The Language of Baklava by Diana Abu-Jaber

My spouse and I have been reading chef memoir's lately, and came upon this in that search--it is a memoir from someone who is not a chef, but for whom food was a frequent and important component of life growing up. This is the author's personal story as a child of two cultures (her mother is a non-immigrant American and her father is an immigrant from the Middle East), and the absorbing of everything around her, the people, events and aromatic dishes prepared by her father (recipes and context included). Moving from America to Jordan and back, she speaks to the cultural ambiguity of a schoolgirl in America, with a father who has his own ideas about the behavior of adolescent daughters, which is completely in step with conservative views and out of step with how young adults view their social norms. The author introduces her extended family in all their eccentricities; as generous and expansive as they are unconventional, the Abu-Jabers draw outsiders into their circle, unable to resist the tempting aromas that waft from the kitchen. Food, family and celebration go hand in hand, the rich tastes that bring memories of Jordan, the flavors of home. Food is memory, triggering the tastes and places of youth, familiar and comforting. It feels real and complicated at the same time.