A review by jenmcmaynes
Alone in the Kitchen with an Eggplant: Confessions of Cooking for One and Dining Alone by

3.0

3.5 stars. A mostly enjoyable collection of essays about the act of cooking for one or dining alone. While most of the pieces offered similar words of insight concerning taking care of oneself, cooking as an act of love, and the guilty pleasures of pleasing one's self, a few pieces did touch on other aspects ("Thanks, but No Thanks" by Courtney Eldridge delves into classism and poverty; "White-on-White Lunch for When No One is Looking" by Anneli Rufus deals with weight issues; and "Instant Noodles" by Rattawut Lacharoensap looks at the ex-pat's longing and inability to get the food from home). I appreciated these pieces more, if only because they offered a different perspective from the general tone of the book. Not that the typical essay was bad; it was just that, after awhile, they tended to blend together. Perhaps this book would be best savored in small bites, instead of a giant gulp? ;-)