My First Popsicle - by Zosia Mamet (Hardcover)

About the Book

"From a spectrum of talented authors, a collection of essays on food, and its entwinement with our emotions and our lives. Of all the essentials for survival: oxygen, water, sleep, and food, only food is a vast treasure trove of memory and of sensory experience. Food is a portal to culture, to times past, to disgust, to comfort, to love: no matter one's feelings about a particular dish, they are hardly ever neutral. In MY FIRST POPSICLE, Zosia Mamet has curated some of the most prominent voices in art and media to tackle the topic of food in its elegance, its profundity, and its incidental charm. With contributions from Stephanie Danler on vinaigrette and starting over, Anita Lo on the cultural responsibility of dumplings, Tony Hale on his obsession with desserts at chain restaurants, Patti LuPone on childhood memories of seeking out shellfish, Gabourey Sidibe on her connections with her father and the Senegalese dish Poullet Yassa, Andrew Rannells on his nostalgia for Jell-O Cake, Sloane Crosley on the pesto that got her through the early months of the pandemic, Michelle Buteau on her love for all things pasta, Jia Tolentino on the chicken dish she makes to escape reality, and more, MY FIRST POPSICLE is as much an ode to food and emotion as it is to life. After all, the two are inseparable"--

Book Synopsis

A warm and relateable collection of essays exploring the memories we associate with different meals in our lives, from a spectrum of talented creators

What is your most poignant memory surrounding food?

Of all the essentials for survival: oxygen, water, sleep, and food, only food is a vast treasure trove of memory and of sensory experience. Food is a portal to culture, to times past, to disgust, to comfort, to love: no matter one's feelings about a particular dish, they are hardly ever neutral.

In MY FIRST POPSICLE, Zosia Mamet has curated some of the most prominent voices in art and culture to tackle the topic of food in its elegance, its profundity, and its incidental charm. With contributions from Stephanie Danler on vinaigrette and starting over, Anita Lo on the cultural responsibility of dumplings, Tony Hale on his obsession with desserts at chain restaurants, Patti LuPone on childhood memories of seeking out shellfish, Gabourey Sidibe on her connections with her father and the Senegalese dish Poullet Yassa, Andrew Rannells on his nostalgia for Jell-O Cake, Sloane Crosley on the pesto that got her through the early months of the pandemic, Michelle Buteau on her love for all things pasta, Jia Tolentino on the chicken dish she makes to escape reality, and more, MY FIRST POPSICLE is as much an ode to food and emotion as it is to life. After all, the two are inseparable.

Review Quotes

"For anyone else who has saved a meaningful recipe, struggled with their relationship with food, remembered a break-up by what they were eating (a meatball in one contributor's case), or treasured a food experience, this wonderful, immersive collection of essays and short reminiscences edited by actor Zosia Mamet from "Girls" with contributions by superstars like Stephanie Danler, is absolutely essential. Pair this book with an apron or potholder with a restaurant gift certificate and you've got yourself a perfect gift." --Zibby Owens, GMA

"[These] essays are eclectic, candid, and nourishing. Often the anecdotes and insights are laugh-out-loud funny and cathartic in all the big and small ways. [The collection] is expertly curated so that there is a contrast in moods, identities, and experiences." --Shondaland

"[My First Popsicle] is a collection of essays about our emotional connections to food. Inspired by the video of a friend's son enjoying a Popsicle for the first time, actor Mamet sought to create a book about a topic "ripe with associations." She enlisted the help of contributors from diverse backgrounds in art and culture. Most of the essays capture an isolated moment in time, making the book perfect for reading in short, leisurely spurts..the book is an appealing reminder of the power of food...A good gift for foodies." -Kirkus

"In this nourishing collection, Girls star and Glamour columnist Mamet gathers food stories and recipes from an A-list cast of actors, comedians, musicians, and other celebrities... A professed "potluck of words," the tone and depth of the essays vary, though they are all generously served up, even when acerbic. "Isn't that when food tastes best," Mamet asks, "when it's made with love?" There's a cozy vibe, like a church supper cookbook (with famous congregants). It's nifty to glimpse stars of the stage and screen through their menus in this delectable project." -Publishers Weekly

"Each essay showcases the powerful connection between our emotions and food. VERDICT Recommended for lovers of food and essays." --Library Journal

"Let's be honest: most of us have a complicated relationship with food: we love some dishes, hate others, we're willing to taste anything or nothing at all. Food can mean many things to an individual, and that's what this book is about: the funny, awful, loving, disgusting, tear-jerking, tasty ways we meet at the table for dinner." --The Bookworm Sez

About the Author

Zosia Mamet is perhaps best known for her starring role in the Emmy- and Golden Globe Award-winning HBO series Girls, and her role in the Emmy-nominated HBO Max series The Flight Attendant. When she isn't on screen, you can find her at the barn riding her horse, or at home in the woods with her husband and snuggling their dog.