Every Meal
an Adventure
A Memoir-Cookbook
by Matthew Kline
What does a fifty-year culinary journey taste like?
For Matthew Kline, it began at age eleven with a revelatory meal at a Chinese restaurant that transformed his understanding of what food could be. As he headed off to college, his mother gave him a wok and a Chinese cookbook—and a spark was lit.
Cooking for his roommates, he discovered something even more satisfying than mastering a dish: the joy on someone’s face when a meal delights them.
That joy became a lifelong pursuit.
“My pleasure
in cooking comes from those who taste, eat, and enjoy my food.”
—Matthew Kline
A memoir told through food
Kline & Dine is a richly told memoir of food, family, and flavor—an exploration of how a passionate home cook built a life around the table.
Chinese cuisine was only the beginning. Over five decades, Matthew explored cuisines from around the world—Mexican, French, Italian, Eastern Mediterranean, BBQ, Moroccan, Spanish, Middle Eastern, and more—shaping each influence into meals that became beloved family favorites.
Along the way he discovered that the deepest pleasure of food isn’t eating—it’s sharing.
Inside the book
Inside Kline & Dine you’ll find more than 100 recipes alongside stories of restaurants, travels, cookbooks, and memorable meals that shaped Matthew’s culinary journey over time.
From weeknight dishes to holiday celebrations, these recipes reflect decades of cooking for family and friends.
Appetizers, mains, sides, and desserts
Omnivore, pescatarian, and vegetarian dishes
Weeknight meals and special-occasion menus
Holiday traditions and family celebrations
Stories of restaurants, cookbooks, and travels
Recipes
Recipes from the book, seasonal favorites, and new recipes. A collection of recipes to cook, share, and return to.
“When Matthew is in the kitchen, eclectic outcomes are almost always guaranteed.”
—Jeffrey Hamelman
Author of Bread: A Baker's Book
of Techniques and Recipes
About Matthew
Matthew Kline has spent more than fifty years exploring the pleasures of cooking and sharing meals.
What began with a childhood discovery of “real” Chinese food grew into a lifelong exploration of cuisines from around the world.
Though he spent time working in professional kitchens and even launching a savory pie company with his sister, Matthew has always been, at heart, a home cook—someone who cooks for family and friends and finds joy in bringing people together around the table.
