Elissa Altman

Elissa Altman

Elissa Altman is the author of Poor Man’s Feast: A Love Story of Comfort, Desire, and the Art of Simple Cooking and won a James Beard Award for the narrative blog of the same name.

Recent Articles

Every Onion Is a New Onion

Through the rhythm of daily cooking — and the guidance of a few Italian grandmothers — Elissa Altman discovers the importance of beginner’s mind.

Transcending Time with Umeboshi

Elissa Altman shares the story of "Grandma's Ghost," a 30-year-old Japanese <em>umeboshi</em> plum, and the healing it brought in this difficult time.

Simply Satisfying

Simply Satisfying

Forget the complexities of "haute cuisine." Sometimes a simple, homey ingredient, fresh andwell-prepared, is what Elissa Altman craves.

Be Grateful for the Weeds

Shunyru Suzuki Roshi said “Be grateful for the weeds you have in your mind, because eventually they will enrich your practice." Elissa Altman describes how the same goes for your salad.

The Lesson of Broken Eggs

There are no ordinary eggs, says Elissa Altman, and when treated with respect and care, they just might be the world’s most mundane, perfect food.