Review: My Mother’s Kitchen: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, and the Meaning of Life – Peter Gethers

I received this book for free from in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

My Mother's Kitchen is a funny, moving memoir about a son’s discovery that his mother has a genius for understanding the intimate connections between cooking, people and love

Peter Gethers wants to give his aging mother a very personal and perhaps final gift: a spectacular feast featuring all her favorite dishes. The problem is, although he was raised to love food and wine he doesn’t really know how to cook. So he embarks upon an often hilarious and always touching culinary journey that will ultimately allow him to bring his mother’s friends and loved ones to the table one last time.

The daughter of a restaurateur―the restaurant was New York’s legendary Ratner’s―Judy Gethers discovered a passion for cooking in her 50s. In time, she became a mentor and friend to several of the most famous chefs in America, including Wolfgang Puck, Nancy Silverton and Jonathan Waxman; she also wrote many cookbooks and taught cooking alongside Julia Child. In her 80s, she was robbed of her ability to cook by a debilitating stroke. But illness has brought her closer than ever to her son: Peter regularly visits her so they can share meals, and he can ask questions about her colorful past, while learning her kitchen secrets. Gradually his ambition becomes manifest: he decides to learn how to cook his mother the meal of her dreams and thereby tell the story of her life to all those who have loved her.

With his trademark wit and knowing eye, Peter Gethers has written an unforgettable memoir about how food and family can do much more than feed us―they can nourish our souls.

I jumped right into reading this book without reading the synopsis as I have done on numerous occasions. Sometimes I’m pleasantly surprised and other times I deeply wounded. But I’m happy to say I was utterly captivated by this book.

My Mother’s Kitchen grabbed my attention from the beginning to the end of this book. When I read that Peter’s mom had survived four types of cancers and many strokes – I knew I was going to read about a remarkable woman – not only the fact she was a survivor, but it was the way Mr. Gethers told the story. I can relate to a lot of things that he wrote about this novel. I’m glad Peter had the opportunity to learn recipes, old stories, and connect with his Mom before it was too late.

Author Peter Gethers did an exceptional job writing this memoir – you can feel the love for his mother seeping through the pages. My Mother’s Kitchen is a memorable story about family, life, strength, love, and food. Readers will laugh and shed a few tears, but they will come away with a lot of life lessons/aha moments.

Reviewed by: Orsayor

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