Q&A: Deb Perelman on 16 Years at Smitten Kitchen

She's humble about her success, but there's so much we can learn from her.

Possibly America’s most recognizable food blogger. (Photo courtesy of Christine Han.)

One of the things I like best about Smitten Kitchen is Deb’s self-deprecating, unassuming humor that infuses all her recipes with light-heartedness. And then there are the recipes themselves, which seem exactly what I want at that moment.

So I was thrilled when Deb agreed to answer my questions about why she’s done so well, even if she is too modest to take any credit:

Q. Congratulations on 16 years as a food blogger! Who else has your kind of longevity? 

A. Thank you! A lot of OG food bloggers are still around, doing food things, even if their careers are less blog-centric. Adam Roberts from Amateur Gourmet is podcasting and newslettering. Heidi from 101 Cookbooks continues to put out amazing veg-focused recipes and books. Luisa Weiss from Wednesday Chef is working on a new book. I could go on and on. :)

I’ve always felt that blogs were less journals (as the earlier ones were predominantly characterized) and more just a way to self-publish. Therefore, no matter how much digital ink has been spilled over the so-called death of blogging, nobody has stopped needing to find ways to self-publish on the web. TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube cooking stars need to