Foodie Books

In 2015, four friends and I embarked on what we coined #TheRealFrozen. We spent New Year’s Eve in St. Petersburg, Russia and then we visited Tallinn, Estonia. We then ended the journey in Finland - which included a stay at iconic glass igloos north of the Arctic Circle.

At this point - you are probably wondering what does this trip have to do with Culinary Literature?! We had a few memorable foodie experiences, such as a New Year’s Day brunch which included a “prawn Christmas tree,” gluhwein at a Christmas Market in Tallinn, and some great reindeer stew in Finland. As with many travels, we enjoyed other memories around a table, but indulging our foodie selves was not a top priority for this trip.

During our planning, we were aware that one of the best aspects of the glass igloos is that there are very few things to do while visiting a place north of the Arctic Circle at the beginning of January… besides - Reading Abundantly! So, we planned a Secret Santa book exchange.

Each of us packed a festively wrapped book and opened our Secret Santa gifts under the stars in our igloo - then we spent the rest of the evening and following day reading while bundled up in blankets, under a beautiful sky and surrounded by a snowy wonderland (#DreamComeTrue)!

I was fortunate to receive a book from my fellow traveler, Sue, that would introduce me to what quickly would become a favorite genre - the book: Garlic and Sapphires by food critic Ruth Reichl; the genre: culinary literature from around the world. Initially, I was a bit skeptical of the book, but clearly Sue knew my tastes better than I did (pun intended).

As I opened the book - the world of culinary literature captured me. I discovered so much about food as artwork, creative expression, but most intriguing - a way to connect with people.

There is something about food that brings people together and helps us connect. In addition, so much about food relates to cultural history and inspires us to wonder about the people who created various dishes, and cooking techniques. Reading about food has taught me about people of various backgrounds who use ingredients to discover new ways to create friendships and memories around a table. So as I embark on our Read Far & Wide journey, I thought it only makes sense to share some of my favorite culinary books with the hope that they will inspire you to discover new places to travel and new foods to explore!

Hope you enjoy and please - send any recommendations my way.

Forever at the top of my culinary literature list. A foundational read and great to be enjoyed with a side of Parts Unknown

For further reading, check out the recently published: World Traveler: An Irreverent Guide by Anthony Bourdain, Laurie Woolever, Wesley Allsbrook

The book that started my love of foodie reading

For Further Reading: The Food Section of the New York Times

This book is a dream. Love Story, Living in France and Culinary Perfection - what more do you want?

For Further Reading: Mastering the Art of French Cooking, Volume 1, by Julia Child

Book is better than the movie - which is saying a lot as the movie stars the powerhouse duo of Meryl Streep and Amy Adams

For Further Reading, Mastering the Art of French Cooking, Volume 2 by Julia Child

This book takes beloved stories and delves into the foods that play supporting characters in them. Note: Buy the hard copy of this book. I felt as though I was missing out because I e-read the book

For further reading: Check out Cara Nicoletti’s Insta account

Ever wonder what Eleanor Roosevelt, Eva Braun, Barbara Pym, Rosa Lewis Helen Gurley Brown and Dorothy Wordsworth ate? Or even more about these fascinating women? This is a great book club book too!

For further reading on Eleanor Roosevelt, check out Eleanor by David Michaelis

Coffee, Donuts, and women from Boston who assisted troops during World War II - what more could you want?

For Further Reading: Anything by Jane Healey

A thought provoking telling of the people who grow the food that feeds our country. The author seeks to bring together differing perspectives and discover what bonds our country together.

I don’t really have any further reading here!

I simply adore how Elin Hilderbrand writes about Nantucket and how food is such an integral part of the island.

For Further Reading: 28 Summers, by Elin Hildebrand

My book club read this and we really, really wanted to like it, but found the writing to be a bit cumbersome. For other people interested in the topic - this could be a favorite

For Further Reading: Subscribe to The Magnolia Journal

This is by no means an exhaustive list! Please shoot me a message with any suggestions you have and here are a few additional books that I hope to read in the near future!

Talking with My Mouth Full: My Life as a Professional Eater, by Gail Simmons

“A Woman’s Place Is in the Kitchen”: The Evolution of Women Chefs by Ann Cooper

The Omnivore’s Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals by Michael Pollan