I did think their friendship was lovely, although both are not without their flaws (something I feel mean saying because they’re both real people, we’re all flawed, duh). For even a shared bowl of chowder could transform loneliness and anxiety into friendship, freedom, and a pure, simple pleasure Isabel had not known she could find again. DWE chronicles the unlikely relationship between the author and the 90+ year old father of one of her longtime friends. As Edward and Isabel meet weekly for the glorious dinners that Edward prepares, he shares so much more than his recipes for apple galette or the perfect martini, or even his tips for deboning poultry. This might just be my cold, cynical English self showing, but some parts of this book just rang a little false.

The story of an elderly man, bereft of his wife, and seemingly alone, who takes in a middle-age, Unhappily married seemingly held-together woman. Edward was a charming Southern gentleman who had come to New York hoping for an acting career, although he ended up working as a welder and a tailor. Of course any book that describes food so well and so lovingly gets extra points in my book--I wanted to eat and make so many of the dishes mentioned like soft shell crabs, fried in a light batter and served with hot melted butter, perfectly scrambled eggs, avocado salad with pungent blue cheese dressing, Fennel Remoulade over Lettuce, macarons and fleur de sel caramels, Pan-Fried Potatoes with Gruyere, Apricot Souffle and Apple Galette, to name just a few. This is a nice way to leave things – rather than with a funeral, which might have altered the overall tone.By end of the book, we see that Isabel has indeed "grown up", moving outside of the self-centred orbit that was hers upon moving to New York. Her friend doesn't live in New York and it is a comfort to have Isabel check in on her ninety three year old father. What she gets is Grilled Sirloin Steak, Sauce Bourguignonne, New Potatoes, Chocolate Souffle, and a lovely bottle of Malbec. Isabel's remarks pointed out her insular life experience, and how much Edward's insights had jump started Isabel's growth.

A favorite quote Edward imparted to Isabel: " You are a fine and talented woman, whose potential is get to be realized given the love and support and luck we all need. When Isabel tells Valerie that things are not going to well in her life either, Valerie suggests that she have dinner with Edward. It is easy to fall deeply for Edward's tender heart as Vincent learns how he has savored his life, and over time, begins to create a life that's more inviting and full for herself. The book manages to share condensed histories of both Edward and Isabel without delving into too much gratuitous detail. A wonderful relationship between an man whose wife of sixty two years has died and the author, asked to look in on him by his two daughters.I enjoyed this memoir of the author's unlikely friendship with the nonagenarian father of one of her friends. With its delicious food, warm jazz, and stunning views of Manhattan, Edward’s home was a much-needed refuge for reporter Isabel Vincent. That connection of food and memory, as well as music (funnily enough, I LOVE Ella Fitzgerald), is so powerful! In Dinner with Edward, Isabel Vincent's memoir, Edward's two tricks for making a perfect pastry crust are crushed ice and a mixture of grated butter and fresh lard (from his Queens butcher), all kept as cold as possible.