Spiced with a few traditional Mexican recipes, many of which have been in the author's family for years, the story revolves around Tita De la Garza and her lover, Pedro. The work is set in Mexico during the early 1900s, near a northern peasant city, over the border from San Antonio. Tita is born "on a bed of onions, cilantro and spices," and food will forever be an important element in her life. As she grows up she becomes a gourmet and finds comfort in cooking. Each chapter is prefaced with recipes, like Christmas rolls, quail in rose petal sauce, and oxtail soup. The recipes, however, have more to do with romance than food.
Tita becomes a victim of a tradition mandating that as the youngest daughter she is not to marry. Instead, her duty is to care for her domineering mother, Mama Elena. Tita and Pedro fall in love, but because of Tita's role caring for her mother, Pedro marries Tita's older sister. Tita is crushed, but finds solace when Pedro reveals at the wedding that he is doing this to be close to her. While making the wedding cake, Tita's tears fall into the batter.....
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