The Redwall books by Brian Jacques for food scenes. I know they are children's books about animals in a medieval abbey, but the descriptions of the feast scenes had no business being so mouth-watering.
I mean: "Turnip-potato-beetroot pie, cold fizzy strawberry cordial, damson shortcrust and cream, cowslip and parsley liquor, brown ale, cheese and mushroom pasties, and nutbread cake iced with clover honey." (source: https://electricliterature.com/the-7-best-feasts-from-the-redwall-books/)
Through this question, I've also discovered I'm not alone in this, as apparently, there is even a Redwall cookbook... Thanks for this great question, will think on this some more! 😃🥕
I don’t know that it’s one specific meal, but the way Carley Fortune wrote about oysters, vinho verde, and fancy salted butter in This Summer Will Be Different was so inspirational to me I recreated a version of it myself last summer. I want to experience the real thing!!
I immediately thought of Emma Straub’s All Adults Here, Pineapple Street by Jenny Jackson and Amy Poeppel’s The Sweet Spot when I was reading the section on messy family books. (Loved all of those!)
ANY of the meals in Casey McQuiston's 'The Pairing'. I got an ARC of that book in April 2024, and while the way they write romance will forever be my kryptonite, I find myself thinking of the ease and decadence of the meals in the book probably once a month! I mean, it's set on a gourmet European food and wine tour, so not entirely surprising, but still so incredibly well-done.
Fun for the whole family was one of my faves of the year. Very family stone (at times, funny, at times heartbreaking). Lauren graham narrates the audio!
For another messy-ish family story, you’ve gotta read Beck Dorey-Stein’s latest, “Spectacular Things”. It’s set in Maine and right up your alley! Deserves to be the book of the summer, IMO.
Ooh, my first thought was the feast in Voyage of the Dawn Treader or any Hogwarts feast, honestly, plus of course tea at Bilbo Baggins' house with Gandalf and the dwarfs, but I'm sure if I thought more about this I could come up with many others.
I didn’t love One Italian Summer by Rebecca Serle but I did love the descriptions of the food on the Amalfi coast so I would love to join any of those dinners!
Every moment there, haha! But to narrow it down (and not counting the delicious lobster rolls) I took a walking tour that was focused on Portland’s Black History that was fascinating. And one of the Sea Dogs hit a grand slam at the game I went to! Plus four bookstores & LL Bean. And a possible return trip in the fall! What was your weekend highlight?
One of the best book meals is the first adult dinner party scene where they make the Silver Palate Chicken Marbella in The Interestings. A life changing recipe.
This is not a specific scene, but I would choose to have a meal with the Bennet family from Pride and Prejudice. It would be wonderfully chaotic and scones might be involved.
The Redwall books by Brian Jacques for food scenes. I know they are children's books about animals in a medieval abbey, but the descriptions of the feast scenes had no business being so mouth-watering.
I mean: "Turnip-potato-beetroot pie, cold fizzy strawberry cordial, damson shortcrust and cream, cowslip and parsley liquor, brown ale, cheese and mushroom pasties, and nutbread cake iced with clover honey." (source: https://electricliterature.com/the-7-best-feasts-from-the-redwall-books/)
Through this question, I've also discovered I'm not alone in this, as apparently, there is even a Redwall cookbook... Thanks for this great question, will think on this some more! 😃🥕
Redwall!!! What a blast from my past
Right?! I love when that happens 😃
I don’t know that it’s one specific meal, but the way Carley Fortune wrote about oysters, vinho verde, and fancy salted butter in This Summer Will Be Different was so inspirational to me I recreated a version of it myself last summer. I want to experience the real thing!!
Oh okay fine, this is a good answer too.
Your answer is also perfection. Heathers supremacy! 🙌🏻
That book was the most aesthetic vibe
the jimmy johns x walton goggins smut crossover is too much for me to process
I immediately thought of Emma Straub’s All Adults Here, Pineapple Street by Jenny Jackson and Amy Poeppel’s The Sweet Spot when I was reading the section on messy family books. (Loved all of those!)
I am definitely dining at The Blue Bistro for my fictional meal
This was mine too! Not just the food but the whole experience
Another book about siblings is The Latecomer by Jean Hanff Korelitz; it was long but good and well written!
I was coming here to recommend this! I absolutely loved this book—one of my favorites in this genre, undoubtedly!
ANY of the meals in Casey McQuiston's 'The Pairing'. I got an ARC of that book in April 2024, and while the way they write romance will forever be my kryptonite, I find myself thinking of the ease and decadence of the meals in the book probably once a month! I mean, it's set on a gourmet European food and wine tour, so not entirely surprising, but still so incredibly well-done.
Oh I so agree with this! The meal scenes in that book were outstanding!
Fun for the whole family was one of my faves of the year. Very family stone (at times, funny, at times heartbreaking). Lauren graham narrates the audio!
Yes Family Stone is such a perfect comp for it!!!
For another messy-ish family story, you’ve gotta read Beck Dorey-Stein’s latest, “Spectacular Things”. It’s set in Maine and right up your alley! Deserves to be the book of the summer, IMO.
Love everything related to Maine, so just put myself on the waitlist on Libby!
Ooh, my first thought was the feast in Voyage of the Dawn Treader or any Hogwarts feast, honestly, plus of course tea at Bilbo Baggins' house with Gandalf and the dwarfs, but I'm sure if I thought more about this I could come up with many others.
I didn’t love One Italian Summer by Rebecca Serle but I did love the descriptions of the food on the Amalfi coast so I would love to join any of those dinners!
omg I'm also OBSESSED with Adults!!! how is no one talking about this show lol it's so good!!
I made some friends watch it this weekend and they all loved, too! Maybe a slower burn word of mouth type show?
LOVED Adults and really, really enjoyed Overcompensating. If they don't get picked up for Season 2, I will be so sad!
I've just added Park Avenue and Fun for the Whole Family to my library holds list — thanks for sharing. :)
Hold the phone, you were in Maine last weekend?! I was in Maine last weekend!
Hope you enjoyed your trip! What was the highlight?
Every moment there, haha! But to narrow it down (and not counting the delicious lobster rolls) I took a walking tour that was focused on Portland’s Black History that was fascinating. And one of the Sea Dogs hit a grand slam at the game I went to! Plus four bookstores & LL Bean. And a possible return trip in the fall! What was your weekend highlight?
One of the best book meals is the first adult dinner party scene where they make the Silver Palate Chicken Marbella in The Interestings. A life changing recipe.
I keep saying I need to re-read this book, and this is just adding fuel to that fire!
This is not a specific scene, but I would choose to have a meal with the Bennet family from Pride and Prejudice. It would be wonderfully chaotic and scones might be involved.