Review - The School of Essential Ingredients by Erica Bauermeister

Published: 2009
Pages: 273

After reading a few books that didn't really appeal to me, it was so refreshing to open this book. I loved this book!

The main character in this book is Lillian. Her mother was so immersed in books that her "face became a series of book covers, held in place where eyes, nose, or mouth might normally appear" (p11). Lillian got to thinking that maybe smells were for her what printed words were for other people, so she decided maybe she would try and cook her mom out of what ever rut she seemed to be in.

She ended up meeting up with Abuelita who gave her "a six-inch-long stick with a rounded bulb on one end with ridges carved into it like furrows in a field" (p28). Lillian thought that it was a magic wand.

She went on to own a restaurant and hold a cooking school every Monday night. There were all kinds of different people that attended.

Each person that attending this cooking class had a chapter devoted to them. The book goes on to talk about each person and how they ended up at the cooking class and how it changed each of their lives.

I have to admit that this book really made we want to cook something and smell all of the great flavors that are mentioned. I did eat my supper while reading part of this book and it made it seem to taste that much better.

I definately recommend this book!