This month’s six degrees of separation‘s starter book is Anthony Bourdain’s Kitchen Confidential. Read on to see where the links lead me, and head over to check out others’ six degrees as well – always so very cool to see the various paths the same starting point takes us on.

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From Kitchen Confidential to Grand Dishes

Kitchen Confidential —> Mango and Peppercorns —> Mangoes and Bananas —> Tales of East Africa —> Home is Not a Country —> What is Home, Mum? —> Grand Dishes —> Kitchen Confidential

The Pairs

Kitchen Confidential —> Mango and Peppercorns

The link: cooking and memoir

While I have not read Bourdain’s Kitchen Confidential, I have read his World Travel: An Irreverent Guide earlier. I mentioned World Travel in my most anticipated books in 2021 and it was worth the anticipation (though I never reviewed it). And I do hope to get to this book as well as we have always enjoyed watching his shows.

I read Mango and Peppercorns a couple of years ago, and I enjoyed it more than I expected to. It is an immigrant experiences combined with the struggles of fitting in and a gastronomic delight too. You can read my complete review here. This was what I said in my summary: A great book for those who enjoy stories of resilience, cookbooks, memoirs, and any combination of these things.

Mango and Peppercorns —> Mangoes and Bananas

The link: “mango”

Loved this Malaysian folk tale complemented by Indian folk art in this book – Mangoes and Bananas. It is definitely a beautiful coming together of different arts and cultures. Check out my thoughts on the book here. This one is for readers 4 – 8 years, and up.

Mangoes and Bananas —> Tales of East Africa

The link:  folk tales with folk art for the illustrations

I love folk tales and when the books are paired with rich folksy artwork that add to the reading delight, I will pick those books for myself. And Tales of East Africa by Jamilla Okubo (for 8 years and up) is one such stunningly illustrated book. It is part of a series as well!

Tales of East Africa —> Home is Not a Country

The link: Africa

Safia Elhillo’s Home is Not a Country is simply beautiful. Read my review here. This one is a teen and YA novel in verse (one of my favorite type of novels)

Home is Not a Country —> What is Home, Mum?

The link: “home”

I read What is Home, Mum? by Sabba Khan last year and it was one of those un-put-downable reads. Check out my thoughts on the book in this post. This one is listed under Women’s Biographies and works well for older teens and up.

What is Home, Mum? —> Grand Dishes

The link: motherhood

Grand Dishes: Recipes and Stories from Grandmothers of the World by Iska Lupton and Anastasia Miari (Cooking/Essays) is emotional, heartfelt, delightful, storied, and chockfull of grand-mom’s recipes too!! While we are vegetarians and I would be only using some of the recipes in this book, I think this is a book everyone can and should read, for the stories and the connections that cooking offers. Plus, the photos are amazing too and tell their own stories.

Disclaimer: I read a digital review copy of Grand Dishes (thanks to Edelweiss and the publishers for the same). These are my honest thoughts about the book.

Closing the Circle

Closing the circle with the link cooking once more from Grand Dishes —> Kitchen Confidential

Related Reads, Grand Dishes, and More

Serve Up Grand Dishes: With a Touch of Whimsy

• I am in love with this Ceramic tea mug from Mudpie that has an inbuilt, well, out-built, pouch to hold tea bag. And the debossed sentiments on that pouch – so cute. You have a few options (1. Hey there, hot-tea; 2. Par-tea with me; 3, Tell me I’m pre-tea!). Plus it comes with a stamped silver-plated sentiment spoon (1. Bless this hot mess; 2, I think there’s a tea for that; 3. Cold hands, warm tea). It holds enough tea (12 oz) to last a few pages of reading at least!! Makes for a great stocking stuffer for sure. TBH, I am loving everything Mud Pie has to offer!!
• Pair up the tea cup with this ceramic tea bag caddy to complete-a that gift.

• And then there is this elegant yet cute and fun Lime and Salt Rimmer Margarita Set that will make a great and unique hostess gift, and make you a guest with the mostest for less than $25!

To Help With Making those Grand Dishes

• Speaking of mango and peppercorns in this post reminds me of this delightful rainbow peppercorns – a blend of different peppercorns – that I came across and have since ordered it to try out for myself.
• This ‘wonderfully made’ vegan and clean Grandma’s Mango Pepper Sauce with the right kick of heat you need for your dishes

Then the Related Reads and More

• 13 Types of Tales: Fables, Folktales, and More
• Talking of bananas brought to mind one of our favorite games to play – bananagrams.. and I am loving the new options available (we have the classic edition). Each of these have themed bonus tiles that act like blank squares in Scrabble (and stand in for any letter)
  • Oceanic Family Edition Bananagrams
  • Winter Wonderland version (perfect for the season)
  • Appletters – if you are more of an apple person than bananas!
• Speaking of apples and bananas takes me a much-loved children’s song – Apples and Bananas – by Raffi. Have you heard it? You can listen to it here or buy Fun Food Songs by Raffi

And Now, the End of this Post

Dear reader, once again, the usual set of questions for you on my #sixdegreesofseparation post ..

• Have you read or heard about any of these books? Do share your thoughts on those you have read.
• Do you have any recommendations for similar reads?
• What are your thoughts on this chain/six degrees of separation?
• What would be on such a list/chain for you? Do let me know and do join in the fun as well once a month (the first Saturday) at booksaremyfavouriteandbest.