I was called three names as I grew up - Petra, then Nella, then Nelly.

Each name marked a different chapter. But through them all ran one fierce appetite for freedom.

Be Free is part memoir, part cookbook-the first in a series of three books about my life.

In this book, each personal recipe is intertwined with intimate stories about identity, belonging, and the freedom we create for ourselves.

I hope that after reading this book, you'll carry a piece of me with you in your heart-something you'll never forget.