Keeping the Feast

 
This past week I finished reading Keeping the Feast by Paula Butturini. I can not remember how I first learned of this book, but I requested it at the library because I was intrigued  by the subtitle- "One couple's story of love, food and healing in Italy." I like love stories, I enjoy food and I especially love Italy! This book while very honest and real, was not what I was expecting. It is the story of Paula's life and how after her husband is tragically shot, they retreat to Italy for him to recover from life- paralyzing deep depression. Yes, it is depressing to read at times! What I did especially like were Paula's stories from her life that all related to food. She starts each chapter with a memory of her childhood- eating at her grandparents, holiday meals, her dad cooking polenta, or her mom making stew. She relates those memories and foods into her adult life and how she approaches foods and the importance of keeping the feast. I love how the food that we grow up with shapes the adults we become and then later shape our children's lives. This shows how important food really is in making us who we are and how we experience life. Besides the Italian food, much of the book takes place in Rome where Paula describes food shopping in the markets and the various neighborhoods they lived in. This is a very real life story that I think many people will appreciate.

Lunch in Paris

As we already know, I am a sucker for anything about Paris. This book was an especially delightful treat. I literally read it in about one weekend. I was so caught up in the story of Elizabeth and how she not only falls in love with a Frenchman but also in love with Paris and it's food. After each chapter there are recipes and each one sounded so good that I added this book to my birthday list so I can try them. I can almost picture myself as Elizabeth going to the market to buy food and then trying new dishes. I wish I could do that now everyday. This book is just a simple story of a girl and her newly wed life. I think most of us could and should write something similar. We all have our stories and life's recipes that should be shared. Everyone loves a good love story! After reading this book though I do wish my own story was not taking place in North Dakota. Somehow that does not have quite the same appeal as Paris! She writes about chocolate souffles and tangines and I would have to write about chocolate chip cookies and chili! Well, "Paris is always a good idea" (Sabrina Fairchild in Sabrina), so this book is a good idea too.