Quarantine chez Maynard: Conquering Isolation with a Pen and a Pan

In the midst of the global upheaval caused by COVID-19, Will found himself grappling with personal challenges - battling depression, unemployment, and a lack of interpersonal connections. Lockdowns forced his shogi club to stop meeting and made restaurants completely inaccessible; the simple joys of dining out, live theatre, and even seeing family members instantly became distant memories. Will embraced two strategies to cope: By day, he honed his skills as a home cook, transforming each meal into a cherished date night experience for him and his wife. By night, he poured his thoughts and emotions into a journal, creating a cathartic chronicle and lasting memento of the unprecedented quarantine procedures. The first half of the book is a memoir, from the heart-wrenching loss of a beloved pet to the awe-inspiring logistics of vaccines at Levi’s Stadium to starting a new job remotely, and every nuanced moment in between, spanning from February 2020 to May 2021, capturing the harshest periods of the San Francisco Bay Area's quarantine measures in California. The second half is a collection of over 100 recipes that carried Will and his wife through the pandemic, representing cuisine (and their travel memories) from all over the world - without the ability to go to restaurants or travel outside the country, the only way to relive their international meals was to make them at home! A collection of personal narratives and celebrations of small victories as they unfolded, this book encapsulates Will's philosophy that dinner should be a highlight of every day. He invites you to join him in discovering the transformative power of a well-cooked meal during challenging times!