Fiction for food lovers

I love books that have elaborate descriptions of food and cooking. They have a comforting and calming feel to them. I had a colleague who would only read fiction where the main character was a chef or someone who loved to cook. She said these books gave her hope and instilled a strong belief that when all else failed there would always be food, to nourish and ground you. Over time, reading about food has made me want to be better in the kitchen. I have learned to cook many dishes just by googling recipes that fictional characters have made in their fictional world. Somehow, they always come out well, despite my mediocre cooking skills. Here are five books that you might enjoy if you are a foodie like me. 

Love & Saffron by Kim Fay

Set in the 1960s, ‘Love & Saffron’ is witty and tender. It’s a reminder of the fact that good food and a good life are two sides of a coin. It begins when Joan Bergstrom sends a fan letter to food writer Imogen Fortier, thereby kickstarting a life-changing friendship. The two women communicate through letters and build a closeness that helps them get through tough times as well as reminds them to be grateful for all the good things they have been blessed with. Through their letters, the two not only discuss food but also talk about the books they love. It’s a feel-good story that teaches you the value of food and friendship, and the importance of connections in life.

Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

Elizabeth Zott is a chemist. She works hard at the lab, doing research on things that matter. But after years of working in her lab, she finds herself the reluctant star of America’s most beloved cooking show Supper at Six. Her no nonsense, scientific approach to cooking appeals to the masses. She doesn’t say vinegar and salt. She says, “combine one tablespoon of acetic acid with a pinch of sodium chloride” instead. And it’s endearing. You want to reach in and hug Elizabeth. Without realizing what she is doing, Elizabeth, through her cooking techniques, is challenging women to change the status quo. ‘Lessons in Chemistry’ has elaborate descriptions of food that will whet your appetite and leave you wanting to put on the chef’s hat.

 The Kitchen’s God Wife by Amy Tan

Amy Tan is a genius. I love all her works. I read ‘The Kitchen God’s Wife’ when I was in high school and have since then recommended and gifted it to many of my family and friends. It’s Tan’s second novel which was published in 1991. The book is essentially about relationships and explores the complex dynamics between a mother and a daughter. It’s a story about a woman who is born into wealth in pre-communist China. She goes through a degrading arranged marriage and the early deaths of three children, lives through World War II, and emigrated to America, before finally creating a comfortable and stable life for herself in a new country. What I loved about the book is the numerous mentions of food and recipes that are handed down from one generation to another.

Ghosts by Dolly Alderton

I believe in first novels. They hold a lot of promise. They have got a writer’s sweat, blood, and tears on them and I often find myself picking them up because of that very reason. ‘Ghosts’ in Dolly Alderton’s first novel. I read her other works before I read this book. Though I like her writing, I instantly connected with Ghost more than with the others. The premise is simple but the book has a sharp message. It’s a coming-of-age novel that discusses the importance of family and our relationships, especially the one we have with ourselves.

Thirty-year-old food writer Nina Dean gets stood up numerous times by a Very Lame Dude but that’s not what haunts her the most. Her friendships are disappearing and her father has dementia. The only place that calms her down is the kitchen. 

Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquivel

‘Like Water for Chocolate’ is a classic love story that takes place on the De la Garza ranch. The book opens with the tyrannical owner, Mama Elena, chopping onions at the kitchen table in her final days of pregnancy. While still in her mother’s womb, the child cries so violently she causes an early labor. Little Tita slips out amid the spices and ingredients for noodle soup. This early encounter with food soon becomes a way of life for her. Tita grows up to be a master chef, using cooking to express herself and sharing recipes with readers along the way. Tita loves Pedro but she can’t marry him because of her family’s traditions. Cooking is how she can express her pent-up emotions. It’s cathartic. The lighthearted book will make you laugh, sigh, and shed a tear or two while reminding you of the healing powers of food.