The School of Essential Ingredients by Erica Bauermeister

This is just a lovely book. It's got it all: interesting characters, beautiful evocative writing, and a nice set of story lines. It's Erica Bauermeister's first novel and I certainly hope there is another underway.

Lillian owns a popular restaurant and on Monday nights hold a cooking class there. There are few written recipes. Instead, she teaches people how to explore food and open their senses to the art of cooking. Each of the students has their own reason for attending class and brings their own story. What Lillian teaches is as much about life as it is about cooking, of course.

It's a delightful book to read, one you won't want to rush through but linger over and enjoy.