Meal

by Blue Delliquanti, Soleil Ho

Yarrow is a young chef determined to make her mark on the cutting edge of cookery with her insect-based creations. Though her enthusiasm is infectious, it rubs some of her fellow cooks the wrong way, especially Chanda Flores, Yarrow's personal hero and executive chef of an exciting new restaurant. Her people have been eating bugs for centuries, and she's deeply suspicious of this newbie's attempt to turn her traditions into the next foodie trend. While Chanda and her scrappy team of talented devotees struggle to open on time, Yarrow must win over Chanda -- and Milani, the neighbor she's been crushing on for weeks -- or lose this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to achieve her dreams.

Genres: Graphic Novels, LGBT, Comics, Food, Queer, Fiction, Young Adult

150 pages, Paperback

First published January 4, 2019

About the author

Blue Delliquanti is a comic artist and writer based in Minneapolis, MN.

Since 2012 Blue has drawn and serialized the Prism Award-winning science fiction comic O Human Starat ohumanstar.com. Blue is also the co-creator of the graphic novel Meal (with Soleil Ho), published through Iron Circus Comics, and The ‘Stan (with David Axe and Kevin Knodell), published through Dead Reckoning. Blue is represented by Jen Linnan of Linnan Literary Management LLC.

Reviews

[Chad · Rating 3 out of 5]

Yarrow is passionate about food, particularly with insects as an ingredient. She's so passionate she's moved from California to Minnesota to work at a restaurant that specializes in insect dishes. The writer does a very good job of infusing their story with a passion for cooking. Not enough to get me to pour some meal worms into my next taco, but I appreciate the passion. The book can be preachy at times though. There's a sweet little LGBT romance as well. I like that the author drew characters in all shapes and sizes.

Received a review copy from Iron Circus and Edelweiss. All thoughts are my own and in no way influenced by the aforementioned.

[Rod Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am not a foodie. I tend to cook and eat the same dozen bland meals over and over. I don't watch cooking shows. I actively dislike going to restaurants.

And yet some of my favorite manga right now are about cooking: Food Wars!, Vol. 1, Delicious in Dungeon, Vol. 1, Silver Spoon, Vol. 1. And now I can add this book, which centers on the cooking of insects of all things.

Yarrow wants to be part of a new insect-themed restaurant so badly she moves across country just to apply. Her enthusiasm is contagious to the other characters in the book and to this reader too. It's a gentle slice of life story with lots of educational bits about cultures that eat insects. And there's a sweet LGBTQ love story to boot.

I'm not going to eat insects anytime soon, but I would certainly gobble up a sequel to this book anytime the creators would care to serve one up.

[Vicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a lovely book, bringing a heart to entomophagy in a way that was completely surprising to me (but utterly necessary in retrospect). I really appreciated the back matter, with recipes and even an essay about why eating insects is important and needs be treated with respect. I look forward to discovering this new cuisine in a way that I never imagined I would.

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Edelweiss for providing me with a copy of this graphic novel in exchange for an honest review. 

This graphic novel is very original. It's a nice introduction to entomophagy for anyone who might want to know more. I did not have a clue about insect cuisine and I'm happy to report that now I at least know something. Here in Europe it's not very common to eat insects but it was very nice to learn that in some parts of the world it's totally normal and it's part of the culture. This book definitely sparked an interest to know more and to learn about this type of cuisine.
Also the characters are lovely and unique, even the secondary ones.
It was a really nice read that I recommend.

[Etienne · Rating 2 out of 5]

Original subject, entomophagy, which is eating insect. Not something we talk or hear a lot about. So in term of introducing an intriguing and interesting subject, this book does it well. Was it that well done in term of literacy/artworks, not so much. The art didn’t please me much and the story isn’t really good either. If you want to introduce yourself to entomophagy that might be an easy way in, but other than that…

[Bruna Miranda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eu adoro quadrinhos sobre comida, restaurantes e culinária em geral só que eles não são tão fáceis de encontrar. Descobri Meal enquanto stalkeava os hosts do podcast Racist Sandwich (é ótimo, ouça!) e fiquei um pouco em choque de ver o quanto ele explorava a culinária com insetos.
Não fazia ideia do quão variada e rica pode ser essa área da gastronomia e fiquei muito curiosa, apesar de optar por não comer animais na vida.

