Susan Spungen is unbelievably talented. Susan is a cook, food stylist, recipe developer, editor and author. I had the pleasure of working with Susan at Martha Stewart Living (Susan was the founding food editor for Martha Stewart Living). I even got a chance to collaborate and cover her brother’s wedding for the magazine at the iconic Rainbow Room- with a dream team of Susan, floral & event designer ,Michael George and cake baker Ron Ben-Israel. After MSLO, we kept in touch and I’d run into Susan here and there in the city and even on a set… like the set of Julie & Julia with Meryl Streep!  (no, I was not a stylist on the movie like Susan- ha! I was just helping out the set crew that day- far less glamorous than you’re thinking.)

Susan has a been racking up a list of fabulous Hollywood hit movies that she has styled the food and been a culinary consultant.  Besides Julie & Julia, Susan has worked on “It’s Complicated” (also with Meryl Streep), “Eat, Pray, Love” with Julia Roberts, and the upcoming movie “Labor Day” with Kate Winslet. What dream projects! You can read all about Susan and the amazing things she’s doing on her new website where she also shares her recipes.

Susan co-authored many best-selling books with Martha Stewart, then wrote her own personal award winning book “Recipes: A Collection for the Modern Cook” in 2005. Now she has a brand new book set to launch April 2nd, and I am so excited to read it! Her new book is entitled “What’s a Hostess to Do?”- a book filled to the brim with expert advice. Here is the link for a full description of her books and where to buy them: BOOKS.

I’ll get to share more with you about Susan’s new book and my recent talk with Susan the week her new book launches in April. But for now, visit her site (susanspungen.com) and try her delicious Citrus Salad that she share here.

-Lynn Butler Beling