August's Eats: M. F. K. Fisher Among the Pots and Pans

July 3, 2008 marked the 100th anniversary of the birth of M. F. K. Fisher, an insightful philosopher of food who wrote many books on the preparation, history, pleasures, sentiments, and anxieties that surround cooking and eating. Fisher’s writing can be seen as an allegory for life, love, and the world around her—she believed that the kitchen was a measure of the soul, and this informed her life and work. M. F. K. Fisher among the Pots and Pans (University of California Press, $24.95) by culinary historian and author, Joan Reardon, is an intriguing look at Fisher’s life, from her childhood in Southern California, through her years in France—where she developed her taste for French foods and wines—to her final years in Napa Valley. The enchanting illustrations by Avram Dumitrescu are based on old black-and-white photographs, with descriptions provided by Reardon and Fisher’s daughter.