At various times, Isaac Cronin has been "a writer of cookbooks, a caterer, a food columnist for major newspapers, and a kind of Johnny Appleseed popularizer of new ingredients." For him, food has not only been "a source of sustenance, but also a medicine, an artistic medium, and a vehicle for gentle social change."
Cronin identifies the kitchen as the household center for nurturing. In this fine resource, he presents various ways to "nourish your soul, develop your mind and eat well at the same time." There are meditations from Zen Buddhism, Taoism, and Indian mythology; exercises on mindfulness; and 39 recipes, from Tunisian tuna salad to baked mussels and potatoes.
Cronin presents a spiritual journey through the history of food; the differences between a mindful kitchen and a kamikaze, a controlled, or a survival one; thoughts on navigating the market; notes on the elements of an appreciated meal; ideas for playful and improvised approaches to food; and examples of how one can learn from cooking mistakes.