My Dear Readers,
A decade ago I started this blog and you all showed up. You are, by a mile, the best thing to come out of this hobby of mine. Some of you have been here with me for the entire decade, some of you have become my real-life friends and collaborators, all of you have made the site the wonderful place that it is. Ten years is a long time for us to be in a relationship so I am celebrating our perseverance with a very special Lottie + Doof 10th Anniversary Dinner.
Three of the greatest (and my favorite) Midwestern chefs will be in the kitchen:
Sandra Holl, pastry genius and owner of Floriole Bakery and Cafe SLASH longtime bestie of L + D, will be making all of our pastry dreams come true.
Abra Berens, chef at Granor Farm and author of forthcoming cookbook Ruffage, will provide dad jokes and the best vegetables you’ve ever had.
Jonny Hunter, Culinary Director of Underground Food Collective, and unofficial mayor of Madison, WI, will make a rare Chicago appearance and bring the meat (too much?).
Together these three superstars will cook a meal that celebrates the wonders of autumn in the Midwest. It will probably include things like relish trays and jello molds. It will not include lemon zest. It will definitely be a little witchy because it is late October and I am me.
The details: Floriole Bakery & Cafe. Sunday, October 28th, 6-8pm. Tickets are $75 (available HERE and very limited) and include food and drink and gratuity as well as some very special surprises (Trick or Treat Style! Imagine an episode of Oprah where she gives away a lot of cool stuff but I am Oprah and none of the things are cars).
Finally, it would be weird to just celebrate ourselves, so the other important thing to know is that all of the profits from the dinner will be going to support Planned Parenthood in their tireless and moral work to provide safe and affordable healthcare.
Please join me for what will surely be a night to remember (and post about on Instagram).
Love, Tim
Fine print:
*We’re not able to accommodate special diets at this dinner. There will be gluten. There will be dairy. There will be some animals. (Though a casual vegetarian/pescatarian can probably skip a course or two and still be happy—let me know and we can discuss.)
*The only way to be guaranteed the super cool tote bag pictured up top is to come to the dinner. It was designed by my friend Jenny Volvoski and is inspired by Judy Chicago’s Dinner Party. An homage to some of the women who have inspired me.
*For those of you not in Chicago, I will be sure to share things like photos and recipes from the dinner, so it will be like we were all there together. And we’ll find other ways to celebrate in the next couple of months. Don’t worry.
UPDATE 9/10/18 1pm: SO sorry everyone, but this sold out super fast. Tickets are all gone. Will keep you posted if we have cancellations or if anything changes. Thanks to everyone who bought a ticket and sorry we can’t all be together. xo
Eva says:
September 10th, 2018 at 10:02 am
Congrats from Germany :)
Unfortunately, I’m too far away for your party – but will stop by here online every once in a while as usual.
Have a great event and keep up your good work.
Best, Eva
Nina A says:
September 10th, 2018 at 10:32 am
Happy Birthday! Wish I could be there.
Judi says:
September 10th, 2018 at 11:34 am
Happy birthday! This site has given me so much happiness over the years. Thank you for all the hard work and dedication to it.
Ava aka pairs4life says:
September 10th, 2018 at 12:05 pm
I was just about to sign up. I can handle the gluten but alas, I am not a casual vegetarian, not vegan, but no animals.
Great Space.
Sandra is lovely as always. I am confident the menu will be one of the best of the year.
Mazel tov to you Tim.
Still a favorite space of mine here in Chicagoland.
PS Make certain someone takes all of the pics, oh and do share them with us!
Candice says:
September 10th, 2018 at 12:14 pm
Happy Birthday Lottie and Doof (and Tim) and thanks for a great blog! Unfortunately I can’t attend but in honor of our shared September birthdays I’d like to make a donation to you for Planned Parenthood. How can we do this?
Caitlin Liddle says:
September 10th, 2018 at 12:15 pm
Hi Tim! I just went to register for this event and it says sold out. Is this really the case? Wasn’t sure since I got the email less than an hour ago. Thanks and hope to be able to attend!
Tim says:
September 10th, 2018 at 12:23 pm
Caitlin! It did sell out, I am as surprised as you are. I really appreciate you wanting to be there.
Tim says:
September 10th, 2018 at 12:33 pm
Thanks to all of you for the nice wishes. I am so grateful for you!
Louise says:
September 10th, 2018 at 12:44 pm
Happy 10th Anniversary. I’ll look forward to seeing the celebration photos. And all of the great food.
Tim says:
September 10th, 2018 at 12:59 pm
Louise! One of my most regular and enthusiastic readers and commenters. Thanks for all of the support over the years.
stacey snacks says:
September 10th, 2018 at 1:06 pm
Congrats on 10 years Tim…..
