In an interview, cookbook author Alison Roman answers a series of audience questions presented as on-screen comment graphics. She first addresses a lighthearted question about being a best friend, then clarifies her pasta preferences (hating penne, not farfalle), and recommends her favorite NYC restaurant, Ha's. The interview pivots when she's asked how she romanticizes life, which she uses as a segue to discuss the philosophy behind her grocery store, First Bloom, accompanied by B-roll footage showcasing the store's aesthetic and products.
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What does @AlisoneRoman do for dinner when she’s tired? “Oftentimes it’s like a really quick pasta,” she told me.
This fall, I traveled to the Catskills to sit down with the cookbook author to ask her your burning questions — and see @firstbloomcornerstore, the petite Bloomville grocery store she opened at the end of 2023. The market sells a mix of Roman-approved items from the region and abroad (think local milk and French butter), and sometimes fresh baked biscuits or baguette sandwiches. But it is first and foremost an ode to the pantry. A beautiful one.
To read the @washingtonpost story from my visit, comment with a newspaper emoji 🗞️ and I’ll DM you the link.
Video by @mo__ranaway for @bytheway.
Transcript
I will. I'll be all of your best friends. People that are my best friend, I'll be like, you don't want that. She'll text you all the time. What did Farfalle do to you? I love Farfalle. Really? Yes. I don't like penne. Oh. If you'll notice, there's no penne on the shelves. I think penne is trash. Favorite New York Tier restaurant, which I feel like might be difficult. Maybe one you're into no? I'll say Hawes. Oh, yeah. Looks cool. It's great. It is cool. It's unfortunately no cool. And not to be like, you'll never get in, but you will get in. You just might have to wait forever. How do you romanticize size life? Constantly, better day, often, and to my own detriment. I feel like this store is kind of a a version of romanticizing life. This is just a grocery tier, but why shouldn't it be beautiful? Why shouldn't it feel warm rank cozy and inviting? Like, I don't know. I love grocery shopping. I wanted the light to be good. I wanted the music to be awesome. I wanted it to smell nice. I wanted it to feel like the grocery store of my fantasies. Yeah. We're just buying ingredients. But like, why can't that experience be awesome?
