The Dish My Family Passed Down
Write a personal essay about a family recipe that has been passed down through generations in your family. Include the cultural significance of the dish, any modifications made over time, and what this recipe means to you today.
Suggested length: An essay or article: 800 to 2,500 words
Start the clock
Pick a sprint, press start and keep going until it stops. Momentum beats polish on a first draft.
Make it yours
Three ways to take this prompt somewhere nobody else will.
- Use one example from your own life.
- Open with a specific story, then widen out to the big idea.
- Write for a curious friend, not an expert.
Writing cooking books
Recipes that work, and a reason to cook them.
Cookbooks and food writing cover everything from a single cuisine to the science of how cooking works. The best ones have a point of view: a voice, a philosophy, a story behind the food.
What readers expect
- Reliable, tested recipes
- A clear point of view
- Stories behind the food
- Beautiful, useful design
A tip before you start
Test every recipe more than once, ideally in someone else's kitchen. Readers forgive a lot, but not a cake that fails.
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- A Memorable Meal AbroadPen a reflective piece on your most memorable dining experience at a foreign location. Describe the setting, the flavors, and how the meal expanded…
Fifteen minutes in? Keep going.
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