Review of The School of Essential Ingredients
Erica Bauermeister's Book About Food, Friendship and Finding Oneself
Erica Bauermeister has written a book like no other. Using a cooking class as the vehicle to tell the story, a character named Lillian found herself through cooking. She grows up to use culinary experiences to bring richness into the lives of others.
The School of Essential Ingredients
This book is a charming and sensitive story of a cooking class Lillian ran, and the life changes which came with being self-aware as part of the process of cooking and dining. It is not only a very different kind of storytelling – a novel kind of novel as it were, but a true vacation for your heart as well as a tantalizing treat for all your senses.
No one who reads this book can leave unchanged by it, each in a person's own particular way. A number of vignettes showed how food connected with memories, changing lives and bringing peace.
Main Character of The School of Essential Ingredients
The main character, Lillian, cooked for her mother whose face was always buried in a book. She followed other mothers around to learn about cooking, observing how the senses were awakened with certain ingredients, some calming or awakening the emotions. She delved into the nuances of food preparation and a wide assortment of spices.
Abuelita, the Mentor of The School of Essential Ingredients
Lillian was befriended by a kind lady, Abuelita, who picked up on Lillian's angst and talent which far exceeded just following recipes.
This gentle lady from a sidestreet store provided tutelege in far more than food, helping the child learn to listen to herself.
This older lady gave her a hand-scrawled recipe with a sack full of "essential ingredients" which Lillian prepared slowly and carefully. When it came time to present the food to her mother, she came out of her book-ridden reverie for a while. That day Lillian discovered the magic of cooking while interacting, as opposed to just using, the ingredients.
Her mother died when she was 17. Yet Lillian went on to become quite an effective adult, providing emotional sustenance to the many who found themselves in her cooking class. Her methods are reminiscent of the Native American practice of thanking the food before ingesting.
Effective Use of Language in Erica Bauermeister's Book
Lillian referred to handling freshly made salsa "like childhood held in your hand." At an aromatic class event another character, Antonio, remembered life could be beautiful after having strayed from that idea for a time.
This may be a book worth buying since there are so many phrases you will highlight to inhale the essence of the rich and pungent language.
Obvious Lessons from The School of Essential Ingredients
She espoused slowing life down three times a day while eating, pausing to experience the food in a dining environment with all that entails including all the senses. She claimed people can get what they want, and enjoy each day, using the event of cooking and eating to make that happen.
This is the kind of book one needs to read a bit, then absorb a bit. Reading the book mirrors the experiences detailed about the cooking class. Readers will fall in love with both Lillian the wistful child and Abuelita the wise woman.
Many will identify with the separate yet connected stories of each member of Lillian's cooking class and be left richer and breathing more deeply for a long time. This book may even make you spend more time in the kitchen, taking time to revel in cooking and dining!
Source:
- Bauermeister, Erica. The School of Essential Ingredients. NY: G.P. Putnam's Sons, 2009.
The School of Essential Ingredients
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