Food for Thought: A Review of "Kitchens of the Great Midwest" by J. Ryan Stradal

    What an incredibly interesting book. After finishing the book, I had to sit and let the whole story process in my brain. "Kitchens of the Great Midwest" is definitely one of the most though provoking books I've read this year. The book tells the story of Eva Thorvland, who has a "once-in-a-generation palate." Eva's story is told through the perspective of those around her, including her father, her cousin, and her teenage boyfriend.
    I decided to read this book after reading Stradal's article "I Was a Midwestern Teenage Foodie," (http://www.buzzfeed.com/jryanstradal/culinary-cosmonauts#.ikA33Ypw3p) which describes Stradal's experience as a "Culinary Cosmonaut." Stradal is an immensely talented writer, and after reading the article, I knew I'd have to read his book.

From "I Was a Midwestern Teenage Foodie"

    "Kitchens of the Great Midwest" is an interesting portrait of cooking, food, and foodie culture.  It is captivatingly readable, and I read it in (almost) one sitting. Stradal has an incredibly evocative way of writing about food. Reading this book was worse than watching the food network on an empty stomach, and I was practically salivating at every culinary creation he described.