What do you eat when no one is watching?

From young college students to spry seniors, from empty-nest mothers to men and women with traveling spouses, from bachelors to the many people between relationships, millions of us dine alone every night. But what do we eat? Is it takeout, a frozen dinner, or our favorite gourmet meal?

In What We Eat When We Eat Alone, Deborah Madison and Patrick McFarlin set out to learn what people chew on when there isn't anyone else around. The responses are surprising and far-ranging — food-gone-wild in its most elemental form. Some solo diners relish the elaborate, while others prefer the bizarre, some eat their favorite foods, some eat what's convenient, and others choose their menus according to their moods.

The book is illustrated with the art of Patrick McFarlin, capturing the flavor of the stories. It also includes great recipes at the end of each chapter for those who dine alone, including tips on making smaller portion meals, and also on using leftovers in different recipes for those who don't want to eat the same dish night after night. Our relationship with food is one of the defining and intimate relationships of our lives; it says a lot about who we are and how we live.

Part cookbook, part memoir, part pure fun, What We Eat When We Eat Alone explores the joys and sorrows of eating solo and gives us a glimpse into the lives of everyday people who do.

"Veteran cookbook author and food writer Madison (The Greens Cookbook, Local Flavors, Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone) looks at what we eat when no one's looking in this charming if overlong study (with recipes). Madison's informal survey of friends, colleagues and complete strangers about what they eat at home doesn't yield many earthshaking findings-men more enjoy familiar staples while women enjoy thinking out their meals, comfort foods predominate, and priority goes to ease of preparation. Many of the exceptions are included among the hundred recipes scattered throughout, including a flank steak stuffed with cremini mushrooms, spinach, bacon and cheese; a shrimp, feta and bulgur wheat salad; and a polenta with blue cheese sauce. Plenty of fare best eaten over the sink is also included, such as sardines on toast or an open-faced cheese and tapenade sandwich. Madison's non-judgmental tone is refreshing and friendly, and recipes are varied enough that any home cook will find something worth adding to the repertoire. Though it can get repetitive — Madison never really reaches any conclusions — readers interested in the dining practices of others will find this a light but satisfying indulgence (not unlike sardines on toast)." Publishers Weekly (Copyright Reed Business Information, Inc.)

"I am hooked on this book. You'll smile knowingly, muse a lot, maybe blush, get hungry and probably end up in the kitchen, enjoying every bite of eating alone. This is another keeper from Deborah Madison." Lynne Rosetto Kasper, Hhost of public radio's national food show "The Splendid Table" from American Public Media

"While almost all cookbooks focus on the social side of eating with others, leave it to Deborah Madison and her artist husband Pat McFarlin to probe the fascinating inner world of eating alone." The Los Angeles Times

"A truly intimate, startling, funny, and genuinely subversive book." Peter Coyote, actor and author of Sleeping Where I Fall

In a conversational tone, What We Eat When We Eat Alone explores the joys and sorrows of eating solo and gives a glimpse into the lives of everyday people and their relationships with food. Recipes are featured at the end of each chapter.

WHAT WE EAT WHEN WE EAT ALONE

Stories and Recipes

RENOWNED VEGETARIAN COOKBOOK AUTHOR Deborah Madison set out to learn what people chew on when there isn't anyone else around. The responses are surprising-and we aren't just talking take-out or leftovers. This is food-gone-wild in its most elemental form.

In a conversational tone, What We Eat When We Eat Alone explores the joys and sorrows of eating solo and gives a glimpse into the lives of everyday people and their relationships with food.

The book is illustrated with the delightful art of Patrick McFarlin, and each chapter ends with recipes for those who dine alone.

Deborah Madison won a James Beard award for her cookbook Local Flavors.

Her books have sold more than 350,000 copies.

Food memoirs now have a major shelf in most big bookstores due to the popularity of books like In Defense of Food and Animal, Vegetable, Miracle, according to NPR.

The New York Times said she is a wizard with fresh produce.

Online marketing and promotions.

Print and web advertising campaign.

National broadcast and print publicity.

Co-op available.

Deborah Madison is the author of nine cookbooks and countless articles on food, cooking, and farming. Currently she blogs for Gourmet and Culinate. Her books have been honored with two Julia Child Cookbook of the Year awards and four James Beard awards, among others. Deborah is a longtime active leader in slow food and she sits on the board of the Seed Savers Exchange. She lives in Galisteo, New Mexico, with her husband, Patrick McFarlin.

Patrick McFarlin is a journeyman painter and graphic designer. His fine art has been shown in New York, San Francisco, Houston, Scottsdale, and Santa Fe, among other cities. He is the creator of Pat's Downtown Club, featured on CBS Sunday Morning. He has received numerous awards and fellowships for his painting. He works out of his studio in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Deborah Madison is the founding chef of Greens restaurant, and the author of ten cookbooks and countless articles on food and farming. Her books have been honored with two Julia Child Cookbook of the Year awards and four James Beard awards, among others. Long involved with Slow Food, Deborah also serves on the board of the Seed Savers Exchange and the Edible Kitchen Garden at Monte del Sol charter school. She lives in Galisteo, New Mexico, with her husband, Patrick McFarlin.

Patrick McFarlin is a journeyman painter and graphic designer. His fine art has been shown in New York, San Francisco, Houston, Scottsdale, and Santa Fe, among other cities. He is the creator of Pat's Downtown Club, featured on CBS Sunday Morning. He has received numerous awards and fellowships for his painting. He works out of his studio in Santa Fe, New Mexico.