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I’m Kat Kinsman.
I’m Senior Editor at Food & Wine. I used to be Senior Food and Drinks Editor at Time Inc.’s all-breakfast site Extra Crispy. I’m former Editor at Large and Editor in Chief of Tasting Table. Before that, I was the Managing Editor of CNN’s Eatocracy, edited CNN’s Matrimony section and First Person essay series and I was a writer and editor for CNN Living. I cover food, booze, lady-being, person-being, mental health, disabilities, sex, pop culture (especially YA novels), weddings and dogs. Mostly food, though. I was nominated for a James Beard Broadcast Award in the TV Segment category in 2013, but I didn’t win. I also didn’t win the EPPY Best Food Website with 1 million unique monthly visitors and over in 2012 and 2013 (though Eatocracy was nominated), but I sure as heck did win in 2011.
I also showed up on CNN and HLN TV and Radio (back when CNN Radio existed) and hosted CNN’s Live Google Hangouts on a semi-regular basis and just recently went on Good Morning America for the first time, which was pretty neat. I often speak to groups of people about food, writing, mental health and social media. People even pay me to do these things. Wacky, no?
I wrote a book called “Hi, Anxiety” for Harper Collins imprint Dey Street Books. My agent is Scott Mendel. He’s excellent.
I’m the former Senior Editor for AOL Food and Slashfood, a KCBS Certified Barbecue Judge, proud member of the Southern Foodways Alliance and the former vice chair of the James Beard Journalism Committee. I also used to write ads and make a lot of jokes about Karl Rove and his little friend Dubya. I have a Masters Degree in Metalsmithing.
My husband Douglas, our two dogs and I live in a church in upstate New York part of the time and in Brooklyn the rest. I garden and cook rather obsessively. On any given night, I may perhaps be doing a little dance, and/or making a little love and/or getting down. Or I might be in Las Vegas. Quite possibly New Orleans.
More likely, though, I’m sipping a Mai Tai, and screaming rude things about TV news at no one in particular.
Hi Kat!
My name is Stephen and I organize special events here at The Farm on Adderley in Ditmas Park, Brooklyn.
We’ve got a slate of super cool events planned that I want to bring to your attention.
Next up is our Meet The Farmers Dinner!
Ben Flanner from Brooklyn Grange and Jon Wilson from Snug Harbor (Staten Island) will be here talking about closing the gap between restaurants and local sources. Add an awesome dinner from our kitchen to the mix and it’s a glorious night. :)
We would love to get covered by Eatocracy. What is the best way to do that?
Hope you’re well!
Sincerely,
Stephen & The Farm on Adderley
Hello Kat. I just read your piece about The Jack on CNN. I must say, it was one of the better articles I have seen on competition BBQ. My wife and I have been competing for 2+ years and have fallen completely in love with the sport. So, if you ever are in the NY area, stop on by the Three Dogs trailer for a rib and a cold one. After judging of course. ;)
Bill
I just came across ur article about anxiety being like a mean cat.good analogy. I feel very compassionate for u. I wish u didn’t have to suffer this. I have a lot of anxiety myself. Very strong and constant. It sucks. I’m on break right now doing a Christian ministry called resorting the foundations. They basically go back to memories in ur life and identify lies u believe about ur self. Try to help u find inner healing. Go back things that hurt u as a kid. Things like that. I just felt like writing u. I felt very compassionate for u for some reason. I wish u could get better. I wish u didn’t have to deal with this. I hate anxiety. Life isn’t suppose to be like this for us. It sucks. I became a Christian 2 years ago. It has given me hope. God is real and he loves us. But I wish I could just take the anxiety away for u but I can’t. I wish I could. I am not even going to give u some tips on how I deal with itq. Because I myself struggle with it greatly. But I am truly not going to stop trying to be free from it until I am. Or I die. What else can real do? We have been robbed of good things in life. It isn’t fair. I don’t have an explanation for u. It breaks my heart. I wish u could better. I believe one day we can be literally completely free from this. I actually believe that. Well that is all. I don’t know why I felt so compelled to write u. But I did. I won’t even tell u that I hope u feel better. I will just say that it is okay to be down about it. We need to release these emotions. Bye bye.
Someone u don’t know,
Liam.
