Walking on Walnuts by Nancy G. Ring (1996, Hardcover)

One of the most delightful memoirs based on the subject of food that I have ever read...and I have read a LOT of them!

The author is extremely intelligent and skilfully weaves together the story of her Jewish immigrant family, more than you ever dreamed there was to know about walnuts, and her funny and maddening experiences as a former waitress-turned-pastry chef in New York city. Any one of these elements would make a book. Some critics thought it was too much to put into one story but I disagree. I love rich food and desserts and this was a rich, deeply satisfying book. As a bonus, she throws her her superb family and self-created recipes.

Like any skilled chef, she knows exactly when to introduce each of these elements /ingredients. The result is well balanced and the interwoven story is like a beautifully woven lattice top for an apple pie. I found it easy to follow the twists, turns, and thrown-in tidbits, though I imagine readers who prefer a more linear style of story telling might be frustrated by the constant shifts in attention. It was done so well that it didn't bother me at all.

She reminded me of my own immigrant family and the dishes and recipes we grew up eating. Her descriptions of food are so powerful, I frequently had to stop to make myself a snack.

The only thing I don't understand is why this wasn't a bestseller. Maybe it was the apron on the cover...or the first few pages which depict a family having a dinner and don't foretell the incredible riches found inside. So, don't be mislead. You will love this book and wish she had written another.