Books that Make Me Hungry

Hey guys! It’s Tuesday once again and this week we are talking about one of my other favorite topics outside of being a nerd- food! Specifically food in books, of course. I love stories that are based around any sort of cooking or confections, but I’m hard pressed to find ones that are well written and avoid stereotypes- under the cut we’ve got some obvious winners like Chocolat by Anne Harris and the Redwall series by Brian Jacques, but I’ve also go some wildcards in there, as well as a couple books that make me hungry just because the food is so bad.

Top Ten Tuesday is brought to you by That Artsy Reader Girl.

Chocolat, by Anne Harris

This one is pretty self explanatory- The whole book is centered around Vianne Rocher and her attempts to open and establish a chocolate shop in a sleepy, conservative French village. You are doing yourself a diservice if you don’t settle into this story with an assortment of confections at your side, though you’ll be hard pressed to find any as nice as what Vianne is making.

---

The Starless Sea, by Erin Morgenstern

There is a surprising amount of discussing the merits of cupcakes and muffins in between the layers of myth and story that make up The Starless Sea, as well as the eating of said sweets. While the source of these baked goods is a bit surprising, it doesn’t make them any less appealing.

---

Redwall, by Brian Jacques

The Redwall series is famous for it’s feasts and food. Luscious descriptions of tables literally buckling under the weight of the presented fare. Some of it down to earth- like the mole’s famous Deeper n’ Ever Turnip n’ Tater n’ Beetroot Pie, or the otter’s spicy Hotroot and shrimp stews. There’s long lists of cordials, wines, and ales, as well as cheese to pair with them (in fact there is a scene in Mariel of Redwall where some of the characters sit down to just that). Then there are things like Meadowcream, candied chestnuts preserved in honey, and on and on with a list of mouthwatering meals.

---

Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly, by Anthony Bourdain

After ten years of being in the restaurant industry, well… I’ve seen some shit man. You can’t be in that world and avoid the rampant insanity that is seems intrinsic to the FOH/BOH lifestyle (that’s front and back of house, respectively). BOH is worse for drug use and misogyny, FOH for alcohol and emotional abuse, and you also get to experience all of those through the customers, too! Still, there is something to be said for the moments in this story where Tony gets back to loving food and it’s ingredients, instead of massive amounts of blow and acid. I’m not selling this well, am I? It’s hard when you love food but are also jaded about the industry.

---

Howl’s Moving Castle, by Diana Wynne Jones

“May all your bacon burn” is a well known curse for any fans of this story, as bacon laden breakfasts are an important part of our heroes mornings in this delightful story. Spoken by a fire demon who is currently in charge of cooking all said bacon, I would certainly be concerned. A lifetime of burnt bacon? No thank you! Add to the bacon temptation with Sophie’s sister being employed at a bakery and there’s no hope of not coming out of this story without a hankering for some sort of indulgence, be it bacon or baked good.

---

Dealing with Dragons, by Patricia C. Wrede

Two words, my friends- Cherries Jubilee. This delightful joining of words in the title of one of the worlds simplest and most dangerous desserts. You simmer fresh, sweet cherries with citrus and liquor and you light it on fire and then serve it hot over ice cream. It’s a great cherry dessert for people who want their cherries to taste like the fruit and not artificial almond extract (a lot of cherry desserts are sweetened with that heinous ingredient). And what better dessert for dragons then one that needs to be one fire for a bit? There’s also mention of wonderful teas in this story, and is the reason I got interested in loose leaf brewing.

---

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

Fair, circuses, and carnivals always have the best food that leaves you feeling the worst. But I bet at the Night Circus, nothing ever leaves you feeling ill- no sugar nausea, no headaches, no fatigue, just a light sugar buzz that fades away as if it had never been. While only a few treats are mentioned over the course of the story, I feel like it’s safe to assume that there was a wide verity to choose from.

---

Like Water for Chocolate, by Laura Esquivel

Tita! *weeps* She works so hard and is so good and deserves so much and her mother is so horrible! *weeps more* I haven’t read this book for too long, but much of it circles around Tita; youngest daughter of the all-female De La Garza family, and forced to remain unwed and care for her tyrannical aging mother. She puts so much of herself into her meals that those who eat them feel the same emotions she did when making it. This tale of a Mexican family during the turn of the last century is stunning and full of magical realism. Plus the book has the recipes for all the meals Tita makes! I read this story too young, I really think it’s time for a reread.

---

And now, for two books that make me hungry because the food is so bad I feel sympathetic for whoever is eating it.

---

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer, Annie Barrows

WWII hit everyone hard, but Britain is especially famous for it’s rationing, which occurred for nine years after the end of the war. The descriptions of some of the more “inventive” meals made by the intrepid and tough inhabitants of the Guernsey Isle during their occupation are off putting enough that they leave you wanting the basics- fresh bread, seared meat, clean water.

---

The Martian by Andy Weir

Mark spends all his time eating raw potatoes and crushed up painkillers, if you don’t leave this book desperate for some Grade A Taco Bell then I think it’s safe to assume you just haven’t been to Taco Bell. Did you know they call their employees that work in the kitchen “Food Champions”, and those that work the registers are “Service Champions”? So next time you’re ordering, you can ask for their finest Food Champion to make you that Cheesy Gordita Crunch. I love getting resumes from Taco Bell employees, they are so jaded and tired, I feel it, you guys, I feel it.