Skip to main content

Foodie Reads Challenge

By
Back in 2016 I jumped into a reading challenge hosted by Heather at Based On A True Story. I had so much fun, I've been signing on every year. If you're local to me (Monterey Peninsula, California), be sure to check out the newly-opened The Friends of the Marina Library bookstore.

Food. Books. What's not to love?

I hope you'll enjoy following along. I will post the titles I've read, on this page, as well as linking to the monthly lists at Based On A True Story. You should gain some great titles to add to your own shelf - or use as gifts for your favorite foodie bookworm. Heather has five Foodie Read Challenge Levels...
  • Short-Order Cook: 1 to 3 books
  • Pastry Chef: 4 to 8 books
  • Sous-Chef: 9 to 13 books
  • Chef de Cuisine: 14 to 18
  • Cordon Bleu Chef: More than 19
She also says that you can opt for an a la carte option and just read a book about food anytime you can fit it in. But I like the accountability and a year-long goal. Any genre of book qualifies for the challenge if food is a major part of the plot; it can even be a cookbook! This makes it easy for me to embrace the challenge level of Cordon Bleu Chef. In all the years I've participated, I have logged over 30 books; in 2019 it was nearly 50! I'm going to try for, at least, 40 again in 2021.

This year's links are below. You'll see my 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020 links at this tab. I hope you'll be inspired to join the fun.

Click on the title to go to my blogpost about the book.

January 2021
Click to see what everyone else read in January 2021: here.
Oona Out of Order by Margarita Montimore
My Italian Bulldozer by Alexander McCall Smith

February 2021
Click to see what everyone else read in February 2021: here.
The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger 
All Girls by Emily Layden
Serving Crazy with Curry: A Novel by Amulya Malladi
TheItalian Villa by Daniela Sacerdoti
Postscript by Cecelia Ahern
AfterAlice Fell by Kim Taylor Blakemore
WhereI Come From: Life Lessons from a Latino Chef by Aarón Sánchez

 March 2021
Click to see what everyone else read in March 2021: here.
Beachfront Bakery by Fiona Grace
The Copenhagen Affair by Amulya Malladi


April 2021
Click to see what everyone else read in April 2021: here.
Honeysuckle Season by Mary Ellen Taylor
Every Day Is a Holiday by George Mahood
The Midnight Library by Matt Haig

May 2021
Click to see what everyone else read in May 2021: here.
The Newcomer by Mary Kay Andrews
Drive-Thru USA: A Tale of Two Road Trips by Rich Bradwell
Click to see what everyone else read in June 2021: here.
Under Almond Blossoms by Anja Saskia Beyer
97 Orchard: An Edible History of Five Immigrant Families in One New York Tenement by Jane Ziegelman

July 2021
Click to see what everyone else read in July 2021: here.
I swear I did read during the month of July! It's just that I was reading books for future deadlines. So, I didn't have any posts go live this month. Stay tuned.

August 2021
Click to see what everyone else read in August 2021: here.
Midnight at the Blackbird Café by Heather Webber
The Show Girl by Nicola Harrison
Blown Out of Proportion: Misadventures of a Glassblower in France by Rachel Caldecott
What You Wish For by Katherine Center
My Grape Year by Laura Bradbury

September 2021
Click to see what everyone else read in September 2021: here.
My Grape Quebec by Laura Bradbury
My Grape Christmas by Laura Bradbury

October 2021
Click to see what everyone else read in October 2021: here.
My Grape Wedding by Laura Bradbury
Eat Like a Fish: My Adventures Farming the Ocean to Fight Climate Change by Bren Smith

Comments

  1. HeatherJanuary 3, 2016 at 7:31 AM

    Thanks for joining. I'm looking forward to hearing about what you read!

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Jamaican Stew Peas #EattheWorld

By
  Here we are at November #EattheWorld event. What a year this has been! This challenge has been one that gave us some excuse for virtual travel as we've been sheltered-in-place with the coronavirus epidemic for most of 2020. So, we've been able to read about different parts of the world and create a dinner, or at least a dish, with that cuisine. This Eat the World project is spearheaded by Evelyne of  CulturEatz . Read more about  her challenge . This month, Evelyne had us heading to somewhere tropical: Jamaica. I have actually been to Jamaica, but it was almost thirty years ago...and it was just a jumping off point for the rest of our Caribbean exploration. I don't remember eating anything at all! Pandemonium Noshery: Pumpkin Rice   Culinary Adventures with Camilla: Jamaican Stew Peas  Amy’s Cooking Adventures: Jamaican Chicken & Pumpkin Soup   Palatable Pastime: Jamaican Jerk Chicken Burger   Sneha’s Recipe: Jamaican Saucy Jerk Chicken Wings With Homemade Jerk Seas
9 comments
Read more

Quick Pickled Red Onions and Radishes

By
If you've been reading my blog for even a short amount of time, you probably know how much I love to pickle things. I was just telling a friend you can pickle - with vinegar - or you can ferment - with salt - for similar delicious effect. The latter has digestive benefits and I love to do that, but when I need that pop of sour flavor quickly, I whip up quick pickles that are ready in as little as a day or two. I've Pickled Blueberries , Pickled Asparagus , Pickled Cranberries , Pickled Pumpkin , and even Pickled Chard Stems ! This I did last night for an upcoming recipe challenge that requires I include radishes. Ummmm...of course I'm pickling them! Ingredients  makes 1 quart jar radishes, trimmed and sliced organic red onions, peeled and thinly sliced (I used a mandolin slicer) 3/4 C vinegar (I used white distilled vinegar) 3/4 C water 3 T organic granulated sugar 1 T salt (I used some grey sea salt) 6 to 8 grinds of black pepper Proce
Post a Comment
Read more

#comfortfood: Jamie Oliver's Ossobuco with Bean Ragout

By
As one of Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution Day Ambassadors ( I'm the Monterey #FRD2014 rep! ) I will be sent a copy of his latest cookbook - to cook from and write about. I can't wait. I do have to laugh though, because its title is  Comfort Food . And, according to a good friend:  I only make uncomfortable food . Oh, well. I can learn! To celebrate launch day - today - I'm sharing one of the recipes. Here's Jamie Oliver's Ossobuco alla Milanese recipe from his new cookbook, Comfort Food. And here's my adaptation. I typically don't eat veal, so I went to our local butcher for some lamb shanks sliced into an osso buco-style cut; but they had just sold their last shanks. Darn. But then I noticed the "never tethered...free to roam" on the veal package and decided to go for it. I added in shelling beans to make a ragout and served it over wild rice instead of risotto. Also, I used lots of different herbs in my gremolata instead of just pa
Post a Comment
Read more