Food-Related Stories

Pocket Change Collective

by Gaby Melian

“Gaby Melian tells so many stories through her relationship with food—about love, about loss, about hard work, and about finding her passion. The pages are dripping with delicious smells and tastes, and will give you a new way to look at both cooking and what it means to have a plan.” —Molly Birnbaum, editor in chief, America’s Test Kitchen Kids

In this moving, personal account, chef and activist Gaby Melian shares her journey with food and how creating a relationship with food -- however simple or complicated -- is a form of activism in its own right.

Pocket Change Collective was born out of a need for space. Space to think. Space to connect. Space to be yourself. And this is your invitation to join us. This is a series of small books with big ideas from today's leading activists and artists.

"Food rescued me so many other times -- not only because I sold food to survive. I cook to entertain; I cook to be liked; I cook to be loved." In this installment, chef and activist Gaby Melian shares her personal journey with food -- from growing up in Argentina to her time as a Jersey City street vendor and later, as Bon Appetit 's test kitchen manager. Powerful and full of heart, here, Melian explores how we can develop a relationship with food that's healthy, sustainable, and thoughtful.

Genres: Nonfiction, Food, Memoir, Audiobook, Short Stories, Foodie, Biography Memoir

Audiobook

First published January 18, 2022

Reviews

[Smriti · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good short read but honestly didn't take much from it. Also, didn't help that I hadn't known who the author was before reading this book.

While i expected stories of her life through food, i got the story of her life featuring food. I don't know if you understand the difference, but if you do, good.

[Lata · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cooking has been a passion of this author for years. That, and sharing the meals she’s cooked with the people she knows and cares for. That pairing of food and love has been a constant in Gaby Melian’s life, from her days making and selling empanadas, from her own kitchen, in New York City, to her years of being a chef and teaching others to cook. Her warm personality comes through the text in this memoir, as well as how food and cooking have sustained her through her years of immigrating to a new country, years of culinary school and much hard work in restaurants, and finally to reminding her of her mother’s love while cleaning out her mother’s apartment after the woman’s passing. This short memoir was a pleasure to read, and had me wishing to hear more about Gaby's experiences.

Thank you Netgalley and to Penguin Young Readers Group for this ARC in exchange for my review.

[Jas · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a sweet collection of stories related to food, nostalgia, and how we connect with one another.

[Ezra · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not sure how this fits into the overall Pocket Change Collective series: the other books I've read were by changemakers bringing attention to an issue and calling for action or inspiring readers to learn more, and this one felt out of place. I suppose I was expecting this read to take readers on a different journey, one perhaps exploring ways in which readers might fight hunger and food insecurity in one's community, the ever-growing issue of food deserts, exorbitant food waste, the limited access to healthy food, the impact on climate change on crops and food systems...unfortunately, this was not that sort of read.

Nonetheless, it was an enjoyable and quick memoir about the author's enthusiasm for cooking and stories about the impact food has had in various times of her life.

[aweleann · Rating 3 out of 5]

a beautiful mini memoir/stories about a woman that food has changed her life with the journey she went on with culinary, cooking, and immigrating. it’s a beautiful thing that something like food can bring so many people together or teach other people so many things. i loved this ♥️♥️♥️

[Bri · Rating 4 out of 5]

At its core, this book is a love letter to food and all that goes into the process of creating it.

The summary of this book and my previous experiences with reading Pocket Change Collective’s other books led me to believe that I would hear a lot of Gaby Melian’s thoughts about food-related-activism, an idea with which I was immediately intrigued. However, I found myself slightly disappointed on this front.

Food-Related Stories is more autobiographical than visionary, and I originally gave the book three stars for this reason. Upon further thought, I changed my rating to 3.5 stars (and rounded up for Goodreads) because of how the power in Melian’s reflections upon her life, and her commitment to telling her stories concisely yet authentically, made for a such a compelling read.

The author’s warm personality comes through beautifully in this book, and I found myself reflecting on joyful memories of cooking and sharing food with family and friends.

While I don’t think Food-Related Stories said anything especially groundbreaking about food as activism, there is a soft strength in Melian’s stories that makes this book interesting.

3.5/5 stars rounded up.

[Kayla Burton · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a free review copy of Food-Related Stories from Netgalley.

