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Sunday, November 14, 2010
I'll Have Another Bite of That
Books that stay long with me long after I’ve read The End are books with food in them. I’m a foodie. It probably started with the Laura Ingalls Wilder series—there was the description of the sugar offs and making popcorn, big fluffy buckwheat pancakes and Christmas dinners. I always wanted to come join the family and eat with them. The same is definitely true for the Harry Potter series. Food plays a huge part in the series. The Hogwarts’ Feasts and the huge Christmas dinners and the suppers at Molly’s table—I always want to make Harry Potter foods for a party before a movie release.
This year I’ll be able to: I have the Unofficial Harry Potter Cook Book. Mostly it’s American adaptations of British cooking and explanations about some British foods. I think I might make some Bangers and Mash, some Brussels sprouts or buttered peas, and treacle tart. And of course, butterbeer (though that recipe is not in the book.) Five days until the movie, pirates. I’m so ready!
But it’s not just children’s books that have done an excellent job of making the food eaten between the pages sound like the most delicious thing ever. Here are some other memorable reads I have found over the last few years.
1.) The Dirty Life by Kristin Kimball. This is a memoir rather than fiction; and it is the most delicious, readable memoir I’ve ever read. Kristin is a writer from New York City who meets an organic farmer she is supposed to be doing an interview with. She ends up hoeing his broccoli—and eventually falling in love with him and moving out to their own farm to start their own organic farm business. The food and meals she describes always sound wonderful; and her anecdotes for their first year is by turns hilarious and heartbreaking.
2.) The Secret of Everything and The Lost Recipe of Happiness by Barbara O’Neal. I love reading this woman’s stuff. Her descriptions of anything feels like you’re right there, but the descriptions about the food make you want to run to your own kitchen and break out your pots and pans to make your own version of her recipes. Delicious.
3.) The Next Best Thing by Kristan Higgins. Contemporary and funny, but sincerely makes me want to open my own pastry shop. Or at least go to her pastry shop and eat flakey buttery horns all day and drink hot chocolate.
4.) Bet Me by Jennifer Crusie. Three words: Chocolate Krispy Kremes. And then there was the whole love affair with Chicken Marsala. In fact, after reading this book, I did break out my skillet and make some chicken marsala just in the way the book described and it came out great. That was a wonderful eating night!
5.) The Undomestic Goddess by Sophie Kinsella. This one didn’t so much inspire me to run out and make delicious food. At first. Because the heroine didn’t know how to so much as boil water at first. But later, when she does learn to cook, some of the descriptions of the dishes are familiar comforting ones already in my repertoire. The food does play a significant role in the heroine’s growth in the book.
I like using food in my novels. My heroines know how to cook; and I think there are, unintentionally, breakfast scenes in all my books where one or more characters are cooking. (You can’t underestimate the importance of a good breakfast.)
Is food an important aspect in your writing? Do you use it mostly for holidays or big events? Or do you skip eating and food altogether? What book or movie featured food in such a way you either wanted to eat with them or recreate it in your own kitchen?
This year I’ll be able to: I have the Unofficial Harry Potter Cook Book. Mostly it’s American adaptations of British cooking and explanations about some British foods. I think I might make some Bangers and Mash, some Brussels sprouts or buttered peas, and treacle tart. And of course, butterbeer (though that recipe is not in the book.) Five days until the movie, pirates. I’m so ready!
But it’s not just children’s books that have done an excellent job of making the food eaten between the pages sound like the most delicious thing ever. Here are some other memorable reads I have found over the last few years.
1.) The Dirty Life by Kristin Kimball. This is a memoir rather than fiction; and it is the most delicious, readable memoir I’ve ever read. Kristin is a writer from New York City who meets an organic farmer she is supposed to be doing an interview with. She ends up hoeing his broccoli—and eventually falling in love with him and moving out to their own farm to start their own organic farm business. The food and meals she describes always sound wonderful; and her anecdotes for their first year is by turns hilarious and heartbreaking.
2.) The Secret of Everything and The Lost Recipe of Happiness by Barbara O’Neal. I love reading this woman’s stuff. Her descriptions of anything feels like you’re right there, but the descriptions about the food make you want to run to your own kitchen and break out your pots and pans to make your own version of her recipes. Delicious.
