First published 2016
North Carolina writers gather around the table to share their most vivid culinary memories. These essayists recount everything from treasured family traditions passed down through generations to disastrous kitchen experiments that ended in laughter or tears. They explore the recipes that define their heritage and the meals that marked pivotal moments in their lives. Some writers celebrate beloved food rituals that bring families together during holidays and special occasions. Others examine the dreaded dishes they were forced to endure as children. The collection captures both triumph and failure in the kitchen, from the funniest dinner party disasters to the most comforting home-cooked meals. Each essay connects food to memory, showing how certain tastes and smells can transport us back to specific moments and places. Together, these North Carolina voices create a feast of storytelling that reveals how deeply food shapes our identities and relationships.
Genres: essays, memoir, food-writing, culinary
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: food-as-memory, found-family
Setting: North Carolina
280 pages · Paperback · Eno Publishers