RHYS BOWEN: One interviewer said to me recently," You must enjoy cooking because there is so much emphasis on food in your books."
Well, actually I'm not thrilled about cooking. I do enjoy eating and even more than that, I enjoy reading about food. One of my favorites growing up was THE WIND IN THE WLLOWS and that picnic Rat and Mole have on the river. I've always wanted to duplicate that.
So yes, I suppose I do write about food quite a bit.This was especially true in THE TUSCAN CHILD when the heroine stays with an Italian woman and learns to cook Tuscan style. (Lots of research needed in Tuscany for that one). And my next Royal Spyness book, that comes out in November is all about a banquet cooked by a French chef.
So you'd think with a title like THE PARIS ASSIGNMENT there would be some delicious eats included.
Alas no. In Wartime France, as well as in England, people were living on subsistence rations. My heroine is sent into the forest to look for chestnuts. When she returns to Paris she notices the absence of pigeons--all eaten. Things like an onion were prized above all. And a British operative was unmasked because he went into a cafe and asked for a cafe au lait.(and milk was no longer available in cafes)
However, this did not stop me doing my research into food when I was in France. I love taking pictures of the windows in French patisseries. Truly works of art.
And I even take pictures of us enjoying the food. (this box of fantastic pastries was ten Euros for ten works of art)
So do you like reading about food? What's your favorite book with lots of yummy meals in it?
My favorite book with yummy food in it? Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs . . . .
ReplyDeleteWow! I only knew about the cartoon movie with that title though. Diana
DeleteThe book was always a favorite of my first graders . . . it's clever and cute and fun.
DeleteYes, it’s a very fun book for the younger kids!! As they say, the book was better!
DeleteThe first books I read that featured food was by Diane Mott Davidson, her Goldie Schulz series and I was hooked.
ReplyDeleteI loved those books! Also hooked.
DeleteI did too. Danielle
DeleteI loved Diane Mott Davidson's Goldie series
DeleteHer books are what inspired me to begin writing foodie mysteries!
DeleteLucy, I am so glad that the Goldy mysteries inspired you to write foodie mysteries. Diana
DeleteOh, those were my gateway, too. And I still make some of the recipes.
DeleteI first remember as a young reader being impressed by the descriptions of meals in the novels of Mary Stewart. The food-appreciation gene was left out of me. I have always had a sadly utilitarian approach to eating, often involving the amount of fuss, pots to wash, etc. However a writer-appreciation gene is one of my dominant traits and good prose about food can be beautifully sensuous. (Mary Stewart made smoking a cigarette after dessert sound like a treat!)
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you appreciate reading about food, even if missing the eating gene!
DeleteHave been meaning to read Mary Stewart. It takes a lot of planning to cook and clean, almost like a military operation.
DeleteDiana
I haven't really thought about reading for the food descriptions. But now, once I finish commenting, I'll probably immediately think of food scenes. You are right right about those French pastries, though. They are works of art. How would one describe eating one, though?
ReplyDeleteI will take that as a challenge Elizabeth!
DeleteI’m not sure. I’d have to try several before the description came to me ( Rhys)
DeleteNaturally I have food descriptions on my mind now. I like the idea of needing to eat several before deciding. :-)
DeleteI love reading about food. I got hooked on reading about food in mysteries with Katherine Hall Page's Faith Fairchild series with a caterer who solves crimes.
ReplyDeleteYour food tasting in Brittany looks yummy! I used to walk by Japanese bakeries modeled on French ones, and nobody does a gorgeous food presentation like the Japanese. But the actual French pastries inside tasted insipid.
I also love writing about food. My new series doesn't include recipes, and I still have lots of focus on meals. I can't help myself!
I love the food described in your books Edith, especially the menus at Pans’n Pancakes in the Country Store Mysteries.
DeleteDanielle
Merci, Danielle!
DeleteAny Chief Bruno book by Martin Walker. They are a gastronome’s delight and a good mystery besides.
ReplyDeletethe Chief Bruno books are books that I have been meaning to read. Diana
DeleteWe went to the Perigord because of what Martin told us and visited the places in his books. Dark at market with truffles, pates, fabulous fruits! ( Rhys)
DeleteI love the food descriptions in Martin's books!
