#Foodie Fiction

[cameracourt]

Top Ten Tuesday: 10 Stories Involving Food

[stacyalesi]

Spotlight Review: RECIPE FOR A CHARMED LIFE by Rachel Linden

Spotlight #BookReview: RECIPE FOR A CHARMED LIFE by Rachel Linden, a wonderful read that is very well done, engaging, and even inspiring - plus a touch of magic! #RachelLinden @BerkleyPub @penguinrandom #foodiefiction #bookstagram #romance #magicalread

CLICK TO PURCHASE From the publisher: After a day of unrivaled disappointments, a promising young chef finds every bite of food suddenly tastes bitter. To save her career, she travels to the Pacific Northwest to reconnect with her estranged mom, and discovers a family legacy she never suspected in this delicious novel from the bestselling author of The Magic of Lemon Drop Pie. American chef…

[its-suanneschafer-author]

BOOK REVIEW: First Course by Jenn Bouchard

Janie Whitman, the protagonist in First Course, undergoes a life-changing twenty-four hours. First, she loses her job in Chicago and the boyfriend/boss there breaks up with her. Then, hard on those happenings, her parents die in a plane crash, and her sister, Alyssa, learns that her spouse has been cheating on her. Because her sister has fallen apart, Janie assumes the care of her nieces while…

[feral-ffa]

Ever wondered how those instagram foodie account girls stay skinny even though they're eating 5 items from a different trendy restaurant every day?

You had idly wondered that, but most of all you just couldn't believe your luck when you finally sealed the deal with a cute and sweet rising star foodie.

The first time the two of you went out for a content shooting dinner, it was to a nice fusion sit down place. She told you she'd mostly just talk to her tripod. All you had to do was get some close up shots of crispy crusts and cheese pulls and then just not eat till she had all the footage she needed. Easy trade off for a free dinner with a beautiful girl!

When the waiter came around, she rattled off an order of two house cocktails, two apps, and three entrees, before turning to you and asking you to pick your favorite entree too. You obliged, ordering pineapple fried rice.

When the food came out, she started taking pictures and recording, and she was still working on the appetizers when the 4 big entrees came to the table. You did your best suppressing your hunger and helping her get the perfect shot of her sampling each dish. When she was done and told you to dig in, you both started devouring the still-warm food. But you had to state the obvious. "There's no way we can finish all this."

She waved you off. "We'll take the rest in to-go boxes. Not like it's going to waste."

Still, it seemed like a shame to not have the food hot and fresh out of the kitchen. She got full shortly, but you plugged on, finishing the entirety of the lettuce wraps and spring roll appetizers, both desserts she ordered, and the sweet and saucy pork adobo. It felt like you barely put a dent in the other dishes, so you got to go boxes.

As full as you felt leaving, the siren call of leftovers lured you to the fridge twice more that night.

~~~~~~~

And so it went, your girlfriend taking you to snack joints and restaurants to help film, and you doing your best to clean the plates after. You never truly could though, always bested by her choice of rich cuisines or gimmicky posts ranking every kind of cronut or rice dog a place offered.

Until you all went to a fancy prix fixe place she had fought to get reservations for. You each got five modest portions of perfectly cooked food and you cleaned yours up no problem. She had started to get winded by the meat course and only had half of her dessert.

"Finally a member of the clean plate club, huh?" she teased as she snapped a picture of the receipt.

"Well they give you those small fancy portions," you protested. "Two bites of quail. Two bites of steak. Three raviolis. Tastes good though."

She just laughed and gave you an affectionate pat on the tummy.

~~~~~~~

You did find yourself having to size up your clothes as the seasons changed, but again, you considered it a reasonable tradeoff for the pampered life you were now living.

"I hope you're ready for this," your girlfriend chided you on the way to the state fair in the summer. She was partnering with them for a series of 'everything I ate at the state fair' videos, which of course was actually going to be everything you ate.

You faithfully videoed her taking the first bite of what felt like a million little snacks, making sure to capture her reaction. Wide eyes at the cheese pull from a mozzarella stick, unimpressed at a dry turkey leg, laughing as she got a good angle to chomp down on tornado fries, smiling in pleasure at cherry topped funnel cake.

Soon as she was satisfied with the footage, she would pass the greasy treat off to you and drag you to the next line. You lost count of all the fair food you hurriedly plowed through that day, the hand dipped corn dogs, berry shortcakes, bbq sandwiches, and fried oreos.

