Summaries of July Titles

Sex, Death and Oysters: A Half-Shell Lover's World Tour by Robb Walsh

Once called "the Indiana Jones of food writers," Texan Robb Walsh has developed a cult of devoted readers who have ridden shotgun with him on his obsessive culinary adventures--from the quest for the perfect cup of coffee, to barbecue battles, to Dr. Pepper bootleggers. Sex, Death, and Oysters: A Half-Shell Lover's World Tour chronicles a global culinary road trip that takes Walsh from his local Galveston Bay to the coasts of North America, and off to Ireland, England, and France. Fact-filled and laced throughout with his wry humor, Walsh recounts the hundreds of oysters shucked and prepared in myriad ways, and offers a fascinating history that goes beyond the expected, revealing coastal rivalries, recipes, shucking tips, and what to drink with your oyster.

Climbing the Mango Trees: A Memoir of a Childhood in India by Madhur Jaffrey

The celebrated actress and author of several books on Indian cooking turns her attention to her own childhood in Delhi and Kampur. Born in 1933 as one of six children of a prosperous businessman, Jaffrey grew up as part of a huge "joint family" of aunts, uncles and cousins—often 40 at dinner—under the benign but strict thumb of Babaji, her grandfather and imperious family patriarch. It was a privileged and cosmopolitan family, influenced by Hindu, Muslim and British traditions, and though these were not easy years in India, a British ally in WWII and soon to go though the agony of partition (the separation and formation of Muslim Pakistan), Jaffrey's graceful prose and sure powers of description paint a vivid landscape of an almost enchanted childhood. Her family and friends, the bittersweet sorrows of puberty, the sensual sounds and smells of the monsoon rain, all are remembered with love and care, but nowhere is her writing more evocative than when she details the food of her childhood, which she does often and at length.

Baking Cakes in Kigali by Gaile Parkin

Set in an international apartment complex in Rwanda, Parkin's appealing but overstuffed debut throws together university professors, U.N. employees and CIA agents among a panoply of traditions and cultures. Heroine Angel Tungararza has moved from Tanzania with her husband, Pius, who's taken a job at the local university; before long, she develops a reputation as a masterful baker and a sagacious friend. Though haunted by the deaths of her grown daughter and son, Angel plunges back into motherhood, caring for her five grandchildren, tending to Pius, baking cakes and dispensing advice. Meanwhile, the sour undercurrents of AIDS and genocide play quiet but instrumental parts in shaping Angel's world. In Parkin's eagerness to introduce a rainbow of cultures and personalities, she crowds her enjoyable but terminally dedicated heroine, forcing Angel to take a saccharine supporting role in her own story; almost simultaneously, she's soothing survivors of Rwandan genocide, reconciling a local prostitute and her client, and serving as an honorary mother-of-the-bride

Salt: A World History by Mark Kurlansky

Mark Kurlansky, the bestselling author of Cod and The Basque History of the World, here turns his attention to a common household item with a long and intriguing history: salt. The only rock we eat, salt has shaped civilization from the very beginning, and its story is a glittering, often surprising part of the history of humankind. A substance so valuable it served as currency, salt has influenced the establishment of trade routes and cities, provoked and financed wars, secured empires, and inspired revolutions. Populated by colorful characters and filled with an unending series of fascinating details, Kurlansky's kaleidoscopic history is a supremely entertaining, multi-layered masterpiece.

Gesine's Appearance on the Today Show

TGIF!
I though a good way to kick off the weekend would be posting Gesine's macaroon cooking demo with the Today Show. Click here!

Now we can see the secrets behind the delicious macaroons we sampled! Also if you are interested, her new book Sugar Baby: Confections, Candies, Cakes & Other Delicious Recipes for Cooking with Sugar came out today! We could order in a copy for you. It's easy and free :)

Northwest WineTrails Author Event and Wine Tasting

Hello Everyone, I know some of you have been very eager for more information about our wine tasting event with Steve Roberts, author of Wine Trails of Washington. Here is the official promotional poster so print it out, e-mail it, blog about it, Facebook about it-pass the word along! Visit our website to purchase tickets. I hope to see you at event. Please let me know if you have any questions!

New Flyer

Confessions About Eating Alone

Good Morning Everyone!

This is going to be a good week because we are meeting! I hope you all enjoyed What We Eat When We Eat Alone. The true irony of this title dawned on me as I was discussing what to demo with Doug. We are reading a book about eating alone yet doing a cooking demo for a big group of people...hehe I love it!

Ok, on to the good part! Doug will be doing a demonstration on bread making, specifically Challah bread. Challah is a traditional bread used for Jewish Sabbath and holiday celebrations. It is rich with eggs and favored with honey. There are to ways in which Challah can be presented: in braid form or shaped like a turban. Doug will be demonstrating both styles. Also, on top of Challah will be Welish Rare Bit, which is a cheese based sauce with beer and mustard. Can you say yum! This meal is perfect for a stormy Pacific Northwest day spent by yourself.

I am looking forward to seeing, and eating, with you all! Also, I think it would be fun to share (or confess) the weird and quirky meals we eat when we are alone. So come prepared to share!
Please let me know if you have any questions.

Doug's Competition

Good Morning Everyone,

Doug sent me pictures from his competition that he mentioned at our last meeting. He got 2nd place! Pretty exciting to call him our chef!

Violets of March by Sarah Jio

Happy March!

Although it may not seem like it right now, Spring is just around the corner. Each Spring we put together a series of author events. This year is particularly special because we will be pairing wine and appetizers with our author events. This is partially because food has worked so well with our club!

A local author named Sarah Jio will be coming on Wednesday May 4th at 7pm to discuss her debut novel Violets of March. Here is a little bio for

you:

Sarah Jio is a veteran magazine writer and the health and fitness blogger for Glamour magazine, a role she’s had for nearly three years. She has written hundreds of articles for national magazine

s

a

nd top newspapers including Redbook, O, The Oprah Magazine, Cooking Light, Glamour, SELF, Real Simple, Fitness, Marie Claire, Hallmark magazine, Seventeen, The Nest, Health, Bon Appetit, Gourmet, The Seattle Times, Parents, Parenting, and Kiwi. In addition, Sarah is a

monthly columnist for American Baby. She has also appeared as a commentator on NPR’s Morning Edition.

I read the advanced reader of Violets of March and absolutely loved it. I would love to share this wonderful book since I know we all love to read. I can pass it along at our next meeting or we can arrange a time for you to drop by the bookstore! You can watch the book trailer here and visit the author's facebook here . Below is a little summary to entice your further:

"In her twenties, Emily Wilson was on top of the world: she had a bestselling novel, a husband plucked from the pages of GQ, and a one-way ticket to happily ever after.

Ten years later, the tide has turned on Emily's good fortune. So when her great-aunt Bee invites her to spend the month of March on Bainbridge Island in Washington State, Emily accepts, longing to be healed by the sea. Researching her next book, Emily discovers a red velvet diary, dated 1943, whose contents reveal startling connections to her own life.

A mesmerizing debut with an idyllic setting and intriguing dual story line, The Violets of March announces Sarah Jio as a writer to watch."

Let me know if you are interested in borrowing the advanced reader, I am happy to spread literary fun!