WOMEN IN FOOD: Michelle Arbus

Let me introduce you to my friend Michelle. The first time I hung out solo with Michelle, we spent a whole day gallivanting around different restaurants and cafes in Vancouver and talked endlessly about different restaurants, chefs, recipes, cookbooks… basically anything under the umbrella of food. It was a true delight to spend that day with such a fun, brilliant and inspired woman. Michelle is definitely one of the most knowledgeable people I’ve come across in the food space. And not just knowledgeable, but passionate. You can feel her pure, true interest in all things food when you speak with her. She’s a fantastic conversationalist… but her photos may speak even louder than her words. Spend two minutes on Michelle’s instagram and you’ll be craving some of her delicious meals or baked goods in no time. Baked goods that I’m sure would make Ina proud.

You can find her over at @michellearbus or www.michellearbus.com

Tell us a bit about your upbringing.

 I grew up in Toronto, in a Jewish family who truly loves food. We love talking about food, making food, going to restaurants, and of course eating. 

What type of food philosophy did you grow up around?

Food is a joy, something to be enjoyed around the family table. While healthy eating is important (we love our vegetables!) pleasure is equally as important. Quality is key.

Describe where you live. 

I live in midtown Toronto, in the very diverse neighborhood around St Clair and Caledonia. While the area was traditionally Italian and Portuguese, my neighbors on either side are Greek and Guyanese immigrants. Even though our neighborhood is quiet and residential, I like that I have easy access to the west end of the city, and can quickly get to many of my favourite places. 

Tell us a little about what you do.

 I’m the Associate Director of Lifestyle Marketing at Penguin Random House Canada, which means I handle marketing for all the cookbooks and lifestyle books that are published or distributed by Penguin Random House Canada. I truly have my dream job!

What led you to a career in food?

I’d been working in marketing in the arts and entertainment space for many years, but during my spare time all I did was cook and think about food. I am one of the rare people who developed a passion for cooking when I lived in New York City, a place where no one ever cooks. I would look forward to my weekly visit to the Union Square Farmer’s market, and when the next ingredient would be coming into season. When I wasn’t at work I was blogging recipes, listening to food podcasts, reading food books and cookbooks and watching documentaries about chefs. Food was my passion. So when I knew it was time to look for my next role, I knew it had to merge my marketing skillset, and my love of food.

Top 3 things you love about what you do? 

Getting to meet my heroes (Ina Garten hugged me!), the feeling when a book and author you really believe in succeeds, getting to work with people who appreciate food and books the way I do

What’s been the most challenging part of getting to where you are now? 

There aren’t a lot of jobs in food marketing outside of consumer packaged goods that can provide stability, benefits etc. They are hard to come by.

An object in your kitchen that brings you joy? 

My Dutch Oven. I love bringing it to the table with a big pot of something delicious and having people serve themselves. 

You’re hosting a dinner party. What's on the menu? 

For a smaller gathering, I love making fresh pasta with guests! I prep the dough ahead of time, and show everyone how to run it through the machine. I love seeing their faces when they make the pasta themselves! We can snack on dips and crudité while we make the pasta. I serve it with a fresh tomato sauce or pesto, and a homemade Caesar salad. I love baking, and if it’s springtime maybe I’m serving Helen Goh’s rhubarb upside down cake with whipped cream.

Favourite music to listen to while cooking? Favourite podcasts? 

I love making mixes for cooking (I have one called Sunday Morning Waffles, specifically for that occasion). I recently made this playlist, which is always a good time. I LOVE podcasts: for food pods I love The Splendid Table and KCRW’s Good Food, but I also love You’re Wrong About, Still Processing, and Who Weekly – I never miss an episode of any of those.

What’s a song that means something to you?

 “Summer of Love” by Waxahatchee. Walked down the aisle to it for our tiny backyard COVID wedding last summer.

Where can you be found when you’re not in the kitchen? 

At the farmer’s market at the Wychwood Barns, or walking around the west-end of Toronto.

