First published 2026
Zahra Tangorra writes about food as the thread connecting her most important relationships and defining moments. After a near-death experience at twenty-two forces her to examine her identity, she traces her story through meals that shaped her. She recalls stuffed shells at J&J's on Long Island, her mother's chocolate mousse pie, and her father's pea soup. Tangorra chronicles the intense journey of opening Brucie, her cult-favorite Brooklyn restaurant, and her decision to close it during its peak success. She explores cooking her father his final meal, grieving his loss, and discovering unexpected beauty in sorrow. The memoir examines relationships she couldn't repair through food, including her fractured family connections and a romance she abandoned in Tuscany. Tangorra reflects on the courage required to accept love completely and authentically, embracing both joy and messiness in equal measure.
Genres: family-life, memoir, biography-memoir, food-writing, culinary
Vibes: emotional-atmospheric, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, personal-journey
Setting: Brooklyn, Long Island, Tuscany
320 pages · Hardcover · The Dial Press