Title: Kitchens of the Great Midwest

Author: J. Ryan Stradal

Publisher: Penguin 2015

Genre: Literary Fiction

Pages: 312

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Literary Escapes - Minnesota

When Lars Thorvald’s wife, Cynthia, falls in love with wine—and a dashing sommelier—he’s left to raise their baby, Eva, on his own. He’s determined to pass on his love of food to his daughter—starting with puréed pork shoulder. As Eva grows, she finds her solace and salvation in the flavors of her native Minnesota. From Scandinavian lutefisk to hydroponic chocolate habaneros, each ingredient represents one part of Eva’s journey as she becomes the star chef behind a legendary and secretive pop-up supper club, culminating in an opulent and emotional feast that’s a testament to her spirit and resilience.

Out book club selection for this month. I had wanted to read this one before reading Stradal’s new book, The Lager Queen of Minnesota. But I wasn’t quite sure what this one was really about. I dove in and after three chapters, finally got the hang of this book. The narration jumps around a bit in narrations and constantly jumps forward in time. And yet, Stradal has done so well in the continuity that I wasn’t annoyed like I usually am. Instead, I was fully immersed in the interconnected stories of the various characters created by Stradal. I especially loved the chapters focusing on Braque and Pat. Beyond the characters, the focus on food was amazing. Stradal deftly combines simple food with larger stories of growing up and finding yourself. In fact, I’m still processing this book. I’m so wrapped up in the storyline, I’m savoring the explorations of food. And I really need to make my own desert bars.

Next up on the TBR pile: