It's All About the Food

 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)

This summer we were in Brittany and took plenty of shots of what we were eating. (You never know, I might want to set a book there!)

So do you like reading about food? What's your favorite book with lots of yummy meals in it?