"Wes Hingler lives in the shadow of his eccentric, fiercely opinionated cook parents, whose separate kitchens and shared bedroom spontaneously combust into battlegrounds at the flip of a spatula. Argument and habanero chile are the dominant spices of Wes's life, permeating the ever-tense atmosphere of Kansas City's Tsil Café (his father's Southwestern/Native American restaurant) and the kitchen of Buen AppeTito (his mother's eclectic catering business). Professional rivalries, romantic triangles, and assorted betrayals all make for a volatile upbringing...A lovingly written coming-of-age gem." (Library Journal) "Sex...heartbreak and habaneros...Averill's sure hand in the culinary department keeps this Café simmering." (San Antonio Express-News) "Completely satisfying...It may be made only of words, but the great tastes of this novel linger like honey and burn like chili." (Calgary Herald) "In a time when one of our food groups is 'fast,' there is something genuinely nourishing about the banquet that Averill prepares." (USA Today) "Compelling." (Kansas City Star) "Voluptuous." (Booklist)

Thomas Fox Averill has published two story collections, Passes at the Moon and Seeing Mona Naked. An Iowa Writers' Workshop graduate and O. Henry Award winner, he is writer-in-residence and professor of English at Washburn University.