My blog also turned 10 in July (but no big chefs cooked for my party!).
Wish I was lived closer so I could raise a glass!
Best wishes.
Stacey
Charlotte says:
September 10th, 2018 at 2:15 pm
Happy birthday! I love your blog.
sally says:
September 10th, 2018 at 2:24 pm
HAPPY birthday!
You’ve brought so much joy to your readers, and I hope you feel it radiating back to you!
Maria says:
September 10th, 2018 at 3:00 pm
Happy birthday and congratulations! Love your writing and the recipes you’ve pointed me towards (I just made the Salty Honey Pie and wish I still had some)! To the next 10 years!
kickpleat says:
September 10th, 2018 at 4:09 pm
I gave this dinner some serious consideration since Chicago isn’t really that far from my family home in Ontario and I can always use a push to visit my dad. Congrats on 10 years!!!!
Dena says:
September 10th, 2018 at 5:32 pm
Congratulations. Have a fabulous dinner!
Gabrielle says:
September 10th, 2018 at 6:57 pm
Congratulations! I feel so happy whenever I get a notification about a new post. Thank you for the all the laughs and the want-to-try recipes. Unfortunately I haven’t actually tried anything yet… but one day! I’ve got my eye on the lasagnas especially (Turschen’s and the eggplant). In any event, I really enjoy this space. Cheers to the next 10 years, and have fun at your party!
Emily says:
September 10th, 2018 at 11:17 pm
Happy 10 years! I would happily overpay for that bag if you wanted to make them available to further support Planned Parenthood…
Matthew A Wencl says:
September 10th, 2018 at 11:56 pm
I’ve been a fan of yours for years . . . yours was the first culinary blog I ever paid much attention to, and I’m thankful still for the many recipes of yours I’ve replicated in my kitchen, mostly desserts, but one very favorites is that magical Milk Liqueur . . . so odd in its process and pure bliss in the tasting. Wishing you big congratulations from Seattle on your 10 year anniversary! Thank you, thank you!
Tim says:
September 11th, 2018 at 5:41 am
All! Thanks!
Candice- That is so nice! Feel free to just give directly to your local Planned Parenthood and I will be so happy.
Stacey- Ten years?! How can it be?
Jeannette- How fun would that have been?! Thanks for even considering it. : )
Tim says:
September 11th, 2018 at 5:42 am
Matthew- That Milk Liqueur is a real project, glad you’ve made it. I definitely had more ambition in my youth. Ha.
Tim says:
September 11th, 2018 at 5:57 am
Oh, and Emily- Let me see if I can figure something out with bags. Stay tuned.
Pat says:
September 11th, 2018 at 6:37 am
Happy, happy B-day. I would so come to your party if I could. Make it fun.
Kate Krieger says:
September 11th, 2018 at 12:00 pm
I *love* your blog and I *love* that you are always raising money for Planned Parenthood. If I was in Chicago, I’d totally go to this! Looking forward to the pictures and recipes.
Nicole says:
September 11th, 2018 at 3:56 pm
Even though our seasons are always out of kilter (I’m in New Zealand), and really I know so little about you, somehow this blog and you with your sweet and strident opinions on food and life, have become one of my favourite parts of the internet. And in all the crazy turmoil at the moment, a tiny reminder that you can find a kindred spirit in someone on the other side of the world from a completely different life, when one isn’t even aware of the other (such is the strange realities of the internet). I’ve never commented, though I’ve been coming here for a long time… but I just wanted to say how much I enjoy your writing, this site, and your excellent taste in food, classic but tweaked flavours, and how you seamlessly meld art and politics and culture into a cooking blog but somehow manage to avoid ever sounding uppity or combative. All the best for your celebrations.
catchicago says:
September 14th, 2018 at 1:13 pm
I’m so sad I missed out on tickets for the event but I will be celebrating with you in spirit! I have loved your blog for years. May you and it be around for many more years to come. xxx
Laura Saffioti says:
September 26th, 2018 at 3:20 pm
If you have any more totes, I would love to purchase one. Lottie and Doof is my favorite recipe blog. I love you all so much.
Dena Robertson says:
September 28th, 2018 at 2:05 pm
Thank you and Congrats! I have followed your blog for at least 6 or 7 years. My favorite recipes are on your blog. So grateful!
DebS says:
October 1st, 2018 at 9:08 pm
Hi Tim, congrats on your 10th Anniversary! I’ve been blogging a little longer (2006), but the oldest posts are definitely rotting away … and you’re very much an inspiration for me. I’ve made quite a few recipes from your blog – especially the Ottolenghi spinach date salad, that I’ve also tried with kale, and caramel chocolate tart.
And quite a few pleasant breakfasts at Floriole, on your recommendation. Have a great anniversary dinner!