Stella arrives in Paris and rediscovers her appetite for life, in this irresistible novel about taking chances and finding your true home, by a New York Times-bestselling author
Ruth Reichl Book order
This author is a prominent voice in food writing, serving as the editor-in-chief of Gourmet magazine. Her work delves into the art of cuisine, exploring its deep connections to culture and society through a distinctive literary lens.






- 2024
- 2019
Save Me the Plums
- 304 pages
- 11 hours of reading
When Condé Nast offered Ruth Reichl the top position at America's oldest epicurean magazine, she declined. She was a writer, not a manager, and had no inclination to be anyone's boss. Yet Reichl had been reading Gourmet since she was eight; it had inspired her career. How could she say no? This is the story of a former Berkeley hippie entering the corporate world and worrying about losing her soul. It is the story of the moment restaurants became an important part of popular culture, a time when the rise of the farm-to-table movement changed, forever, the way we eat. Readers will meet legendary chefs like David Chang and Eric Ripert, idiosyncratic writers like David Foster Wallace, and a colourful group of editors and art directors who, under Reichl's leadership, transformed stately Gourmet into a cutting-edge publication. This was the golden age of print media--the last spendthrift gasp before the Internet turned the magazine world upside down. Complete with recipes, Save Me the Plums is a personal journey of a woman coming to terms with being in charge and making a mark, following a passion and holding on to her dreams--even when she ends up in a place she never expected to be
- 2018
The Best American Food Writing 2018
- 288 pages
- 11 hours of reading
Food writing is stepping out, legendary food writer Ruth Reichl declares at the start of this, the inaugural edition of Best American Food Writing . It's about time...Food is, in a very real sense, redesigning the world. Indeed, the twenty-eight pieces in this volume touch on every pillar of society: from the sense memories that connect a family through food, to the scientific tinkering that gives us new snacks to share, to the intersections of culinary culture with some of our most significant political issues. At times a celebration, at times a critique, at times a wondrous reverie, the Best American Food Writing 2018 is brimming with delights both circumspect and sensuous. Dig in!
- 2016
Eating Words: A Norton Anthology of Food Writing
- 512 pages
- 18 hours of reading
Exploring the multifaceted relationship between food and culture, this anthology features a diverse range of writings from ancient texts to contemporary essays. It includes works by renowned chefs and authors, highlighting themes such as culinary practices, food memory, and the politics of eating. Sections cover everything from the delights and horrors of food to personal reflections on identity and family. The collection is enriched by contributions from both famous gastronomes and unexpected literary figures, making it a rich tapestry of food-related literature.
- 2015
My Kitchen Year: 136 Recipes That Saved My Life: A Cookbook
- 327 pages
- 12 hours of reading
In the fall of 2009, the food world was rocked when Gourmet magazine was abruptly shuttered by its parent company. No one was more stunned by this unexpected turn of events than its editor in chief, Ruth Reichl, who suddenly faced an uncertain professional future. As she struggled to process what had seemed unthinkable, Reichl turned to the one place that had always provided sanctuary. "I did what I always do when I'm confused, lonely, or frightened," she writes. "I disappeared into the kitchen." My Kitchen Year follows the change of seasons -- and Reichl's emotions -- as she slowly heals through the simple pleasures of cooking. While working 24/7, Reichl would "throw quick meals together" for her family and friends. Now she has the time to rediscover what cooking meant to her. Over the course of this challenging year, each dish Reichl prepares becomes a kind of stepping stone to finding joy again in ordinary things. The 136 recipes collected here represent a life's passion for food: a blistering ma po tofu that shakes Reichl out of the blues; a decadent grilled cheese sandwich that accompanies a rare sighting in the woods around her home; a rhubarb sundae that signals the arrival of spring. Here, too, is Reichl's enlivening dialogue with her Twitter followers, who become her culinary supporters and lively confidants. Part cookbook, part memoir, part paean to the household gods, My Kitchen Year reveals a refreshingly vulnerable side of the world's most famous food editor as she shares treasured recipes to be returned to again and again and again
- 2014
Dear Mr Beard,I sent my Magic Moments off yesterday, and that made me think of you. magazine young intern Billie discovers the wartime letters of twelve- year-old Lulu Swan, written to distinguished food writer, James Beard. Lulu's can-do spirit in the face of food shortages and other hardships help Billie come to terms with her own tragic past.
- 2010
Ruth Reichl delves into her mother's life, exploring the untold stories and experiences of a remarkable generation of women. Through personal reflections and insights, she uncovers the complexities and challenges faced by these women, highlighting their resilience and strength. The narrative not only honors her mother's legacy but also serves as a broader commentary on the unvoiced struggles and triumphs of women throughout history.
- 2007
Celebrates the pleasures of a glass of wine, in a collection of essays spanning sixty years of writing on the subject from Gourmet magazine, featuring contributions by such writers as Ray Bradbury, James Beard, and Hugh Johnson
- 2005
Garlic And Sapphires
- 352 pages
- 13 hours of reading
Garlic and Sapphires is Ruth Reichl's riotous account of the many disguises she employs to dine undetected when she takes on the much coveted and highly prestigious job of New York Times restaurant critic.
- 2003
Contributors to endless feasts include:James Beard/Cooking with James Beard: PastaRay Bradbury/Dandelion WineRobert P. Coffin/Night of LobsterLaurie Colwin/A Harried Cook’s Guide to Some Fast FoodPat Conroy/The Romance of UmbriaElizabeth David/Edouard de PomianeM.F.K. Fisher/Three Swiss InnsRuth Harkness/In a Tibetan LamaseryMadhur Jaffrey/An Indian ReminiscenceAnita Loos/Cocktail Parties of the TwentiesGeorge Plimpton/I, Bon Vivant, Who, Me?E. Annie Proulx/The Garlic WarClaudia Roden/The Arabian PicnicJane and Michael Stern/Two for the Road: Havana, North DakotaPaul Theroux/All Aboard! Cross the Rockies in Style
