Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in With the Fire on High, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Coming of Age and Teen Parenthood
Creativity vs. Professional Norms
Food and Connection
Caregiving, Independence, and Identity
Support, Community, and Mentorship
Summary
Analysis
It normally takes a while to get out the door with a toddler, but due to Emoni’s shaking hands, she, ’Buela, and Babygirl don’t leave the house until noon. Emoni and ’Buela’s tight budget means they don’t eat out much, so Emoni is surprised when ’Buela leads her onto the train and to a nice restaurant called Café Sorrel. Emoni takes note of everything and comments on how fancy the restaurant is. ’Buela says she likes this place, which is odd—it’s a newer restaurant, and when would ’Buela have ever come here?
Eating out is something that Emoni and ’Buela have had to cut down on to make ends meet, highlighting again the strain that caring for yet another child puts on their family. That ’Buela is clearly familiar with Café Sorrel is a clue that she’s been spending her time doing things that Emoni doesn’t know about. But for now, it’s inconceivable to Emoni that ’Buela would surprise her like this. Emoni sees ’Buela as a caregiver first, and someone who might also enjoy going to nice restaurants a distant second.
Themes
Before Emoni can ask any questions, the server comes back with menus and descriptions of the seasonal specials. ’Buela tells the server that Emoni will order, since she’s taking a culinary arts class. The server expresses interest, but Emoni is certain he’s just being polite. Emoni orders a few of the cheapest dishes she can find. Once the server is gone, ‘Buela asks how culinary arts is going. Emoni can tell ‘Buela knows she’s been skipping, and ‘Buela says she just hopes that Emoni isn’t “scared about the challenge.” When Emoni refuses to speak more about the class, they discuss Emoni’s other classes until the food arrives.
It seems like ’Buela is trying to build Emoni up by encouraging her to order and then by subtly suggesting that Emoni is letting her insecurities get the better of her about the culinary arts class. While Emoni seems able to appreciate the gesture from an objective standpoint, her independence (and her shame) means that she doesn’t feel totally comfortable confiding in ’Buela about her fears regarding the class.
Themes
The food is exceptional. There’s a flavor in Emoni’s risotto that she can’t place, and when the server comes to take their plates, she asks what it is. He doesn’t know. As Emoni is wiping Babygirl’s face, the chef herself appears beside Emoni, ready to answer Emoni’s question. Emoni tries not to act too starstruck as she asks about the flavor, and the chef says it was orange zest. The server appears with the check for ’Buela, and he mentions that Emoni is taking a culinary arts class. Once it comes out that Emoni is still in high school, the chef says she’s friends with Chef Ayden. He’s a “hard-ass” but will teach Emoni how to marry her instinct with technique and worth ethic. Chuckling, the chef says lunch is on her.
It’s important to keep in mind that meeting the chef is, for Emoni, like meeting a celebrity. Emoni already admires the chef’s food, so getting to meet her and ask her about the flavors just turns the chef into more of a star. Additionally, it comes as a shock that the local restaurant industry is so small that the chef knows Chef Ayden. With this, the chef unwittingly encourages Emoni to return to class—after all, she implies that with Chef Ayden’s instruction, Emoni could be like her one day. Chef Ayden’s teaching methods suddenly don’t seem so bad when Emoni sees firsthand where his instruction could get her.
Themes
