MaryJanesFarm BakeOver^®

The Chicago MakeOver

This is a long and amazing story full of magic, but I vow to keep it short.

Years ago, I read a magazine story (in Inc. magazine) about an amazing woman named Lois Weisberg, Commissioner of Cultural Affairs for the City of Chicago. I saved the article, but eventually lost it in my house fire. Two years ago, I read about her contagious personality again in The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell. If you haven’t read his book, go out now and get a copy. It’s an exploration of why we behave the way we do with a theory that supports the “power of one.” Such knowledge, properly applied, could have enormous potential. In his book, Malcolm describes Lois as “the classic connector who knows so many people and belongs to so many worlds that she is able to spread a piece of information or an idea a thousand different ways, all at once.” When a connector looks out at the world, they see a world with possibility — an instinct that helps them relate to people they meet, bringing them together. Lois finds everyone interesting and full of potential.

I got up my nerve and wrote to Lois. I taped a copy on my wall and hoped, much like the theory that if you want a beautiful physique, you tape a picture of your dream body where you’ll see it routinely, and voila — she answered me! She claims that of all the letters she receives, mine was the only one she’s ever answered. (Now that we’ve met and know each other, we think it’s because we “just happen” to be born on the same day — kindred spirits.)

Everything started to fall into place. Her son, an author, was on a nationwide book tour. I invited him to my farm. Voila — he came! Then I connected with her daughter-in-law. She helps edit one of my favorite magazines in New York. Next, she sent a copy of my magazine to a book agent friend of hers, also in New York. Eventually, Lois invited Cindylou and me to Chicago to help her with an organic food project. (Long, long wonderful story I’ll save for later!) Chicago has the only “organic only” farmers’ market in the U.S. and an agricultural high school.

The morning after Cindylou and I arrived, we fixed a mid-day meal for 35 of Lois’ guests. There I stood, demonstrating my one-skillet “Tarte Tian” invention, when I realized, full throttle, the name was all wrong. First of all, I’m not French and I felt silly saying it out loud ... especially given the fact that Art Smith, Oprah’s chef, was there along with his artistic director, Jesus Salgueiro. (Another “must have” book is Art’s Back to the Table: The Reunion of Food and Family.)

Once home, Lois’ connector magic kicked into high gear. I signed a book deal with the help of her agent friend ... meaning from here on out, I can supplement my farm income by writing books on farm life. And, I have a new name for my one-skillet meal invention — a “MaryJanesFarm BakeOver.” You bake it. Flip it over. Voila!

How to make a MaryJanesFarm BakeOver →