Tuesday, September 26, 2006
Book Club Food: Introduction
One of the toughest parts of a book club is figuring out what food to make. Since January, a few friends and I have been getting together every month-or-so (flexibility has helped it keep going) and we will readily admit that eating is our favorite part. After all, you can't guarantee you'll like the book (we usually don't), but at least with good cooks in the group, you know the food will be good.
Sometimes food is an integral part of a book, and sometimes it's barely mentioned. We try to fix at least one dish from the book. Barring that, we either try to match the ethnic theme, use a featured ingredient, or figure out a clever drink name.
One thing is for sure, none of us have a lot of time to spend figuring the menu out, as I know is true for a lot of book clubs. If you had time to do that, you wouldn't need a book club to encourage you to read more, right?
And even though there are plenty of sites out there talking about their books, providing group questions, etc. (we've tried to stay off the beaten path but don't seem to be succeeding), there aren't a lot of people talking about what they served. So, for each book, I will try to post the foods mentioned in each book, followed by what we served and some good recipes. Maybe it will save you some time. Also, recipes are welcome!
Sometimes food is an integral part of a book, and sometimes it's barely mentioned. We try to fix at least one dish from the book. Barring that, we either try to match the ethnic theme, use a featured ingredient, or figure out a clever drink name.
One thing is for sure, none of us have a lot of time to spend figuring the menu out, as I know is true for a lot of book clubs. If you had time to do that, you wouldn't need a book club to encourage you to read more, right?
And even though there are plenty of sites out there talking about their books, providing group questions, etc. (we've tried to stay off the beaten path but don't seem to be succeeding), there aren't a lot of people talking about what they served. So, for each book, I will try to post the foods mentioned in each book, followed by what we served and some good recipes. Maybe it will save you some time. Also, recipes are welcome!
Comments:
I'm a devoted reader but I've only once tried a book club, a group organized by one of my neighbors.
All they ever served was chocolate chip cookies and red wine over ice cubs. No wonder the club fell apart after three or four meetings.
Well, certain of their policies - they refused to meet unless all members were present and that they wanted to read only books written by people they'd actually met - were undoubtedly factors in the club's demise, too.
Your post makes me want to go out and find a new book club, one with better policies and far better menus. Any suggestions?
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All they ever served was chocolate chip cookies and red wine over ice cubs. No wonder the club fell apart after three or four meetings.
Well, certain of their policies - they refused to meet unless all members were present and that they wanted to read only books written by people they'd actually met - were undoubtedly factors in the club's demise, too.
Your post makes me want to go out and find a new book club, one with better policies and far better menus. Any suggestions?