Food-Related Stories is exactly what its title suggests. It is made of little vignettes that don’t quite come together to form a cohesive point. There’s a lot of biographical information that seems like it could either lead to more stories, or are irrelevant to the essay at hand. I love the Pocket Change Collective series, but this one didn’t live up to my expectations.

[kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Nothing is closer to a labour of love than making a pasta.”

Coincidentally, I listened to this book while meal-prepping and, for once, it wasn’t a pasta dish (it was a curry if you wanted to know). It was a nice and quick listen, hearing all about Melian’s nostalgia and passion towards food. I wish we had more about food, not gonna lie.

[Christina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gaby grew up in Argentina and migrated to New York where she carved out a career surrounding one of her most comforting passions: food.
I loved reading this little book and I’m curious to learn more about Gaby.

[Angélica · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars

[Meaghan · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short and sweet! It was cool getting to learn a bit more about Gaby, especially since I was a big fan of Bon Appetit 😄 Ultimately though as a few other people said in their reviews because it's so short I didn't take too much out of it.

#IndigoEmployee

[Marcela · Rating 5 out of 5]

¡¡¡¡¡Talk about Jackson Heights!!!!!

[Justin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my last book in the collection, and it was an excellent conclusion! I loved Gaby’s stories, especially those about her love for New York City and all its wonderful food.

[Tassi · Rating 3 out of 5]

De ficar com o coração quentinho (e feliz que a Gaby falou mal daquele lixo ✨)

[Sarah Walker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good mentor texts!

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Disappointing, since I've loved every other book I've read in this series. Disappointing mainly because it's meandering and unfocused; the quality of the writing is scattershot and fades in and out. I'm left with the question: ok, but so what? It's more like a collection of blog posts about food and cooking, than a book with a single focus.

[Lata · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cooking has been a passion of this author for years. That, and sharing the meals she’s cooked with the people she knows and cares for. That pairing of food and love has been a constant in Gaby Melian’s life, from her days making and selling empanadas, from her own kitchen, in New York City, to her years of being a chef and teaching others to cook. Her warm personality comes through the text in this memoir, as well as how food and cooking have sustained her through her years of immigrating to a new country, years of culinary school and much hard work in restaurants, and finally to reminding her of her mother’s love while cleaning out her mother’s apartment after the woman’s passing. This short memoir was a pleasure to read, and had me wishing to hear more about Gaby's experiences.

Thank you Netgalley and to Penguin Young Readers Group for this ARC in exchange for my review.

[Cathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Thoughts:
This is a very short (65 pages) personal account of food and the lessons learned from food and cooking by chef and activist Gaby Melian. It was short enough that I finished it on my airplane commute between Honolulu, Oahu and Hilo, Hawaii island - about 40 minutes with time to spare. These are heart felt anecdotes about the different ways in her life that food has not just taught her lessons, but saved her life.

Each of her mini chapters starts with Food is. . .and lists one truth. For example, her last chapter or vignette is Food is Love. From the first paragraph:

Oftentimes, I ask "Have you eaten yet?" before I say "Hello." You have to understand that it is not just a result of an ever-curious stomach, although that surely plays a part. It is out of a deep, deep love for every aspect of cooking, down to the very atoms.

[Cynthia Egbert · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed these stories of this woman's journey to be a chef and the lessons she learned along the way. And I adored her connection to food and what food means in our lives. A sweet little book that was just what I needed in a time of stress.

"I wish someone had told me that changing your mind was fine. That choosing a different path was okay, that your final goals can change on the go, and the path to achievement is not created equal for everyone, but is just as valuable in its uniqueness. That it's all just circumstances; not only yours, but of the lives of the ones before you, that end up bringing you to where you are now. If you just keep going."

"It's in that split second, that moment when you make the decision to keep going, that courage becomes your guide. It happens again and again as you make more choices. I had to keep going and trust myself."

[Serena · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this book, professional chef Gaby Melian, shares meaningful stories about food. From her mom's fish filet with veggies to her grandma's cow-brain ravioli to different cookies at an NYC grocer and more--these are Melian's teachers and how they have taught her lessons such courage, love, and patience.

I love food, and I love reading about food no matter what it is, so I found this book to be extremely nice to read! It is also heartwarming and simple. It made me think about my relationship with food, and how food is a legacy, a storyteller, and a love language.

