Happy weekend!
Those were some absolutely stellar responses to my post on reconciling veganism with intuitive eating! For those of you who commented early on, go back and check out some of the conversations that emerged in the comments section: really rad stuff.
Yesterday, my sweet friend Angela tweeted me to ask how my name is pronounced — like “Gina” or like “Jenna?” She was making a how-to video on her vegan overnight oats (which you should all watch) and she’d pronounced my name like “Gina.” The back and forth sent off a flurry of tweets from surprised readers; apparantly, most of you have thought of me as a “Gina” all this time! Well, I hate to break it to you, dear readers, but my name is most definitely pronounced like “Jenna.” I know the spelling is misleading–the only other Gena I know who’s pronounced like “Jenna” is Gena Rowlands–but there it is!
For the record, it’s short for Eugenia. Unfortunately. (Thanks, Mom and Dad.)
However you’d like to think of me–as a Gena, a Gina, a Jenna, or even Eugenia–I hope you think of me when you see food like this:
That’s zucchini pasta served over mixed greens with bell pepper, half an avocado, red pepper marinara sauce, and leftover roast kabocha squash. In other words, heaven on a placemat.
I’d forgotten how much I love to mush avocado into my zucchini pasta and marinara sauce–it makes the bowl so much creamier and rich. Yum! I think that signature meals like this are probably easier to remember than my short, yet confusing name, no?
I hope you’re enjoying a great start to the long weekend, friends. This is my last respite before a very busy two months descend, so I’m trying to prepare for the road ahead and get a little R&R in, too. I’ll be back soon–in the meantime, happy Memorial Day weekend!
xo
I'm a Certified Clinical Nutritionist, a former book editor, and a post-baccalaureate pre-med student at Georgetown University. I'm passionate about helping people to discover and enjoy plant based foods in a simple and healthy way. My name is pronounced like "Jenna."
{ 39 comments… read them below or add one }
I saw via twitter yesterday that your name was pronounced as Jenna and am so happy to know the right way now! Thanks for the explanation. Gena is such a beautiful name. Of course I think about your tasty eats too, especially that delicious red pepper marinara…it is so yummy! have a great weekend too lady!
I’m glad I am not the only one who made that mistake! I felt so bad when I got your name wrong. I love your name pronounced both ways. I wondered how I could have known you for so long and not knew how to pronounce your name. I have people call me Andrea all the time on my blog! lol.
I have been reading your blog for a while but have not commented before. So first I just want to say how great I think your blog is, it is always full of interesting information and lovely looking food! Second the zucchini pasta in this post looks amazing!
The French version of Eugenia is Eugenie, and it’s pronounced beautifully!
Oh no!! I’ve always thought of you as Gina! Haha! So your full name is Eugenia. I think it’s a pretty name!
Bah…did I call you Gina when i met you? damn, i feel like a fool now. haha!
and i totally want zucchini pasta…with that sauce. i’ve got an avocado handy…i’ve been on a kick with them lately!
now i’m going to catch up with your older posts…i’m so behind…google reader is currently over 1,000…joy.
I am glad you cleared that up – I always pronounced your name like Gina, too!
So I went to your red pepper marinara and the link didn’t work =( it looks really good!
And to think I’d been calling you “Gina” in my head all this time! Whoops!
Hope you have a great restful weekend!!
Yeah, haha, I assumed it was like “Gina” too. Oops. Sigh, your delicious looking red pepper marinara link is broken and I want it!
I’ll keep checking back….all your stuff looks so great for this hot summer weather. Can’t wait to try more.
I think of you when I see avocados at Whole Foods. Good ol’ “Jenna”
Link is working now, guys!
It always made me frustrated when people mispronounced my name. Thanks for clarifying it for us. I think your pronunciation is very sophisticated.
Eeek! If I’ve ever called you “Geena,” my apologies!
Avocado makes everything better. Kind of like poached eggs…for non-vegans, of course, haha.
I had avocado on toast for the first time recently! Wow, delish! I know Maggie likes it with honey, but I put salt and pepper on it. I’ll have to try it the other way next time.
Oh, and random question. Are carrots considered a starch or a vegetable? Some medication I had to take has been messing with my stomach, and food combining keeps things much calmer. I was curious about carrots. It was what my grandma always said to do with an upset tummy, and she knew what she was talking about…but I can’t ask her about carrots, alas.
I remember reading a post a while back where you said your name was pronounced “Jenna”. For the longest time it was so hard for me to read your name as “Jenna” and not “Gena”, but I think I got it down now.
Pasta looks amazing as per usual!
I always want to gobble up all of the pics on your blog
XOXO,
Kristen
PS. I’m feeling a bit better each day. Thanks for the love!
Somehow I knew your name was pronounced like “Jenna” (maybe through a prior tweet or something?), but I still cannot get it into my brain that you’re not a “Gina.” I think it’s because I read your blog for months before I knew the pronunciation, and I’d come to associate your face with “Gina” because I assumed that’s how you pronounce “Gena.”
