The School of Essential Ingredients
Food, cooking, recipes, growing up and growing old, new love and old love, loss and grief, friendships and relationships, all combine to form an entrancing novel from beginning to end.
Each chapter focuses on a different character and open’s with Lillian’s story. Her interest and passion for food and ingredients began as a child when she quickly grasped the relationship of food and people’s emotional lives. She went on to build a life around her passion and now teaches a cooking class one Monday night a month in her restaurant.
Her students come from all walks of life. Age, gender, background, play no part in Lillian’s class, only their interest and passion for food and cooking.
Erica Baurmeister expertly weaves their heartwarming stories together, as easily as a professional chef combines individual ingredients to create a delicious meal.
As each chapter unfolds, the reader is drawn deeper and deeper into the character’s lives and the momentum of the book accelerates.
What secret exists between the older couple Carl and Helen? Is their long-time marriage in trouble? Will it survive? Who is Tom grieving for and will he be able to work through his grief and move on? Chole is so young and independent. Will she find her way? Will she find the right role models and mentors to help her? And, if she does, will she accept their help and guidance? What stories hide in Isabelle’s past and can she hold onto the present as she ages?
Lillian’s Monday night cooking class is the perfect setting for this novel and possibly more.
Erica Baurmeister’s The School of Essential Ingredients
It is a wonderful break from the stress and hectic nature our lives sometimes take on. Curl up on the couch one Saturday afternoon and indulge yourself. I did, and it was well worth it.
