826LA, a non-profit writing and tutoring center, worked with students at
Susan Miller Dorsey High School to produce From the Couch to the
Kitchen, a book of food writing. The authors gather perfect ingredients
from grocery stores and gardens, prepare ceviche and oxtail and tacos,
and enjoy meals with family and friends. While nominally about food,
these narratives touch on more than that. Enjoying a solitary snack of
apples and peanut butter conjures memories of a loved one, while working
together to prepare the traditional family gumbo recipe leads to
reflection on the nature of family. Through food, these students share
stories about history and tradition, family and community.
From the Couch to the Kitchen also features a foreword by author and
chef Alice Waters.