People like J. Ryan Stradal

Kitchens of the Great Midwest is the debut novel of American author and producer J. Ryan Stradal, published in July 2015 by Viking Press. It debuted at No. 19 on The New York Times Best Seller list for August 23, 2015.

The novel centers around Eva, a culinary prodigy born with a “once-in-a-generation palate” to a chef father and a sommelier mother. Though growing up in poverty and facing numerous challenges, by age 10 Eva is growing chocolate habanero peppers in her room and selling them to local restaurants. Later, after Eva goes on to be a celebrity chef, she is heard from less, and other characters emerge to "miss her, love her, obsess about her" while they recount their own stories.