This is an interesting collection of stories about food and nourishment. It covers topics such as humane sourcing, food integrity and how certain recipes are created. It's an interesting and little-discussed take on food.

As someone who loves food, I was excited to check this book out, and it did not disappoint! I quite honestly wasn't familiar with the author before reading, but feel like I know her very well now.

I found her writing to be very personal and warm yet informative. She has this way of connecting food to bigger themes in life and I really enjoyed the personal aspects. The chapter on soups and stews made me feel so warm. I

I can't get over how much I learned and how this put things into context for me in thinking about why we eat what we eat. I'd recommend this to anyone who not only loves to cook but also loves to think deeply about the meaning behind what’s on their plate!

Hearty is a well curated essay collection about food, food culture, and growing and eating food by andrea bennett. Due out 3rd Sept 2024 from ECW Press, it's 240 pages and will be available in paperback and ebook formats.

The author has a vital, restful, interesting voice and the ruminations from the book are well written and pleasant, occasionally profound, and engaging. From making lilac syrup to real conversations about what and how we prepare food, how we take care of our community, what interpersonal relations mean in a context of food and nourishment, and even the politics/philosophy of dietary restrictions and vegetarianism.

This is not in any meaningful way a recipe/cooking book. It's worth reading, but not for the recipes. It's not an academic treatise either, but it is well annotated, and the chapter notes are likely worth the price of the book just for the links for further reading. A few of the essays included in this collection were previously published in other forms in other publications.

andrea bennett was not previously on the radar, but is certainly now one to for whom to keep an eye out. They write well and perceptively.

Four and a half stars. The book would be an excellent choice for public library acquisition, home use, smallholders, gardening groups, and gifting.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book a lot!

This book covers all the many aspects of why we consume food. It's such a great thought provoking book. I see myself re-reading this.

Thank you NetGalley and ECW Press for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

This book was so fun! I haven't read anything like it! The short stories/essays kept my entertained while diving into some really deep topics. Food is the center of many households, upbringings, and cultural identities. It's can represent tradition and family. I like the addition of the home gardener perspective as I feel like that is extremely relatable in today's society.
This book was a beautiful blend between personal stories, reflections, journalism, and commentary on past and present representation of food, food media and food production (in the form of personal gardens). Definitely recommend!
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an arc of this book!

At its core this book is food writing. It even has recipes. But, it is more than that. It is a celebration of food and a call for changes in the way that food is produced. In addition, it is a memoir of the authors lived experience. It explores the authors experience of; trauma, family breakdown, working in the catering industry and a lifelong relationship with food.
I really enjoyed the experience of reading this book. The writing is both lyrical and plain spoken, making it poetic and accessible. However, it is an essay collection, you are going to like some essays more than others. I preferred the more personal chapters. However, on the whole, it is a 100% recommend

Cookbooks have recently become a fun thing to browse at. Now that I’m inching out of baby phase and have a little more time for that part of life. And my daughter absolutely loves to help cook. So with summer around the corner, I wrote down some fun ideas our family can try out. It was very fun to recieve some advance copies of these cookbooks. 🥗🍔🌮🍤🍪🧁🧀🥚🍇🥯

Gathering Boards by Sarah Tuthill was making my mouth water. I love a good charcuterie board, and this book was chalked full of ideas, how to lay the board out, different seasonal boards. I want this book for a coffee table book because the pictures were so vibrant and beautiful. It made me want to text all my girl pals and plan a patio night. (Publishing date is June 3) @globepequot @sugaredlittletreats

100 Afternoon Sweets by Sarah Kieffer made me walk to the pantry and grab my secret stash of chocolate. I have so many post its for this one to make with my daughter this summer. I always run into the problem of never knowing what to bring to a girls night, or family cookout. But this book had SO many yummy treats that anyone can make. (Publishing date Sept 30) @chroniclebooks @sarah_kieffer

The Crab Pot Cookbook by The Griffin Family….this was hands down a beautiful and such a fun family effort cookbook! I LOVE seafood, and tell my husband that we must retire or visit frequent the east coast so I can have my lobster. I live in the Midwest, but let me tell you, I am bringing this cookbook out for some fun summer nights! I love the explanations, the creative new things I’ve never heard of, and it was so beautifully put together. It made me want to meet this family for how fun it was. (Publishing date October 14) @thegriffinfamily__ @flashpointchicago

A Couples Cookbook by Sonja Overhiser and Alex Overhiser was the most precious couples cookbook I’ve read. I received many for my wedding gifts, but this tops them all. I loved the introduction full of their story, and the pictures of them throughout the book. The meals looked so fun, and easy, and it was so beautifully put together. My husband and I always say it will be fun to make more than our five staple kids dinners eventually. @acouplecooks

3.5 stars.
Bennett’s task was not easy. Writing a book about food composed of essays, recipes and personal insights is tricky.
Yet, the end result is lovely. I have not seen most of the recipes in this book elsewhere. They are specialised and creative.
Bennett’s writing is accessible, engaging and informative too.

I read this book in one sitting and really enjoyed the stories, the food and how it relates to life and pleasures in life. It is very interesting and fun to read. It covers so many aspects of food from growing to health to eating. I learned so much about food which I enjoyed too. A great food book and story.

Thank you NetGalley and ECW Press for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.