Liz Mikel at Opening Bell Coffee, Southside on Lamar in Dallas. (Photo by Ron Thompson.)
Before I started recording my conversation with Liz Mikel, we talked about her late friend, pianist Buddy Shanahan. His memory brought with it emotion. I asked if it upset her to talk about him. She looked at me flatly and responded with her eyes still flooded, “I’m talking about him, aren’t I?” And in that moment, I knew Liz Mikel doesn’t say anything she doesn’t mean.
One of the first people to champion Chef & Song was Judy Smithey. She encouraged me every step of the way. And at our first delicious revel, she brought the biggest, rowdiest crowd of hometown folks to help us celebrate. She and fellow Chef & Song patron, Dotti Pennebaker, met me at David’s Seafood Grill in Cedar Hill to offer me feedback. We got caught up talking about music, art, theater, food, mixing cocktails, serving the community, and travel.
When Jenny Block told me her mission is to teach every woman how to have amazing orgasms and empower them take over the world, I saw no suggestion she was joking. I also felt left out. But the longer we talked, the more empowered I felt just being around her. She is fearless. She surrounds herself with courage. And that is what she writes about. She shows readers how to look within for inspiration, happiness, and self worth — and to share that energy helping others be fearless, too. We met at Opening Bell Coffee in Dallas and talked about her career, family, friends, being kind to one another … and, of course, sex.
