Kitchens of the Great Midwest

Kitchens of the Great Midwest

J. Ryan Stradal

Genre: Fiction

Summary (from Goodreads): “Foodies and those who love contemporary literature will devour this novel that is being compared to Elizabeth Strout’s Olive Kitteridge. A standout.” —Library Journal (starred review)
Kitchens of the Great Midwest, about a young woman with a once-in-a-generation palate who becomes the iconic chef behind the country’s most coveted dinner reservation, is the summer’s most hotly-anticipated debut.

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.

Each chapter in J. Ryan Stradal’s startlingly original debut tells the story of a single dish and character, at once capturing the zeitgeist of the Midwest, the rise of foodie culture, and delving into the ways food creates community and a sense of identity. By turns quirky, hilarious, and vividly sensory, Kitchens of the Great Midwest is an unexpected mother-daughter story about the bittersweet nature of life—its missed opportunities and its joyful surprises. It marks the entry of a brilliant new talent.
 
Review:  This book was bizarre, in that it seemed to be more of a collection of short stories that somehow related to the main character, Eva, rather than a novel.  Eva was the focus of only one chapter in the novel, and was hardly mentioned in some of the chapters.  The last chapter provided a bit of a resolution to a few of the characters, although Eva didn't even make an appearance in it.  But overall, the novel was a bit dark and the recipes/dishes were too bizarre and pretentious for me.

Rating: 2 stars