Food and Cooking Symbol in With the Fire on High

The various foods Emoni makes, and the process of cooking, represent connection. When Emoni is only three or four, she takes over stirring a pot of food from ’Buela, and her seasoning choices lead ‘Buela to cry—the food makes her remember her childhood and young adulthood in Puerto Rico. This teaches Emoni that food is about more than feeding people; food spiced just right has the power to connect people to the past, to different locales, and to other people.

In the present, Emoni and her Aunt Sarah’s relationship highlights the power food has to bring people together across a great distance. Though Emoni and Aunt Sarah have never met in person (Aunt Sarah lives in Raleigh), the two regularly exchange family recipes via email and stay connected to each other that way. As Emoni remixes family recipes and sends her altered recipes back to Aunt Sarah, she honors her family’s culinary history while also carving out a place for herself within the family. Julio also reinforces this symbolism when he reveals that he never eats Emoni’s cooking when he visits Philadelphia because it brings up painful memories of Emoni’s mom—it connects him to the past and to his deceased wife, but it’s too painful for him to purposefully feel that connection. More broadly, though, while she’s in Spain, Emoni discovers that her cooking has the power to connect her to people who speak a totally different language and who otherwise have no connection to her or her family. A restaurant patron, Don Alberto, tells Emoni that the chicken special she developed for Chef Amadí’s restaurant brought up childhood memories of his aunt. Though Emoni has always been aware that food is about more than just feeding people, the reactions she elicits from friends, family, and even strangers with her cooking highlights food’s power to bring people together.

Food and Cooking Quotes in With the Fire on High

The With the Fire on High quotes below all refer to the symbol of Food and Cooking. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:

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All I know is she cried into her plate that night. And so at the age of four, I learned someone could cry from a happy memory.

Ever since then ’Buela is convinced I have magical hands when it comes to cooking. And I don’t know if I really have something special, or if her telling me I got something special has brainwashed me into believing it, but I do know I’m happier in the kitchen than anywhere else in the world. It’s the one place I let go and only need to focus on the basics: taste, smell, texture, fusion, beauty.

Related Characters: Emoni Santiago (speaker), ’Buela/Gloria

Related Symbols: Food and Cooking

Page Number and Citation: 16-17

Explanation and Analysis:

I let go of a breath I didn’t know I’d been holding. I don’t know much about pathogens and storing sugar, but damn if I don’t know how to cook good food that makes people hungry for more, that makes people remember food is meant to feed more than an empty belly. It’s also meant to nourish your heart. And that’s one thing you won’t ever learn from no textbook.

Related Characters: Emoni Santiago (speaker), ’Buela/Gloria, Chef Ayden

Related Symbols: Food and Cooking

Page Number and Citation: 93

Explanation and Analysis:

He clears his throat and it seems almost like a memory has him choked up. “This is delicious, but I want to make sure you follow the ingredients list. If you work under a chef and they give you clear directions, it’s disrespectful to try and modify their recipe without first consulting them. Whether or not you think the flavors will work.”

Related Characters: Chef Ayden (speaker), Emoni Santiago

Related Symbols: Food and Cooking

Page Number and Citation: 97

Explanation and Analysis:

“It’s not the recipe I gave you. It doesn’t have the same ingredients, and the cut on these is wrong.”

“It tastes good, it’s well-balanced like you tell us to do, and the presentation is flawless,” I say through my teeth.

He grabs a fork, stabs the dish, and pops it in his mouth. He’s quiet for a long moment. And I can tell he loves it. He shakes his head. “Cumin, basil, oregano.” His eyes pop open. “None of those ingredients were in the recipe. This isn’t the same dish at all. I can’t grade something that is more about creativity than execution. That wasn’t the point of today’s evaluation. So I won’t say it again: trash it.”

Related Characters: Emoni Santiago (speaker), Chef Ayden (speaker)

Related Symbols: Food and Cooking

Page Number and Citation: 129

Explanation and Analysis:

Chef Ayden isn’t angry with me. Chef Ayden thinks I could own or be head chef of a restaurant one day. Chef Ayden wants me to lead a fund-raising committee.

