Our December/January 2015 Cook the Book Pick: A Place at the Table by Susan Rebecca White

Do you like a good traditional pound cake recipe and inspired Southern cuisine?   

Do you like a novel with Southern charm (and that Southern Gothic element as well)? 

What about a good quirky character ensemble?

Susan Rebecca White's novel, A Place at the Table, combines all of these elements.   The novel's prologue describes a disturbing scene in Emancipation, North Carolina during the late 20s, but the bulk of the novel takes place during the 80s and 90s in Georgia, Connecticut and New York City.  How does a character from an era of lynchings and fear intertwine with more modern characters trying to make their way in NYC?

You will enjoy  finding out the answer and following the three main characters of Alice, Bobby, and Amelia as they all make their way to find peace with themselves and the world around them.

I, however, will be waiting for a "replacement" copy of this novel.  I originally bought this novel on a bargain rack somewhere, read the majority of it and decided that I had to choose it for a CTB selection.  Then, guests were coming for Thanksgiving, we decided to recarpet a guest bedroom, and I had to move all my books from one room to another.   I promptly lost my copy in the black hole that is my "library."  I ordered a replacement used copy that should be arriving any day so I can finish A Place at the Table and find out the answers to the above questions as well.

Anyone is welcome to join in.   Simply create a dish inspired by the book and post about it.   Then, email me (eliotseats@gmail.com) on or before January 31, 2016.   Please include your name, your blog's name, the name of your dish and a photo (or allow me to pull a photo from your website). 

Happy Holidays!

---Debra, Eliot's Eats 

"The Hundred-Foot Journey" Round-Up

What do you get when you take the exotic spices of India and combine them with classic French cooking and a whole lotta drama and cultural clashing? You get The Hundred-Foot Journey by Richard C. Morais. For our October/November read, Cook the Books joined forces with Food 'N Flix for an optional crossover event, hosted by me (Deb of Kahakai Kitchen) on the CTB side and Camilla of Culinary Adventures With Camilla, the host for December's Food 'N Flix.  

Participants could read the book as usual, or read the book and watch the film inspired by it, and then make a dish inspired by either or both. There were mixed feelings about the book, some loved it, some didn't. Many of our book and movie combo participants liked the movie more than the book. But, one thing everyone agreed on is that it inspired some really delicious dishes.

For our CTB roundup, I am breaking down the entries into the ones inspired by just the book and then those who took the optional book and film challenge. The lovely Camilla will be rounding up both the movie-only and the movie and book combo entries for Food 'N Flix on her site. Besides viewing the entries and visiting everyone's posts here, please go check out Camilla's round-up (find it here) as well--to see what dishes the film inspired.
 

Book-Inspired Entries:

Crossover-event co-host Camilla of Culinary Adventures with Camilla was first in with her book-inspired dish. Camilla re-read the book on a beach "staycation" and found that "reading it again, with a focus on the food instead of the story, it was quite enjoyable. His prose is rich and luscious. Just ignore the potholes in the plot." Camilla and her son made Sungta ani Bende Kodi (a 'slightly nontraditional' Prawn with Okra Curry). She says, "We wanted to use seafood and I had okra and eggplant. So, this is blended recipe based on something traditional and some pantry-based additions. We thoroughly enjoyed the tang of tamarind mixed with the sweet creaminess of coconut." 

My fellow Hawaiian Islands blogger, Claudia of Honey From Rock took inspiration from Hassan's "first sensation of life ... the smell of machli ka salan, a spicy fish curry, rising through the floorboards to the cot in my parents' room above the restaurant." For her Machli Ka Salan adaptation, Claudia says, "I used Hawaiian opah or moonfish, but you can use any firm white fleshed fish for the curry that is locally available. I added the fish head to my curry for more depth of flavor and richness. You can omit it or remove it before serving. ... I served the stew with a side of cucumber salad in kefir dressing, some salted lemon preserve and guava chutney.  The flavors of India come through so enticingly in this dish, it's just incredible. Love a good spicy curry."
 