A mistura de etnias e ascendências na HQ é muito boa: Yarrow tem ascendência japonesa, Milani é negra, Chandra tem ascendência cambojana, tem mais alguns personagens negros e latinos, além de personagens queer. Foi uma leitura divertida, sem dúvidas. Pra quem tem interesse em culinária de diferentes culturas então... :)

[Ed Erwin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice story about cooking with bugs. It has points it wants to make about cultural appropriation and such, but the points do not get in the way of the story, which is ultimately character-driven. Plus recipes! If you can find the bugs.

[Joy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Yeni yemek trendlerinden, böcek yemek üzerine yazılmış bir kitap. Söylenenlere göre böcek yemek, hem sürdürülebilirlik hem de ekilebilir alanların kesim hayvanları için ayrılmasına engel olacak diyorlar. Aynı zamanda protein bakımından da çok güçlüymüş. Yemekler kültür tarafından şekillendiği için biraz ütopik geliyor elbette bu fikir bize. Çizimler çok güzel ama anlatım çok hızlı ve kestirme.

[Loz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic! A beautiful story on every level. Charming, delightful, educational, and diverse, this book is a wonderful read. Clean, expressive, thoughtful art.

[kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unique, thought provoking and adorably wholesome. A brilliant exploration of food, culture and the intense connection between the two. Loved it!

[CrystalIsReading on StoryGraph · Rating 4 out of 5]

This graphic novel was such a delight to read. Not just for the story itself, which is solid, or for the expressive, attractive art, or even just for learning more about entomophagy, but also for the seemingly effortless diversity of the the cast of characters. women and non binary, Latinx, Asian, African American, Indigenous American, LGBTQ, and people of all different size and body shapes. I loved that all these existed in the story, JUST LIKE IN REAL LIFE, but the story didn't feel the need to make a big deal about it. And while there's a romance, the story passes the Bechtel test effortlessly. These people, mostly women, talk about life and issues and a lot about eating insects and the indigenous roots of that practice. If one woman wants to kiss another one, no one in the story is going to make a big deal about it. It's sweet. the kind of world that would be nice to live in.
Well, aside from the eating bugs practice. Despite everything that I learned about entomophagy (from the story itself and from the very informative essay after the story), from the long-standing practice of insects in the diets of non-Anglo people, to the environmental benefits, to the supposed tastiness of the creatures featured, I still had to suppress a gag reflex whenever I thought about noshing on meal worms or flying ants/ chicatans or--especially--on tarantulas. Even if they taste like seafood. I respect the practice, and its indigenous origins, and think it sounds like a good practice for those who consume animal protein, especially if practiced with responsible sourcing and acknowledgement and respect for the origins of the practice. The recipes included in the back were interesting, but that's it. For now, though, I'm going to stick with being vegetarian. That's OK. More crickets for Yarrow and Milani and Chanda and Gonzalo and Salisbury and Soledad--and you!
This is a sweet, fast, interesting read, with lovely art, and I highly recommend it. I'll be looking out for more work by this author and artist.

[Emilia P · Rating 5 out of 5]

SOLEIL HO. (food writer, podcaster, and maker of my alma mater, once my secret santa my personal connection to famousness.)
IRON CIRCUS.
EATING BUGS.
MINNEAPOLIS ST PAUL.

What else do you need in a book? NOT MUCH.
I was predisposed to want to like this, but I did really like it, it was a clear but sweet narrative, with some good, fresh thoughts about cultural food expectations that were well-integrated into a satisfying story. And also see all the above. Seriously, I really liked it.