Hi Kat. I’m no expert at all, but I was thinking that for me personally, being able to handle Christmas shopping in a large crowded store (in NYC no less) would not be a fair personal goal to set, because I know I’m an introvert, I’ve never been one who enjoys shopping particularly (I’ve always said that gene is recessive in me, despite the fact that I’m female and females supposedly love shopping), and I’ve just never liked crowded, noisy places. They don’t cause me to have an anxiety attack–I just do not enjoy them. So I just wondered if there’s any chance that you happen to be an introvert (which is not an affliction) who suffers from anxiety attacks (which is an affliction with a negative impact on your life). You seem at a quick glance at all your activities and your style to be an extrovert, but I know a lot of high energy, outgoing people will say they are actually introverts underneath it all–or at least need an introvert-type break from all the hubbub at times. Anyway, if you would love Christmas shopping if only you didn’t have potential anxiety attacks to fear, then go for it! I’m just saying that I guess the objective is to try to overcome anxiety where it keeps you from being able to do things you truly want to do, but think about whether some of those things really are things you’d genuinely like to be able to do. My limited perspective on this subject comes from being an introvert and also raising a daughter who is now 25 but has dealt with anxiety since age 10 (but who is also very lively and creative and enjoys being on stage in plays. But visiting NYC stresses her out because the combo of her just not being a”big-city-gal” and her tendency towards anxiety attacks gets her when she is in that environment. Anyway, thank you for sharing your struggles and reflections, and I wish you all the best!
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hello Kat!
We met at WCR in NY & wanted to connect.
Kat! just listened to your interview w Damon Boelte, who I absolutley admire. Really love your passion for all things French 75 and am looking forward to reading your book. AS someone who deals w GAD everyday I find you POV on the subject very refreshing. Cheers!
chef Jim
Kat –
So glad to have ‘found’ you again. I am one of those old school women who loved radio and followed you along your various paths to glory. Happy to hear your voice again. Now working with chefs and restaurants in LA and would love to ‘dine’ with you one of these days.
Arlene
As a writer with anxiety issues you should understand a problem engineers discovered and solved fifty years ago when it caused mental breaks for office workers.
It can be considered a “mental break causing design mistake.” It is working long hours using full concentration while there is repeating detectable movement nearby in peripheral vision. People, pets, big screen TVs, mirrors, fans, and in some cases blinking lights on a computer can be mistaken for threat-movement.
As a physical situation this problem can be experimentally replicated to prove that the long term suppression of the vision startle reflex will cause anxiety, and depression. The design mistake allows the brain to attempt, but fail to execute, the consciously suppressed startle reflex. (See site for full explanation, which is included in first semester psychology lectures on the physiology of sight.)
If your anxiety is being caused by the failure to use peripheral vision blocking protection, aka Cubicle Level Protection where you work, it can be stopped without treatment of any kind.
VisionAndPsychosis_Net is a 16 year investigation of visual subliminal distraction. I am attempting to prove this problem is the long sought cause of college suicides. (See site pages for examples.)
Hello Ms Kat,
I just read your article about “anxiety”. Thank goodness someone is strong enough to talk about this! I have suffered from anxiety for many years, I am 58, and through some traumas in my life, anxiety hit me in my late 30’s as well as other mental health issues. I have worked my whole adult life, and you’re so right, someone could be standing right next to you having an attack and no one is the wiser. I have become an expert in doing so.
So thank you for your honesty and courage, I hope “normal” people change their attitudes and bias, and embrace that ALL peeps have some quirkiness about them.
Hi Kat, I was reading about a mental health survey that you had sent to hospitality workers. I was wondering if you’d be willing to help out some psychiatrists interested in conducting a more formal, evidence-based study of mental health needs and access in NYC.
Hi Kat,
I have just finished reading your book! I am a psychology student and am writing a paper focused on a memoir of someone with a mental illness and chose your book the memoir I will be writing about. I really enjoyed the insight into anxiety and depression that you provided in your book.
I had a few questions that I was hoping you could answer, as my professor is asking for some information that was not provided in your book. As I understand, you were diagnosed with depression when you were 14 – what year would that be? Our assignment requires us to reference the version of the DSM that your diagnosis would have been based on. Additionally, when were you diagnosed with GAD?
Thanks very much!
Sincerely, a new fan
I read your article on making eggs better. Then I read your statement about writing the best story about renewing faith in humanity. Then I saw your site about anxiety and the next 3 years.
1) I like the idea about eggs. I might try it if I can find the blender :-) (I am a stranger in the kitchen)
2) I doubt the words “That renewed my faith in humanity” will ever come out of my mouth as a serious statement. I apologize to my nieces and nephews about the world they were placed in
3) You are NOT alone. My wife also has anxieties about the current state of politics