I’ve seen chefs on TV time and time again say they had to pay their dues. And I never knew exactly what that meant but now I think I get it. It’s about doing the grunt work behind the scenes, washing dishes, folding napkins, taking stock, before you ever touch a recipe. It’s about being the creative mind behind raising a shit-ton of money so you can go on a trip abroad.

Related Characters: Emoni Santiago (speaker), Chef Ayden

Related Symbols: Food and Cooking

Page Number and Citation: 186

Explanation and Analysis:

Chili aioli would make this bomb. A sweet and savory bite. I almost walk to the spice cabinet, then stop myself.

That’s not the recipe.

Related Characters: Emoni Santiago (speaker), Chef Ayden, Richard, Amanda

Related Symbols: Food and Cooking

Page Number and Citation: 220

Explanation and Analysis:

“Can I tell you the oddest thing about your hen? I’ve been having a bad day. Everything was going wrong, including my stove not wanting to turn on, which is why I came out for dinner, on a Monday of all days! But from the first bite of your food…it reminded me of my favorite aunt. Sitting at her knee when she told me stories and shucked peas.” His voice gets rough at the end and I give his hand a small squeeze.

Related Characters: Don Alberto (speaker), Emoni Santiago, Chef Ayden, Chef Amadí

Related Symbols: Food and Cooking

Page Number and Citation: 293-294

Explanation and Analysis:

I didn’t think I would be accepted into Drexel. My grade point average was a little below what they say a student needs, so I’m still shocked. Unlike the guidance counselor in middle school, Ms. Fuentes pushed me to apply even though it was a reach school. It’s close to home. It’s a great school. And it has a culinary arts program that focuses not only on cooking, but also on restaurant management.

But I don’t know how I’ll help pay bills if I’m also paying for school.

Related Characters: Emoni Santiago (speaker), ’Buela/Gloria, Babygirl/Emma, Julio/Emoni’s Dad, Ms. Fuentes

Related Symbols: Food and Cooking

Page Number and Citation: 351

Explanation and Analysis:

“Your grandmother says your food reminds her of Puerto Rico. But for me? Your food doesn’t make me think of back home, it makes me think of the home I had here. Every single one of your dishes makes me think of your mother. It kills me to see memories of her face every time I take a bite of something you made. It kills me to be here in Philadelphia, and every street corner reminds me of her. I always think with time it will get easier. But it hasn’t.”

Related Characters: Julio/Emoni’s Dad (speaker), Emoni Santiago, ’Buela/Gloria, Babygirl/Emma, Emoni’s Mom

Related Symbols: Food and Cooking

Page Number and Citation: 378

Explanation and Analysis:

Although my food still doesn’t give me any memories, it has always been looking back; it’s infused with the people I come from. But it’s also a way for me to look forward: to watch the recipes that from my roots transform, grow, and feed the hungriest places inside of me.

Related Characters: Emoni Santiago (speaker), Julio/Emoni’s Dad, Aunt Sarah, Emoni’s Mom, Chef Ayden

Related Symbols: Food and Cooking

Page Number and Citation: 382

Explanation and Analysis:

“I understand. And although I’ll be attending Drexel’s Culinary Arts program on a part-time basis, it’s not too far from here, so I can go to classes in the morning and be here by the lunchtime rush. My family is helping me out to make sure. I can commit to the long hours.” I give her a soft shrug. “I want to stay in Philly and work in Philly and learn from a restaurant in Philly. Because I think I have a lot to offer my hometown and the places I’m from.”

Related Characters: Emoni Santiago (speaker), Babygirl/Emma, Chef Ayden, Ms. Fuentes, The Chef/Chef Lisa Williams

Related Symbols: Food and Cooking

Page Number and Citation: 385

Explanation and Analysis:

Food and Cooking Symbol Timeline in With the Fire on High

The timeline below shows where the symbol Food and Cooking appears in With the Fire on High. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

This recipe serves “Your heart when you are missing someone you love.” It’s a pudding made with... (full context)

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...it was so great that she would love it if Emoni catered her six-month anniversary dinner with Laura next month. As the girls get on the bus, Emoni says she’s not... (full context)

...or four, and at this time ’Buela usually comes home, turns on the radio, and cooks. This day is different, though, and ’Buela is in such a bad mood that she... (full context)

Since then, ’Buela has been convinced that Emoni’s talent for cooking is magic. Emoni’s not sure about that, but she’s happier in the kitchen than she... (full context)