[Genesee Rickel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This graphic novel was everything I was hoping and expected it to be. Is super queer (my favorite), showing all different types of relationships (friendship, family, dating, etc.). Queerness was just part of the world, completely infused without a fight. I want more stories like this! Milani is so sweet and her vulnerability, both around her art and her feelings for Yarrow warmed my heart.

There was also a lot of educational/nonfiction content about different cultural practices of eating bugs (recipes, history, adaptations). Yarrow’s awakening and Chanda’s goal are important to pay attention to.

I loved this bit from Soleil’s essay at the end: “Reducing insect to a spectacle, to a reaction to climate change or industrialized food production, erases the fact that it’s been a meaningful part of many cultures throughout the world. In fact, it’s more likely that the people who don’t eat insects - mainly those in Western Europe and countries in the Anglosphere like the United States - are the weirdos. So when we talk about insects being the “future” of food, we’re also talking about other people’s past and present: it’s only the future for us because we chose to ignore and belittle what was right in front of us all along.”

[juliette · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5

this graphic novel is incredible. i didn’t realize i would be learning about decolonizing my diet whilst observing a sapphic relationship blossom amongst a beautiful, interesting group of friends. i knew about entomology, but knew nothing about entomophagy and now i really want to try the dishes they made. i love the characters, the representation, the memories, the history, the culture, the cuisine, and the education.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Have you ever eaten bugs? Not by accident, but on purpose? Bug eating, as this graphic novel points out, is practiced all over the world.

And while this is really a story about Yarrow who wants to cook with bugs, it is also about how to cook with bugs, and wht can be done with them, and how to prepare them.

And it is also a love story of Yarrow who is falling in love with her artist neighbor, Milani.

And it is a story bout how to open a restaurant.



And once you read this charming graphic novel, there are recipes in the back, where you can try to make some of the dishes yourself.

A lot of fun. Highly recommend it to people who are curious about eating insets. Plus it is a cool love story.

Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this comic!

Rating: 3 stars
Rep: POC, LGBTQ+ and plus size rep.

The premise of this comic sounded too intriguing for me to pass up, it's all about a chef who uses insects in their cooking and the absolute dedication and ambition she is to achieve her goals. Overall, it was a fun read, but it wasn't really for me, I was just a little bored and confused throughout.

The artwork was really lovely, but I definitely missed the use of colour. I really loved the characters and the relationships between them. I always love learning about different cultures and this comic definitely delivered on that front.

Overall, I would definitely recommend giving this comic a go if you like diversity, unique storylines and most importantly, food!

[kennsley willow ☽ · Rating 4 out of 5]

i really enjoyed this graphic novel!! it was super educational, very inclusive, and just heart-warming. the idea of eating bugs terrifies me just because i am terrified of bugs in general. but, who knows, maybe if the opportunity presents itself!!

[Abigail · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was good, sometimes a little preachy and veering on nonfiction and I’m not sure if the art was totally my taste but that’s such a subjective thing when it comes to artists’ style overall it as a quick read and I enjoyed it. Nothing mind blowing.

[Kathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this! Also, I kind of want to try the tacos de chapulines, now. I never knew insects were such an integral part of world cuisine.

[Hayden · Rating 1 out of 5]

The inclusion was there but I found it boring and dry.

[Peoria Public Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spencer rated it 4 stars.

[andrea]

this was such a fun read with a vibrant cast that challenges western food norms and "trendy" cuisine. i would honestly love a whole series following these characters!

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was really interesting and I especially like how it discussed how insects have been a part of cultures and cuisine forever. Also a really sweet friends-to-lovers element with Yarrow and Milani. All around a really cute, interesting foodie story. Plus I always love Blue’s art style!

[Ashur · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute and educational. Also: 1st book completed in 2019. Timely too, I'd just started listening to Racist Sandwich recently without knowing of Soleil Ho's involvement with this book.

[jude · Rating 5 out of 5]

a really sweet story, and super informative--especially the essay and recipes in the back!! all the characters were so fun and fully-realized (i have a crush on milani). they had a really nice found-family vibe, which I always enjoy. i felt like i waited ages for this to come in for me at the library. i was so excited when it arrived, and i was not disappointed!!

