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Toast (2003)

by Nigel Slater

MembersReviewsPopularityAverage ratingMentions
1,3356013,991 (3.62)62
Toast is Nigel Slater's truly extraordinary story of a childhood remembered through food. In each chapter, as he takes readers on a tour of the contents of his family's pantry--rice pudding, tinned ham, cream soda, mince pies, lemon drops, bourbon biscuits--we are transported.... His mother was a chops-and-peas sort of cook, exasperated by the highs and lows of a temperamental stove, a finicky little son, and the asthma that was to prove fatal. His father was a honey-and-crumpets man with an unpredictable temper. When Nigel's widowed father takes on a housekeeper with social aspirations and a talent in the kitchen, the following years become a heartbreaking cooking contest for his father's affections. But as he slowly loses the battle, Nigel finds a new outlet for his culinary talents, and we witness the birth of what was to become a lifelong passion for food.  Nigel's likes and dislikes, aversions and sweet-toothed weaknesses, form a fascinating backdrop to this exceptionally moving memoir of childhood, adolescence, and sexual awakening. A bestseller (more than 300,000 copies sold) and award-winner in the UK, Toast is sure to delight both foodies and memoir readers on this side of the pond--especially those who made such enormous successes of Ruth Reichl's Tender at the Bone and Anthony Bourdain's Kitchen Confidential.… (more)
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» See also 62 mentions

English (57)  German (2)  Finnish (1)  All languages (60)
Showing 1-5 of 57 (next | show all)
I liked the start of this but I struggled with the flow, it jumps around a lot and is really just a collection of jumbled memories centered on food and some awkward sexual moments. ( )
  LiteraryReadaholic | Aug 22, 2023 |
read 2023
  AbneyLibri | Jul 22, 2023 |
Really enjoyed this memoir. Slater has a great way of telling stories that engage you. ( )
  thewestwing | Aug 12, 2022 |
Toast by Nigel Slater (2004)
  arosoff | Jul 10, 2021 |
Would of liked it more if the author had not undermined himself at times. Obviously I feel pretty sorry for him and I respect the humour with which he distances himself from what was an awful childhood on the whole, but it was rather repetitive and the sum of the parts did not add up to anything special - and I think handled better it might have. But it whiled away some long train journeys fairly pleasantly, even given the uncomfortable nature of much of it. ( )
  Ma_Washigeri | Jan 23, 2021 |
Showing 1-5 of 57 (next | show all)
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Dedication
For Digger, Magrath and Poppy

with love

In memory of Elvie 1902-2002
First words
My mother is scraping a piece of burned toast out of the kitchen window, a crease of annoyance across her forehead.
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(Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)
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Wikipedia in English (2)

Toast is Nigel Slater's truly extraordinary story of a childhood remembered through food. In each chapter, as he takes readers on a tour of the contents of his family's pantry--rice pudding, tinned ham, cream soda, mince pies, lemon drops, bourbon biscuits--we are transported.... His mother was a chops-and-peas sort of cook, exasperated by the highs and lows of a temperamental stove, a finicky little son, and the asthma that was to prove fatal. His father was a honey-and-crumpets man with an unpredictable temper. When Nigel's widowed father takes on a housekeeper with social aspirations and a talent in the kitchen, the following years become a heartbreaking cooking contest for his father's affections. But as he slowly loses the battle, Nigel finds a new outlet for his culinary talents, and we witness the birth of what was to become a lifelong passion for food.  Nigel's likes and dislikes, aversions and sweet-toothed weaknesses, form a fascinating backdrop to this exceptionally moving memoir of childhood, adolescence, and sexual awakening. A bestseller (more than 300,000 copies sold) and award-winner in the UK, Toast is sure to delight both foodies and memoir readers on this side of the pond--especially those who made such enormous successes of Ruth Reichl's Tender at the Bone and Anthony Bourdain's Kitchen Confidential.

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