell), and its multiple cadences and rhythms keep coming up for you in your writing. There’s something there about your childhood home, the sea, and the smell of the sea. It’s poignant and nostalgic: but there’s also an arresting rhythmic pull to it. There’s a whole book waiting there, Nadia. With water & food & home as core themes.
Now you’ve made me crave for Gemista too. Thank you. Your writing is a gift. As ever, sending you and your grandma all my love. ❤️
Dear Trivarna, thank you so much for your beautiful message. Your words mean the world to me, especially coming from someone who truly understands the layers of emotion and memory in writing. I’m so glad the piece resonated with you on such a deep level, there’s something about sharing these memories that feels like a form of healing for me!
You’re absolutely right about the recurring presence of the sea in my writing. The sea, with its rhythms and vastness, has always been a constant in my life, a backdrop to so many memories of home and childhood. There’s a certain nostalgia and pull that the water holds for me, just like the scent of food that brings you back to a particular time and place. There’s a lot there to explore, why not, one day, in the form a book; it would be such a dream🥹
I’m, also, so happy this piece made you crave gemista and I hope you’ll make it and share with me how you found it.
Thank you again for your constant support, encouragement and the inspiration for this piece! Your words are always a gift! Sending all my love back to you❤️
Dear Nadia, this was such a gorgeous, moving exploration of food and family and home, and where we find our emotional anchors in life. It is so deeply moving, and I felt your grandma’s love for the family in all your words. It is so special and heartwarming, the way you have written out the recipe to reflect not just the flavours of the ingredients, but also the flavours of the life and special connection you share with each member of your family. I can't wait to try this absolutely delicious sounding recipe.
I love every word of this piece, and especially the parts – “my grandmother overstuffs the tomatoes like she did herself”, and the way you described yourself and your family sitting around the table, including “my uncle, life did to him what salt does to zucchinis”. There is something so poignant that made me tear up at your description of “and then there is me, leftover rice at the bottom of the pan. My grandmother’s fire and devotion bringing us all together”.
It filled my heart by the end of your story to also witness how in your writing, the fire and devotion of your words expand to carry your deep, overflowing love for your grandma, your family, and your traditions, and through your words, everyone is brought together too, in a special way. Through the magic of your art, you have truly cultivated a lifetime in a tomato. Sending all my love to you and your grandma and grandpa at this time <3 <3
My dear Suyin, thank you so much for your beautiful and heartfelt comment. Your words really moved me and brought tears to my eyes. Writing this piece was such an emotional journey, and it’s incredibly touching to know that you felt the love and connection through it.
It means so much that you noticed the details, like the overstuffed tomatoes and the description of my uncle—those words are so dear to me, and it’s wonderful to know they resonated with you too. I know we share this love of our grandmothers, especially, and food- and I hope it will always connect us!
The way you described the fire and devotion expanding through the words and bringing everyone together is so beautiful and made me lovingly reflect upon my own words again.
Thank you for your kind wishes and for taking the time to share your thoughts with me. Your support means more than I can say🥹Sending all my love back to you🤍🤍
Dear Nadia, your words have this magical way of inviting us to feel strongly, and to be alive and fully in the present, and I'm happy to be able to have a chance to reflect back to you how special your writing is. I resonate with the emotional journey that every piece of writing from the heart takes us on, and I treasure our connection so much through our memories of the past, and the food and grandmothers' love that have helped to shape us <3 <3 <3
This made my mouth water with love. The sensuous and nostalgic feeling of this piece is so sweet and the way you write is just incredible. I can feel the comfort, the feeling of home, the taste of family history. Your grandmother would be so proud of you for this beautiful ode. 🥹❤️🍅
I felt like I was there, sitting at the dinner table in Greece, soaking in all the fragrances and aromas of the dish and the essence of your family intertwined through it all. This felt so sensual to read, while also so nostalgic. I felt the stirring of emotions at the end of the piece, when you spoke of Grandma as your anchor and feeling your love for her weaved throughout the whole story 🥹 thank you for sharing this beautiful piece of writing!! 💕
Thank you so much for being here 😭 🥲
It means a lot to know that the piece resonated with you so deeply. Writing about my family and memories, especially about Grandma, is always an emotional experience, so it’s incredibly touching to hear that those feelings came through and im so so glad the story brought you into that moment.
Your feedback made my day, and I’m so grateful you took the time to share it. 💖
I literally ate this up (no pun intended lol). I love how you interweaved your memories with this beautiful dish. It also struck me that you were the leftover rice, stuck at the bottom of the pan. It made me think of this Korean dish, bibimbap, and how that leftover rice is scraped and broth is poured on top, making yet another dish! So so beautiful, can't wait to make this 🍅❤️
Dear Joscelyne, thank you so much for your precious words!
