Cooking for the Love of the World

Awakening Our Spirituality through Cooking

by Anne-Marie Fryer Wiboltt; Goldenstone Press, 2008, 201 pgs.

“Because of our tendency to compartmentalize our actions, there may be a temptation to look upon this book as two books rather than one—a book on the spirituality of food and a practical cookbook. But, Anne-Marie is very clear in what she is doing. She helps us perceive how our bodies, our lives, the world around us, and the larger universe as a whole form multiple, related activities that come together in miraculous ways through the act of eating. Until we can consciously enter into the miracle of food, we are lost in one popular speculation after another concerning how to eat.”

—from the Introduction by Robert Sardello

Review by Conrad Rehbach

A few years ago I had the good fortune to organize a course for early-childhood educators and one of my colleagues on the faculty was Anne-Marie Fryer Wiboltt. Anne-Marie taught the importance of healthy nutrition both at home and in the kindergarten or school setting. Later, when I looked through the evaluation forms students had submitted, I read: “I loved Anne-Marie’s energy and charisma. She had great knowledge and openness to ideas.... “

Reading AnneMarie’s new book, Cooking for the Love of the World, I reached the same conclusion: “I love Anne-Marie’s energy and charisma!” These qualities shine on every page, from the beautiful artwork, the layout and design, the chapters on cooking, the recipes, and in lovely touches like the “Explore” sidebars. These address simple questions like: “How do you feel after eating a carrot?” or deep thoughts like “Take care of your body with steadfast fidelity. The soul must see things through these eyes alone, and if they are dim, the whole world is clouded.” (Goethe)

Cooking for the Love of the World is not simply a cookbook, but is really a guide to understanding how cooking in all its aspects is a spiritual path, a path of self-development. The author encourages readers to see the kitchen as a holy place, like our soul.

In the first of its two sections we find chapters on preparing ourselves to cook and on food preparation. Wiboltt looks at the rhythms and wisdom in the world; then at growing and harvesting food; and finally at the art of cooking itself. The kitchen is presented as a place where artistic activity occurs daily, where we can create meals that bring us into harmony with nature and with ourselves. The section ends with a chapter fittingly titled “At the Table,” as we are now ready to sit down and enjoy a meal.

The second section includes recipes divided into four chapters, one for each season of the year, helping us to cook with the seasons. The book includes a recipe index, a bibliography for further study, and a comprehensive list of resources.

On Cooking for the Love of the World

“Cooking is always an activity of and about the soul, and food is profoundly mysterious. Our metallic culture likes to chase the mysteries and the spirits away, but Anne-Marie brings them back gently and wisely. This book is infinitely more significant than it looks. It could represent the cosmic shift in culture that we desperately need today. Read this book. Take it to heart. And live in a world brought to life in the simple sanctuary of your kitchen.”

—Thomas Moore, author, Soul in Everyday Life

“This is a friendly and poetic book. While the reasons given for food choices are based on the spiritual approach of Goethe and Steiner instead of on science, they do actually conform to the most up-to-date scientific nutrition. A pleasure to read—it sent me into the kitchen.”

—Annemarie Colbin, PhD, author, Food and Healing; Founder, The Natural Gourmet Institute (NYC)