Emoni admits that learning to cook Spanish food would be fun, but Angelica says the class isn’t just about learning to... (full context)

’Buela asks Emoni about school and what Emoni is going to make for dinner. Emoni sets Babygirl up watching PBS, peruses the fridge, and begins pulling out ingredients. She... (full context)

Emoni has always wanted to be a chef. She started watching cooking shows and taking notes on her phone early. ’Buela allowed Emoni to experiment with more... (full context)

...whether to write about having Babygirl, being raised by her grandmother, or her love of cooking. The essay is supposed to be “compelling,” but how is Emoni supposed to know what... (full context)

...him to be, so she put on her pants and left. That afternoon, Emoni fried plantain and ate so much she felt sick. Whenever she eats fried plantain now, she cries... (full context)

...bag. She also tries not to sniff Tyrone’s intoxicating scent. When she mentions she packed snacks and juice boxes, Tyrone reminds her she doesn’t have to. After ’Buela says goodbye to... (full context)

It’s Sunday night, and Emoni and ’Buela are eating ‘Buela’s tostones and waiting anxiously for Babygirl. They’ve been anxiously tiptoeing around each other all weekend, unwilling... (full context)

...In Advisory, Emoni gets her revised schedule and discovers that she was accepted into the culinary arts class. Emoni shakes with excitement. (full context)

Chef Ayden addresses the class. He says this is a real kitchen with real food and knives, not just a classroom. They’re also going abroad in the spring, though not... (full context)

...Chef Ayden knew what it’s like to grow up in the city, where kids start cooking and using knives early—and where kids get stabbed in the street. Clearly, he’s not a... (full context)

...mentally curses. As they reach Emoni’s English class, Malachi suggests he’d like to try Emoni’s cooking and tells her goodbye, calling her “Santi.” (full context)

...but she explains that Malachi is new and from Newark. Angelica then asks how the culinary arts class went. Emoni says dismissively that they just learned about tools, and she asks if... (full context)

During Emoni’s shift at the Burger Joint that evening, a woman asks Emoni what burger she’d recommend. Steve, Emoni’s manager, appears out of nowhere to say the Joint Special is... (full context)

...about her college essay, Emoni asks why he’s walking with her when they don’t have Culinary Arts until afternoon. He says he’s just walking her to class. At this, Emoni stops short... (full context)

In addition to teaching students to cook and work in a professional kitchen, Chef Ayden is also making everyone prepare for the... (full context)

...a cutting board. When Emoni’s emotions are in such turmoil, she’s not sure what to cook and she lets her hands guide her. Pushing aside how angry she is—that Babygirl’s grandma... (full context)

Following the culinary arts textbook guidelines for plating a meal, Emoni plates ’Buela’s meal. ’Buela closes her eyes as she tastes it and is in... (full context)

...is so much work. Mondays are demonstrations days, on Wednesdays the students learn a new recipe, and on Fridays, students make the recipe on their own and get graded. They’ve been... (full context)

Today, students are making pudding from scratch. Chef Ayden guides them through the process. As Emoni puts her ingredients away,... (full context)

However, Chef Ayden still invites the rest of the students to try Emoni’s pudding, which makes all the boys snicker. Emoni flushes with embarrassment and pride and hurries out... (full context)

It’s been a week since the pudding debacle. Today, Chef Ayden announces they’ll be working with saffron and asks them to pair... (full context)

...or easy once they learn she’s a mom. But surprisingly, Malachi invites Emoni to get ice cream after school. Emoni accepts, enjoying Pretty Leslie’s confused face. (full context)

...Angelica tells him embarrassing stories. Finally, they get off at the boardwalk and enter a water-ice shop, which the girls insist is better than ice cream. Malachi doesn’t argue. (full context)

Once Malachi, Angelica, and Emoni have their water-ice, they walk to the water and admire the beautiful day. After a brief exchange about... (full context)

...screaming, even though she loves him. After a minute, ’Buela says Emma recently had a snack and that she’ll pick up dinner for herself on her way home. (full context)

...tell he’s at his barbershop working. He says ’Buela told him Emoni is taking a cooking class and is going to Spain, which annoys Emoni—why does ’Buela nag her to call... (full context)

