Description: A delight to hold and a joy to look at, this wise and winning little book is a unique coupling of the whimsical illustrations of F. Melendez and a perfectly chosen collection of Laura Esquivel's best articles, speeches, and book prologues regarding the relationship between food and the most essential aspects of our humanity.

Esquivel relates the story of the chile and its pervasiveness in Mexican life: "We Mexicans are children of corn, but we were formed of chile". In a warm remembrance, she tells of spending the first years of her life in the kitchen hearth at her mother's and grandmother's sides, learning their secrets and entering their sacred spaces. A recipe for Oaxacan Black Mole leads to an account of the complaints she received from her New York roommates upon filling their apartment with the aroma of fried peppers: "What can you expect from people who have eaten frozen or canned food, sitting on the floor watching television since they were born?"

These and many more are little gems will be a treat for Esquivel's fans and for anyone who appreciates the ability of food to sustain us on levels beyond the physical.

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