How brigit binns, author of rottenkid, found comfort in the kitchen

As children growing up, most of us have those stories that are forever locked in our memories. The good, the bad and the strange ones that somehow just stuck in our brains that weaved together a tapestry of our childhood and formed some of our deep-rooted beliefs about ourselves and our lives. Brigit Binns turned those memories, the good and bad, into a coming-of-age memoir in RottenKid: A Succulent Story of Survival.

Brigit is a successful cookbook author and daughter of actor, Edward Binns. However, this book isn’t full of delicious recipes and cooking advice, but rather her own personal story of living a Hollywood life on the outside, while suffering from profound neglect and self-doubt on the inside. Its a beacon of hope and a story of resilience for anyone who was told they were a “rotten kid” or feeling like they just didn’t measure up. It is an inspiration for those that choose to leave their childhood trauma behind and using those scars to catapult you forward to a future you choose.

Brigit sat down with Boho Blue to give us a little more insight into the book and her life and the motivation behind this compelling book.

I understand you have written 29 cookbooks and have ghost-written for many others.  Why did you decide to transition and write a memoir now?

Well, I was told all through my childhood, young-, and mid-adulthood that I was a “rotten kid,” and would never amount to anything. So a part of me set out to prove that assumption wrong, and maybe I did. Plus, the book was just crying out to be written! It wanted a life of its own — much like me (and the snail that’s escaping on the cover!)

Can you tell our readers what your book Rottenkid: A Succulent Story of Survival is about?

It’s about growing up in 60’s and 70’s Hollywood with an alcoholic actor father and a narcissistic mother—a childhood of both great privilege and profound neglect—then eventually emerging from deep self-doubt, learning how to survive emotionally without my mother’s approval —  into a career as a much-published cookbook author. And finding reasons laugh all along the way, no matter how dark.

What is the meaning behind the title "Rottenkid”?

It was my mother’s “nickname” for me. She called me this to my face and referred to me as a rotten kid to all her friends. In fact, on her deathbed, after she was already on morphine, she said to her college boyfriend on the phone “You know, Joe, my rotten kid turned out to be not so rotten after all! Oh shit, she’s standing right here!!"

You talk about your difficult relationship with your mother - Was the process of writing this book cathartic?

Yeah, it was cathartic. But the true personal work I did happened with a therapist some years ago. Sadly, it also resurrected the pain that came with the implosion of my first marriage and my retreat from life in Europe back to the USA. I hope readers take away that, despite the crippling lack of self-esteem that can result from growing up with an angry, self-involved, and/or narcissistic parent, they can be the architects of their own resilience—that it is NOT THEIR FAULT. I also hope that they will be inspired to travel widely and cook passionately!

What was it about food that drew you in and in a way, healed your spirit?

There was very little in the way of a love language between me and my mother, but I AM grateful to her for showing me that cooking was a way of expressing love. When her health began to fail, I discovered that, even if I could not bring myself to love this women, I COULD feed her. 

Growing up with a Hollywood Actor as a father must have been quite interesting... what is your best memory with him from your childhood?

I was about 8 years old, sitting next to him on the sofa while we watched an episode of “Voyage To The Bottom Of The Sea” (in case anyone remembers that show!) In the episode, his character knocks out a member of the crew and goes out on a dive to retrieve some buried treasure, against the captain’s instructions. No one knows he is out there, and the submarine slowly moves away as the camera watches my dad watching the sub abandon him to certain death. I burst into tears. Getting to meet Fred Astaire and Robert Wagner on a shoot for “It Takes a Thief” in Italy when I was 12 was also pretty cool. 

You talk about the Hollywood glitterati in your family's life while you grew up, everyone from Henry Fonda, Fred Astaire, Gregory Peck, William Shatner, Robert Wagner and more.  Any great stories to share?

William Shatner came to our house for lunch one time and his toupée fell off in the pool. In family legend, it looked like a drowned rat. There are lots more!

Why do you think cooking and other forms of creative expression are so good for your mental health and healing?

Cooking is a way of nurturing; it’s very personal. You use your bare hands and your expertise as a cook to prepare food that folks will put into their bodies. It's a huge level of trust and intimacy. 

Why do you think food, in general, holds so many nostalgic memories for people, even when their childhood may not have been so great?

No matter how bad things can be, there is nothing like a cheese soufflé, a bowl of menudo, a lovingly-made lasagna, or even a spam sandwich to bring your mind back to the GOOD that exists in life. Authentic food in a family setting connects children to their forebears in a beautiful yet quotidian way!

There is a quote from Tony Robbins, where he says, “Your Past, Does not Equal Your Future.” What is your best advice for not letting your past overshadow your present and future goals?

The only person whose opinion of you really matters, is YOU. Step out of the prison of the expectation of others. As one of my reviewers noted: derive your self-esteem from your abilities, accomplishments, and failures.

If you were not cooking for a living, what do you think you would be doing or would like to do?

I would like to be a REAL writer. 

I think after reading RottenKid, you will see that Brigit is a REAL writer, with a real and inspiring story to tell. If you are looking for inspiration to get past your own childhood scars or just enjoy reading a true success story, you will love this book. Peppered with humor and seasoned with optimism, Brigit’s story is an entertaining tribute to female resilience. Buy it on Amazon or wherever books are sold. Andbe sure to check out Brigit’s cookbooks for some culinary inspiration.