Next up is CTb co-host Deborah from Eliot's Eats who thought the movie version more enjoyable, finding the book "a bit dark and depressing." Having made an Indian-inspired dish for the film, Deborah decided to make a classic French dish, saying "I am celebrating the other cuisine featured in both the film and the novel with Boeuf Bourginon. Boeuf Bourginon is mentioned in the final pages of the novel as it is being compared to a similar Indian dish. ... This dish has become a recent holiday tradition for us. We were first served this recipe at an extend family Christmas party last December. It was so good, we decided to beg for the recipe and we made it for our more immediate family on Christmas Eve."

Cook the Books co-host Simona of briciole liked the book up through the midpoint and found the setting in the French Alps most interesting, inspiring her to make homemade Crozets--a style of pasta from the region. Simona says, "The book has a lot of dishes in it, but what intrigued me was the location of the French village where the protagonist's family moves, the Jura, so I did some research on French mountain cuisine and read about crozets, a type of pasta typical of Savoie (which is south of Jura) traditionally made "from wheat flour, buckwheat or a mixture of both." ... Traditionally this pasta is used to make gratins and I was planning to do something along those lines, but an unwelcome cold requiring chicken soup therapy for my husband sent the crozets into hot chicken broth."

Combination Book and Movie-Inspired Entries:

Our first joint book and movie entry came from Amy of Amy's Cooking Adventures. Amy was not a fan of either the book or film--giving up on the book partway into the story (a rarity for her) and then enjoying the movie up until about halfway through, as the focus began to shift from the family opening the restaurant in Lumière. Still, she says, "Happily enough for me, I was able to find food inspirations in both the book and the movie.  In both, there is the opportunity to focus on French, Indian, or fusion cuisine. ...I decided to push myself way out of my comfort zone and try my hand at (probably not very authentic) Indian food." Wendy made Chicken Tikka Masala, which she served with rice and homemade Chapati and found that "the recipe was a huge success! The entire family loved it and since it was a crockpot recipe, it was super easy, too!"

 

Wendy of A Day in the Life on the Farm enjoyed both the book and the movie saying about the book, "...there was certainly tons of food inspiration from Indian to English to France to Fusion when Hassan starts connecting the two cultures. Hassan also decides to start cooking cleaner and locally, earning him the coveted 3rd Michelin star. All of this, of course, comes at a price but you will have to read the book if you want to know what that cost was." For her dish she chose a variation of "...Beef Bourguinon a la Hassan created for the movie by Chef Floyd Cardoz. This is the first French dish that Hassan gives to his father in the film after leaving their restaurant to work for Madame Malory.  It was a very touching scene with some humor included when he tried to have his younger siblings try it."

It is a pleasure to have one of my favorite Food 'N Flix peeps, Evelyne of Cheap Ethnic Eatz, join us for the first time at Cook The Books for this special crossover event. Evelyne says, "I have mixed feelings on both the book and the film. The first half of the book – when in India and in small town France – is such a wonderful read. The second half in Paris I though was terrible. I know I am not alone as I read this with a book club and everyone agreed. The movie makers thankfully felt the same way and basically skipped most of the Paris story. The movie also took a lot (and I mean a lot) of creative license when compared to the book. In the end I think I preferred the movie for its entertainment value and to see the gorgeous food I read about. There was no lack of inspiration for sure when picking a dish to make. But my Carrot Curry Canelés recipe is not featured in any way, I also took a lot of creative license for my inspiration."

 
Liking the book, the film and the combination event, Terri of Our Good Life says, "This month Food 'N Flix and Cook the Books combined forces to do one book/movie pick. The one they picked, The Hundred Foot Journey, was such a great combination. For me, the book and movie were vitally different, which makes for interesting conversation at your book club!" For her book and film inspiration Terri chose Bacon-Wrapped Asparagus and says, "I chose to do a simple but classic French vegetable preparation, which is asparagus and bacon. ... The asparagus retains a nice crunch and is seasoned with the salt in the bacon. No added fat is needed. If you want to impress, try this dish!."

 
Finally at Kahakai Kitchen, the movie appealed to me more than the book as it brought the story and the food to life so well (and I adore Helen Mirren!) ;-) My plan to do two separate dishes and posts got lost in the mire of work deadlines and the holiday shuffle, so in the spirit of both the book and movie, I took a classic French soup and added some touches inspired by some of my favorite Indian cuisine ingredients--This fusion Potage Parmentier with Cilantro Pistou and Curried Naan Croutons. The tangy and sightly spicy cilantro pesto and the (totally addicting) crispy-fried curry croutons really livened up a simple potato and leek soup.  

