This is a post that I would have never wanted to write. It’s tough to put down into words what’s been going on in my heart and mind in the last couple of days, since I got “the” news. Our dear Lis (Lisa Cifelli from La mia Cucina) passed away, suddenly, leaving us all shattered. In fact, I am still in shock. For my readers who did not know her, she was the co-founder of the Daring Kitchen, a wonderful group of people who every month challenge each other to bake or cook the most amazing recipes. I have been a part of the Daring Kitchen family for over 2 years, but the core group has been together for even longer. As you know, I am not part of many cooking groups, as I unfortunately don’t always have the time to cook on deadlines. But the Daring Kitchen was an exception I treasured. I have always liked the concept of conquering “challenging” recipes and I have found great help in the website’s forums, besides making some good friends along the way. It’s never been a competition, it’s more like a family in which all the members encourage and help one another to achieve the best results. And I feel I have indeed achieved some impressive results thanks to Lis and the Daring Kitchen.
I have never met Lis in person, but I got to know her more via email when she asked me, only a couple of months after joining the group, if I wanted to host one of the challenges. What?? Of course I did! I was so honoured. I remember spending days thinking of what to challenge my fellow Daring Cooks in, before choosing Cannelloni.
Lis was always so helpful, kind and cheerful. I remember smiling a lot when reading her emails. She always had encouraging words for everyone in the forums and she was such a great person. I can hardly imagine the Daring Kitchen without her.
Kelly from Sass and Veracity has called out to all the past and current Daring Bakers and Cooks to remember Lis today. I wanted to bake something in her honour, but I did not get enough time to do it. So I thought it would be nice to share with you what I consider my biggest “conquers”, achieved thanks to the Daring Kitchen and Lis.
I still remember the very first challenge I participated in, it was about Potato Salads and I made my Insalata Russa served in ham cannoli.
I remember making Consommé for the very first time and turning it into a more “Italian dish”: Chicken and Saffron Consommé with Tortellini.
Then came the more inventive challenges when we had to come up with a recipe of our own and I made Eggplant & Tri-colour Goat Cheese Mille-feuille on Couscous
and Balsamic, Maple and Miso Glazed Pork Spare Ribs.
Making Paella was another great challenge!
I learnt amazing techniques like de-boning a chicken to make a Ballotine!
Or brining chicken!
Or making salumi
and cheese!!!
Till my latest achievement, the one I am the most proud of to date: making French Croissants!
I am not sure I would have tackled all these techniques if it weren’t for Lis and the Daring Kitchen members. They helped me gain the confidence I needed to try. They taught me that no matter how well or bad your recipe turns out, it’s the experience you gain while trying that counts. You will do better the next time, as you “have been there” already and you will succeed in the end. The Croissants challenge was a great example of this. My first batch failed. Miserably. I was so disappointed that I said to myself: there’s no way I am making these again. Yet a couple of days later, l went back to the grocery store, refilled on butter and started all over again. I wasn’t going to give in so quickly. I did not want to disappoint my fellow Daring Cooks. And when the second batch was successful, I was so proud of myself that I immediately shared the results on the forum!!! It is like a big family where I go to rejoice for my fellow bloggers successes and help out whenever I can. And I cannot believe Lis won’t be there any more. It makes me so sad.
My thoughts and prayers are with her family and friends. I wish there was something else I could say and do to help relieve the pain, but l know that’s not possible. I want you all to know that Lis was an inspiration to all of us in the community she co-founded and she will never be forgotten.
#tributetolis #daringbakers
Manu, what a wonderful way to remember your friend and mentor Lis. I am so sorry for your loss. I know she was a wonderful person and was loved very much by so many. Her legacy lives on through all of you who cook and bake and share such delicious foods. I joined the Daring Kitchen just before her passing, so I didn’t get a chance to get to know her. xo Cecilia
What a wonderful tribute. I was with Daring Cooks, too, for about a year. It was a terrific community filled with challenges I never would have thought to have tackled on my own.
Such a lovely tribute. I am sure she would be so touched to realise how many people she inspired.
Thank you for this lovely tribute to Lis. She had such a big personality, and we all miss her.
what lovely tribute I love her, and remember her site when I begin I loved so much:) this is beautiful and sorry your look Manuela:!
G’day What a beautifully written post today that am viewing with a tear in my eye, true!
Amazing how so many people’s lives could be touched by Lis and she always challenged and supported us all to higher levels too!
Great tribute!
Cheers! Joanne
Manuela…I recall telling you this a few times, but I will say it again. During one phone conversation, Lis said if she could eat at any bloggers house every day for the rest of her life, it would be yours..and I agreed! Seeing your photos again from some of the delicious challenges you took part in, quadruples that feeling! Beautiful tribute xo
Ohhhhh Thank you for reminding me of this. I am so very honoured! <3
Sorry you lost such a great friend and mentor. My prayers to her family and you…
Manuela, what a lovely tribute. I am sorry to hear about the passing of Lis. I have only read about the daring kitchen, but had not participated. Lis’s legacy lives on through the blogging community.
I am so sorry for such a loss! May she be resting in peace. Her great legacy will survive.
Manu, Lis would love your tribute. You’ve made me remember so many of the good times I enjoyed when I was part of the group. And I’ll admit just seeing that line up of accomplishments makes me feel like a quitter! Fabulous work, there. Best of luck to you on whatever challenges lie ahead. We’ll all remember Lis and what she helped encourage us to do.
A wonderful tribute, Manu. I’m not part of the Daring Kitchen challenge, but it’s clear Lis has made a tremendous impact on so many bloggers and I can only imagine how painful it is to share such a post…
Beautifully done.
I still have a hard time believing it to be true – Lis was a champion of all of us and will be missed terribly.
Yours was a wonderful tribute to Lis. I never joined the Daring Bakers (before it became DK), but followed Lis’ blog, La Mia Cucina and used to laugh to tears with her witty stories and remarks.
She was helpful when I started my own blog, we exchanged many emails.
It is a huge loss, and I offer you my condolences and a virtual hug….
This is a wonderful tribute to an amazing woman and mentor. Her sudden loss is a tragedy for the blogging community. Her kindness and influence will be sorely missed.