La Limone is a culinary memoir and cookbook brand built around one simple idea: that life, like a lemon tree, gets richer and more interesting with age. Palmer has written two books that run in parallel – a memoir, La Limone: Recipes and Stories From a Life Well Zested, which traces her life through food, family, love, loss, and reinvention, and a companion cookbook, La Limone Kitchen Cookbook, packed with over 60 lemon-forward recipes inspired by the memoir.
“I host themed dinner parties, I have lemon trees in my backyard, and everything I do is about gathering people around a table and living fully,” Palmer said. “The Classic Group is a variety of businesses that my husband and I have built together that are now mainly overseen by my husband. Wejo Investments are businesses we invest in.”
AZF: What is your “life motto”?
A life well zested. It’s the tagline for La Limone, but it’s also genuinely how I try to live. Squeeze everything out of every experience, even the bitter ones.
AZF: Did you always know that you wanted to be an entrepreneur? If not, when did you realize that it was the right path for you?
I didn’t have a choice in the beginning. I started working at ten years old because I had to. But somewhere along the way, I realized I didn’t just want to work hard, I wanted to build things. I left school in grade 10, and I went on to build and operate companies with my husband. There were setbacks along the way, big ones, but every single time I found a way back. Writing La Limone was another version of that – starting something new on my own terms, later in life, and loving every minute of it.
AZF: How do you feel best supported?
By people who believe in the vision before it’s fully formed. My family, my friends, and the communities I’ve found here in Arizona have all played a part in bringing La Limone to life. I also think women supporting other women in business is genuinely powerful, which is why an opportunity like this one means so much.
AZF: What motivates you to keep going amidst the challenges that come with being an entrepreneur?
Honestly, the alternative. I’ve never been someone who could sit still. I’ve faced challenges, divorce, starting over from scratch more than once – and each time, building something new was what kept me going. La Limone is the most personal thing I’ve ever created, and that makes it the most motivating too.
AZF: Describe your perfect Saturday.
A gratitude breathing exercise, then a few coffee chats via FaceTime with friends and family that I don’t get to see often enough. Then, a sporting event for one of my granddaughters. After that, cooking something that fills the house with good smells. Or maybe a long lunch with people I love. That’s the whole La Limone philosophy!
AZF: What’s one piece of advice you’d give to a young entrepreneur who is just starting out?
Feel the fear and do it anyway! And don’t wait until you feel ready, because that feeling never really comes. I published my first book in my 60s. The timing will never be perfect. Start anyway.
AZF: What excites you most about being an entrepreneur?
The freedom to create something from nothing. I’ve done it in business for decades, and doing it again with La Limone at this stage of my life has reminded me why I love it. There’s nothing quite like building something that is entirely yours, that reflects who you are and what you believe in.
Learn more about La Limone by visiting lalimone.com or following along on Instagram @lalimone_kitchen
About the Foundress
The Foundress is a creative community of female entrepreneurs established by Coley Arnold. The women-led networking group currently has over 120 members who receive exclusive access to mentorship from experienced female entrepreneurs and industry leaders; community gatherings that feature expert speakers and the opportunity to connect with like-minded women; as well as monthly Mastermind Groups where members can brainstorm and collaborate together. Learn more at foundress.co.
