Connecting From a Quarantine Kitchen: My Shelter Island Pandemic Story

CONNECTING FROM A QUARANTINE KITCHEN is the inspiring story of two enthusiastic home cooks who turned their time sheltering in place into an opportunity to learn, be creative, and bring continuity and joy to lives turned upside down by the global Covid-19 pandemic.

Using only readily available ingredients, and guided by simple recipes within easy reach, author Jacquelyn Ottman and her Shelter Island friend and hostess Karen Kiaer made delicious, nutritious meals, rarely repeating a dish - and intentionally not wasting a single morsel. They plated them like pros, using a simple sprig of parsley and other accessible techniques.

Delighted with their results, they began taking pictures of their culinary creations including the "chef" who made the meal. Soon they had an entire collection of images reflecting their culinary progress, captured within these pages.

• Revel in over 100 pages of full color images of the mouth-watering meals prepared by the authors
• Come away with new ideas to liven up their own meal-making
• Be transported to the idyllic 350 year-old Shelter Island, New York, and the glorious scenes of spring unfolding outside the authors' window
• Learn how to appreciate food in all of its glory - as a way to connect with others, as a creative outlet, and a source of joy

Written by Jacquelyn Ottman, a dedicated home cook, zero waste advocate and culinary historian with contributor Karen Kiaer, longstanding Shelter Island resident and artist.

Copies of this book are being donated to culinary historians and food studies experts who will one day look back to these Covid-19 times and wonder how people survived. Ottman and Kiaer's experience will prove that with a little TLC in the kitchen, the answer can be "quite well." Copies are already on the shelves of the Shelter Island Historical Society and Harvard's Schlesinger Library.

"I've been meaning to write to tell you that my food shopping and dining habits have dramatically changed since your presentation. It's all about planning to have leftovers. Actually quite fun. Last night's creation involved me standing at the open refrigerator door thinking I had no food. After a few minutes, of food meditation, the result was an amazing roasted chicken soup! I'm enjoying the newly unleashed cooking creativity.
Thanks so much. Here's to good eats!"
Nanette Lawrenson
Executive Director
Shelter Island Historical Society