Comfort Me with Apples: More Adventures at the Table

In this memoir, Ruth Reichl recounts her transition from a communal lifestyle in Berkeley to the high-stakes world of professional food criticism at the Los Angeles Times. The narrative details her evolving palate during international assignments in China and France, alongside the dissolution of her first marriage and her secret affair with a colleague. Through specific recipes and descriptions of meals, Reichl tracks her professional ascent while navigating personal betrayals, the complexities of infertility, and the eventual adoption of her son.

Culinary enthusiasts and aspiring food writers read this book to understand the intersection of appetite and emotion. It appeals to those interested in the history of the American restaurant scene and the technical aspects of food evaluation. Readers walk away with a sensory perspective on how meals document the passage of time. The text offers a blunt look at balancing a demanding career in journalism with an unstable private life, providing a template for finding stability through the craft of cooking.

Balanced in tone; an easy read.

Best for readers like The Escapist Adventurer. Which reader are you?