The shoot ended with you finishing off a huge fresh squeezed cold lemonade she had taken one (1) sip of. It was the only thing you had room for, and you felt it filling in the gaps in your already food-stuffed gut. You waddled after her to the petting zoo, where she wanted to treat herself to some baby animal cuddles as a reward for getting all the footage and b-roll she needed before sundown.

Before you sat on the bench outside for a breather, you noticed your stuffed belly peeking out of your shirt. Sure you just ate nearly everything the fair had to offer, but this was a new XXL shirt! You glanced at her inside the pen, scratching a piglet behind the ears.

"The pigs are my favorite."

"Yeah, I bet."

~~~~~~~

You went ahead and bought new shirts and pants again. As time passed you got better at eating as much of your girlfriend's orders as possible in one sitting. You especially looked forward to when she did collab videos with her friends. They'd reserve a long table and it would be laden with over a dozen meals. You got to try everything, eat as much as you wanted of your favorites, and there would still be leftovers.

One night before going out to film at a sushi restaurant, she warned you, "this is a hand roll place and i booked us the omakase menu, it's $250 for 6 small bites."

You helped her get pics and enjoyed the delicious savory raw seafood, but she caught the downcast look on your face and the hand on your belly after you left.

"Don't tell me you're still hungry?"

"You aren't?"

"No, I actually finished every course. Even the miso soup."

"Well I'm used to cleaning up after you don't finish every course!" You wrapped your arms around her, and pulled her in close to whisper in her ear. "You always pick where we go, can I choose somewhere just this once?"

"Let me guess," she said as she leaned into your soft belly. "You want to stop at mcdonalds?"

So the two of you stopped at the drive thru, chatting and laughing in the car as you worked your way through a big bag of burgers and fries.

~~~~~~~

You continued to feel grateful for this lifestyle, but you were especially excited when your girlfriend told you she booked a reservation at Pina's Table, a new Italian restaurant that was already getting lots of buzz on the socials.

When you arrived for your reservation, both in nicer clothes for the opening weekend, you were shown to a intimate booth near the back. You felt a little nervous sliding in, as you could just barely fit. But before long you were more focused on the menu. After she ordered her usual sampler spread of two apps, two cocktails and three entrees, the waiter turned to you for your selection, and you decided to be bolder today.

"How about the chicken marsala. And the baked ziti."

Both of your selections looked so good when they arrived, you could barely stop drooling while filming her slicing open a burrata and tasting the spaghetti all'amatriciana. It felt like a million years passed before she gave you the OK to dig in.

You started off sampling a little bit of everything, and it was of course just as good as expected. You were enjoying a mouthful of ziti when the flash from her phone went off. Startled, you looked up. Had she forgotten to get a picture of something?

"Sorry," she blushed, putting her phone back down. "You're enjoying yourself so much, I just wanted to save it to remember."

You laughed. "If that's good, just wait till after I'm done."

You dug into the warm food, savoring the light burrata and tomato salad and the heavier mushroom ravioli and amatriciana. You ate with relish for what seemed like ages until you started to feel the table pushing into your swollen stomach.

Exhausted, you leaned back, against the soft booth, your fullness finally catching up to you. You subtly opened the top button of your pants, letting your belly flow out to bump the table again. There was still so much of each entree left....

You were spared from the eternal dilemma by the chef, a young and energetic guy, coming to the table to drop off a sampling of cannoli and gelato. Your girlfriend jumped up excitedly to shake his hand and take selfies, and passed the phone to you to you could take a couple pictures of them... after you struggled to haul yourself to your feet.

"Thank you so much for helping get the word out," she chef thanked her profusely. "Pina's Table is my baby. I'm thrilled how many people turned out for it."

"Thank you so much for inviting us!" Your girlfriend chirped in reply. "Everything was delicious."

"I'm thrilled you enjoyed it! It's a labor of love." The chef clapped her on the shoulder before turning to you. "And of course your seal approval means just as much too! Seems like you enjoyed, huh?" He gave your belly a playful poke.

"I wouldn't be where I am now without the belly behind the account," your girlfriend agreed, reaching over to give your tummy another squeeze, jostling out a small burp.

The pair of them shared another laugh and selfie before the chef left to go gladhand some other tables.

"Should we get the to-go boxes?" she asked, patting you gently on the butt as you squeezed yourself back into the booth.

"I think I have a little room left."

