January 2026

Revealing the Launch.

I’ve now spent 2,414 days working on Table of Gods—a cookbook inspired by the world’s oldest recipes written on clay tablets 4,000 years ago.

I’m finally ready to announce the launch month.

But first, a story.

I was going to lose her. 

It was the last semester of high school, and despite studying in the same class for three years, I’d barely spoken to her. But all of a sudden, I started to feel stressed about it. A few more months and I might never have the chance to talk to her again. 

I needed to do something. I needed to act.

She was beautiful and aware of it. Unlike most girls in high school, she dressed like a woman. She always sat in the front row with her notebooks. Shy but confident. Her large green eyes made me stumble for words every time I looked into them.

She was clearly the woman of my life. Even 18-year-old me could see that.

But I didn’t have the looks or the charm. Plus, I’d never had a girlfriend and didn’t know what to say or do. I was too proud to ask my friends for advice. Still, I was determined. I was going to win her heart.

Aware of my limitations (one of my great talents), I came up with a plan. I knew she would never date me. So I pretended to need her help for an upcoming test, despite having studied for it already. 

It worked like magic. 

She enjoyed helping me, thinking she saved me from failing the exam. I asked her to help me again with the next test. And the following one. Most importantly, I got her number. We became friends and I convinced her to meet me during the summer break.

The first photo of us together, 2012. I told you she’s shy. But she looks like that green-eyed princess.

For reasons I still don’t understand, she fell in love with unemployed, broke, 18-year-old me. Today, 14 years later, she’s my wife and mother to our three children. All because I saw the window closing, and acted!

You might wonder what this has to do with Table of Gods. The fact is, I feel the same sense of urgency now that I did 14 years ago. The feeling of: I need to act; the window is closing; the grand finale is here.

The feeling of: It’s now or never.

The grand finale

I started writing Table of Gods in June 2019. 

Since then, I’ve become a father of three, grown gray hair, and hopefully, become a bit wiser. 

Working on this project has been like journeying between heaven and the underworld. The ups have been extremely high, and the lows, extremely low (I’ve definitely spent more time in heaven than in the underworld, though).

But after almost seven years of writing, researching, traveling, and consulting with historians, chefs, brewers, editors, photographers, designers, illustrators, food stylists, and the list goes on—the time has come.

It’s time to publish Table of Gods.

I don’t want to upset all mothers reading this, but I seriously think I’ll know what it’s like to give birth once I’ve published Table of Gods.

If you’ve followed me for a while, you know I obsess over details. As an artist, that’s great and disastrous. It’s how you create great art, but it’s also how you never release your art into the world.

That’s why I’m going to announce the month of the big launch people have asked me about more times than I can count.

I’ve prayed to the Mesopotamian gods to give me strength. I’ve also had a serious discussion with my wife. 

A goal without a plan is only a dream. And just like I planned how to win the heart of my future wife, here’s how I’ve planned to deliver the book on time.

Wake up, meditate: 05:00–05:15

Finalize manuscript: 05:15–06:15

Eat & play with kids: 06:15–07:00

Finalize manuscript: 07:00–10:00

Turn on phone, exercise, shower, eat, meditate: 10:00–12:00

Print proofing, design, social media: 12:00–16:30

Play with kids*: 16:30–19:30

Say hi to wife**: 19:30–20:00

Turn off phone & read: 20:00–21:00

Sleep: 21:00–05:00

*The only thing I’m not willing to sacrifice to achieve my goal is being a dad.

**My wife does all the chores (cooking, laundry, dishes, cleaning) plus takes our kids to and from school. Telling her she would get 30 min of my time daily until the book is launched felt selfish. But when I showed her this schedule, she said, “I’m your biggest supporter—go for it!”

Mark your calendar

I’ve sent these monthly progress emails since November 2022. After this one, there are only six left. But I promise, they’re going to be the most interesting so far. 

I will travel to the printers and paper mills, share the print tests and final designs, and show you how everything comes together in my quest to make the most extraordinary book since the printing press was invented in 1440.

In August, pre-orders for Table of Gods will open!

Everyone on this waitlist can pre-order the book for a special launch price. If you know anyone who might be interested in purchasing the book, tell them to join the waitlist at tableofgods.com.

As we get closer to launch, I’ll share the exact date with you. 

For more frequent updates, follow me on Instagram.