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Th ursday, November 9, 2017 • WATERLOO CHRONICLE • 13Serving your community since 1856 CITY LIFE WATERLOO CHRONICLEWATERLOO CHRONICLE AROUND TOWN By Bob Vrbanac Chronicle Sta� Greta Podleski didn't have to wonder about how much cultural catchet her cookbook Looneyspoons still has -- all she had to do was walk in this year's Oktoberfest Parade as one of the grand marshals along with her partner Dave Chilton. Chilton is known as the author of the Wealthy Barber series and was a cast member on the hit CBC show Dragon's Den. He was an example of a local boy who made good in � nance, publishing and on TV, and yet it was Greta that everyone was stopping for sel� es and autographs, or just calling out her name. "He said, 'did you hear all the women yelling Looneyspoons? People here love you way more than they love me,'" said Podleski, laughing. Podleski joined with her sister Janet to write four best selling self- published cookbooks, including Crazy Plates and Eat, Shrink and be Merry!, which made cooking nutritionally fun and not a bore. � eir irreverence toward eating healthy was a hit, and now has Podleski striking out on her own for her latest cookbook Yum & Yummer: Ridicu- lously tasty recipes that'll blow your mind, but not your diet. It should be no surprise that Greta kept on cooking while sister Janet went on to pursue a doctorate in nutrition and is a celebrated public speaker. She's been doing it since she was � ve and continues to create dishes that taste fabulous without adding the � ab. She admits this time is di� erent as she's done everything from learn- ing to be a pretty good food photographer to a videographer with every new recipe in the book featuring a how to guide for home cooks online. "You wear every hat," said Podleski. "I'm the author, the recipe cre- ator and I'm my own food photographer and video director." Her Waterloo home was even the setting for most of that principal photography. Not her kitchen, of course, but her bedroom. She laughs that it had the best lighting. "Just look how great the food looks," she said. "Food photography works much better with natural lighting." Still, the biggest change is that she's releasing the book without her sister and her con� dant, who was there in the same musty basement when they started the journey to self-publishing success after rejections from seven publishers. She said she's got Janet's blessing, while pursu- ing her own distinct vision. "� e time just seemed to be right to do this book on my own, which I dreamt of years ago," said Podleski. "I have no doubt we could have done a � fth Looneyspoons-type book, but sometimes you just want to do something new and try something on your own to see if you can do it. I think if I had never written this book I would have wondered what if." While Yum & Yummer still focuses on cooking nutritionally with fresh ingredients, the look and feel of it is very di� erent. "� ere's no cartoons, there's no punny names," said Podleski. "A lot of things have also changed in the world of food and nutrition. "People want gluten-free, and a lot more people want vegetarian and vegan, and I'm even getting requests for allergen-free recipes. I lis- tened to all of the feedback and incorporated it into the book." She never intended it, but the book is 80 per cent gluten-free. "� at's just the way I cook now," said Podleski. � e food and ingredient choices have also exploded in the last six years since she published her last cookbook. What were once gourmet ingredients have now become more common, and the exotic is avail- able at your � ngertips. "� ings that were hard to � nd are now everywhere," said Podleski. "I joke in the original Looneyspoons we didn't have any balsamic vinegar because back in 1996 people didn't know where to � nd it ... now you can probably stop at the gas station and � nd some. "� ese recipes are aimed for the people who aren't total newbies but aren't food snobs either. It's for people who want ideas for what they can cook tonight -- that's my target audience." And she's more than happy to show them the way. While each video attached to each recipe doesn't show o� the whole process, it gives peo- ple an idea how to get there and what the � nal destination is for each dish. She said it's never been done before. Just call it "Yum� ix." "� e best compliment as a cookbook author is when you get people saying I use your book all the time," said Podleski. "I have no desire to write a co� ee-table book, I want people to cook more and to get in the kitchen." For more visit yumyummer.com. Going from yum to yummer Looneyspoons author Greta Podleski takes it to the next level Lest we Forget Nov. 11 at the WPL The Waterloo Public Library is hosting a special event in partnership with � e Memory Project called Lest We Forget starting at 2 p.m. at the main branch. Veteran Jim McLean speaks about his time as a peacekeeper with the military and his experience deal- ing with PTSD at 2 p.m. From 2:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. there will be a reception with light refreshments. At 3 p.m., history professor Geo� Hayes tells the story of a young Waterloo soldier who died in the Rhineland in March 1945. This drop-in program at the main library is part of the ongoing outreach of � e Memory Project. For more information visit www.wpl.ca. Skate Night Date Night kicks o� Nov. 11 The City of Waterloo presents Skate Night Date Night starting Nov. 11, 7 p.m., at RIM Park. Start o� at � e Benchwarmer with a three course meal, then skate away the evening on the Carolyn Fedy rink, RIM Park accompanied by live musicians. � e � rst evening on Nov. 11 is called Remember when… � e next session is Feb. 10 and called I'll love you forever and March 10 is called Spring Fling. The price includes a delicious meal, two skate admissions, two hot chocolate vouchers and live entertainment. Admission is $60 per couple plus tax. Dinner is at 7 p.m. � e skate starts at 8:40 p.m. and goes until 10:30 p.m. See waterloo.ca/skate for details and other special skating dates. Pre-registration is appreciated. Dance for Kindness Nov. 12 at the square Help celebrate World Kindness Day on Nov. 12, 12:30 p.m. 1 p.m., by participating in the sixth Annual Dance for Kindness at the Waterloo public square Join thousands of people around the world in a Worldwide FreezeMob/FlashMob. Waterloo's event needs enthusiastic dancers of all ages and abilities. Register to participate in Waterloo's Dance for Kindness at www.danceforkindness.com/register. HILARY GAULD-CAMILLERI Best selling cookbook author Greta Podleski has released a new book called Yum & Yummer. Stay Current... From the latest information on local politics, to minor sports scores to what's going on down the street, visit www.waterloochronicle.ca CONNECTED TO YOUR COMMUNITY