3.) The Next Best Thing by Kristan Higgins. Contemporary and funny, but sincerely makes me want to open my own pastry shop. Or at least go to her pastry shop and eat flakey buttery horns all day and drink hot chocolate.
4.) Bet Me by Jennifer Crusie. Three words: Chocolate Krispy Kremes. And then there was the whole love affair with Chicken Marsala. In fact, after reading this book, I did break out my skillet and make some chicken marsala just in the way the book described and it came out great. That was a wonderful eating night!
5.) The Undomestic Goddess by Sophie Kinsella. This one didn’t so much inspire me to run out and make delicious food. At first. Because the heroine didn’t know how to so much as boil water at first. But later, when she does learn to cook, some of the descriptions of the dishes are familiar comforting ones already in my repertoire. The food does play a significant role in the heroine’s growth in the book.
I like using food in my novels. My heroines know how to cook; and I think there are, unintentionally, breakfast scenes in all my books where one or more characters are cooking. (You can’t underestimate the importance of a good breakfast.)
Is food an important aspect in your writing? Do you use it mostly for holidays or big events? Or do you skip eating and food altogether? What book or movie featured food in such a way you either wanted to eat with them or recreate it in your own kitchen?
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41 comments:
Well, my books don't feature much about food. Though, actually, all my heroines seem to have a thing for good chocolate...anything. Pastry, cookie, cake...
I know the movie "Julie/Julia" had me thinking about food and cooking. And the Diana Mott Davidson books, let me see...there's another series I liked that was about a baker and I dug that, too! Lots of mystery series feature cooks...loverly!
Kinsella's 'Undomestic Goddess' was brilliant and so funny in places!
I'm a very 'basic' cook with ambitions to make fabulous sauces so felt a profound sympathy for the heroine!
I think the film that made the biggest impression on me, food-wise, was a classic who's title I forget (seen it so long ago!). Two lovers sat facing each other with a bowl of strawberries between them and while gazing into each other's eyes, they feed each other strawberries dipped in cream. The passion and expectation visible in their eyes spoke volumes for events about to unfold.
I think the director may have been Eric Rhomer .... neurons beginning to fire at last! :lol:
I loved the Harry Potter books particularly the audio version read by Stephen Fry, so may make an effort to get to the cinema when it comes my way. If I can borrow a broom stick that is .... sorry firebolt I mean. *grin*
I totally agree about Barbara O'Neal's books, Hellie. She has a new one, How to Bake a Perfect Life, due for release next month. Sarah Addison Allen's brand of magical realism with a Southern accent--Garden Spells, The Sugar Queen, and The Girl Who Chased the Moon-- always leaves me feeling as if I can smell the food. Food is important in Sherry Thomas's Delicious, lots of Susan Wiggs's books, Louisa Edwards's chef books, and Susan Mallery's Marcelli books. I'm sure I'll think of others.
I do write about food in my books. They are about home, and food is part of the images of home for me. It seems natural to include it in my fictional world.
I have to say, I don't write food into books. Alcohol, yes. But not really food. Not sure why. I should.
I love the descriptions of food in the HP books too. So cool. Such imagination.
I should probably do more research about Regency food. I'm not really impressed by British food in general so I haven't really had a lot of interest. Maybe it's not as bad as I think it's going to be.
I have to admit I like the way Lisa Kleypas includes food in her books. I do wonder if those foods would really have been around at the time of books like Devil in Winter. I particularly liked the dinner scene in Beatrix's book (the title escapes at the moment) where she makes Phelan come in and eat with the family and Rye is sitting next to him and they are tossing sallies back and forth. For whatever reason that scene really worked for me. Oh yeah and the calf's head scene in It Happened One Autumn. I love food in books.
There's not been any food consumed (that I've written about) in my NaNo novel. Caffeine drinking- yes. I'm a coffee junkie.
I can't say that I've really ever paid attention to the food in novels. I did read Bet Me after a patient nearly nailed it into my hand. I can get behind a heroine who has a love for Krispy Kremes. Though, Stephanie Plum's love for donuts is pretty awesome too. And Lula's love for anything deep fried and comes from a fast food joint.
