’Twas the night before Thanksgiving, and all through the house, not a creature was stirring…except for me, because I had to don my trusty hospital scrubs and start another week of graveyard shifts.
But don’t feel badly for me. I have so much to be thankful for, including:
- My family—especially these two little guys (nose picking and all):
- Pre-Thanksgiving feasting! In fact, I’ve enjoyed plenty of Turkey Day dishes for the past couple of weeks. Recipe testing has its benefits, you know.
- Our book! I’m deliriously giddy that advance copies are finally arriving in the hands of so many of my favorite people! (If you ever feel like posting about my book on social media, please hashtag it #food4humans so I can be sure to see it and share it on my special #FOOD4HUMANS Tumblr site!)
- Date nights! This week, Henry and I took a much-needed breather over dinner at Ad Hoc in Yountville. There, we tucked into a platter of Ad Hoc’s famous Buttermilk Fried Chicken for the first time in several years (!). Unlike our pre-Paleo forays to Ad Hoc, we ordered the gluten-free version this time. No, it’s not Paleo, but I’m happy to report that the crispy, tender chicken was just as mind-blowingly delicious as before.
Even better: our new friend Ruben at Ad Hoc decided that a copy of our book had to be displayed above the bar.
After a few of the staffers spotted it and flipped through it, one came over to ask me: “So what exactly is Paleo?”
Luckily, my answer—my Paleo elevator pitch!—is now in the form of a two-page comic featured in my book, so I was able to quickly whip it out and show it to him. Those of you who’ve downloaded my free 50-page preview are probably familiar with the cartoon by now, but if you’re scratching your head, here it is:
Brace yourselves: You’ll likely be hit with the “What the SAM HILL is PALEO?” question over Thanksgiving dinner—especially if you politely decline every bread roll passed your way. No worries: Just print out the handy-dandy comic above, pass it around, and turn your gaze back to the plate of spatchcocked turkey and warm Brussels sprouts slaw in front of you. You won’t even have to pause between bites!
But honestly: Don’t worry if you happen to take a Turkey Day break from Paleo. Holidays are stressful enough without having to freak out about the bread in your grandma’s special stuffing or the marshmallows atop your mom’s sweet potato pie. Enjoy this special day with your family and friends, and remember that a gustatory detour can be well worth the experience. (See, e.g., the fried chicken pictured above.) Just don’t forget to get back on the path to good health!
Lastly, I am grateful for all of you. Your support has meant the world to me these past few months, and I hope to be able to thank you in person on my book tour. Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!
