Books & Bakes Sneak Peak

Tonight is the fifth month of my Books & Bakes Literary and Food Salon. The May selection was the kooky memoir/cookbook Eat Me, The Food and Philosophy of Kenny Shopsin. I shook things up this month by asking people to bring a dish from the book in lieu of paying full price. It looks to be as kooky a line-up of food as the book was to read! I'm filling in the gaps with a main dish that isn't in the book and a dessert (Shopsin only serves milkshakes, as far as I can tell). Oliver took the photo above. I made Honeycomb Vanilla Ice-Cream and Brown Butter Poundcake. It'll be slathered with meringue and torched to make Mini Baked Alaskas. I got the recipes from Food 52, an amazing site to check out when you have a moment.

If you're in the southern California area, please think about attending one of my salons. Share with your friends, if you have a hankering to help my little cottage business grow. You might consider having me come to your home with your friends for a get-together, a change from your usual book club, a gift for someone or an office party. For more information on the June 22nd salon, see my other website. We're reading Toni Morrison's The Bluest Eye.

Wish you were here!

Books & Bakes Number 2

The Book of Salt by Monique Truong

Here's my second notice for my new business/pleasure/ecstatically doing venture. The book we'll be reading is a first novel, and I haven't read it, yet! I remember when it came out, but it passed me by, and when I was mulling over what to assign for my next salon, I went on the internets and stumbled on a syllabus for an English literature class at one of the Best Universities On the West Coast. The name of the course was Literature and Food, and one of the books listed was The Book of Salt. I read a bit more about it and was sold. I toyed, too, with assigning perhaps my very favorite novel -- Virginia Woolf's To the Lighthouse -- not just because it's incredible but also because a pivotal scene in the novel revolves around boeuf en daube, a perfect meal to make for a group. Maybe another time. For those of you here for the first time, I've recently started a literary and food salon called Books & Bakes. For January I've got two groups reading Gabriel Garcia Marquez' Strange Pilgrims, and I'll be posting pictures and notes about it this weekend. Here's how I describe Books & Bakes on my phantom website*:

Are you a lover of literature but stuck in a book group that never really discusses the book? Are you a lover of food but want to cut through the pretension of the foodie world? Do you revel in devouring both beautiful fiction and food, especially when they intersect? Are you looking for a unique gift for your loved ones or yourself? Come join a community of like-minded souls and share your love of literature and food at the monthly Books & Bakes literary and food salon. Salon size is limited to 10, so rsvp early.

A light dinner, drinks and stimulating conversation are included. 

$75.00 per person includes facilitated discussion about "The Book of Salt" by Monique Truong, related food and alcohol. 

This month's special includes a $25 discount if you bring a man to the group (a little affirmative action!). He'll pay full price!

Email me at elsophie@gmail.com and please share with your Los Angeles friends! 

RSVP with your email and/or contact information, which date you prefer. Payment will be expected to confirm spot and can be either mailed or charged to PayPal.  

*I have yet to create a logo, a website, something really professional yet still bohemianish. If you know of any graphic designers who don't charge an arm and a leg or might want to barter (cakes?), please send them my way!