I will say that Stephanie Plum uses my hangover cure. Coke and Mickey D's french fries. Works every time.
2nd: Julie/Julia was great, though admittedly I preferred Julia's portion of the movie than Julie. (I love Amy Adams--she can sell most any part--but the person she had to play wasn't overly likable to me.) But Meryl Streep as Julia Child? I *LOVED* it! *LOL* I'm not sure it made me want to run out and cook French food though. All those aspics! Ugh. *LOL*
I'm always tempted to read mystery novels because they include recipes. *LOL* I wish there were romance novels that included recipes actually.
Q, if you can make a chocolate sauce, you can woo any girl to your side, I guarantee it. Well, unless you get some anomaly girl who doesn't like chocolate. I've met a couple and I just think they're odd. But 99% of the population would be all about you.
Strawberries and cream--that would also put some stars in my eyes. That sounds like quite a scene. I'll have to see if I can figure out what the movie was from your clues. :)
Janga, I *knew* you'd come through for me and provide me with some new books with food imagery that I could devour. I think a lot of the reason I include food scenes so much is similar to yours: they are so much of my images of home. Dad cooking breakfast, mom fixing pancakes or fried chicken. Food is home.
Oh, P.S. Marn, yes, British food is a little scary. All those steamed puddings. They don't sound very appetizing. They sound like they should be...like a big fat boiled dumpling. Which I do like dumplings, but still, it just doesn't SOUND appetizing.
Marn, no worries. I write a lot of alcohol in my books too. Which is odd because I don't drink near as much as I eat. *grins* Though I did have some wine on Friday and it was WONDERFUL.
Amanda, yes! Lisa Kleypas is another good author for featuring food or homey around-the-table scenes in her books. And I loved that scene in Beatrix's book. Love in the Afternoon, I believe is the name of the book. Possibly my favorite of the series, but I can't quite decide. *LOL*
Sin, it would only make sense your people would never eat. YOU never eat. Or if you do, it's a couple sunflower seeds and you power off to fly another 1000 miles. And yes, of course, coffee would be your primary addiction in your novels. *LOL*
Just like Reese's Peanut Butter Cups are featured in mine. Or jerk chicken. Or Chinese food. Or Pepsi.
I love the warm, cozy feeling I get from the creation of meals and other foods in the books I read.
Erica Bauermeister's THE SCHOOL OF ESSENTIAL INGREDIENTS is one of the most beautifully written books I've read. I couldn't decide what I wanted to do first; head to the kitchen to lovingly create all the wonderful dishes in the story or return to the book for another helping of her delicious writing.
I knew you were going to say that. Manda and I were discussing calories and whatnots the other day at lunch. It disgusts her that I have to try to make it to 1200 calories a day. Honest, I don't try to starve myself. I just forget if I'm busy. And if I'm not busy, well I do nothing but make up for all the times I forget.
Food just doesn't taste good.
PJ, I haven't read that book. I will have to locate a copy! I love books that make me want to cook--obviously. :)
Sin, that is the difference between you and me. I couldn't forget to eat. I'm never THAT busy.
Food doesn't taste good? There is something wrong with you. Food tastes sublime! *LOL*
Hellie, I hope you enjoy it. I'd love to know your thoughts after reading the book. I read it early last December and immediately bought three copies for people on my Christmas list. Here are a couple excerpts from the book (that are part of Gannon's 5-Star review):
"The chocolate made a rough sound as it brushed across the fine section of the grater, falling in soft clouds onto the counter, releasing the scent of dusty back rooms filled with bittersweet chocolate and old love letters, the bottom drawers of antique desks and the last leaves of autumn, almonds and cinnamon and sugar."
and...
"Now we'll try some prosciutto with it." She took a piece of melon in her fingers, wrapped it with a translucent slice of pink meat, and motioned for him to open his mouth. The meat was a whisper of salt against the dense, sweet fruit. It felt like summer in a hot land, the smooth skin in the curve between Charlie's strong thumb and index finger. The wine afterward was crisp, like coming to the surface of water to breathe."
Great topic, Hellion. Although I have to admit I can't think of any books that have affected me this way. LOL I'll ponder it some more.