[Starr ❇✌❇ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting look at a corner of cuisine that's not often talked about, in a respectful, educational, and celebratory way. I enjoyed hearing about different culture's experiences eating bugs and the way the narrative leans to frame it as a cultural norm. Yarrow is a sweet character that's easy to root for, which sometimes makes it easy to get invested in the plot & group and sometimes serves to point out how little we know the other characters in comparison.

[Celadon Phoenix · Rating 5 out of 5]

Meal has a very intriguing premise. This is the only piece of literature I’ve read that has entomophagy or the culture of eating bugs as the main subject. That alone could be enough to keep me captivated but if you add in the queer-found family aspect, slow-burn romance, and the mysterious dishwasher everyone (jokingly) thinks is a spy undercover? You get something impressive and addictive.

Yarrow is an aspiring cook who moved to be closer to “La Casa Chicana”, a new restaurant that serves something people would describe as uncommon…Insects. When Yarrow needs some help moving boxes, a kind stranger, Milani, helps her. In thanks, Yarrow cooks Milani a curry and convinces her to try mealworms too. Yarrow’s dreams of being a cook at the new restaurant become clear as she talks to Milani, but will she get approval from the head chef? What if she came all this way for nothing?

Eating insects is highly stigmatized even though it has been a staple for millennia in every–noncolonial–cuisine. This book recognizes how good rejuvenating the practice of eating bugs could be on a large and small scale for the world. The most important thing, however, is how Meal recognizes it as not a fad or something new, but something deeply rooted in culture and history that has only recently been demonized. All of this is stuffed into that skinny book plus fluffiness that everyone can swoon at.

Meal truly shows how you can change minds by reading. Heck, I am avidly arachnophobic but I (semi–willingly) learned a lot about how–said unnamed creature–is used in cuisine and how valuable they are. But definitely don’t read this if graphic imagery of certain arachnids is difficult! Overall, this book should be hyped more. People need to see that what is palatable by European/colonial standards isn't better and is usually implemented for control. Once it is possible to see representation this becomes possible. Alienation turns into acceptance. This is the first step.

[Wayne McCoy · Rating 3 out of 5]

'Meal' by Blue Delliquanti and Soleil Ho is a graphic novel about diversity in life and food. I found the story to be charming and informative.

Yarrow moves to a new town to work for a new restaurant that specializes in the cuisine of entomophagy. Entomophagy is insect-based cuising, and Yarrow has experience by growing her own mealworms. Her first experience with the chef/owner is a bit abrupt and she is sent off to make a simple dish. She wants to do her best but keeps overcomplicating things until she discovers that the important thing is to transport people with her cooking.

There is an interesting essay about cultures that eat insects, and even a recipe. The story is good, but feels a bit preachy more than informative at times. The art is also good, and I liked these characters.

I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Iron Circus in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.

[George Ilsley · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a sweet earnest effort, and a quick read. The main character Yarrow comes across as being on the spectrum or perhaps a little OCD about bugs (my novel ManBug embraces such a character).
A good story can be subtly educational. This one consistently veered towards hammering the reader with information. Who has never compared shrimp and grasshoppers? Thai workers in the Middle East during a locust bloom called them “air shrimp” and stir fried them into tasty meals.
I was waiting for the shrimp reference in Meal, but in vain.
Cultural food choices and stigmas is a fascinating topic and one that is covered here. It’s just that I felt that the writer really wanted to write a non-fiction book on the topic.

[Sandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting and well-drawn book about a woman who wants to work as a cook at a restaurant that serves insect-based cuisine. Culturally literate story; the authors obviously went to pains to get it right. I like the body-size diversity and multiple people of color. The characters are mostly women, with a few men and a non-binary character.

I have a personal squick involving stories where employers yell at their employees , and everything works out ok in the end in this story, but the main character does get yelled at by her prospective boss.