My only complaint about this book is that it was too short. I wanted more... The writing made cooking seem almost sensuous. I wanted to be part of this group. I wanted to learn what they were learning. I wanted even more detail. The book is wonderful.

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A delicious read - made my mouth water! Love Bauermeister's rich descriptions and all the food references. I've even applied a few tips I picked up in my own kitchen! My only complaint is that the character's story's could have used a bit more conclusion - left me wanting more at the end.

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This book is truly fascinating. It's not a typical "story" with beginning, middle, and end. It's a series of stories about the individuals who make up a cooking class. And the cooking class is not normal either. It's a story about food and how it fills your memories, your life, and your senses. It's about people connecting and finding themselves. The stories are told in such a powerful, yet gentle poetic voice. It's almost trance-like in it's power to pull you in to the stories. You want to meet these people in real life, take them home, and find out what happens to them after the classes are over. It will make you look at cooking, food, and relationships in a whole new light.

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I enjoyed reading this book. The author writes well about each person who learns to cook, their chalenges at the cooking school, a little about their personalities and their backgrounds. It is a fun read for anyone who likes cooking...

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Wonderful, lyrical read, makes you rethink cooking. If you enjoyed The Friday Night Knitting Company or The Guernsey Literary and Potatoe Peel Pie Society, you will enjoy this book as well.

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This was an interesting book, I enjoyed the way it was written, each chapter a glimpse into that person's background and how they came to be at the cooking class. The coming together as a class and learning was a bit over the top for me though the imagery was indeed very sensuously done. All food prep seemed to have that in common. If you like a book with a little conflict then you are out of luck, everyone is hug hug kiss kiss in this story; like a fairy tale type story. Good afternoon book!

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A great read! The characters came alive as each was treated to his own chapter in this book. I like the way the author interwove a cooking lesson with each of her students. I am so confident that others will enjoy as much as I did, I have passed the book along to friends.

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Sometimes I love a book for the characters or the story, but sometimes I fall in love with one because of the language and this book fits that category. The chapters are little vignettes about the characters, so we get glimpses in to their lives, but the aren't really developed completely. All of them have come to the cooking class for different reasons, but Lillian helps them all heal in some way... and it's all about the ritual of cooking and tasting and enjoying. Bauermeister's use of vocabulary is as rich and succulent as the dishes Lillian's students experience. Her descriptions bring you right into the kitchen and wrap you up in the aromas and textures of the ingredients. More than walking away from the book with a memory of a character, I walked away with a better appreciation being mentally present while you prepare food and taking the time to s-l-o-w down while you eat it.

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This book is for anyone who loves cooking and good food. Lillian is a chef and restaurant owner who offers a cooking class, the school of the title. Before the classes are over, each of the students will find what they need. The lush, colorful, sensuous and aromatic dishes become the solace, solution, comfort or inspiration to help with their lives. It will make you hungry and want to head for the kitchen. The book has that slightly magic touch that food brings, which reminded me of "Like Water for Chocolate."

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This was a nice feel good book about cooking, friendships and life. It doesn't go into huge detail about everyone, but you get enough information to enjoy their time at the school, interacting with one another and the things that happen.
I am looking forward to reading more books from Bauermeister, I like mixing in books like this, they make me happy.

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I enjoyed reading why each of the eight students joined the cooking class, and how each was affected by participating, and interacting with each other; how they all became friends even though they are all so different.

This is Erica Bauermeister's first book, and I look forward to reading more from her.

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This wonderful story is about the old art of real cooking and friendships. When you Make the time to give to your friends and family from your kitchen. When people who were open to trying new things even when they weren't sure, Did it !

Thank you PBS without you I would have never know about this wonderful book.

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A story of several people, and their teacher in a cooking class. They each have their own story, some sad, some really sad. Warning, do not read this book if you are in any way hungry. Because after reading this a plain old ham sandwich will not suffice. I always feel a little inferior after reading a book like this, my cooking is not up to the standards of this book. But it is easily read and enjoyed.

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Loved this book--probably because it was about a cooking school!

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I loved this book! It is beautifully written and made me want to be there, learning to cook along with all the characters. I was so sad when I finished it...

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Never before have I read a book where ALL the characters
love all food, where everyone gets along with everyone else and where all life's experiences are defined with food. I do believe even Pollyanna's stomach would have rebelled.

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I really loved reading this book. I am not a cook,,but I enjoyed Erica writing.

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I loved this book. In some ways it reminded me of the movie, Chocolat in that Lillian was able to match food to people -- truly a luscious slice of life. There was no magic, no gypsies (like in Chocolat) just the flow of sweet prose and wonderful food. Each section was it's own little vignette, a glimpse into the lives of the participant attending the class. The book ended way too soon for me and I can't wait to get the follow-up book, The Lost Art of Mixing. Great first book Ms. Bauermeister! May you write many more.

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A sumptuous, sensuous couldn't-put-it-down read. I loved the language and identified with the characters. That it took place in Seattle, where we have such an abundance of "essential ingredients" and ethnic diversity, was a plus. I can't wait to nominate it as a reading selection to my book group.

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Lovely little book of food for the body and soul.

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This book was fairly well written, I loved the parts about food and the cooking school. The characters were well developed but there's a little too much focus on their sex lives.

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