Carrying my cookbooks all over the place to book sign has always been an adventure for me. Rosalie Serving Italian, Rosalie Serving Country, and Rosalie Serving Best Loved Italian, all written in that order, have proved to give me much joy, connect me to the sweetest people, and for sure, keep me young! I have lugged them into Italian markets, grocery stores, bookstores, and sat in the hot sun on street corners in front of my favorite restaurants. One book signing will always be etched into my mind.
It was on “The Hill” in downtown St. Louis, MO. This is one of the last thriving Italian communities in the United States; full of Italian markets, restaurants, bakeries, and gelato shops. It was at one of these Italian markets where my table was set up with my cookbooks, when a gentleman and his wife approached me. They were excited to see me and the husband says with a loud voice, “Rosalie, we have your cookbooks and especially love the Italian Best Loved.” With that, he turns to the twenty or so people standing around and with the same loud voice declares, “People, this lady has the best meatball recipe in her Italian cookbook that I have ever tasted!” I could feel my face flushing, and with everyone smiling and turning to me, the gentleman comes around the table where I am sitting. He says, ” I just have to kiss her for those meatballs,” and promptly lands a smooch on my cheek. His wife happened to have her phone clicked on camera and captures the episode.
A kiss for the meatballs!
I will never forget that day, especially the fact that someone could be so excited about my meatball recipe to kiss me. I also sold more than the usual copies of Rosalie Serving Best Loved Italian!
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