 

A big mahalo (thank you) to Camilla for co-hosting the crossover and to everyone who joined in either reading the book, watching the film, or doing both! 

If you missed out on this round of Cook the Books and you love food, books, and foodie books, consider joining us for our December/January selection: A Place at the Table, by Susan Rebecca White--hosted by Debra, of Eliot's Eats.

 
And, side note--if you like your films to be inspired by foodie fiction, join our friends over at Food 'N Flix where the December film pick is The Jane Austen Book Club, hosted by Kimberly at Coffee and Casseroles and inspired by the 2004 novel by Karen Joy Fowler. As with Cook the Books, Food 'N Flix is open to everyone!

Aloha and have a safe and joyful holiday season!

Deb

Our October/November 2015 Cook the Books Pick: "The Hundred-Foot Journey" by Richard C. Morais (+ Optional November Food 'N Flix Movie Tie-In)

I read all manner and genre of books but my favorites are the ones that sweep me away to different places, cultures, and foods. The Hundred-Foot Journey by Richard C. Morais doubly takes me away, combining the curries and spices of Mumbai with traditional French cooking in a small village in the French Alps. It took several recommendations and a viewing of the movie to push me to read this book--and to choose it for our Cook the Books: October/November selection--as nothing is more fun than having some wonderful friends along on a culinary reading journey. 

The Hundred-Foot Journey is the story of Hassan Haji and his family, who leave India after a family tragedy and end up settling in the small village of Lumière, France. They open a noisy family-style Indian restaurant just 100-feet across the road from the fancy and renowned restaurant of Madame Mallory. The 100-feet is at first a huge cultural divide between the Haji family and the prickly Mme. Mallory, but it inspires Hassan to learn French cooking before making his way to Paris to seek his success as a chef.

Another reason I chose The Hundred-Foot Journey was finding out that long-time CTB participant Camilla of Culinary Adventures with Camilla is hosting November's round of the monthly foodie movie event Food 'N Flix, and she selected the movie version of The Hundred-Foot Journey. (You can find her invite here.) We thought it would be a fun opportunity to pair up book and film for those of you interested in combining your book and movie worlds. 

Of course, it's strictly optional to do both events and how you do it (a combined post or two separate posts) is up to you!

If you want to join in the crossover fun:

• Read the book and watch the film, make a dish inspired by both, and post it by our joint event deadline of Monday, November 30th. 

• If you have one post for both the movie and book, email both Deb & Camilla (debinhawaii@gmail.com & constantmotioncamilla@gmail.com) with your entry and let us know that you are doing the combined event.

• Or, if you prefer to make two separate dishes and have a post for each event--one inspired by the book and one inspired by the movie, send each of your entries to the event's respective host. (Send your Cook the Books posts to debinhawaii@gmail.com & your Food 'N Flix posts to constantmotioncamilla@gmail.com) by Monday, November 30th. 

• I will be rounding up crossover posts and Cook the Books only posts here on the CTB site & Camilla will be rounding up crossover posts and Food 'N Flix only posts on her blog shortly after the joint deadline.

Again, watching the film and joining in Food 'N Flix is optional, so if you just want to read the book, that's perfectly OK--just send your CTB entry to me by Monday, November 30th.

Makes sense?! If not, feel free to email me or leave a comment on this post with your questions. 

We look forward to seeing what The Hundred-Foot Journey inspires you to create!

Aloha,

Deb
Kahakai Kitchen

Yes, Chef by Marcus Samuelsson Roundup

Welcome to the roundup of posts for the latest Cook the Books selection, Marcus Samuelsson's memoir, "Yes, Chef". It was a book about the extraordinary life that the restaurateur and chef has led so far and which has taken him to many countries around the world. I thought I would arrange the roundup of contributors' posts according to the different stages of Samuelsson's life that he described in this memoir.

I - Ethiopia

Our author began life in a small Ethiopian village. Sadly, his mother died from tuberculosis after trekking with him and his older sister to a hospital in the capital city of Adis Ababa.