You pulled the plate of ravioli in front of you and started working on it again as she took a short video of the desserts.

'The belly behind the account,' huh? You could get used to that.

[battyaboutbooksreviews]

🔪 What to Read After Watching The Bear (Queer Edition)

🦇 You bookish bats know I love a foodie romance (which is why I created my first "What to Read After Watching" list for The Bear last year). After watching The Great North episode of Ham and Crispin "yes chef" and "corner" -ing adorably, I realized I had to make a queer version. So here are a few queer books you should consider reading after watching The Bear!

🧁 Be sweet! Comment a "YES CHEF" if you love this list!

🔪 Bloom - Kevin Panetta & Savanna Ganucheau 🔪 Chef's Kiss - TJ Alexander

🔪 Love & Other Disasters - Anita Kelly 🔪 Café Con Lycee - Emery Lee

🔪 Rosaline Palmer Takes The Cake - Alexis Hall 🔪 The Romance Recipe - Ruby Barrett

🔪 Legends & Lattes - Travis Baldree 🔪 Queerly Beloved - Susie Dumond

🔪 The Dos and Donuts of Love - Adiba Jaigirdar 🔪 The Heartbreak Bakery - A.R. Capetta

🔪 Fake Dates and Mooncakes - Sher Lee 🔪 Served Hot - Annabeth Albert

🔪 Mangos and Mistletoe - Adriana Herrera 🔪 Idlewild - Jude Sierra

🔪 Chef's Table - Lynn Charles 🔪 Paris Daillencourt Is About to Crumble - Alexis Hall

🔪 Triple Sec - T.J. Alexander 🔪 You Had Me At Happy Hour - Timothy Janovsky

🔪 A Bánh Mì for Two - Trinity Nguyen 🔪 Lavash at First Sight - Taleen Voskuni

🔪 Chef's Kiss - Jarrett Melendez, Danica Brine, Hank Jones, Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou 🔪 The Princess and the Grilled Cheese Sandwich - Deya Muniz

[deafeningdestinyaster]

“You missed most of the show. Have you ever felt like a third wheel at your own torture scene?”

.

.

.

Haa I kinda missed this one..

[celestialtomedreamer]

Returning to Tumblr because I miss social media sites like LiveJournal and the aesthetic look of BBSs of the 80s.

[books-to-add-to-your-tbr]

Title: The Shadow Game

Author: Amanda Foody

Series or standalone: series

Publication year: 2018

Genres: fiction, fantasy, romance, LGBT+, mystery

Blurb: Enne Salta was raised as a proper young lady, and no lady would willingly visit New Reynes, the so-called City of Sin...but when her mother goes missing, Enne must leave her finishing school and her reputation behind to follow her mother's trail to the city where no one survives uncorrupted. Frightened and alone, Enne has only one lead: the name Levi Glaisyer. Unfortunately, Levi is not the gentleman she expected; he's a street lord and a conman. Levi is also only one payment away from cleaning up a rapidly-unravelling investment scam, so he doesn't have time to investigate a woman leading a dangerous double life. Enne's offer of compensation, however, could be the solution to all his problems. Their search for clues leads them through glamorous casinos, illicit cabarets, and into the clutches of a ruthless mafia donna. As Enne unearths an impossible secret about her past, Levi's enemies catch up to them, ensnaring him in a vicious execution game where the players always lose. To save him, Enne will need to surrender herself to the city...and she'll need to play.

[jahtarlifestyles]

#self-portrait

This is a blog of images, thoughts, and feelings. Some are mine, and some are others that I resonate with. I am a 45+ spiritual spoonie who loves plants, books, food, and more. Feel free to interact and look into my journal for inspiration. I am who I am still trying to figure this sh*t out on the daily. 

[stacyalesi]

FOR BUTTER OR WORSE by Erin La Rosa 

New #bookreview: FOR BUTTER OR WORSE by Erin La Rosa, a delicious, occasionally steamy romance, and I enjoyed every morsel! #ErinLaRosa #HGN #bookstagram #romancestagram #romance #enemiestolovers #fakeromance #foodiefiction #bookthreads #bookstagram

CLICK TO PURCHASE The Hollywood Series, Book 1 From the publisher: A FEMINIST BOOK CLUB CHOICE AWARD WINNER! They go together like water and oil… All chef Nina Lyon wants is to make a name for herself in the culinary world and inspire young women everywhere to do the same. For too long, she’s been held back and underestimated by the male-dominated sphere of professional kitchens, and she’s…

