Follow the Garlic

Making Memoir Magic · Sep 3, 2026 · 17m

What if the story worth telling isn’t buried in the most dramatic chapter of your life? What if it’s waiting inside a familiar restaurant, a family tradition, or a place you’ve returned to for years?

In this episode of Making Memoir Magic, I share the story of Al Dente, a restaurant in Boston’s North End that my husband, Rick, and I first discovered in 1994. What began as an unplanned dinner became part of our family history—a place we later shared with our children, friends, and colleagues.

Using this ordinary but meaningful memory, I explore how memoir writers can uncover the deeper stories…