Summary

Pages 178 - 179—“Of Rice and Men” begins with one of the shortest chapter-opening essays in the entire memoir. The author describes how she took refuge in learning to cook risotto after being jilted by a serious boyfriend of ten years. She read romance novels (borrowed from the library because this was during her poverty-ridden time in the “graduate ghetto of New Haven, Connecticut”), cried, and stirred in equal measure (178). Eventually she went on a blind date with Alessandro. She wore a “tiny black minidress with over-the-knee green suede boots” – the date was a success (179). A subsequent date included her risotto, which Alessandro loved, a development which cemented her belief that rice and love were interwoven. Later, she discovered that risotto was Alessandro’s favorite dish, further affirming her special connection with the food. James...