WHAT IS FORMAL ASSIGNMENT?
Formal Assignment is a portal into the alternate universe where all of my favorite story and recipe pitches are accepted by the editor and green-lit as formal assignments. In this dreamscape, there’s no regard for trends or search engine optimization. (I.e., it’s a “butter board”-free zone.)
I started Formal Assignment as a place to share stories and research (personal stories, interviews, explorations of botanical relationships among ingredients, etc.) along with sweet and savory recipes (with traditional as well as “alternative” techniques and ingredients) that might not easily find a home elsewhere. Take a look at the F.A. Index for an idea of the kinds of pieces I share here.
WHO IS BEHIND FORMAL ASSIGNMENT?
I’m Brian Levy, and, to date, I’m the only person at the Formal Assignment desk.
I’m the author of the award-winning cookbook Good & Sweet: A New Way To Bake with Naturally Sweet Ingredients. My work has appeared in The New York Times, The Guardian, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, Epicurious, Serious Eats, and more.
I’m a writer, pastry cook, and recipe developer who previously made desserts at Michelin-starred Babbo, where I was mentored by the late, James Beard Award-winning Gina DePalma. I left Babbo to work the fields and kitchens of farms and inns in Europe and Martha's Vineyard, and then as a private chef. Outside of the kitchen, I also studied architecture at Yale.
WHY SUBSCRIBE TO FORMAL ASSIGNMENT?
There’s a lot of research and testing behind my stories and recipes. I email you the resulting pieces 2-4 times/month.
FREE
If you opt for a free subscription, I usually send you all of the introductory stuff – often a story about a recipe or ingredient(s) – and once in a while you get a recipe.
PAID
A PAID SUBSCRIPTION (only $5/mo or $50/yr) grants you access to everything: the above, plus all current recipes and archived material. (You can get a feel for that material by looking at the F.A. Index.)
If you go for a founding membership, I’ll throw in a signed copy of my cookbook. And I’ll probably scream with joy.
PAY-WHAT-YOU-CAN SUBSCRIPTION
I understand all too well that budgets vary, so I’ve come up with this pay-what-you-can plan (see below). I hope it makes it easier for you to upgrade to a full-access subscription to Formal Assignment.
Whichever amount you decide you can contribute, thank you so very much for supporting my work.
