Fiction and Food - name a better combo? Here are some of my picks of books that will be hard to read without a delicious meal in front of you, the ones that tingle the tastebuds while they tickle the imagination.
From murder mysteries and cozy crime novels, to children's fantasies and adventure stories, and maybe a splash of romance too - there are books in most genres that are also fun for foodies aka those of us who spend most of their day thinking about the next delicious thing they will get to eat. We savour books like we savour meals, using them to delight in this one life and experience through our senses. Here are 5 books I'd recommend to a foodie - I hope you enjoy them alongside a tasty treat or a warm drink!
1. The Strawberry Patch Pancake House by Laurie Gilmore
We're starting with a cozy romance because we can and because who doesn't want to read about a single dad in a small town who runs a pancake restaurant. The entire Dream Harbour series is the perfect cozy foodie escape into cafes and bakerys, but especially with spring around the corner (I hope), I find myself craving the spring vibes of The Strawberry Patch Pancake House. It's a little break from reality centered around happy ever afters and a delicious drink or baked treat.
2. A Fellowship of Bakers & Magic by J. Penner
Come for the cosy fantasy and stay for the human/dwarf/elf bake off! This is the first in a series, perfect for fans of T.J. Klune or Travis Baldree. Full of mouthwatering pastries and magical friendships, this is like watching bake off but set in The Shire instead of The UK. There's strawberry cheesecake scones, lavender vanilla shortbread cookies, strawberry lemon curd bites and maybe a bit of a sweet romance storyline too.
3. The Kamogawa Food Detectives by Hisashi Kashiwai
This may be the book that inspired the entire blog post because you cannot find a more foodie oriented story than this one about a detective duo and father-daughter team who help people uncover secrets and revisit memories by solving the mysteries of their most important meals. The food descriptions are incredible and are why I also included this book on my 'Fiction that feels like traveling' blog! The whole series of Kamogawa Diner books are full of intricate Japanese meal descriptions, cosy heartfelt storylines, and are perfect for any food lover.
4. Heartburn by Nora Ephron
This is the ultimate modern classic for any foodie, a story about a woman who discovers her husband's affair and navigates the experience by falling back on her love of food and her career as a cookbook author. The novel itself is small and smart, funny and heartbreaking, and scattered throughout are recipes that feel like you're getting one of Nora's own treasured meals delivered directly into your kitchen. It's one of my favourite books ever and a must read for anyone who loves beautiful writing, and a good story, by people who love and know food.
“The next man I was involved with lived in Boston. He taught me to cook mushrooms. He taught me that if you heat the butter very hot and put just a very few mushrooms into the frying pan, they come out nice and brown and crispy, whereas if the butter is only moderately hot and you crowd the mushrooms, they get all mushy and wet. Every time I make mushrooms I think of him. There was another man in my life when I was younger who taught me to put sour cream into scrambled eggs, and since I never ever put sour cream into scrambled eggs I never really think of him at all.” - Nora Ephron, Heartburn
5. Sweet Bean Paste by Durian Sukegawa
One of those stories that fall into the 'Healing Fiction' category because they are gentle, reflective, and good for the heart. Sweet BBean Paste is the story of Sentaro, a man with a criminal record and a feeling of failure, who works in a shop selling pastries full of red bean paste. Every day passes the same until an elderly woman arrives into the shop and his life and a friendship begins. It's a story of connection set against the backdrop of food and Japanese culture and a wonderfully small yet poignant novel.
6. Delicious by Nicky Pellegrino
Nicky Pellegrino is one of my go-to authors for transporting me around the world and she often does this by making me extremely jealous of all the delicious meals I am not eating. In 'Delicious', one of her older novels, Nicky writes here about a woman called Maria who has returned to a small village in Southern Italy, disgraced and pregnant. Italy and it's cuisine is woven throughout the story of her journey and I would read it just for the simple and evocative descriptions of bread baking that take place. Delightful.
7. Hooked by Asako Yuzuki
Anything by Asako Yuzuki is perfect for a foodie, from her simple and mouthwatering food descriptions in 'Butter', to her upcoming children's novel about a young food loving witch, 'Mari the Unwonderful Witch'. In 'Hooked' we are taken into an obsessive relationship between two lonely women, a popular lifestyle blogger and an employee trying to introduce a new fish into the Japanese market. Asako's books are chilling and written in a beautifully specific and visceral way. There will be amazing descriptions of fresh produce and fish markets, as well as explorations of themes of social media and perception, freedom and control, validation and obsession.
8. Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree
A go to recommendation for me is the cosy adventure fantasy story of Legends & Lattes. It's got a gorgeous queer love story, a retired orc Viv who wants to open a cafe and introduce a small town to the delights of coffee. You cannot read the book without imagining this small, strange, new shop in this fantasy world, full of cinnamon spiced pastries and warm cups of coffee. It still has some action and adventure, but at its heart its a story about connection and found family. It's a little wholesome story and the perfect end to this delicious list.
“I told you I came across it in Azimuth, and I remember following the smell to the shop. They called it a café. People just sat around drinking it from these little ceramic cups, and I had to try it, and… it was like drinking the feeling of being peaceful. Being peaceful in your mind. Well, not if you have too much, then it’s something else.” - Legends & Lattes
What would you add to this list?
These 7 novels are just the start! You can check out a whole list below of books for foodies including fiction, non-fiction, and stuff for the kids too!
If board games are more your style, we have that covered too with a list of Board Games for Foodies! There's some ridiculously cute and cosy games in there, consider yourself warned.
Lizzy makes sure the Book Hero bookstore is an integral part of our local Hobsonville community, welcoming readers of all ages with a genuine kindness and love of books. The Fantastic Mr Fox ignited her passion for books as a child, and now she’s read thousands of books and loves matching the right book to the right reader - both in our bookstore and online. When she’s not recommending her next favourite read, she’s enjoying life’s small joys and adding to a home library so large her husband Edd is constructing a massive bookshelf to try and keep up.
