Additionally, in modern times people use the phrase when talking about sharing an emotional experience along with their food. The phrase to break bread with someone is to share a meaningful connection over a meal, often bringing together two people or groups who may have previously had reason to be disconnected.
When I first became an actor 12 years ago, I did it because I wanted to give voice to stories that may not otherwise get told. I was an artist, and to me, storytelling and therefore acting seemed to me the most honorable way one could use their art to propel change in the world. Chris Fisher, a talented writer/director/producer and now dear friend of mine, was the first person to give me a SAG TV job. He likes to remind me that I got the part because of my distinct laugh. He is one of the most passionate and dedicated storytellers I know. And even though it’s twelve years later and I’m no longer acting professionally, we still both share a passion for beautiful things and telling stories by bringing people together to talk about what we’re feeling and experiencing (for him, cinematically and for me, culinarily). Filmmaking has been the most obvious metaphor for my vegan baking, so it's no real surprise that the last two years of vegan baking and now blogging has proven to be a not-so-unlikely new storytelling device for me. How can I share a story with you in order to propel greater change? I can cook you some kind of vegan meal and together we can break bread. For those of you just getting acquainted with my blog, please note: I don't want to change your mind, I just want to cook you dinner.
Like I mentioned, I met Chris at an audition over a decade ago, but our story doesn’t end there. At a point he moved to NYC to work on a very successful TV show called Person of Interest. In the season’s last year I found myself in NYC after a temporary job here made me realize I didn't want to go back to LA for the time being. The job was ending and I remembered Fish (as Chris' friends affectionately call him) had moved here a few years prior. I decided to reach out to him to see if he knew of any employment opportunities, cuz New York was all “Hi, I’m expensive as fuck, so don’t stay unemployed too long or I'll ruin you. K thanks, bye.”
Guess what? His wife Blair was about to give birth to their first child. She needed help and he did too, as he was averaging 16 hour days on set during episodes he both produced and directed simultaneously. Serendipity or just good timing; either way, I was very happy to see where this would lead me. Blair and I became fast friends, and Poppy was a dream babe. She taught me so much while I got to love and care for her.