Foodycat's Injera, Doro Wat and Lentil Salad made one Yes, Chef-inspired meal and then later she used some injera batter to make little injeras topped with creme fraiche and salmon roe with a nod to Samuelsson's Swedish heritage.

Deb at Eliot Eats, one of the four Cook the Books cohosts in the rotation, made several dishes for an Ethiopian Feast based on a restaurant meal they enjoyed on a recent trip to Denver.

Terri joins us for the first time here at Cook the Books, writing from her blog Our Good Life. Terri contributed an Omelet with Berbere seasoning, an Ethiopian seasoning blend that she used for the first time.

Vicki blogs at I'd Rather Be Reading at the Beach and also joins Cook the Books for the first time. She made one of Samuelsson's recipes, a West African Chicken and Peanut Stew.

Wendy of A Day in the Life on the Farm made a tasty dinner of Injera and Msriat.

II - Sweden

Marcus and his older sister were adopted by a Swedish couple and grew up in a much different culture, playing soccer, helping Mormor cook the weekly family meals and helping his Dad catch fish.

Simona of Briciole, a Cook the Books cohost, liked the passages about catching fish and made a batch of  Kokoda, an eye-catching marinated raw fish salad.

Blogging from Hawai'i at Kahakai Kitchen, another of my wonderful Cook the Books cohosts, Deb, drew on her own Swedish heritage to produce a luscious looking That's A Good Life Smorga - a smoked fish sandwich with homemade pickled cucumbers.

III - European Hotels and Restaurants

After studying food preparation in high school and at a local restaurant in Sweden, Samuelsson struck out for Austria and Switzerland and apprenticed in several fine dining establishments.

Amy's Cooking Adventures was inspired to tackle these lovely Classic French Croissants.

Cathy at Delaware Girl Eats paid homage to Chef Samuelsson's achievements in these highly demanding hotel and restaurant kitchens by making a Peach Nectarine Tart.

IV - Chasing the Flavors in New York City

Samuelsson moved to New York City and rose to be head chef at Aquavit, before setting out on his own with his Red Rooster Cafe.

Claudia of Honey in the Rock was inspired by Chef's description of exploring Puerto Rican cuisine, and whipped up a savory Pork Mofongo.

Over at my blog, The Crispy Cook, I layered on some more flavors to the Grilled Whole Chicken recipe that my husband and I have been tinkering with all barbeque season.

Camilla from Culinary Adventures with Camilla was inspired to chase some flavors around with her Bourbon-Pecan Pralines.

Please consider joining us as we read and cook from our next book selection, The Hundred-Foot Journey by Richard Morais. This next round will be hosted by Deb of Kahakai Kitchen and entries are due November 30th. There is also a tie-in with Food n' Flix, to watch and cook from the film version of this book, starring the divine Ms. Helen Mirren.

Join us for our August/September Book Pick: Yes, Chef, by Marcus Samuelsson

I am pleased to officially announce our August/September Cook the Books reading selection: 

Yes, Chef, by Marcus Samuelsson. 

You may know Chef Marcus Samuelsson from hearing about his New York restaurant Red Rooster or his time as head chef at Aquavit or from appearances on Top Chef and Iron Chef, but I found the story of his youth tremendously interesting in his memoir, Yes, Chef. Marcus was born in rural Ethiopia and when he and his mother and older sister contracted tuberculosis in a 1973 epidemic, his mother walked 75 miles with her children to a hospital in the capital city of Addis Ababa, where she unfortunately succumbed to the disease. Marcus and his sister were adopted by a Swedish family, where he squeezed in Saturday cooking lessons with his grandmother, Helga, when he wasn't on the soccer field. A sports career didn't pan out, so he poured his extensive energies into cooking school and various apprenticeships at world-class hotels and restaurants around Europe.
Samuelsson is passionate about "chasing flavors", and experimenting with ingredients and cuisines from around the globe, and I learned a lot about layering taste and texture in dishes from this book. I hope you all will enjoy it as much as I did.

As always, we welcome anyone to join our band of regulars in reading this great foodie book, blogging about it and cooking up something inspired from its pages. Just let me know that you have posted by our deadline below either by leaving a comment here or by sending me an email at: info@oldsaratogabooks dot coM. 
 
Submissions due: Wednesday, September 30, 2015

-Rachel, The Crispy Cook