Tracy Porter

Interview with Tracy Porter

As Tracy would say, make yourself comfortable, light a candle, pour some wine in a beautiful glass or some tea in a lovely cup and start reading the longuest post you ever read on line!

Sometimes out of the blue, you encounter someone who changes something inside of you. It can be a mentor, a yoga guru, a friend, a teacher, a writer… someone you feel connected to. Tracy has been like that to me. I never met Tracy Porter; But I am sure that if one day, I have the chance to meet her in person, we will be like good old friends (after 10 good minutes because first I will be intimidated) talking, chatting and laughing together!!

 I did not know anything about her a few months ago. Then a soon as I discovered her company, her business, I became  really intrigued, then I discovered her Website  Tracy Porter  that I loved. In fact once in a while I order on line something unique and beautiful ( shoes, necklace…).Then I discovered her Blog Tracy Porter Blog  this is a little gem and I encourage my readers who do not know her to check it out right away.

Through her blog, I learned that I was not the only woman who loves TP Blog and business, we were a bunch of TP’s fans, and I was welcomed into their very unique community with opened arms. Thank you all of you. You are all funny, lovely and so caring for each other.

Tracy was also a part of this community since everyday she also commented on each comments… amazing.

I am still amazed to see how Tracy opened her life, her family, her store, her business to us. OK, some people may tell, this is pure Business or Marketing strategy. May be, but for me this is a tour de force. For years, months, weeks she came up with new ideas, new videos, about daily life inspiration, decoration , crafting, art de vivre, cooking…. ( and still running her business, her company and taking care of her family). Always with passion. She is passionate. How many women do you know around you who are so talented and able to do the same thing on a daily basis? I remember one morning not feeling 100% well, just watching her and her video changed my day. How many people can do that in your life? How many people can make you smile and happy like that? Tracy is talented and caring. She makes everything so easy, and possible. Yes she makes things possible. She is a wizard she can take something plain and transforms it into something sumptuous and beautiful.

Look at her delicious cooking, I enjoyed each recipe and video. May be because Tracy is also a little French, we have the same way of cooking and eating: something different but easy to make because we have a busy life and do not want to slave in our Kitchen. We just want to eat right and ealthy and bring the best at each meal.

Furthermore she brings always a positive attitude, and does not judge anyone, she cares about others. During our difficult economy, watching news or reading the newspaper can be so depressing and painful, Tracy Porter is like a refreshment, something light in our life.

It feel a little awkward writing about her Blog: I did not expect, nobody in Tracy Porter‘s Community thought, that she would end up her Blog so abruptly without any warnings. We were all very sad, but we could understand Tracy’s point of view and we respect her choice.

 A month before she stopped her blog, I was able and lucky to interview her (via-e-mail), she was so wonderful, sweet and kind to me!

Tracy, Thank you again for being such a inspiration. I can tell you that I can’t wait to see you again running your magical Blog and Videos. We are all waiting to see you soon on our screens (small or big). Big things will happen to you soon, for sure.

A tres bientot Tracy et merci pour tout. J’ espere te voir bientot a Temecula pour gouter aux vins Californiens et bien sur nous t’ invitons avec ta superbe famille a nous joindre pour un petit repas tout simple entre amis !

CC: Hi ! Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
TP: I am a mom of four sweet, wild, sweaty, little men. My husband John and
I have been married for 18 years. The same year we were married we decided
to become entrepreneurs. We design inspired things for the home ( furniture,
lighting, rugs, dinnerware etc.) and for her..( apparel, shoes, jewelry,
bags etc.) Our business is inspired by the way we live. Which for us is
embracing the imperfections of charm..the goodness of life where it really
lies.soulfulness in all her glory. It’s about home and the smells of a
luscious cooked meal wafting up the staircase, it’s taking a moment to sit
down and read with our boys, it’s swimming in the pond, it’s living life
inspired by what  it is you are passionate about every single day.

