From the Couch to the Kitchen

826LA, a non-profit writing and tutoring center, worked with students at Susan Miller Dorsey High School to produce From the Couch to the Kitchen, a book of food writing. The authors gather perfect ingredients from grocery stores and gardens, prepare ceviche and oxtail and tacos, and enjoy meals with family and friends. While nominally about food, these narratives touch on more than that. Enjoying a solitary snack of apples and peanut butter conjures memories of a loved one, while working together to prepare the traditional family gumbo recipe leads to reflection on the nature of family. Through food, these students share stories about history and tradition, family and community. From the Couch to the Kitchen also features a foreword by author and chef Alice Waters.