Whew. Quite the long paragraph there…
At any rate, I love your name, and I even like Eugenia! I think it’s beautiful.
Your pasta looks amaaaaaazing. I can tell I’ll be eating even more raw now that the warm summer weather is here!
Hi Jennnnnnna not Gina
I knew you were the former, not the later, but not until we talked on the phone 6 mos or so ago. Prior to that, I thought you were a Gina
Anyway the last post. Holy moly I just went back and re-read those comments. I think you and Tasha (Voracious Vegan) get the awards for “deepest” comments, i.e. thinking people comment and write in so eloquently. A far cry from what I would call drive-by commenting, “nice oats” or “yum”. LOL
In just the past two days I have posted on Seasonal/Local Eating and what to do about getting fresh produce that’s in season in Alaska in January.
And today a bit on Guilt and Food Choices.
I noticed that some of the comments on your last post, that there were a couple comments that touched on those issues.
Anyway…have a super Mem Day Weekend. I am taking a packing break and sitting at my desk. Back to the grind now…
xo
Hi Ge-na! I think maybe you posted about this before, when you were at a food convention-y thing, and I watched a little video with you in it and you clarified your name pronunciation
your zuke noodles look good! I just had some today, almond butter pad thai style. with a side of kale
so good! Have an awesome Memorial Day weekend!
That looks so good. My new kitchen redefines tiny, but I need a spiralizer!
Please use words like “rad” more often. I’m inspired…
I have a friend named Gena, so I’ve been pronouncing it correctly.
Gena, you let me pronounce your name wrong!! Well now I know better!
You’ve inspired me to finally start experimenting with my spiralizer!I want some zucchini pasta!
I’ve actually been pronouncing your name the ‘correct’ way in my head, but that’s only because I know another Gena whose name is pronounced the same way.
Only she has a French mother and her name is a nickname for Genevieve. For the record, I think Eugenia is a pretty name!
thank you for clearing that up! i thought i had it right until seeing other peoples’ comments and then wondered…… hello gena.
You must have let people know how your name is pronounced in an earlier post because I’ve been pronouncing it correctly in my head.
So jealous you get to sign your checks “Eugenia” you of noble birth.
What a incredibly lovely name. And you’ve lived up to it already. Kudos to your parents.
the only reason i know how to properly say your name is because i had the pleasure of meeting you in real life
and i happen to think of you pretty much whenever i see or create any raw food dish. i’m always like “hmm, i think gena would enjoy this”
hope you’re having a great weekend!
xoxo
g
Potentially blew my mind. Just kidding. Everyone aaalwaaays pronounces my name wrong too.
And yes, I do think of you when I see/make dishes like that!!
Um, unrelated but I’ve been having trouble leaving comments on your blog – I frequently get error messages asking me to refresh. Usually when I do it fixes the problem but I thought I’d give you a heads up!!
wow, that pasta dish does look like heaven!
I feel ya on the name being pronounced wrong. People never say Lori right, they always think Laura or something like that never Lori. But for some reason they always remember Michelle. GRR. HAHA. People are always like Michelle and ..and.. and what is your name again… LORI. HAHA Or I just go by twin. It is easier and I am so used to people calling me ‘twin 1′ or ‘hey you’. Though it is nice when people really do call me by my first name.
This looks great! I thought your name was Gina, until I saw a video you posted with Matt Monarch and you said “Jeanna”–I was so relived I saw it before we met!
HUGS! XO
P.S. My aunt smells her name “Jeanna” and it’s pronounced “Gina!”
That looks delicious. I need a spiralizer. Yesterday. That and a food processor that doesn’t make me want to saw my ears off whenever I use it.
If it makes you feel better my name (Maissa) is impossible to pronounce and spell. It took my boyfriend’s family two years to start spelling it right on cards, and his cousins still call and ask him whenever they need it, his cousins we see frequently I might add.
happy long weekend!=)
I think I am finally recovering from the shock of your revelation. My full name is Hayley-Marie… Much too long!
Hope you get some R&R in gorgeous! We seriously have ot eat together some time…such similar meal favourites!
Lots of love to you!
Casey xxoo
oh my gosh-i’ve been referring to you as GIna this entire time!!! so glad you cleared that up!! I loved your post on vegan and intuitive eating. I just finished Women Food and God by Geneen Roth, which I recommend-it’s a very quick read!
thanks for clearing that up…i actually thought of you as “gina” as well! but i love that it’s actually pronounced “jenna”…it’s a very greek name! and i love it!
andi definitely think of you when i eat yummy raw food…especially salads…
<3
Good to know, I thought it was “Gina” too – sorry! Mmmm, raw marinara and zucchini noodles are one of my fav meals and something I like to tweak a little each time, hemp seeds and carrots puree beautifully into the marinara sauce.