Description
Book Synopsis: Named a Favorite Book for Southerners in 2020 by Garden & Gun
"Donovan is such a vivid writer—smart, raunchy, vulnerable and funny—that if her vaunted caramel cakes and sugar pies are half as good as her prose, well, I'd be open to even giving that signature buttermilk whipped cream she tops her desserts with a try.”—Maureen Corrigan, NPR
Noted chef and James Beard Award-winning essayist Lisa Donovan helped establish some of the South's most important kitchens, and her pastry work is at the forefront of a resurgence in traditional desserts. Yet Donovan struggled to make a living in an industry where male chefs built successful careers on the stories, recipes, and culinary heritage passed down from generations of female cooks and cooks of color. At one of her career peaks, she made the perfect dessert at a celebration for food-world goddess Diana Kennedy. When Kennedy asked why she had not heard of her, Donovan said she did not know. "I do," Kennedy said, "Stop letting men tell your story."
OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL HUNGER is Donovan's searing, beautiful, and searching chronicle of reclaiming her own story and the narrative of the women who came before her. Her family's matriarchs found strength and passion through food, and they inspired Donovan's accomplished career. Donovan's love language is hospitality, and she wants to welcome everyone to the table of good food and fairness. Donovan herself had been told at every juncture that she wasn't enough: she came from a struggling southern family that felt ashamed of its own mixed race heritage and whose elders diminished their women. She survived abuse and assault as a young mother. But Donovan's salvations were food, self-reliance, and the network of women in food who stood by her. In the school of the late John Egerton, OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL HUNGER is an unforgettable Southern journey of class, gender, and race as told at table.
Details
Are you looking for a captivating memoir that combines mouth-watering descriptions of desserts with an inspiring story of resilience and determination? Look no further than "Our Lady of Perpetual Hunger: A Memoir" by Lisa Donovan. Garnering the attention and praise of critics, this book is a must-read for anyone interested in Southern cuisine, feminist narratives, and the power of storytelling.
In "Our Lady of Perpetual Hunger," Donovan takes you on a culinary journey through her experiences as a chef and James Beard Award-winning essayist. She skillfully weaves her personal struggles with the challenges faced by female chefs and cooks of color in a male-dominated industry. Her writing is vivid, smart, raunchy, vulnerable, and funny, making it impossible to put the book down.
Donovan's love for traditional desserts shines bright throughout the pages. Her caramel cakes and sugar pies are hailed as some of the best in the South, and her signature buttermilk whipped cream is an experience you won't want to miss. By immersing yourself in her prose, you'll feel the taste, the texture, and the passion that go into every bite, leaving you craving more.
But "Our Lady of Perpetual Hunger" is much more than a culinary memoir. It's a story of reclaiming one's narrative and acknowledging the unsung heroines of the kitchen. Donovan beautifully portrays the strength and passion that her family's matriarchs found through food, passing down their culinary heritage from generation to generation. Through her own journey, she shows us the power of hospitality and the importance of inclusivity at the table.
Donovan's life hasn't been without challenges. From her struggle with identity and the shame her family felt about their mixed-race heritage to surviving abuse and assault as a young mother, she has faced adversity head-on. Yet, through it all, food, self-reliance, and the support of incredible women in the food industry have been her saving grace. Her resilience and her commitment to sharing her story will inspire readers from all walks of life.
If you want to embark on a soul-stirring journey that tackles class, gender, and race, all told through the lens of Southern cuisine, "Our Lady of Perpetual Hunger" is the book for you. Prepare to be moved, entertained, and enlightened. Join Lisa Donovan's table of good food and fairness, and discover the transformative power of storytelling.
Ready to dive into this extraordinary memoir? Don't miss your chance to read "Our Lady of Perpetual Hunger: A Memoir" by Lisa Donovan. Embrace the magic by ordering your copy today!
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