The Sweet Chef

28 March 2011

BOOK REVIEW RE: Dickinson, Tom, Where There’s a Meal There’s a Way – My Personal Collection of Gluten Free Casein Free and Soy Free Recipes That You Can Make at Home, 2010.

The cookbook Where There’s a Meal There’s a Way – My Personal Collection of Gluten Free Casein Free and Soy Free Recipes That You Can Make at Home written by Tom Dickinson is a personal food journey and cookbook that takes the reader through Tom’s life struggle with autism and how he came out on top as a professional chef and autism advocate with the help of his loving wife Nora, his many culinary teachers and his belief in God.

Tom’s book is written from the heart with and tells a tale of a boy who was different from all the other kids his age.

Tom says, “I didn’t know why I couldn’t do things like that normal kids do. I struggled with my school work; I struggled with socializing with people…And I even struggled greatly when I went to culinary school.”

But getting through the culinary arts program at Linn Benton Community College in Albany, Oregon was his greatest reward. His new career offered him a chance to hone his skills as a gluten, dairy and soya free chef. Along with encouragement from his wife Nora, Tom began to research autism and the effects of diet on an autistic way of life.

Tom and Nora found that through diet and supplements Tom could control his moods which helped him stay calm, focused and relaxed. Tom uses the California approach to cooking and locally sourced ingredients along with his experience living with autism to define his own unique cuisine called GFCF (gluten free casein free) Fusion and uses it as a way to inspire others.

The recipes are easy to follow and offer a variety of American classics like pizza, macaroni and cheese and country fried chicken that are sure to be family favourites. Being a pastry chef, I immediately flipped to the dessert section and was especially intrigued by the Mexican chocolate cake made entirely without flour.

Although I would have liked to have Tom’s recipe for his all purpose baking flour and homemade pasta noodles, those new to GFCG cooking will appreciate the glossary and recipe introductions that offer a further glimpse into this new cooking style.

Tom wrote this cookbook because, “I want to give back. I dedicate the book to all the autism Moms out there. You’re the real heroes and angels in my book.”

What Tom once thought of as his greatest curse truly became one of the biggest blessings in his life.

Tom says, “I didn’t choose this life. God chose it for me. Through the power of God, I discovered the true power of food.”

Tom is now a weekly presenter on Naturally Autistic ANCA’s blogtalkradio.com show.

Tom’s cookbook is a must read for those who struggle with autism and will quickly become a go-to favourite for gluten free casein free cooking. His story is an inspiration to anyone with children and his passion for food is addicting.

It’s been several months since my mom, Jennie, and I started researching publishing, printing and distribution services for our upcoming series of cookbooks, Kapusta or Cabbage: A Mother and Daughter Culinary and Historical Journey, More Kapusta or Cabbage and Holidays Kapusta or Cabbage.

We self-published our first title back in 1995 before print on demand, e-books and digital file uploads were the norm. Mom did the writing, typesetting and cover design as well as some ghost writing for me. She also self-distributed across Ontario and Manitoba with books and Sharpie® in hand. My mom traveled to independent bookstores to launch and personally inscribe each copy to those who wanted an author signed edition. It was a sellout after only a year!

I’m not sure exactly why we didn’t republish at the time…probably all that work was too much for mom to handle on her own. Yes, I was the daughter who left my mom derelict to do all the work herself while I naively tripped through my easy life in Vancouver, BC.

Well, here we are in the digital age and we are back at it. And when I say we I really mean it this time. I’m the one doing most of the online research while mom starts transferring files into the PDF ready to print stage. And I’m doing all my own writing this time, too.

Mom has a hard time processing all this new information about how to self-publish in today’s world but she’s starting to come around. She’s getting the idea of print on demand and that e-books are taking over paperback sales on the internet and that we don’t need 1000 hard copies on hand.

We’re pretty much set on using Lightning Source as our printer and distributor. It’s a relief to get that big decision out of the way.

Now onto the fun stuff…the recipes!