A review and summary by Alice McCarthy
I saw this book at the South Jefferson Library in Summit Point (what a gem of a place, check it out sometime) and it jumped into my hand. I read a page of two, and then saw recipes sprinkled here and there, I was hooked. (Like Momma’s Carrot Cake and the Onion Soup, yum).
It’s a mysterious story about Chef Eva Thorvald that moves forward from birth to adulthood in a not always completing the details style that was disconcerting and confusing to some….well, I liked it! Also, there is keen detail on the modern take on food: using specific varieties of tomatoes and corn, wine pairings for specific meats and fish; an adventure catching the perfect fish, and red pepper jelly/growing hot peppers, and serving that Caesar Salad.
My favorite chapter was on the Bar Cookies~ what a hoot! (Sooo typical of those Midwest ladies, have seen it before with my own eyes at the 4-H Fair and County Fair in Princeton, IL where I spent time every summer, 100 west of Chicago. Yes, in the midst of flat land and endless cornfields and big gardens and canning food and freezers full of beef).
And all this taking place and literally imagined (cause writers write what they know) out of where the author grew up in Minnesota, Iowa, and Chicago plus that fabulous isolated locale for the fine dining ending amazing 7 course meal…. And Eva’s mom showing up at the end…..
The title pulled me in since I grew up in the various locations in the Midwest, too: born in Iowa City, IA; Tiskawa, IL; and Cincinnati, OH.
And when I took my own boys there, to the family farm in Illinois, they hated it! (They loved going into big city Chicago for the Cubs baseball games and to see the aquarium. That’s the way it goes!)
Thanks Carol for the support, great kitchen table, fabulous patriotic decorated tree and the Red White and Blue color scheme. That was the best!! And in the GTG Book club, we never have to worry about our wine pairings- we drink anything! Bon appetit!