DeleteI do enjoy reading about food. Those mussels and Breton galettes look yummy!
ReplyDeleteAs for mysteries, I also got hooked with the mysteries written by Diane Mott Davidson and Katherine Hall Page. I bought the Goldy's Kitchen cookbook a few years ago and use her recipes a lot!
I bought her cookbook too.
DeleteI like the books by David Lebovitz about his moving to Paris, his kitchen & apartment remodel and his trips to the local open street markets and recipes. As far as cozy mysteries I think I was first introduced by Diane Mott Davidson too. I have made a few of the recipes in Lucy Burdette's Key West mysteries and they turned out well.
ReplyDeleteI forgot about Martin Walker's books - and will have to revisit them.
I'm glad to hear they turned out well! I too adore David Lebovitz's writing. We met him a few years ago in Paris--he's a hoot!
DeleteThat's so cool - how did you get to meet up with him?
DeleteThe first that came to mind was Louise Penny’s Three Pines series. I’m sure to salivate on food at some point reading one of her books.
ReplyDeleteDanielle
You are absolutely right about that, Danielle! Thanks for reminding me.
DeleteThere was a Three Pines Cookbook available a few years ago as a pdf. I don't know whether it is still available but I have it saved. I have tried several of the recipes.
DeleteI am pretty sure that I always liked reading about special meals and fancy desserts in books, but never thought much about it until I found JRW. Since then, I have begun to read cozies, like Edith's Country Store and and Jenn's Cupcake series and it has made me look at food descriptions differently. Lady Georgie has participated in some very interesting meals, like when she was starving and Darcy took her on a date where they crashed a wedding. Hah! The meal descriptions in that series are some of my favorites.
ReplyDeleteThen, of course, you can't ignore all of the real LA restaurants mentioned in Michael Connelly's Harry Bosch and his Lincoln Lawyer series. The problem is, those guys frequently don't eat the food because thinking about their tough cases makes them loose their appetites. So, that leaves dining out with Hayley Snow in Key West, which I would do in a heartbeat, or helping her mom make something amazing for dinner, catered or otherwise. Yum.
You're a serious foodie Judy--I love your comment about how the guys in Michael Connelly's books seldom get to eat what they order LOL
DeleteThank you, Judy - and I agree about the Lucy's Key West food!
DeleteThat wedding crash was based on my friend who did that when she was young and starving!(Rhys)
DeleteI do love reading about foods, especially wishing someone would make them all for me.
ReplyDeleteThat would be lovely Dru Ann--though I do enjoy cooking if not pressed for time!
DeleteMe too, Dru Ann. I want a personal chef!(Rhys)
DeleteI always enjoy when a book includes descriptions of where the characters are eating, what they are eating, what they are cooking. Early Spenser books by Robert B Parker did this well, but more recent books would be some of my favorite series that don't revolve around food--Deborah's Duncan and Gemma, for example, Louise Penny, Julia's books--everything from the local mom & pop diner to a fancy-schmancy bistro--love it all. Georgie's food scenes are always a delight!
ReplyDeleteOne series I enjoyed a lot is Jenn McKinlay's library series it not only includes recipes but crafting ideas too! Love it!
ReplyDeleteI never really paid attention to food in novels - until I started reading cozies with recipes in them. Now that's one of my favorite parts of a cozy.
ReplyDeleteI just finished The Kitchen Front by Jennifer Ryan. It is about women in WW2 in a cooking contest, and struggling with how to make a spectacular recipe following what was available and the government rules at the time. I learned so much about substitutions, the lack of onions yet they had garlic, the difference between rabbit and hare, and how to cook Spam. I recommend it. I read the audiobook, so don’t know if there were recipes for the Spam at the end!
ReplyDeleteI must read this, Margo. I have my mil’s wartime cookbook! Rhys
DeleteLove your photos! Your post reminded me of my first visit to Paris, France, I noticed cheese shops and to my surprise, they were goat cheese, which I can eat. It seems goat cheese is OK while I have problems with cow cheese.
ReplyDeleteAlways enjoy reading about food and getting new ideas from recipes in books. My Mom and a relative are excellent cooks. I have watched them cook in the kitchen. There is a family legend about how my great grandparents were able to get out of the country before the Revolution because the Secret Police agent liked my great grandmother's cooking.
