Emily Paster

Emily Paster was born and raised in Washington, DC, where her mother was the Director of the Folger Shakespeare Library and her father was chairman of the public relations firm Hill and Knowlton. A graduate of Princeton University and the University of Michigan Law School, she redirected her career from law to cooking and food writing beginning about 10 years ago, when she had her second child. She writes the widely admired blog West of the Loop, primarily about food but with forays into parenting and family life. She is the co-founder of the Chicago Food Swap and is a national leader in the growing food swap movement (community get-togethers where handmade foods are bartered and exchanged). Her previous book is Food Swap (Storey 2016). A resident of River Forest, Illinois, in suburban Chicago, she speaks often in the Chicago area on farm-to-table and garden-to-table provisioning and cooking and she has appeared numerous times on food and cooking segments for the major TV network affiliates in Chicago.


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Articles by Emily Paster

These Black Tahini Truffles Are the Perfect Vegan Dessert

Rich, nutty and creamy, this unique treat is super easy to make.

Great-Grandma Bessie’s Cheese Blintz Recipe

This family favorite recipe uses a secret ingredient for the creamy filling.

Couscous with Seven Vegetables Recipe

A celebration of seasonal produce and the new year.

Here’s What It’s Like to Open a Jewish Deli During a Pandemic

A brand new deli in Chicago shares what it's like to open in this difficult moment.

North African Preserved Lemons Recipe

A traditional recipe that will add big flavor to your cooking.

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