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A review by bookph1le
Relish: My Life in the Kitchen by Lucy Knisley
5.0
*Loved* it.
Unlike the author, I didn't become a foodie until later in life, much to my regret. Americans have a weird relationship with food, and I was pretty typically American for a good chunk of my life, eating processed foods that now make me shudder in horror. But being a foodie doesn't mean you have to be an elitist. Good food can be simple and cheap, and I feel there are a lot of entrenched interests that have convinced Americans that cooking is hard and mysterious. It's not and it isn't. Like anything, it takes practice (and I was a *total* failure in my early days), but once you've got the hang of it, it's amazing what you can create in your home kitchen.
Hence why I so enjoyed this book. Every page is suffused with the author's deep love of and appreciation for good, whether it's the junk food she notes she loves or the fancier, more esoteric foods that pepper the book. Reading it was like a feast for my own senses, making me remember some of my best meals, while also making me itch to get into the kitchen and make something. Plus, it has recipes! What more can a foodie ask for?
The art is lovely and heartfelt, and the author's voice is also fantastic. I laughed out loud several times, and reading it felt like listening to a friend tell you a fascinating story. I loved the warm tone and the obvious affection the author has for her subjects, whether she's recounting a dish or a person she loves. This book is a genuine pleasure from start to finish.
Unlike the author, I didn't become a foodie until later in life, much to my regret. Americans have a weird relationship with food, and I was pretty typically American for a good chunk of my life, eating processed foods that now make me shudder in horror. But being a foodie doesn't mean you have to be an elitist. Good food can be simple and cheap, and I feel there are a lot of entrenched interests that have convinced Americans that cooking is hard and mysterious. It's not and it isn't. Like anything, it takes practice (and I was a *total* failure in my early days), but once you've got the hang of it, it's amazing what you can create in your home kitchen.
Hence why I so enjoyed this book. Every page is suffused with the author's deep love of and appreciation for good, whether it's the junk food she notes she loves or the fancier, more esoteric foods that pepper the book. Reading it was like a feast for my own senses, making me remember some of my best meals, while also making me itch to get into the kitchen and make something. Plus, it has recipes! What more can a foodie ask for?
The art is lovely and heartfelt, and the author's voice is also fantastic. I laughed out loud several times, and reading it felt like listening to a friend tell you a fascinating story. I loved the warm tone and the obvious affection the author has for her subjects, whether she's recounting a dish or a person she loves. This book is a genuine pleasure from start to finish.