Food Memories: Uncovering History, Celebrating Life in ‘Bite by Bite’

In “Bite by Bite,” poet Aimee Nezhukumatathil’s latest book of prose, she explores food through personal essays that go beyond mere descriptions or histories of ingredients and dishes. Instead, each chapter focuses on a specific food item as a vehicle to weave together her own experiences with the history behind it. The topics range from apples to butter to Filipino dessert halo-halo, but Nezhukumatathil doesn’t shy away from delving into darker histories underlying warm memories either. She talks about vanilla and its origins thanks to an enslaved child discovering how to pollinate orchids in a way that changed the industry; lumpia, gyros, risotto, flan, and other unexpected inclusions are also discussed alongside raw ingredients like fruit and vegetables. Nezhukumatathil highlights that while some books exist about certain foods alone (like desserts), she wanted to celebrate scenes first and food second in her book instead of presenting a neatly ordered Table of Contents based on sweetness or vegetable classification. While exploring various themes throughout the book, such as nostalgia for childhood memories, love for chosen family, and gratitude towards one’s partner despite being busy with work deadlines, Nezhukumatathil also includes writing food prompts at the end of her latest publication to help those who have asked where to begin their own creative endeavors. The book is a celebration of how delicious life can be when we slow down and contemplate our relationship with food while exploring its origins.