This book is for anyone who loves food!

Genre: Non fiction

[The Book Nerd's Corner · Rating 2 out of 5]

A short and sweet collection of wholesome mini-stories that showcase the authors life and relationship with food. I thought that the writing was pretty good (I especially enjoyed the intro), but I also didn't relate much with the whole food thing. I often say, "Food is food is food," which I take to mean that I'll eat pretty much anything and I'll take what's on hand and easy to prepare. This book was super short, making it so there wasn't much to take away, but I could also see this book being a perfect pick-me-up for struggling culinary artists. Overall, not bad, but I didn't really take much away from it and will probably forget that I read it within the month.

[Jillian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read as an audiobook

Mildly disappointed, but only because I thought this book could make me like cooking. Unfortunately, that did not happen.

With this book, the problem was me. I listened to the audiobook and, I confess, even after growing up with an immigrant grandmother with a thick accent, I struggled to follow along with the narrator/author. While I appreciated her stories around her journey with her cooking and career, as well as the insights to the culinary world, I was ultimately bored. I felt more at arm’s length, though I think the fault was mine. Cooking is just not something I am passionate about. But if it is for you, I would recommend Food-Related Stories.

[Erikka · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have an unhealthy relationship with Food. I don’t care for it, I don’t like to eat, and I often find myself eating because I need to and not finding any joy in the process. Blue Apron has helped a bit on bringing some fun into cooking, but it still isn’t my favorite thing to do, eating less so. This lady is my polar opposite. Her love for all things culinary is inspiring and wonderful. Anyone who can pursue a career in a thing they are so passionate about is truly a lucky person. I may even enjoy one of her empanadas...

[Holly L'Heureux · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was interesting to read as an adult reader, her life and adventures are something to help people strive to persevere. When it comes to teens or middle schoolers I do not know if they would be as interested in the stories the author tells. The stories just feel as though they were meant to be read by someone in their 20s instead of someone in their early or late teens. I do like the compact nature of the book. It is very easily read and digested. I also enjoy how all the stories are about a certain subject like "love," "courage," etc.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really appreciate the accessibility of these Pocket Change Collective books. The short format makes them approachable and more easily digestible, so I love to see this collection take its place in YA nonfiction. As for the content of this book, it's like watching your favorite cooking show with a plate of something delicious in front of you. Melian's passion for food radiates off the page and is absolutely infectious. Her determination and courage to make her dreams come true are something to applaud and will interest even the non-food-obsessed.

[Julie Suzanne · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was basically an essay turned into a pocket-sized book. It was fine, but....it's just a cursory overview of how she became a chef, sort of? There's just so little here....it feels like a first draft or a free-write that teachers have you do to help find a topic to write about. I wanted to circle parts and say, "There's a good story here....write about this, expand this..."

I only read it because I've loved all of the other Pocket Change Collective books and I usually like stories and food and especially food stories, so.... it just wasn't a good fit, which was surprising.

[i · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love stories that go into detail about food, whether it's the process of making it, devouring it, remembering how it tastes, telling others how it tastes, or the act of sharing. I enjoy all of them. Not only does this book illustrate how a simple dish may induce your brain to recall particular events, but it also feels like a trip down memory lane because some of the things are personal to me. I could smell some familiar scents of events returning to me as I read each sentence, and I knew they were all tied to food. It's fun to think back on them all.

[McKenzie Richardson · Rating 3 out of 5]

For more bookish opinions, visit my blog: Craft-Cycle

A little book with a lot of heart.

A sweet collection focusing on the power of food and connection. Follow Melian in this mini-memoir as she discovers her love of cooking, explores all her senses, and revisits memories of food and family.

A nice look at the meaning we place on food, cooking, and sharing a meal. Incorporates themes of identity, nostalgia, and bravery in trying new things.

Entertaining, inspiring, and decidedly delicious. A nice quick read.

[Abbey Freund · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have a true soft spot for Gaby from seeing her on the BA youtube channel and just thinking she was so wonderful. I truly enjoyed reading this snippet from Gaby. She has wonderful and interesting stories to share and a true passion for life and food. I would love to read a longer work from her but really appreciate the accessibility of this short format. Overall just a really enjoyable and heartwarming read... if you're an empanada lover like myself, it will make you hungry.