Ten Years of Blogging!

Ten years ago, I started Jessica’s Dinner Party as a space to house my growing interest in food. What was meant to be a hobby, grew into something bigger, and eventually led into a career in food. JDP has captured such an incredible decade of my life–I could’ve never imagined many of the things that happened since that first post. And so in honor of my ten year anniversary, I thought I’d share ten of my favorite blog posts, and why they’re so memorable to me.

1. Zucchini Pancakes, August 2009
My mom is the best home cook I know, and her food inspires me every day. These zucchini pancakes remind me of my childhood and all the amazing dishes she cooked (still cooks!) for our family. It’s no surprise that this was one of the first recipes I blogged about.

2. Carrot Cake for a Birthday, April 2010
Before I knew anything about food styling, I made this carrot cake, and this rendition still looks beautiful to me. It was the first time I felt like I really understood the magic of food blogging, and all the different facets that go into it. Carrot cake also happens to be my favorite, and this is the only recipe for it on my site (for now!).

3. Asian Kitchen in Paris, June 2010
My apartment in Paris was not the most glamorous place to live in. It was on the sixth floor of a walkup, the kitchen consisted of two hot plates and a microwave, and the shower was either scalding hot or icy cold–but that was all part of the charm to me. Many of my friends and family visited and stayed with me at this apartment, and so there are a lot of happy memories of the people I love here. (PS. I’m making those above-mentioned zucchini pancakes in the first photo).

4. Le Stage: C’est Fini, May 2011
My internships in Paris were some of the hardest experiences of my life. They were not only physically demanding but also emotionally scarring. I felt defeated for a long time and had doubts about whether I had chosen the right path. Luckily, I found opportunities that showed me that there was more to the food industry than chef-dom, and I’m happy with where my career ended up going.

5. Roland Garros Sandwich, June 2011
My sister visited me twice while I was in Paris, and we had such a great time. During one of the visits, we went to the tennis French Open at Roland Garros and packed sandwiches with cornichons. We’re still talking about cornichons, and they bring us so much joy whenever they’re around. Now that we’re older and both married, it’s hard to do extended sister-sister travels, which makes the memory of her visits even sweeter.

6. Dalmatian Vacation, September 2011
I went on a lot of little trips while I was living in Europe, but this one to Croatia with my best friend was one of the most beautiful. It was equal parts adventurous (jumping off cliffs and swimming in caves), delicious (fresh seafood and the best dried figs), and relaxing (long talks and walks). Again, I cherish these adventures more so now that it’s harder for them to happen.

7. How to Make a Dessert Bar, Summer-Early Fall 2012
I made the desserts and favors for my sister’s wedding, and I still consider it one of my greatest baking achievements of all time. I also met my husband that day, and so it was special all around 💕.

8. A Tea Class in the Spring, March 2014
I had a wonderful experience working in Korea, and this was one of my favorite projects while I was there. I was given a lot of freedom, and so I combined many of the things I love into one event: British tea time, pastries, fresh flowers, and female camaraderie.

9. Beet Buns for Valentine’s Day, February 2015
I moved back to New York for grad school in the fall of 2014, and it was one of the happiest chapters of my life. I met and learned from some of the most amazing women in food, and for the first time as an adult, I felt like I truly belonged. My graduating thesis was a business plan for a granola company–much of which was masterminded in this kitchen with the help of many taste testers.

10. Chocolate Earl Grey Mascarpone Cake, December 2017
I hosted a couple of dinner parties for my girlfriends in the fall and winter of 2017, and it really solidified how much I love gatherings and cooking for others. I enjoy trying out new restaurants, but there’s something about a home-cooked dinner party that feels more intimate and special.