My heroines tend to be missing the "cooking gene". Mmm, wonder why. Although they ARE all devoted coffee drinkers. Mmm, wonder why.
Speaking of which. . .still recovering from hanging around other writers this weekend and staying up too late. I need more coffee. :)
Food just doesn’t taste good.
I had to read this twice because I couldn't understand it. I still can't comprehend this.
Now I'm thinking you're an alien from Planet Crazy.
PJ just officially made her book go to the top of my TBR pile. That paragraph about grating chocolate. *swoons*
Donna, see I wondered about that. We tend to write what we know or write what we're passionate about (even if we don't know it)--and if you don't LIKE cooking, you're probably not going to include it much in your writing. If you don't like eating with your family, you're probably going to keep it out of most of your writing. *LOL*
I myself love cooking. I love the alchemy of it. I love the scents and the warmth and the immediate gratification once it's finished to put it on a plate and eat it. It's like you went to all this effort to spoil yourself with great food. (I don't feel this way about mac & cheese per se, but when I take time to make a delicious stew or chicken and rice--I feel like I'm looking out for myself. Sorta like when I draw myself a hot bath and soak in the tub with a good book. It's all about me. *LOL*)
Hellie, don't get me wrong -- I LOVE great food, and I definitely APPRECIATE great food. But that's not what *I* make when I'm in the kitchen. :) So I'd rather leave cooking to the professionals. LOL
Which may explain why I have a chef in the manuscript I'm editing right now. :)
Now I’m thinking you’re an alien from Planet Crazy.
I know it sounds weird but I have crazy food allergies to preservatives. If I don't take a healthy dose of anti-histamines before eating things I'm not sure how they are prepared I swell up like a balloon. It takes some of the joy out of eating.
Well, that makes perfect sense. If eating is torture for you, then no wonder you feel that way!
I swell up like a balloon from food too. But it's because the calories LOVE me and don't want to leave me. :)
Okay, yes, I forgot about your crazy food allergies. And being I know you LOVE mashed potatoes and also noodles--I knew you couldn't HATE food. We just need to feed you organic food. No problem. That's totally in now!
I know. I love when I start food crazes. LOL
I'm glad it's in right now. It makes it easier for me to find things to eat. But just because it says it's organic doesn't mean it is. I still have to read all the damned labels at the store.
I love taters and noodles. Yum. I want some chicken dumplings and mashed potatoes and rolls. Can't wait for Thanksgiving.
You're going to have to start cooking everything from scratch. Anything in a can or a box usually has MSG hiding in it. Because it makes everything taste better--in theory, if you're not one of those people who swell up and die eating it.
My first attempt at a book had a chef hero. The book never made it. (cue sad bugle) That could have something to do with me knowing NOTHING about real cooking. I've gotten better, but that's not saying much.
I love how Crusie uses food in her books. Even in the latest there was the Banana Bread recipe. She manages to make the food and preparing it some kind of awesome symbolism full of meaning for the characters. Really wish I knew how to do that.
Sin - That hangover cure just cured me of ever drinking again. And I only wish food didn't taste good. *sigh*
In my current MS, I do have my heroine taking out her frustrations on some potatoes. She mashes them pretty good.
I need some mashed potatoes now! They're my favorite food. I think I might be able to make some today.
I need to get crackin' on my NaNo. I didn't get to work on it this weekend because I was at a conference, where I got to meet my agent for the first time, and hang out with her and some other clients. Before that I was actually AHEAD with NaNo. *cries*
You'll get your Nano back, Donna. No worries. Go open your document and go to town. You're inspired and happy from your conference; the words will play today, I'm sure.
Bo'sun, I love books with lots of cooking, but I'm more on the sexist side (WHAT A SURPRISE, RIGHT?) and prefer when the woman wins the man over with cooking. Mainly because I want the hero to win her over by tilling her garden or something. (Totally having a flashback of The Second Coming of Lucy Hatch--now that was a great book!)
