Kitchens Of The Great Midwest by J. Ryan Stradal- 310 pages
Book Blurb:
When Lars Thorvald’s wife, Cynthia, falls in love with wine—and a dashing sommelier—he’s left to raise their baby, Eva, on his own. He’s determined to pass on his love of food to his daughter—starting with puréed pork shoulder. As Eva grows, she finds her solace and salvation in the flavors of her native Minnesota. From Scandinavian lutefisk to hydroponic chocolate habaneros, each ingredient represents one part of Eva’s journey as she becomes the star chef behind a legendary and secretive pop-up supper club, culminating in an opulent and emotional feast that’s a testament to her spirit and resilience. Each chapter in J. Ryan Stradal’s startlingly original debut tells the story of a single dish and character, at once capturing the zeitgeist of the Midwest, the rise of foodie culture, and delving into the ways food creates community and a sense of identity.
My Review: 4.5 stars
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Kitchens Of The Great Midwest took me on a culinary journey as well as a coming of age one. The author, Stradal, created this story using only eight wisely written chapters based on different characters who knew our main protagonist through different stages of her life. Some could call these chapters interconnected short stories, but they’re not; they’re just a novel story-telling technique that was superbly done.
I found myself reading this non-stop, as I couldn’t wait to see where Eva was headed. Some of the minor characters, in which the chapters were based, had pitch perfect voices. I loved Braque. Her sailor’s mouth was so spot on for someone that suffered loss at such an early age. She mirrored Eva in a discussion worthy way. Additionally, I loved the symbolism in the name Hatch.
This book uses food as a minor character and for those of you who enjoy cooking, savor a good meal or relish new recipes, then this is definitely a book for you.
Quotes I liked:
After decades away from the Midwest, she’d forgotten that bewildering generosity was a common regional tic.”
As the eastbound flight reached cruising altitude, Cindy opened the latest issue of the Economist—she saved her smarter reading for public situations.
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