Paper Palate

In searching for books to highlight I came across an upcoming book that inspired me to focus on food memoirs this week. Apparently a new collection of articles written by the legendary M.F.K. Fisher will soon be making it’s way to book shelves everywhere.

I’m excited.

But I am relatively new to the food world. On a whim, I attended a panel at the Great Writers Conference at Barnard College last year on food writing. It seemed natural. I am a writer and I love food, so food writing, I thought, could be an interesting endeavor. It was at that panel where food writer Melissa Clark spoke about food blogging and how it is a growing outlet for food writers. Days later, Cucina Bella was born.

It was that same day that I also first heard the name M.F.K. Fisher. To the outsider, hearing about this level of food writing that intertwines the art of food with the sensual nature of eating and looks at food on a level beyond nutrition was extraordinary. I didn’t even know such a thing existed. To me, food writing was recipes, diets and food pyramids.

Learning about M.F.K. Fisher has broken down my preconceived notions and given me a world of enjoyment to take in. And for that reason, I offer you a selection of new and upcoming books that give you an insight into food beyond the ingredients.

Stew or a Story: An Assortment of Short Works by M.F.K. Fisher
by M.F.K. Fisher and Joan Reardon – Showmaker & Hoard/$28.00

What self-respecting and well-read food admirer hasn’t heard of M.F.K. Fisher? She took food writing to a new level with her articles and books, giving it a sensuous life and literary quality that hadn’t been seen before.

This particular one features 57 pieces from notable publications such as Gourmet, Bon Appetit and Vogue as well as much harder to locate smaller publications.

Due out in October.

Mostly True: A Memoir of Family, Food, and Baseball
by Molly O’Neill – Thomson Gale/$30.95

This book was originally released in April 2006, but it’s being re-released this month and I felt it was definitely one worth calling attention to.

In the book, food critic and writer Molly O’Neill (who coincidentally is famed Yankees right fielder Paul O’Neill’s big sister) talks about growing up with five younger brothers, family togetherness around the table and her father’s love of baseball. She takes the reader through her first professional kitchen experiences in Massachusetts and into her food writing career.

The reviews were favorable, and it sounds like an interesting read.

Climbing the Mango Trees: A Memoir of a Childhood in India
by Madhur Jaffrey – Knopf Publishing Group/$25.00

This book was released last year in other parts of the world, and is finally making it’s way to North America. It’s a memoir of Jaffrey’s childhood growing up as a privileged youth in India and includes recipes to go with her wealth of memories of family life and voyages to country in the summer, exploring the intertwinement of food and memory.

This is due out in the US in October.