Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquivel
‘To the table or to bed you must come when you are bid.’ And so begins the most passionately explosive love story ever told alongside a recipe for Christmas Rolls.
Like Water for Chocolate (Como agua para chocolate) by Laura Esquivel is a swoony romance novel and educational cook book all in one – come for the love story, stay for the Quail in Rose Petal Sauce {wink, wink}. First published in Mexico in 1989, the novel follows the story of Tita, a young woman who longs for her beloved, Pedro, but can never have him because of her mother's strict and immoveable upholding of the family tradition – the youngest daughter cannot ever marry and must take care of her mother until she dies. Filled with an insatiable longing for her love, Tita is only able to express herself when she cooks. Lila Theodoros reviews one of her favourite books …
Words & Photo: Lila Theodoros
The plot in one sentence ...
Tita and Pedro fall deeply in love but because of family tradition Tita is not allowed to marry and they can only experience their shared passion through Tita’s magical cooking.
Who is the hero?
Tita.
Favourite part of the story?
The chapter with the recipe for Quail in Rose Petal Sauce! Tita’s passion for Pedro is cooked into this special family meal and has life changing consequences for her sister, consuming her in a seemingly unquenchable fiery lust that has her running into the night ...
How did you experience the novel?
I had a brand new copy that I found in my local bookstore.
What did you love about your experience?
I love a new book. The smell of fresh pages, knowing that I’m the first to read it – it feels very special.
What did you learn?
How to cook so many traditional Mexican dishes and that a love can exist that is so powerful it can bring us to the point of death!
Who should read this story?
Everyone. This book was so wonderful to read – it is an incredible mix of romance, cooking, melodrama, twists, passion ... and humour! I was never quite sure if I should be laughing or crying. So good!
TITA, PLAYED BY LUMI CAVAZOS IN THE 1992 FILM ADAPTATION.