...to care for Babygirl herself so ’Buela doesn’t have to. She just wants to study culinary arts , and maybe it’s better to learn on the job than spend money on school. (full context)

...it’ll be better if Emoni has a college degree, because then she’ll have options if cooking doesn’t work out. Emoni tries hard not to visibly react, but she says college isn’t... (full context)

At lunch, Emoni praises Angelica’s latest work, an album cover for a rapper who graduated last year.... (full context)

...of Chef Ayden for grading, he tells her to throw it away. It’s not the recipe he assigned. Emoni argues that it tastes good and is presented well, and Chef puts... (full context)

Emoni argues that she shouldn’t have to learn how to make a bad recipe well, but Chef Ayden says it’s about more than that. Does she remember what temperature... (full context)

This recipe serves a person’s “ego when you’re full of regret.” Emoni lists the ingredients and instructs... (full context)

...and Pretty Leslie smiles wide. She greets Emoni in a fake voice and orders a burger with complicated substitutions, and she then says Emoni must be thrilled to work here and... (full context)

...is going shopping in the morning, so if Angelica wants anything different for her anniversary dinner, she needs to say so now. Angelica says she just wants something fancy, preferably something... (full context)

...same stuff. This is news to Emoni, but she accepts Malachi’s invitation to help her cook later. (full context)

As Emoni tries to get Babygirl to eat lunch, ’Buela grills her about Malachi. She wants to know where he’s from, if he’s nice,... (full context)

Later, as Malachi and Emoni are cooking, ’Buela steps into the kitchen and asks Malachi how he’s liking the cooking class. Emoni... (full context)

When Angelica opens the door, Malachi and Emoni enter with bags of food. The house smells like Angelica cleaned—though Emoni knows she hates cleaning. After a few shrugs... (full context)

...take it slow. She also notes that she “put a little extra magic” in the meal, so she can guarantee that things will be fine. Then, Emoni walks Angelica through plating... (full context)

On the street, Malachi compliments Emoni’s steak and says that the mac and cheese made him remember learning to make boxed mac... (full context)

...but Emoni is certain he’s just being polite. Emoni orders a few of the cheapest dishes she can find. Once the server is gone, ‘Buela asks how culinary arts is going.... (full context)

The food is exceptional. There’s a flavor in Emoni’s risotto that she can’t place, and when the... (full context)

...time it hit North Carolina. She says Julio is okay; he’s accepting donations of canned food and bottled water. Then, Emoni thanks Aunt Sarah for the fried green tomatoes recipe—it was... (full context)

...Advisory. She still doesn’t know what to do about Culinary Arts, but fortunately she has lunch to think about it. At lunch, Angelica says that her night was perfect: she and... (full context)

...Emoni says she’s not a quitter. She didn’t understand why he was making her throw food away that she thought was good, but she thinks she gets it now. She promises... (full context)

...work with Richard and Amanda rather than by herself, and then he hands out the recipe. Emoni spends the class cutting and sauteing root vegetables at Amanda and Richard’s request. She’s... (full context)

...class should hold a bake sale, but she’d like to use the proceeds to buy food and revive the student café and begin serving lunch to staff and teachers. She also... (full context)

...absent today, so Emoni takes a more active role in Culinary Arts. She follows the recipe and Richard’s instructions to blanch and salt asparagus and then start the orzo. Today is... (full context)

In an email to Aunt Sarah, Emoni thanks her aunt for the mac and cheese recipe and attaches a picture of her spiced-up version, as well as a picture of Babygirl... (full context)

...and a half early and spends several mornings per week going to school early to cook. The students are only supposed to go early one day per week, but Emoni fills... (full context)

In the school kitchen early one morning, Emoni puts her rolls in the oven and then approaches Chef Ayden. He looks tired—he’s been here every morning... (full context)

...cry from exhaustion. Tyrone has Babygirl for Thanksgiving, so Emoni and ’Buela eat a quiet dinner together and watch an Eagles game. When Emoni’s phone rings, she knows it’s Malachi. He... (full context)

...they assemble the bites, Emoni starts for the spice cabinet. Chili aioli would elevate this recipe—but she stops herself, because that’s not the recipe. Emoni works tirelessly the whole night until... (full context)

