First, bore no one…

The opening line of any book or website should do its darnedest to keep your attention, right?

If you’ve come here looking for Podunk, the beloved East Village tea room (2002-2016), it has closed, and in the menu on the top left corner is an archive of recipes, links, photos, and even a video. If you have come looking for advice from Elspeth, as I was once called, you can write at Ask Elspeth, also in the menu.

I’m an executive editor in New York City who once had to bake to save her life and the lives of a very small family. I also write. Little Miseries was out in 2023 and others forthcoming. There are broken people in all my books, real and fictional, and in my down time, I’m trying to fix them.

The Little New York Kitchen, a project of food writings and cookbook reviews, is here. Those of you who wish for free advice on how to open a tea room, there is a page attempting to talk you out of it, or you can DM me on Instagram: @kimberly_olson_fakih.

Last, I’ve been given many do-overs, fresh starts, nine lives, and at least five acts. It’s made me humble, but I hope it’s also made me useful.