a fresh take
HOME AGAIN
FINDING MY WAY BACK TO “NORMAL” LIFE — SANS BAKERY By Katie McCall, local food columnist
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poiler alert: For those not familiar with the editorial world, publications plan their content calendars out a year in advance (sometimes more), which means I have a lovely prompt each month for writing. But the truth is, I often forget to look at the editorial calendar before I start writing this column, and somehow, it naturally fits right into the magazine’s theme. Maybe it’s just coincidence, or maybe fate.
This month’s theme is “home” — and boy, that couldn’t be more accurate. For new readers just joining, our brick-and-mortar bakery, Two Wild Seeds, officially closed at the end of August. We handed over the keys and walked out the back kitchen door with our hearts full and a true sense of accomplishment. Since then, we’ve received countless messages, emails and letters, thanking us for our contribution to the community. So many echo the same question: “What’s next for you? What will you do now that the bakery is closed?” Some days I feel like I owe an explanation, but the
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truth is, I find myself right where I want to be: at home, without an agenda. For the first time in over a decade, I’m home without the constant pull of a business that relentlessly demanded my time and energy. The never-ending, deafening ping of texts between myself and staff have silenced. The dozens of daily emails that once flooded my inbox have slowly come to a standstill. And perhaps more than anything, the emotional, ever-elusive tug of balancing my work and home life has disintegrated into thin air — overnight. Now, my calendar boasts overdue get-togethers with friends, family and colleagues. Mornings involve a quiet cup of tea as I plan the day, followed by breakfast at the kitchen island with my family and dropping my son at preschool for a few hours a week while I focus on my own professional food and writing projects. I have the flexibility to come and go as I please and dictate the flow of my day; in other words, I run the day rather than allowing the day to run me.
And while cooking and baking has always naturally been a focus in our home, I’ve even noticed a shift in my approach to preparing meals. With this newfound time, I’ve taken a deep dive into my 150-plus cookbook collection (yes, I counted), planned meals and grocery shopped in a more methodical, less hectic manner (aka throwing every single thing that looks good in my cart at Trader Joe’s), with the goal of trying new cuisines and expanding my base of cooking techniques. So, when I’m asked what’s next for me, the truth is — I finally get to decide what lies ahead, and that’s incredibly freeing, even if it’s paired with a bit of internal guilt for not being “busy” in the same manner. Life is short, folks; it’s important that we hit the pause button every so often to evaluate our purpose on this planet and prioritize our health, goals, wishes and dreams. As a wife and mama to the sweetest little boy in the world and a girl on the way, I know being right here at home is the best place I could ever be — no explanation needed.
DINING & ENTERTAINING OCTOBER 2021
KCMAG_DUMMY October.indd 26
9/22/21 3:42 PM
