I no longer put stars on my reviews. This is an important note to start with.

Review:

I was truly amazed to discover that, aside from her numerous other achievements, Maya Angelou was also a highly accomplished chef. "This is a cozy little book with a pleasing frame." She shares an entertaining anecdote from her life where food took center stage. It's a charming story that draws you in and makes you eager to read more.

Following the anecdote, she presents relevant recipes. Many of these require more effort than I'm willing to invest, but I have great admiration for those who can prepare these dishes. In truth, I find that I enjoy reading about cooking a great deal more than actually cooking myself.

Unlike some of her other memoirs, this particular one doesn't contain anything overly heavy or burdensome. The writing is celebratory and truly lives up to the title. It's a light-hearted and enjoyable read that offers a unique perspective on Maya Angelou's life through the lens of food.

I have an intense love for Maya Angelou.

Her ability to share her story is truly remarkable. In this particular instance, she does so through the medium of recipes and memories of food.

It's as if she weaves a tapestry of her life experiences, with each recipe and food memory being a vibrant thread.

Her words bring these memories to life, allowing the reader to not only taste the delicious dishes she describes but also to feel the emotions and experiences associated with them.

Maya Angelou's writing is a powerful reminder of the importance of food in our lives, not just as sustenance but as a source of connection, comfort, and inspiration.

Her work continues to touch the hearts and minds of people around the world, and I am grateful to have discovered her through her beautiful and unique storytelling.

This was a short yet captivating piece of work penned by Maya Angelou.

I had the pleasure of listening to the audio version, which she herself read. It truly added a charming and unique layer of authenticity to the work.

Hearing her personal stories unfold in her own voice, along with the written words, was a remarkable experience.

Some of the stories were particularly compelling, while others didn't quite grip my attention as strongly.

To be honest, I wasn't overly interested in most of the dishes that were mentioned. However, that's perfectly fine since the audio version, as expected, abridges the recipes.

Nonetheless, I thoroughly relished the book and was in awe of what I discovered about Angelou herself and her remarkable achievements in life.

It has kindled in me a desire to explore more of her works and to give deeper thought to the significant role that food plays in each and every one of our lives.

Overall, it was a delightful and thought-provoking experience.

Great short stories are beautifully tied together by the common thread of food.

One of the most memorable aspects is the favorite quote that emerges from the story of her friend seasoning fancy food with Tabasco. It goes like this: "I have grown a little since that incident. I’ve come to believe that each diner should be free to flavor her dish as she wants it. For no matter how wonderfully trained the chef, no matter how delicate his or her sensitivity, taste buds are as individual as fingerprints. Mine are mine and yours are yours and vive la difference."

This quote really encapsulates the essence of the connection between food and individuality. It shows that while a chef may put a lot of effort and skill into creating a dish, the final experience of that dish is up to the individual diner. Each person has their own unique taste preferences, just like their fingerprints. And this diversity should be celebrated. It makes the act of dining not just about consuming food, but about a personal exploration and expression of taste.

The short stories, with food as the unifying element, bring to life these ideas and make us think about our own relationships with food and how we interact with it.