Padma Lakshmi

I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley.

I read a past book in this series, 2022's Best American Food Writing. I remember it being an excellent read with some stand-out works. This new edition, that now incorporates the best travel writing as well? Astonishing. Piece after piece was educational and enlightening, each one unique.

Some of the works that left me the most impressed:

- "India's Beef with Beef" - an insightful piece about the role of beef within Indian society and how some extreme Hindu groups are using beef as an excuse to persecute Muslims.
- "The Hungry Jungle" - I thought this would only be about a trek into the Guatemalan jungle for a wedding, but it included a piece of evocative body horror that has lingered with me for days. I will NOT be making a similar journey myself, let me tell you.
- "Notable Sandwiches #75: Grilled Cheese" - a rapturous short work on the glory of the grilled cheese sandwich. It made me crave.
- "My Catalina" - a meditation on grief and memory revolving around the author's mother's reliance on Catalina dressing. "Eating Badly," the very last piece in the book, took a different angle on the theme of grief through a Chinese-American perspective, with a final line that was breathtaking.
- "The Titan Submersible Was 'An Accident Waiting to Happen'" - A deeply-researched piece on the Titan submersible and its bombastic creator, who died when the submarine and its passengers were lost over the wreck of the Titanic. Really, a piece about arrogance and innovation, and the lack of industry safeguards. I had no idea how hard a whistleblower fought to end this project.
- "Unsafe Passage" - a first-person account from a Palestinian man who tried to get out of Gaza with his family. Heart-breaking and infuriating.

Really, I could cite something that was noteworthy about every story. There is not a dud in the bunch. The curators did an incredible job.… (more)

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.… (more)

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.… (more)