Sixth Discussion: Chloe and Isabelle
Glen Ivy Spa Book Club is Reading The School of Essential Ingredients by Erica Bauermeister
This week we are reading about two characters, Chloe and Isabelle. Although at opposite ends of life, each woman is finding her way through a changing internal landscape; in a sense both Chloe and Isabelle are disposing of “shoulds” of a prescribed life recipe and learning to intuitively measure what is necessary in the nowness of their lives. Chloe discovers the beauty of simplicity – how setting aside the expected formula of a multitude of ingredients in favor the fresh simplicity of oneness leads to beauty and true fulfillment — while Isabelle is learning embrace a life based not in time, but rather a stew of memories, sensation and accepting all of life serves to us.
Chloe found beauty in the paired down simplicity of a single tomato; through this she was able to bring her life back to balance. Is there a food that you love just as it is, with nothing added? Are there specific times in your life that you find yourself turning to this favorite for emotional comfort, reminiscing or when seeking clarity?
All of the characters in the book experience memories that are beckoned by a particular kitchen aroma or flavor, but the sensory journeys that Isabelle experiences with food are particularly brilliant. Is there a particular meal that takes you back to a memorable moment in time?
I really enjoyed the chapter about Chloe – for many reasons. First, the nonchalant, matter-of-fact way Jake tells Chloe to stand up to her bully reminds me so much of the men in my life. I’m always a bit wistful at how easy they seem to comprehend solutions and disregard negative repercussions to situations which I — in my overtly female “everything-is-a-huge-deal” way – fret and over-analyze little details in my head.
There’s also a bit of a Cinderella story here – an evil woman, the gorgeous “rescuer” and the sad, damsel in distress on the stairs…eating a cheeseburger. I love that in this particular way Chloe seems like she could be any girl you know, trying to find her way, her place, her fit, her comfort, and someone to appreciate her. It made my heart smile to see her finding these things in herself instead of in another person, and with the help of other strong women like Lillian, a down-to-earth mentor that can appreciate her flaws as intrigues and interest to her character. For example, when Chloe asks a self-deprecating question of why she’d hire her knowing how clumsy she is, Lillian replies that “people who seem distracted can be some of the most interesting people you’ll ever meet.” Isn’t that so true.
I delighted in this chapter, especially in the part about tortilla making, as it reminded me of a simple pleasure food that to this day is still my favorite comfort food: tortillas with lime, butter, and salt – what my babysitter, Martha, made for me as a young child.
What I find is amazing in this book is the way, through food, the author creates this healing nature of life and the power of food that brings people together. It’s a hard goal to create life as you want and eliminate the “shoulds” as both these ladies were able to do.
I find chocolate is my ultimate comfort food followed close behind with breads….not great for the figure, but they both offer comfort.
Steak Diane and Bananas Foster take me back to our yearly family ski vacations in Park City when my goal was to teach my sons to ski at a young age. There was a lodge that I went to every year and had this meal.
I like how these two chapters are together. The youth and the elderly, the two ends of adulthood. I believe that we, as women, can relate to both as we know people (or may have been ourselves) like these two ladies.
So many young women (Chloe) find the “little bit older” “little bit more experienced” man and become infatuated with him in the beginning. Then, as she grows, the very thing that is the infatuation becomes the problem (Jake’s cooking). We often make mistakes in our desperation to be loved.
We also know older women (Isabelle) who are in the early stages of dementia (and possibly fear it for ourselves), forgetting things, losing things and knowing that it may worsen as time goes on.
The beauty in this book is that the author finds the positive in both of the negative aspects of these two characters and there is hope. I particularly enjoy the way Lillian seems to know what each student needs, identifies the food that is uniquely “their’s” and encourages them to become the star helper on the night it is cooked. I would love to find a class like this. It would be therapy for a lot less money.
As a child, when I was ill and had to stay home from school my Mom would make a cheese sandwich for me. I know it may sound horrible, but if I am ill, make me a cheese sandwich with mayonaise and I will feel better.
Frankie & Susan, I think you both touched on a theme that makes this book so special; I agree that the stories in this book show how even the most difficult and challenging events in life can, when viewed in a different way, be seen as ultimately positive and life affirming.
I also love hearing about the foods that connect each of you with healing and comforting memories. Isn’t it funny that the foods we find most comforting are often not very good for us at all? If I’m feeling really stressed out I will turn to a fried potato sandwich on buttered white bread – you can’t get much more unhealthy than that – but it reminds me of home and helps me to feel better…
I found is chapter empowering! The way these ladies found out that they both had more to offer then they thought.
Chloe seemed to not know what she wanted in life and settled when she met Jake, however she did not give up and showed him when she walked out that door. She found simplicity in that single tomato and in her life knowing that she could do things she never thought she could before.
Isabelle, made her see that she too was beautiful and to just open her eyes a bit wider the next she looks in the mirror.
When I was about 3 or 4 I use to sit on a brick wall with my dad and eat shrimp cocktail with abalone and crackers. It’s crazy that I remember this but I do, I can not remember words just sitting and eating, watching people go by. Now when I eat shrimp cocktail it’s the only thing I think about the whole time I’m eating and it’s a lovely memorie that all mine.
The one smell that takes me back to childhood is plums. We always had fruit in our home and plums were always my favorite. You need nothing when eating one, they’re sour when you first bite in followed by sweet yumminess. Next time your at the store pick some up, put them in a bag and just smell them it’s pretty great!