There are so many strengths to this novel, it's hard to know where to begin with praise. I love how well Pomerance fleshes out his characters. Every one of them is carefully crafted, much like the dishes Susan creates. Edith steals the show any time she enters a scene, and I love how she plays off the other characters, even though I'm pretty sure I'd dislike her if I ever met her in real life. I can easily see these characters existing, and it's hard to imagine this is fiction with the high level of detail and background they carry with them. Pomerance injects a great deal of wit into his musings and dialogue, and it almost seems effortless on his part. It appears he has found a recipe for success, which perhaps trumps the many other recipes found in this novel.