Not that I haven't enjoyed men who cook and them being in the kitchen, whipping up something grand--it totally works if the heroine is a total doss in the kitchen anyway and the hero is always trying to feed her. That's sexy. :)
Not that I haven’t enjoyed men who cook and them being in the kitchen, whipping up something grand–it totally works if the heroine is a total doss in the kitchen anyway and the hero is always trying to feed her. That’s sexy.
I've enjoyed this in real life. Definitely sexy. :)
I do tend to create heroes that enjoy watching a woman enjoy food. Which I notice a lot of 'good guys' in books tend to do. Something the authors are all trying to create as a reality? :-)
The scenes in the "Julie/Julia" movie that had me thinking about cooking? When Julie made that chocolate cake and her husband didn't wait for a fork to dig in. It looked incredible! And the whole beef bourguignon scenes...
In that movie last year with Meryl Streep, Steve Martin and the Baldwin guy...she shows Steve how to make chocolate croisants and I never melted in the seat...
I think about cooking...I dream about baking.
It's Complicated! I loved that scene in the movie!!
Actually another funny cooking scene is in Bridget Jones' Diary. She's making dinner for her birthday and her friends are coming over. Colin Firth's character comes by and he rescues her in the kitchen--because by then, she's made some sort of blue soup because she tied her garnish with blue string and the dye came out. The dessert came out like marmalade; and the only thing remotely edible was Colin Firth's OMELETS, because when they raided her fridge, that was all she had that could be turned into a meal. Good times.
I remember that scene...and so few foods colored blue are considered appetizing!
Man, I love a good omelet...
And I dreamed about butter beer last night, thanks to reading this blog right before I crawled into bed. No revelations to report, sorry!
I know the movie Q is talking about and it's going to bother me. Saw some critic talking about that movie being one of the best ever and that scene was why. All the tension with nothing overt at all. It's an old one, like from the 60s or maybe early 70s. Dang, it's only been a week or two. Stupid memory.
Am I the only one who read this and thought of 9 1/2 Weeks?
Helli: Q, if you can make a chocolate sauce, you can woo any girl to your side, I guarantee it. Well, unless you get some anomaly girl who doesn’t like chocolate. I’ve met a couple and I just think they’re odd. But 99% of the population would be all about you.
LOL what is it about chocolate that grabs Americans! I was thinking more of savory sauces. Like the orange sauce that goes with duck. But if you say that everyone will love me for my chocolate sauce I will definitely try it!
Helli: Oh, P.S. Marn, yes, British food is a little scary. All those steamed puddings. They don’t sound very appetizing. They sound like they should be…like a big fat boiled dumpling. Which I do like dumplings, but still, it just doesn’t SOUND appetizing.
*grin* I treated Mrs Q to a meal in a 'posh' English hotel recently and listed on the menu was 'fish and chips, served in genuine newspaper'. I asked if the newspaper was the Financial Times cus I couldn't eat of the telegraph or mirror. The waiter just laughed. We went with the duck a l'orange!
I think 'Traditional English' like roast beef with Yorkshire pud is still very popular here, as is the famous English breakfast. For a meal out though, it is common to choose one of the vast range of ethnic restaurants. Indian, Thai, Chinese, Italian or even French .... if forced! *grin*
Bosun: I know the movie Q is talking about and it’s going to bother me. Saw some critic talking about that movie being one of the best ever and that scene was why
It's bothering me too! I saw it as a post-grad student at a small cinema in Hampsted London, and can't for the life of me recall the title. The scene has stuck in my memory for all those years!
Before that I was actually AHEAD with NaNo. *cries*
*cheerleading* Go, DRD, go!
Dear DRD,
I hope your fingers fly over the keys... and not because the Undead Monkey decided to gnaw them off for snacks.
Sincerely,
Evil Twin NaNoer
Dear Evil Twin NaNoer,
My fingers definitely did some flying today. Nothing like the fear of becoming "finger food" for the Undead Monkey to keep a girl motivated.
I've completed today's word count. Now I'm working on Saturday's and Sunday's portion.
Sincerely,
DRD
P.S. *bows and waves arms* You are kicking the wordcount's ass. I'm not worthy, I'm not worthy.
I have a new NaNo goal. Hit THE END before the end of the month. I'm about halfway through my rough draft. It's going to be tight going. I've done 80k in a month before. That's my goal.
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