Design Matters with Debbie Millman 20th Anniversary celebration with culinary creatives Julia Turshen, Christina Tosi, Gabrielle Hamilton, Fanny Singer, and Will Guidara
Nov 10, 2025
In this celebration of culinary creativity, guests like Julia Turshen, a cookbook author, delve into how poetry influences recipe writing. Christina Tosi shares her playful approach to baking, stemming from childhood food memories. Gabrielle Hamilton reflects on founding her beloved bistro, Prune, amidst changing neighborhoods. Fanny Singer evokes sensory food memories, while Will Guidara emphasizes the importance of hospitality culture. Together, they explore the intersection of food, memory, and the joy of sharing meals.
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Cookbooks, Poetry, And Sculpture
- Julia Turshen read cookbooks in bed as a child and chose Barnard to study poetry and sculpture instead of culinary school.
- She says poetry and sculpture inform how she writes recipes, aiming for economical, evocative instruction.
Test Recipes Like A Stranger
- Julia Turshen tests recipes by following them exactly as a first-time home cook and taking detailed notes.
- Use measuring tools, print the recipe, and iterate until the recipe works reliably for home cooks.
Rice Krispie Tinkering Sessions
- Christina Tosi obsessed over Rice Krispie treats in high school and remixed cereals and add-ins nightly for friends.
- That tinkering taught her to question rules in the kitchen and pursue 'what if' experiments.
