Synopses & Reviews
Food isnt just a gustatory pleasure; it is the stuff of life. At its best and most memorable, a meal becomes a story—and a story becomes a feast. In this collection of essays by some of the countrys finest writers, food is the central player in memories both exquisite and excruciating. Steve Almond recounts the gleeful daylong preparation of a transcendent lobster pad thai dish. Sue Miller reveals that after a lifetime of practical cooking, she is finally fed by a man who presents food as an offering, made just for her. Aimee Bender ponders her lifelong envy of what everyone else is having for lunch. Richard Russo relates the celebratory day he and his wife spent eating their way through haute Manhattan—and departing utterly famished.Expertly compiled and edited by Douglas Bauer—including pieces by Amy Bloom, Peter Mayle, Jane and Michael Stern, Ann Packer, and Andre Dubus III—this unforgettable collection presents food as education, test, reward, bait, magnet, and, most of all, gift. Gathered here are meals that sate our most complex palate, the appreciation of life.
Synopsis
A treasury of reminiscences and essays by some of today's leading food writers shares their memories of a special meal that occupies a special place in their lives, featuring contributions by Elizabeth McCracken, Claire Messud, Aimee Bender, Sue Miller, Peter Mayle, Richard Russo, David Lehman, Amy Bloom, and others. Original. 20,000 first printing.
About the Author
Douglas Bauer is the editor of Prime Times and the author of Prairie City, Iowa; Dexterity; The Very Air; and The Book.