Be Ready When the Luck Happens: A Memoir

“‘Pick something you love to do,’ he urged. ‘If you love it, you’ll be really good at it. And don’t worry about whether you make money. Just do it!’”

Throughout the memoir, Garten emphasizes the positive effects of her husband Jeffrey’s Unconditional Love and Support. In this passage from the opening chapter, Jeffrey encourages Garten to give up her prestigious job because he knows that it’s making her unhappy and that she can find equal success elsewhere. Jeffrey’s encouragement offers a stark contrast to Garten’s parents’ constant disapproval.

“Bessie and Morris had enough money to take a trip to Europe and came back with my favorite present: my Paris dress. […] I didn’t know where Paris was, but I was sure it was a special place and I wanted to go there someday.”

The city of Paris acts as an important symbol of Garten’s goals for her life throughout the memoir. This passage suggests that her relationship with the city began at an early age, when her paternal grandparents brought her a special dress from their trip to Paris. The gift established Paris in her imagination as a city where she could be the best, most special version of herself.

“I loved taking care of Jeffrey and making him happy […] Now baking something delicious was a way to express my feelings and to connect with Jeffrey—I’d think of him while I cooked, and when he reached for one of my cookies or brownies, I knew he’d think of me.”

The Emotional Importance of Food emerges as an important theme in the early chapters of the memoir. This passage suggests that the development of Garten’s love of food was closely tied to her relationship with Jeffrey. As she fell in love with Jeffrey, she also fell in love with the act of cooking.