Indulge, lose yourself and revel in our favourite foodie memoires, with a couple of great novels thrown in aswell.
When I Open the Shop by romesh dissanayake
A young man, nursing the grief of losing his mother, opens a noodle shop in Te Whanganui-a-Tara. Obsessing over julienning carrots, he recreates his mother's cherished salad, a dish that speaks of his mixed heritage and the ache of loss. Themes of ethnicity, belonging, community and the food that connects us make this gentle coming of age novel a powerful and warm hearted read.
Butter by Asako Yuzuki
A woman is in prison, accused of murdering several men she had been seeing. Rika is a journalist keen to get an exclusive with this murderess, sure it will advance her career. So begins a game of cat and mouse between the two, set to the tune of food, especially butter which, in a culture obsessed with body image, is sinful Butter walks a line between food based horror, a thriller and a feminist manifesto all while worshiping the titular spread.
Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner
Zauner's poignant exploration of grief, identity, and Korean heritage is beautifully interwoven with the flavors of her childhood. Through the lens of kimchi, bibimbap, and tteokbokki, she reveals the profound ways in which food can shape our lives.
Heartbake by Charlotte Ree
After years in an abusive marriage, Sydney cook and author Charlotte Ree left. A few hours later, the city entered its first Covid lockdown and for the first time in her life she was truly alone. Ree writes introspectively about her marriage and it's messy breakdown, her dating and eventual self discovery during the pandemic. Her food and love for food shine, as does her mental health journey. After reading, make the recipe for burnt Basque cheesecake included in the back.
Julie & Julia by Julie Powell
Desperate to escape her day job, Julie Powell set out to cook all 524 recipes in Julia Child's classic Mastering the Art of French Cooking, all in 365 days. The result a wild ride through a manic year of cooking, full of humour, wit and determination.
Small Fires by Rebecca May Johnson
Rebecca May Johnson cooks the same recipe 1000 times while philosophising on sausages, Nigella Lawson, The Odyssey and feminism. Celebrating the transformative power of food and eating, Johnson weaves together the self, society, and the world.
Heartburn by Nora Ephron
The late director of Sleepless in Seattle and You've Got Mail, Nora Ephron's uniquely delightful, funny and irreverent style shines through in this work of autofiction. Her stance on potatoes alone makes this an instant classic - “I have made friends who begin with pasta, and friends who begin with rice, but whenever I fall in love, I begin with potatoes…”
Tiny Moons by Nina Mingya Powles
Set between three places Powles calls home, in Wellington, Kota Kinabalu Malaysia and Shanghai, this collection of short essays encompasses her love of food and family, eating and cooking, street food and feasts. To be read while eating dumplings.