The students who were cooking enter the gym as Chef Ayden shakes Principal Holderness’s hand. Chef reminds the guests that... (full context)

...Ayden has been bragging about Emoni to her. She’d like to pay Emoni her compliments—the meal was wonderful—and gives Emoni her card. Emoni is so starstruck she can barely stick the... (full context)

...still excited the next morning. Chef Ayden reveals that he tried to cancel the restaurant lunches, but the teachers threw a fit. Now, the restaurant will be open Tuesdays and Thursdays... (full context)

...that makes Emoni feel like an adult, while Emoni gives Angelica a box of handmade macarons. On Christmas morning, Malachi calls Emoni to sing carols for her. Emoni and ‘Buela are... (full context)

For New Year’s Eve, Emoni makes Aunt Sarah’s black-eyed peas recipe, but with a twist: she simmers them in grapes, since both the peas (according to... (full context)

...considers calling Angelica or Malachi. Instead, she goes to the kitchen and puts together a lasagna and a salad. She desperately wants to talk to someone on her phone, but instead,... (full context)

...Señorita Maria shows the girls the bedroom and the bathroom, and she says they’ll have dinner soon. As soon as she leaves, Pretty Leslie snags the bed furthest from the door;... (full context)

...and says that Emoni can call it what she wants, but she must remember that cooking for others is giving them a gift. (full context)

Chef Amadí says that this afternoon, Emoni is going to develop a chicken dish to serve as the Monday special. The restaurant opens in 90 minutes, and Emoni... (full context)

...few tables and 20-30 patrons per afternoon. Remembering Chef Ayden’s instructions, Emoni calculates how much chicken she’ll need, preps it, and creates a uniform spice mix. She’s ready to go when... (full context)

Emoni hurries to the rooftop paella restaurant to meet her classmates, who all look as energized as she feels. She sits... (full context)

...she wants. When Emoni is done cutting, Chef Amadí asks what they should serve with rabbit. Emoni suggests mushroom harissa rice. (full context)

In an email to Aunt Sarah, Emoni thanks her for the cobbler recipe—Emoni tweaked it a bit and served it at the restaurant this afternoon. She explains... (full context)

...about Malachi. Feeling freer than she’s ever felt at home, she invites him to get ice cream later. He asks if this is a date, and she says it is. (full context)

...help get your sibling what they need. Emoni tries to lead him to go get ice cream , but he sadly says he doesn’t want it anymore. She takes his face in... (full context)

...Ayden still has them go to their apprenticeships. Emoni works on a marinade for a pork shoulder , which will take 24 hours. Emoni wishes she’d be here to try it, but... (full context)

Emoni and Pretty Leslie spend their last night with Mariana, who makes a traditional meal and even gives the girls sangria. When Leslie turns green, Emoni laughs. Emoni tries to... (full context)

...a bit low. But Ms. Fuentes pushed her to apply, and it has a great culinary arts and restaurant management program. Emoni doesn’t know how she can pay bills and go to... (full context)

This beer bread recipe is supposed to serve “Your strength when you feel alone.” It directs cooks to... (full context)

...else make decisions for her. After touching Babygirl’s cheek, Emoni heads downstairs to make beer bread. Emoni knows her mom used to love to bake, but Aunt Sarah has never sent... (full context)

With 20 minutes to go on the bread, there’s a knock on the door. It’s Julio. Emoni asks what he’s doing, and he... (full context)

...wonders if this will have to be enough as she cuts herself a slice of bread and eats it. Julio breaks off a corner and, to her surprise, puts it in... (full context)

...pictures, they all come to Emoni’s house for a feast. Emoni has been putting this meal together for a while now, unsure of why she’s pairing certain flavors. Her food doesn’t... (full context)

...be attending Drexel’s Culinary Arts program part-time, so she could be here to work the lunch rush. Shrugging, Emoni adds that she wants to work and learn in Philly so she... (full context)

In an email to Aunt Sarah, Emoni thanks her for her mom’s pound cake recipe—Julio cried, but he ate the entire thing. He seems to be preparing to stay for... (full context)

With the Fire on High

Elizabeth Acevedo

Food and Cooking Symbol Analysis

Food and Cooking Quotes in With the Fire on High

Food and Cooking Symbol Timeline in With the Fire on High