Leftover rice being transformed into something new is such a beautiful metaphor too, and now I really want to try the dish you mentioned🤍
I hope making gemista will bring you as much comfort as it brings me🍅 let me know you it goes!
Everything I said on the Discord and more. This is just stunning. So exquisitely and tenderly crafted, Nadia. I’m so moved to know that this felt therapeutic for you. It certainly felt therapeutic to me as I read it. I feel so soothed by it. Much like the water in the ‘slice of ocean’ that you’ve described in your piece.
By the way: I also happen to notice that the sea (and its smell), and its multiple cadences and rhythms keep coming up for you in your writing. There’s something there about your childhood home, the sea, and the smell of the sea. It’s poignant and nostalgic: but there’s also an arresting rhythmic pull to it. There’s a whole book waiting there, Nadia. With water & food & home as core themes.
Now you’ve made me crave for Gemista too. Thank you. Your writing is a gift. As ever, sending you and your grandma all my love. ❤️
Dear Trivarna, thank you so much for your beautiful message. Your words mean the world to me, especially coming from someone who truly understands the layers of emotion and memory in writing. I’m so glad the piece resonated with you on such a deep level, there’s something about sharing these memories that feels like a form of healing for me!
You’re absolutely right about the recurring presence of the sea in my writing. The sea, with its rhythms and vastness, has always been a constant in my life, a backdrop to so many memories of home and childhood. There’s a certain nostalgia and pull that the water holds for me, just like the scent of food that brings you back to a particular time and place. There’s a lot there to explore, why not, one day, in the form a book; it would be such a dream🥹
I’m, also, so happy this piece made you crave gemista and I hope you’ll make it and share with me how you found it.
Thank you again for your constant support, encouragement and the inspiration for this piece! Your words are always a gift! Sending all my love back to you❤️
Dear Nadia, this was such a gorgeous, moving exploration of food and family and home, and where we find our emotional anchors in life. It is so deeply moving, and I felt your grandma’s love for the family in all your words. It is so special and heartwarming, the way you have written out the recipe to reflect not just the flavours of the ingredients, but also the flavours of the life and special connection you share with each member of your family. I can't wait to try this absolutely delicious sounding recipe.
I love every word of this piece, and especially the parts – “my grandmother overstuffs the tomatoes like she did herself”, and the way you described yourself and your family sitting around the table, including “my uncle, life did to him what salt does to zucchinis”. There is something so poignant that made me tear up at your description of “and then there is me, leftover rice at the bottom of the pan. My grandmother’s fire and devotion bringing us all together”.
It filled my heart by the end of your story to also witness how in your writing, the fire and devotion of your words expand to carry your deep, overflowing love for your grandma, your family, and your traditions, and through your words, everyone is brought together too, in a special way. Through the magic of your art, you have truly cultivated a lifetime in a tomato. Sending all my love to you and your grandma and grandpa at this time <3 <3
My dear Suyin, thank you so much for your beautiful and heartfelt comment. Your words really moved me and brought tears to my eyes. Writing this piece was such an emotional journey, and it’s incredibly touching to know that you felt the love and connection through it.
It means so much that you noticed the details, like the overstuffed tomatoes and the description of my uncle—those words are so dear to me, and it’s wonderful to know they resonated with you too. I know we share this love of our grandmothers, especially, and food- and I hope it will always connect us!
The way you described the fire and devotion expanding through the words and bringing everyone together is so beautiful and made me lovingly reflect upon my own words again.
Thank you for your kind wishes and for taking the time to share your thoughts with me. Your support means more than I can say🥹Sending all my love back to you🤍🤍
Dear Nadia, your words have this magical way of inviting us to feel strongly, and to be alive and fully in the present, and I'm happy to be able to have a chance to reflect back to you how special your writing is. I resonate with the emotional journey that every piece of writing from the heart takes us on, and I treasure our connection so much through our memories of the past, and the food and grandmothers' love that have helped to shape us <3 <3 <3
This made my mouth water with love. The sensuous and nostalgic feeling of this piece is so sweet and the way you write is just incredible. I can feel the comfort, the feeling of home, the taste of family history. Your grandmother would be so proud of you for this beautiful ode. 🥹❤️🍅
Oof this means more to me than I can put into words!
I’m so so glad that the feeling of home and the memories could be felt through the piece🍅
Your words are like a balm for my heart❤️🩹