Molly Birnbaum was born in Boston and attended Brown University where she studied art, but also fell in love with cooking and food. Her goal was to become a chef. When she was hit by a car in 2005, her injuries left her without a sense of taste, derailing her plans.

Season to Taste is the account of her recovery. Her work has appeared in many magazines, including the New York Times, ARTnews, and others. She was awarded the Pulitzer Fellowship of Arts and Culture from Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism in 2008.