CC:What is the name of your Blog  and how/when did you get started your
Blog?
TP: Our blog is called TRACY PORTER be inspired, it is a couple of years
old..it is fun and fascinating and ever humbling. It draws in an incredible
group if mostly women that are inspired, real, lovely , giving.sharing &
incredibly encouraging souls. I had no idea so many people could make this
sort of connection through writing …I am baffled and thrilled by the
success of it.

CC: Where did the name originate from?
TP: The name is just who we are and what we do, it made sense..still does.

CC:  What is your  cooking mentor/inspiration?
TP: My French grandmother Lucie and my mother, Nettie. Two amazing women
that filled our home with love and joy for all things food and comfort. I am
also inspired by our children and my husband John.as each meal to us is a
time to gather and share and enjoy the loveliness of a gorgeous meal and
each other’s good company. I could linger at the table for hours. It is a
very happy place to me.

CC:How would you describe your cooking style?
TP: My cooking style is eclectic , comfortable, earthy, inviting. It is very
important that I enjoy the process and that I am making something that will
inspire my family or friends to slow down and enjoy the moment they are in.
Food that touches your senses when you are cooking and when you are eating,
tasting, smelling ..it is essential to me. I love cooking food that is
straight from our garden the most…I know what it is, and how I grew
it…it makes me feel even more a part of nature and it’s a connection the
way I grew up.

CC: What is a typical day for you?
TP: I get up early before my family.around 5. ( mind you I would adore
sleeping until 7:30 +.someday.!) I work out, It makes me feel alive and it’s
a positive way to start my day. I feed the ducks, donkey, goat, dogs..then
the boys! I spend my days in our studio.each day is different , which I do
love. Some days I am writing the whole day.or designing anything from
clothing to shoes or dinnerware. We create all of our designs in house so we
keep very busy. We have an incredible team of very talented people
thankfully! My husband John and I are home for dinner around 5:30.we believe
very much in sit down family dinners.

CC: What are your best Cooking Creations?
TP: OH!!! I love making things with lentils, couscous, quinoa.etc. I find
them to be irresistible as a starting point to adding in other goodness. I
love roasting things..meat, veggies.you name it.I adore the depth of taste
when you roast ( not to mention the fact that I can keep other things moving
along as something is roasting.well, that and the incredible scents that
waft through the house!) I also love creating desserts…I will sometimes
start with say a simple homemade sponge cake then go from there..so many
things to create when you start with lovely delicious beginnings!

CC: In your daily life how “Green” are you?
TP: I would say we are a 7 out of 10. We grow all of our own veggies & some
fruit. We do our best to recycle. We try to buy as little pre-packaged food
as we can. We make most every meal at home. We try to not to use air
conditioning at home much at all… We live 6 minutes from our studio so,
that keeps life uncomplicated as well. We certainly could improve…but I
think it’s a learning process, you hear about something and really try to
apply it.

CC: What is your favorite Kitchen tool, object in your kitchen and why?
TP: mine is part sentimental part function…my mezzaluna. It was my French
grandmothers, I remember using it with her.and now I use it every day to
chop herbs from our gardens. I think of her every time I take it out of the
drawer, every time my boys go cuts herbs and use it. I realize that kitchen
hand-me-downs may not be that common, but to me they are incredibly
heartwarming as some of my favorite  memories are food, eating, gathering
related.

CC: How would you describe your own Kitchen?
TP: It is the center of our home in many ways. Literally, and figuratively.
We love to cook, to gather..we have the kids do their homework right there
while we cook. We start our day together in the kitchen and end our day
there. We have friends and family over and we all hang out in the kitchen
until I force us to move. We all tend to gravitate there. Our kitchen is
very functional by design as we designed & built the home we live in. We
knew beautiful light streaming in through the windows was essential as we
live in the country and love nature. We knew storage that was beautiful and
practical was essential, we have deep drawers , a large pantry , a huge
restaurant sink. The surfaces are all stainless steel, which is wonderful
for cooking and cleaning. We have an island and a peninsula for ease serving
and hanging out. I love sitting in the kitchen with a big cup of tea..even
if I am just gathering my thoughts or making notes.

