Padma Lakshmi

A little girl makes food with her mother, following her grandmother's recipes.

This is a sweet book all about the joys of cooking, especially together as a family. The focus is on healthy eating, starting with visiting a farmers' market for local, fresh food as ingredients. The book includes a couple of tomato-based recipes that readers can try for themselves.

The final pages include trivia about tomatoes, such as how their scientific name translates to "wolf peach" (although I wish I knew why!). There's then some information about farmworkers and the need to protect them and their work, including a bibliography for more details.

Lastly, there's an author's note encouraging readers to cook their own food, not just for health reasons but also for bringing families together. Honestly, the book already gave that inspiration, but that final reminder is a nice push for readers of all ages to start thinking about chopping, sautéing, and more.

The illustrations are absolutely beautiful, as can be seen by the cover and continuing throughout, even to the backmatter.… (meer)

Imagine sitting with a new dear friend, sharing a meal and childhood stories, sometimes laughing, sometimes crying, asking "then what", and leaving mesmerized and amazed at the resilience a soul can possess. That is this memoir. I've watched Top Chef and have always been impressed with Padma's grace and poise, even while eating something less than appetizing (hunk of fat, anyone?). Beyond being beautiful, Padma guides the chefs and the show through each season with humor and a gentle touch. I decided to read "Love, Loss, and What We Ate" partly because of the title, and partly because of the revelation that she'd been molested as a child. As a survivor, I was dying to know how she came out on the other side. I got so much more. There is an immediacy and intimacy to this book, that feels like she is just sitting at my table, having a cup of tea, which I think is really remarkable for anyone sharing their story.… (meer)