Often I find myself trying out recipes from Ellie Alexander's Bakeshop mysteries like the Donut Cake. Also like to try out recipes from Cora's posts about food. I recall there was a Royal Spyness book with Christmas recipes. And I try recipes from Lucy's Food Writer mysteries. Yes, I remember the Dianne Mott Davidson culinary mysteries with recipes too. Whenever I try a recipe, I make modifications for my allergies.
When I was a child, I wanted to try custard after reading that Winnie the Pooh ate custard. Still like custards. Yummy.
As I get older, I find myself enjoying the process of cooking. At uni, I would just throw together sandwiches and that was it.
Whew! That was long!
Diana
Custard is my favorite, Diana. I rarely make it as we don’t eat desserts often but it is so yummy! ( Rhys)
DeleteGood morning! Reading this as I eat a slice of blueberry coffeecake my daughter brought from Northern Michigan, and contemplating the many dishes I still need to prepare today for the big family party here this afternoon. At least 30 people will be here! Steve is grilling the meat, but I'm making the rest, including two cherry pies and a blackberry cobbler.
ReplyDeleteOur wonderful book club I've mentioned before meets for potluck dinner, and we all try to contribute dishes that are either mentioned in the book we read, or at least hark back to the era or location somehow.
The one time I was less than excited was when Maggie brought spiced eels because feeling was central to the plot. I did try them, but have to say, it must be an acquired taste.
Diane Mott Davidson's books were also my gateway to culinary mysteries!
Any way at all that I could snag an invite to your family party today? I could be that old odd relative that you mostly keep locked away in the attic, which is why no one knows me. Some sort of second cousin to a second cousin. What do you say?
DeleteSure, Judi!
DeleteEeling was central to the plot, not the autocorrected feeling!!
DeleteEel shows up in maki rolls and it’s always tasty… not sure what kind of eel or weather it’s pickled or smoked or just combined with so many other yummy ingredients that you don’t notice
DeleteAs a child growing up in a part Italian family eels were served on the night of the seven fishes (Christmas eve). We used to catch them in the Hudson River. It was probably the only fish that lived in the river at that time, and I'm surprised we all survived eating them!
DeleteJapanese smoked eel is fabulous, but I can't abide the sight of the creature alive. **shiver**
DeleteSpiced eels? I’ve tried smoked eel which is very tasty. Which culture eats spiced eels?(Rhys)
DeleteElin Hilderbrand does great food descriptions in her books, especially when clambakes are planned.
ReplyDeleteBut Jenn always makes me want a sweet treat so I have to get my son to bake something for me.
I do like reading about food in the books that I read. As a part of the story of course, not the central focus. The descriptions of the meals Spenser would whip up, the roast beef sandwiches to die for from Ellen Hart's Jane Lawless books, breakfast and lunch from Pans N' Pancakes in the Maddie Days Country Store mysteries are some of my favorites. There are many others too.
ReplyDeleteJust don't ask me to make it for myself.
I wish we could eat together at Pans 'N Pancakes, Jay!
DeleteSo many great books with food in them! Remembering in The Little Princess the hamper of goodies that our once wealthy and now starving (for food and affection) Sara Crewe enjoys one night with her little friend Lotte… mysteriously delivered to her (through her window?)
ReplyDeleteHallie, what a great memory that is: Sara Crewe's surprise hamper when she's so hungry. I should reread "A Little Princess." And I'd forgotten how often Spenser cooked, also a fun reminder. I have nothing new to add because I'm a big Bruno Chief of Police fan (I've read them all, and the latest one will be out very shortly), and they have wonderful descriptions of Bruno cooking elaborate, many-course meals for dinner parties EFFORTLESSLY. I'm a pretty good cook, but my company dinners are NOT effortless. Rhys: I always think of patisserie when I think of Paris. The first thing my husband always does when we get there is find a great-looking bakery and eat a chocolate éclair.
ReplyDeleteJohn always hoes for the eclairs too. I love the fruit tarts!(Rhys)
DeleteGreat photos, Rhys. I'm craving those mussels!
ReplyDeleteMy one complaint about Kindle reading is an inability to print the recipe pages. Diane Mott Davidson books were my gateway to cooking with mysteries. Nero Wolfe books always make me hungry, and there was one PD James book, can't remember the title, it featured a cookbook author, that hooked me on dill Havarti for life!
