MAN EATER

“How would you define yourself?” a date once asked me.

“I wouldn’t,” I said. “I’m a Gemini. I like to transform.”

Former flames have described me as: juicy, bewitching, scary smart, a dynamo, an enigma, and a fabulous freak of nature. Nicknames include: Nips, Speedy, Pink Lady, Black Magic Woman, Miss Jazz Apple Hot Pie, and Little Miss Can't-Be-Wrong.

I am contradiction incarnate. I have a sweet-girl exterior but I talk dirty. You never know what’s going to come out--or go into--my mouth. It’s safe to say I’m always hungry. I’m rebellious and unpredictable and moody. Unless I’m in love; in which case, I’m the most affectionate little pussy cat you’ll ever meet.

I make a lot of rules for myself…then I break them. Hell, I refuse to follow my own recipes!

My standards are so high even my perfectionist efforts can’t reach ‘em. I have a huge ego--but I’ll happily stroke yours, too.

And just when you think you’ve figured me out, I’ll do something so uncharacteristic it’ll blow your mind.

That said, if I had to choose one word to define myself, it would be “insatiable” (and no, that isn’t just a plug for my first book…but buy a copy anyway.)

Or is “ineffable” a better word?

Or maybe…

See? I’m breaking the rules already.

Apple pie by any other name will still taste as sweet. Indulge now. Think later.

Erica Rivera is a lover of all things literary, edible and male.

Her first book, INSATIABLE: A Young Mother's Struggle With Anorexia, will be available from Berkley Books/​Penguin Group on October 6, 2009. (Pre-order your copy now on Amazon.com!)

Man Eater, a food memoir, will be Rivera's second book.

In addition to several guest columns for the Star Tribune, Rivera's writing has been featured in "Writers' Journal", "Moon Journal", and LaChance Publishing's "Voices of Breast Cancer" anthology.

Rivera received her B.A. in Psychology and Spanish in 2001. After graduation, she worked as a counselor in a residential treatment center for adolescents.

Rivera is a long-distance runner with a marathon PR of 3:14:10. She recently participated in the yoga study program at Yoga Center of Minneapolis and is an avid practitioner of both Hatha and Kundalini yoga.

Rivera is a lifelong Minnesotan, where she lives with her two daughters.
Her favorite foods to nibble on are Jazz apples, honey peanut butter, and anyone Tall, Dark, and Handsome.

Visit her website at www.ericarivera.net to read her blog, find answers to your FAQs and see more photos!

First date place: Stella’s Fish Cafe

Double date place: Chino Latino

Steak: The Strip Club

Burgers: Hell’s Kitchen

Waffle fries: Doolittle’s

Pizza: Fat Lorenzo’s

Mexican: El Loro

Greek: Ansari’s Grill

Vietnamese: Vina

Sushi: Nami

Vegetarian: The Malt Shop

Ice Cream: Sebastian Joe’s

Cake: Byerly’s

Cheesecake: Zeno Café

Pancakes: The Original Pancake House

Omelets: Keys Cafe

Brunch: Turtle Bread Company

Bread: Great Harvest

Coffee: Caribou Coffee

Grocer: Kowalski’s