Hearty: On Cooking, Eating, and Growing Food for Pleasure and Subsistence

The 18 rich, captivating essays collected here explore food as a source of pleasure and sustenance. Narrator Panta Mosleh has a calm and inviting tone and maintains steady pacing throughout the audio. Bennett, a National Magazine Award–winning writer, has spent a decade in the restaurant industry. They bring a deep food appreciation to their work. Even given their dietary restrictions, Bennett delights in food with the same enthusiasm as renowned culinary figures and provides a varied exploration of North American food culture. The essays cover specific subjects, including carrots and ice cream, and address broader themes, including seed saving, substituting, and home gardening challenges. Bennett initially saw gardening as a means to learn patience. However, hands-on experience taught different lessons: accepting that some seasons will be more productive and others not as fruitful, and there is value to be found in the garden’s capacity to teach gratitude through crop successes and failures. The garden, whether perfect or imperfect, provides nourishment to the soul, explains the author. Bennett blends reflection and personal commentary and provides a thorough perspective on the food system.