Same Kindle complaint here! Has anyone a solution?
DeleteJenn sees the pictures of the pastries in France. *Jenn swoons*
ReplyDeleteHi Jenn, any word on if there will be a new book in the library series?
DeleteNero Wolfe always had gourmet meals prepared for him and the time he spent with his orchids and
ReplyDeleteat meals were not to be disturbed. There were descriptions of the dishes that were served, but no recipes. There was a Nero Wolfe cookbook a number of years ago.
I’ve seen wonderful displays of pastries and other baked goods in patisseries in Switzerland and Austria, so difficult to select just one or maybe two…
My mother was a very good from scratch cook, she never used a recipe-just knew what went together. The exception was for baking which requires more exact measurements and ingredients.
She also enjoyed looking at cookbooks even though she didn’t use the recipes.
Not only do I enjoy reading food descriptions in novels, but I read cookbooks like they are novels! I can almost taste the recipes.
ReplyDeleteI do that too! ( Rhys)
DeleteFor anyone who is interested in recipes and mysteries there is the blog Mystery Lovers’ Kitchen which has recipe contributions by a group of mystery writers who write food-oriented mysteries.
ReplyDeleteThere is also an index if you are looking for a particular type of recipe or specific ingredients.
.
Our Lucy is part of that wonderful blog! ( Rhys)
DeleteAs is backblogger Maddie Day (aka ... me)!
DeleteSo many of us are Diane Mott Davidson fans! Like Joan, I will revert to childhood to a book featuring food, The Long Hike. A brother and sister prepare a basket of food to take on their hike: apples, celery, chocolate bars, hardboiled eggs, and more. Of course a lot of it is eaten while hiking, while climbing trees, while wading. The story and the drawings mesmerized me for some reason. Lawrence Sanders wrote a series of books with police detective Edward X. Delaney. Delaney built the most fantastical sandwiches which he always ate over the sink.
ReplyDeleteI have copied many recipes from many different cozy mysteries (Jenn’s Cupcake Mysteries, Joanne Fluke’s Hannah Swenson books, e.g.), but my favorite auditory mystery for food appreciation was John Grisham’s The Broker. Food wasn’t a part of the mystery, but most of the book was set in Italy. The narrator’s voice describing all of those wonderful Italian meals was a very sensual experience! — Pat S.
ReplyDeleteAhh...food is not the first thing I notice or care about in books...but to each their own, right? I do remember the recipes in the wonderful Red Sparrow by Jason Matthews. SO weird, because it was pretty grisly spy novel set mostly in Russia, and it had recipes in the back. It won the Edgar I think, so...there you have it. :-)
ReplyDeleteAnd someday we'll have to talk about The LIttle Princess.
BUT! Jenn and Christie's Cupcake Cookbook--that is a treasure!
ReplyDeleteAnd I do love your pastry photos, Rhys!
ReplyDeleteSince I am a baker it will come as no surprise that Jenn’s Cupcake mysteries are my favorite. Working at Fairy Tale Cupcakes would seriously be my dream job. Yes, I have made several of the recipes. Those Chocolate Orange cupcakes that Oz made for Mel & Joe’s wedding..,, swoon.
ReplyDeleteNot sure if he's been mentioned, but Rex Stout's Nero Wolfe series have scrumptious meal descriptions. The dishes are probably out of date now, but they were fun to read, as was the Nero Wolfe Cookbook. ~Lynda
ReplyDeleteDiane Mott Davidson, Katherine Hall Page and Nero Wolfe were my first mystery food series. However, the first book that inspired me was Heidi. For a while when I was a kid, my snack was a glass of milk, a slice of bread, and a piece of cheese. I've made several things from Joanne Fluke's cookbook and some from other cozy series. I really hate when the characters skip meals and don't eat their food!
ReplyDeleteI love mysteries that feature good descriptions of cooking and eating. Current favorites include Donna Leon's Guido Brunetti's meals, en famille and out as well as Andrea Camilleri's gourmand police detective Montalbano. Have been reading Graham Hurley's Enora Andressen series lately, and she eats out a lot at interesting places.
ReplyDelete