From Scratch: A Memoir of Love, Sicily, and Finding Home

Tembi Locke's memoir chronicles her life with Saro, a professional chef she met in Florence. Despite his traditional Sicilian family's disapproval of their interracial relationship, the couple married and built a life together in Los Angeles, including adopting a daughter, Zoela. When Saro was diagnosed with cancer, their world changed dramatically. After his death, Locke spends three summers in Sicily with Zoela in Saro's small hometown, gradually rebuilding her life. Estranged from his family before his illness, she now finds comfort and spiritual nourishment at her mother-in-law's table. Through the Sicilian countryside, simple food, community, and local traditions, she discovers a path forward while reflecting on her relationship with Saro. The memoir weaves together Locke's love story with her journey of grief and healing, exploring themes of family, home, food as remembrance, and resilience in the face of loss.