CC: What is a beautiful table setting for you?
TP: One that is inspired by the moment you are in. Sometimes it may be
simple, a quick snip from the garden of a few peonies..and I always light
some votives. That’s lovely to me. I do love to add in layers for holidays
.I tend to go much further.I think I get so excited by the seasons and it
drives my creative process. I will always have candles and something
fresh.flowers, greens that I will cut from our boxwoods or something from
the woods.  I love pops of color on the table, I think it’s why most of the
dinnerware and serving pieces I design are colorful.they are lovely to use
and inspire a table with, eclectic and layered with well traveled pattern .
I don’t like a table that feels untouchable.or to fancy that you really
cannot enjoy…to many rules. I love adding personal things onto the
tabletop, books, even photos are cool mixed in. I like creating a story of
sorts.

CC: What is the most unusual / scary, delicious,  ingredients, fruits,
vegetable, spice you ever used when cooking?
TP: I love foie gras. I know many people are anti foie gras, but it happens
to be one of my favorite tastes. I remember the first time I bought a nice
one …”grade A” flash frozen , I really wanted to do it right. Knowing how
pricey it is was a bit intimidating, but once I started with a small piece
and realized how very simple it was to cook I was thrilled. I think it just
reinforced that if you buy the best, freshest ingredients you have to do so
little to them.just enhance what is already there. It also reminded me that
everything is worth trying.you make mistakes and you learn from them. I
nearly melted the first piece.then I learned.

CC: Can you share with us the place/restaurant you had the most fantastic,
amazing diner experience? Can you describe 1 or 2 things you ate and loved
so much at this place?
TP:  I don’t even remember the name of the restaurant, but it was in Cinque
Terre,  Italy…about 18 years ago. I will never forget it. My husband and I
were in this tiny fishing village. We ordered the antipasto..they brought us
27 plates. Tiny gorgeous plates each filled with the most luscious ,
succulent tastes. We felt like little children in a candy shop, each taste
better than the next..anchovies dripping down my chin, a swig of red
wine..my fingers and mouth wanted to move so quickly my mind wanted to
linger the entire night. Everything was fresh from the sea, drizzled with
olive oil.crazy goodness!!!

CC:Can you share with us what you have in your freezer today?
TP: Too much. It needs a good defrost and cleaning!! I have lamb chops,
frozen pie cherries ( Johns favorite is cherry pie!!) Tons of
popsicles…ice cream sandwiches etc.  limeade.. appetizers when I may need
something in a pinch. Coconut cupcakes and mint brownies. Fish from our
pond. ( the boys will randomly catch and freeze)…

CC: What are you going to cook -eat  tonight?
TP: I Am going out for Mexican food and margaritas, it’s date night!!!!…..
But this week..we have has Swiss chard from our garden , I roast it for 20
minutes. It is insanely good. …with Italian sausages. We’ve had salmon on
the plank in the oven covered in dill and wine and mustard.
Roasted fennel and red peppers with garlicky , lemon shrimp done on the
grill. We don’t complicate dinner, but we do like variety and fresh
beautiful things to eat.

CC: How do you manage to stay  slim and fit and loving cooking and eating at
the same time?
TP:  Well, that’s nice.thanks. I eat everything.I just eat until I am full.
I try not to stuff myself, but I never deprave myself. When I was 18 I
worked in Paris modeling, and we always were being told that we needed to
lose weight. I found it very troubling as  I could not get enough pastries
in my mouth. I ran every day, but the thought of my weight being on my mind
all the time only drove me to crave eating more, and more. I gained more
weight because of it.  My thought is eat what you want ALWAYS.. & in
moderation. Sure we all get greedy once in a while ( I can down a major
chunk of cake with my fork!).but moderation is key for me. I also exercise,
I drink a lot of water and tea during the day..love my wine at night!

CC: What are your favorite hobbies?
TP: Cooking, gardening, raising a small menagerie. Travel…&  I adore
reading, could all day if I made the time.

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