Friday, December 31 2021 11:18

Books for Food Lovers

Written by Angella Meanix, Wellington Square Bookshop

 

“If there’s a sexier sound on this planet than the person you’re in love with cooing over the crepes you made for him, I don’t know what it is.”

 -Julie Powell, Julie and Julia: 365 Days, 524 Recipes, 1 Tiny Apartment Kitchen

Introducing … food. We know you’ve met before, but we’re bringing some new inspiration, healing, travel, identity and reclamation to the table this time.

Food is fuel, energy, pleasure and sometimes pain. It’s central to social gatherings, and sometimes it’s a solo treat stowed away at the back of the fridge … just for you. We eat it every day. All day. Or three times a day. Or maybe you’re doing the intermittent fasting thing … so it’s sometimes a thing for a smaller chunk of the day.

We’d like to renew your relationship with food, so we’ve highlighted books by some of the most enthusiastic food lovers. Some will inspire you and reignite your passion for food. Others will dive deep for you to discover new ways to energize your meals and routines and, in turn, yourself.

And all will be great additions to your culinary library.

Inspiration

Taste by Stanley Tucci

Love, love, love this book. The content is fun and informative. If you always knew “gravy” is not marinara … you’re in good company! Tucci shares pet peeves, secrets and delicious recipes all the while making you laugh as he brings you to his family’s dinner table. You’ll feel like you’re reminiscing with an old friend. Grab a glass of wine, sit back and enjoy.

Everything about this book is relatable and makes you want to cook … even if you usually don’t like to cook.

Healing

Liver Rescue by Anthony William

William leaves the gimmicks and trends behind. This textbook (with recipes in the back) is a whole new world of information your liver wants you to know. William is not a foodist; he won’t tell you not to eat meat or fruit or sugar. He will tell you which troublemaker foods are causing you problems, though, while delivering invaluable information about how the liver works and how to support it. Try this morning routine for a couple of weeks and see how you feel: Drink one glass of lemon water upon waking, eat all the fruits you wish (or oatmeal with blueberries), and wait to eat your radical fats (healthy oils, nuts and meats) until lunchtime. This simple shift will do wonders for your liver.

If you’re looking to heal and understand that food choices contribute to your well-being, you’ll revisit this one often.

Vicarious Travel

The Forest Feast Mediterranean by Erin Gleeson

Itinerary: France, Italy, Barcelona and Spain. What a treat this book is! Every recipe is easy and turns simple plates and desserts into a wholly unique international delight. Sauces, crudités, pintxos, garlicky deviled eggs, stuffed dried figs and more. These are especially wonderful dishes to introduce new flavors to children, boasting small servings and colorful presentations.

If you’re looking to dabble in flavors from abroad, this is an excellent place to start.

Travel & Food Adventure

Gastro Obscura: A Food Adventurer’s Guide by Cecily Wong and Dylan Thuras

Maybe you want a reprieve from cooking and just need to know a little more about some of the great and adventurous tastes of the world. This encyclopedia of foods and places is the book for you. Pick a region or pick a food and bite off a little trivia and how-to that you can enjoy with your morning cup or after dinner tea. As the authors so keenly observe, “Eating may be the most immersive, visceral travel experience. Humans around the world are bound by the necessity and pleasure of eating and there is no faster way to glimpse the heart of a place than by experiencing its food. … Gastro Obscura is a book that scratches the surface of a mind-bending world of eating.”

If you’re interested in secret drinking establishments, the cringeworthy origin of words like “halfpenny” or are searching for noted eel-and-pie houses, you won’t be disappointed.

Tradition & Identity

Korean Vegan by Joanne Lee Molinaro

What happens when your most memorable family meals don’t line up with your values? You make them vegan because you definitely don’t abandon them. Witnessing Molinaro’s take on merging tradition and personal identity is inspiring. You get a little bit of history, cultural insights, tradition and incredible recipes. How’s this for a simple dressing? One quarter cup of gochujang, 1 teaspoon yellow mustard, 1 tablespoon mirin, 1 tablespoon rice vinegar, 1 tablespoon maple syrup, 1 tablespoon soy sauce. And what is gochujang you ask? Molinaro likens it to a “really spicy ketchup.”

In this book, it’s not this or that. It’s both, and the outcome is delicious.

Reclaiming the Midday Meal

Lunch by Olivia Mack McCool

With breakfast getting so much attention as the most important meal, lunch is not jealous, but knows this is nonsense. In this little powerhouse of a book, you’ll find grocery lists, pantry staples and ten weeks of menus. McCool focuses on Sunday and pre-evening prep recognizing that most people aren’t preparing this first thing in the morning … no judgment … it’s human nature.

If you eat lunch, you’ll devour this.

 

Wellington Square Bookshop is an award-winning bookshop in Eagleview Town Center. The patrons are primarily local, but many customers come from around the world at the thoughtfully curated shop with excellent service. There’s a coffee and tea bar with cookies and biscotti, plus lots of cozy spaces for curling up to read. Follow them on Instagram and visit WellingtonSquareBooks.com. 549 Wellington Square, Exton.