I came from a family that values tradition, which is why I can relate to Tita's anguish and frustration of not settling down with Pedro, her lover, due to her mother's belief that her youngest daughter mustn't marry but take care of her mom until she dies.

Those custom essays came to mind as I read those pages where Tita poured her emotions into the dishes she prepared in the kitchen; it affected family and friends who tasted it. But even without the magic realism, it's hard not to be delighted by good food. My face is a picture of bliss whenever I savor the tasty dishes; I feel some pain whenever I'm more than full.

If there's one thing I learned from Laura Esquivel's novel, it's that food - a good one in particular - is not to be missed.