February – Booklist
The month of February is often associated with the heart, and as foodies know, the quickest way to the heart is usually through the stomach. Food has a unique power to connect us to our history, our homes, and each other. Our book list celebrates the delicious intersection of flavor and feeling, exploring the way food shapes who we are and how we connect.
Nonfiction
Great Old-fashioned American Desserts by Beatrice A. Ojakangas
Desserts have always been an important part of American dining, encouraging people to gather at the table and take just one more scrumptious bite. From colonial specialties to old-time country favorites, this book presents a complete collection of more than two hundred mouthwatering delights updated for the modern kitchen.
My Life in France by Julia Child
The chef who changed America’s culinary habits writes about the years she spent in France after World War II. Julia Child recalls the difficulty of being an American in a French cooking school and the hard-won publication of her book on French cooking for Americans.
Chocolate: A Bittersweet Saga of Dark and Light by Mort Rosenblum
Exploring the world of chocolate production, this food writer travels the globe to interview growers, manufacturers, and consumers to discover the history, legends, and professional expertise required to process this “elixir of the gods” and of the modern $60-billion chocolate industry.
Food: A Love Story by Jim Gaffigan
Collection of essays, anecdotes, and thoughts in Gaffigan’s traditional comedic style discussing his love and hatred for a variety of foods favored in the American diet, including bacon, McDonald’s, Cinnabon, Hot Pockets, and kale.
Fiction
Midnight at the Blackbird Café by Heather Webber
After returning to Wicklow, Alabama, to settle her late grandmother’s estate, Anna Kate finds herself unexpectedly drawn to the quirky town and the legendary secrets of the Blackbird Café. As she uncovers the truth about her family’s fractured past, she must decide if she’s ready to stop running and finally put down roots.
Arsenic and Adobo by Mia P. Manansala
Lila Macapagal feels as though her life’s a romantic comedy when she goes home after a bad breakup and is tasked with saving her Tita Rosie’s failing restaurant. But when a nasty food critic–and her ex-boyfriend–drops dead, the rom-com turns into an Agatha Christie case. This book is the first in a series, additional installments are available.
Lunch in Paris: A Love Story with Recipes by Elizabeth Bard
Food-loving American author recounts falling in love with a Frenchman and French cuisine–from being captivated by fresh mint tea in a tiny Parisian apartment to her joy in taking meandering walks and dining in favorite bistros. Explains that food is a gateway to understanding French culture. Includes recipes.
John Saturnall’s Feast by Lawrence Norfolk
In the 1600s, John Saturnall survives a childhood of exile to become the culinary heart of a great English estate. His journey from an outcast to the creator of legendary feasts is complicated by the onset of war and a forbidden love for the manor’s daughter. Some violence and mature themes.
Image Description: A top down view of a plate of pasta with tomatoes in the shape of a heart on a rough wooden table. The plate is white and garnished with fresh herbs.