Summary

Chapter 1 begins in November of 1961, in the Southern Californian town of Commons. Elizabeth Zott, host of the hit-show Supper at Six, writes her daughter, Madeline, a note for her lunchbox before driving to work. Although only five, Madeline is an expert reader.

Chapter 2 describes how Elizabeth got discovered. She was working as a research chemist when she stormed into the office of Walter Pine, a TV producer. She accused Mr. Pine’s daughter, Amanda, of offering Madeline fake friendship in exchange for Madeline’s lunches. Struck by her beauty and by something Madeline said on the chemistry of food, Mr. Pine offers her a job. She takes it for the money, but is secretly ashamed of it, and of the nickname bestowed on her by a journalist: “Luscious Lizzie” (13).

Chapter 3 flashes back three years earlier. Calvin Evans, a leading researcher at Hastings Research...