Take us on a trip down culinary memory lane and tell us about your most memorable eating experience. Describe the scene. (Where were you? Who were you with? What were you eating?)

With my husband in Beaune, Burgundy. Eating at a communal table in a wine store that becomes a restaurant at night.  Talking with stranger, and sharing bites off each other plates. We were eating boeuf bourguignon, and it was perfect and unpretentious. 

What cookbooks / food blogs do you find yourself returning to again and again? 

Anything by Ina Garten, Six Seasons by Joshua McFadden, Falastin by Sami Tami and Tara Wigley, Indian-ish by Priya Krishna, and Dinner by Melissa Clark. Always trust Deb Perelman of Smitten Kitchen to deliver a flawless recipe, and my wonderful friend Laura Wright’s blog and book, The First Mess is full of inspiration.

Favourite non-food related book? 

Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides, Tiny Beautiful Things by Cheryl Strayed.

What does your perfect morning look like? 

Wake up early-ish, and head over to the farmer’s market, shop for some delicious local ingredients, and bring home a bouquet of dahlias. Then some friends come over for brunch, I make some kind of scone or biscuit, a big frittata and salad. We sit outside in the backyard and before we know it, it’s the afternoon.

What’s one of your simple pleasures? 

A perfect cup of coffee.

Favourite vegetable? 

Peak season tomatoes

Favourite fruit? 

A juicy peach

Tell us about an accomplishment you’re proud of. 

I took a dumpling making class with Lisa Lin and managed to master one (basic) dumpling folding technique, Now I keep my freezer stocked with vegetarian dumplings.

Aside from food, what do you feel passionate about?  

Intersectional feminism.

Who are your biggest inspirations in the food world and why?  

I love Sohla El-Waylly for her commitment to excellence, for standing up for herself and her colleagues, and for her great humor. Helen Rosner for her brilliant writing and insights. Oh and Ina Garten of course, as a woman who entered our industry with no training, just an innate understanding of the way people like to cook and eat, and a love of good food. 

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be? 

We just loved Copenhagen – the food, the design etc.

In a different life, what line of work could you see yourself in? 

A therapist, I love helping people work through their stuff.

A recipe / dish that holds a special place in your heart?  

Matzo ball soup – I grew up eating my grandmas’s perfect recipe, but have since learned to make my own version. A hug in a bowl.

Favourite local coffee shop? What are you ordering? 

Sam James Coffee Bar. A cappuccino and a Robinson Bread Spelt Cinnamon Swirl!

Favourite local restaurant? What are you ordering? 

Pai, a Northern Thai restaurant, which recently opened a midtown location. You can’t go wrong with anything on the menu but Chef Nuit’s green curry is the best. 

What’s one of your non-negotiable self-care practices? 

Joyful movement – whether it’s a long walk, a dance fitness class, or Pilates.

Tell us one odd thing we don’t know about you. 

I’m obsessed with wildlife documentaries, a result of my travels in Botswana, South Africa and Tanzania.  

What are the top 3 things on your bucket list? 

 No surprise, they are all travel! 1) Rebook our cancelled honeymoon to Japan 2) See silverback gorillas in the wild 3) Go back to Italy, and eat all the pasta. 

What are you excited about right now? 

We’re expecting a baby boy in November! Anxious and excited about how this is going to expand our world in amazing ways.

Best piece of advice you’ve been given on life, business or cooking? 

Because I’m nothing if not consistent, Ina Garten had this fantastic piece of advice: “When you’re in your 20s, you feel like you need to have goals and that there are so many other things you should be doing. But the more I’ve grown my business and my career, the more I’ve come to believe that goals aren’t always helpful—at least not for me. Instead of trying to plot out specifically where I want to go, I’ve always just done the best job I can on what’s in front of me and let the universe reveal itself.” As someone whose career has taken so many twists and turns, I really don’t focus on long-term goal setting. I just focus on what opportunities are in front of me, and what my ‘next move’ would look like. Why limit yourself?