[famitha0601]

meant to be?... - Done with it (on Wattpad) https://www.wattpad.com/1387065535-meant-to-be-done-with-it?utm_source=web&utm_medium=tumblr&utm_content=share_reading&wp_uname=Famitha_mi&wp_originator=fu43Icx7anzfabUQnchPVlqR7nztau86Yrcy%2BHSWBrI%2FZNqWVVBj%2B9aAZ4wpxSoNwhLC%2FYnOU%2BmcgQaOqnRiqjAgakUsSwVYr8m0yBxpcoiQ0c%2BTuaWwW682%2BZEgM1VI its a story about two people who struggle eventually meet at the wrong time.

[booksbrunchandbaggage]

Welcome to my Blog!

Hello, welcome to Brunch, Books, and Baggage; where I'll be writing reviews on three of my favorite things; exquisite eats, good reads, and travel destinations! I'll also be sharing some of my favorite recipes, but first, let me tell you a little about myself. My name is Kelli Lamier; I'm a mother, author, educator, avid reader, frequent traveler, home chef, and foodie. I love curling up with a good book (I'm one of the few people who still prefer physical books), exploring around and out of town, trying new restaurants, and replicating some of their tasty dishes at home. I'm currently a resident of Houston, so I'll be reviewing all of my favorite local spots and new restaurants and tourist areas on my radar. As a persistent traveler, I will also uncover hidden gems all around the country and out of the country as well. My eleven-year-old daughter Kami's palette is well developed for her age and while she isn't much of a fan of reading like myself, she has quickly become my partner in travel and dining. Once again, welcome, come on in, and I hope you enjoy the journey!

[battyaboutbooksreviews]

🦇 The Kamogawa Food Detectives Book Review 🦇

❓#QOTD What's your all-time favorite dish? ❓

[ Find my review below. ]

❝ "What's the one dish you'd do anything to taste just one more time?" ❞

🦇 Down a quiet backstreet in Kyoto exists a very special restaurant. Run by Koishi Kamogawa and her father Nagare, the Kamogawa Diner serves up deliciously extravagant meals. But that's not the main reason customers stop by. The father-daughter duo are 'food detectives'. Through ingenious investigations, they recreate dishes from a person’s treasured memories – dishes that may well hold the keys to their forgotten past and future happiness. The restaurant of lost recipes provides a link to vanished moments, creating a present full of possibility.

💜 This cozy mystery was an absolute delight. Its structure is similar to Before the Coffee Gets Cold, making it an easy read to escape into (perfect given the chilly weather lately). Every description of the delicious Japanese delicacies got my mouth watering (I know my fellow bookish bats are aware I adore experiencing other cultures through food, in and out of books). The story focuses more on empathy and human experiences than high-stakes, stressful mysteries, making it ideal as a palette cleanser between more intense reads.

🦇 While this was a comforting read, I do wish we learned more about the main cast of characters. Instead of focusing on small short stories/mysteries, I wish a singular mystery was the novel's through line, allowing us to focus more on the three main characters. Regardless, this story was a delicious, cozy treat!

🦇 Recommended for fans of Before the Coffee Gets Cold and other mouth-watering foodie cozy mysteries.

✨ The Vibes ✨ 🍡 Cozy Foodie Mystery 🌸 Set in Kyoto 👘 Father/Daughter Duo 🍤 Short Stories 🇯🇵 Japanese Literature

🦇 Major thanks to the author and publisher @putnambooks for providing an ARC of this book via Netgalley. 🥰 This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.

[mad-rdr]

All of Us Villians Duology - Amanda Foody and C.L. Herman

★ ★ ★ ★/5 (both)

I've said before and I'll say it again; bring back fantasy duologies!! All of Us Villians and All of Our Demise were such fun reads. For being young adult books, they were well stocked of morally gray characters, violence, and betrayal. I loved this series and each of the characters, with a competition resembling that of the Hunger Games, the addition of magic, and 7 power-hungry families, this was an intriguing set up. Every champion entered this competition with expectations set on their shoulders and every one defied them. There's much to discuss so this is just going to be a ramble of my thoughts. In the first book, I really liked Isobel and Alistair's scenes, how she realizes he isn't the monster everyone thinks he is and then death-curses him anyways. Isobel was such a fascinating character; she's branded as the "pretty girl," but my god is she one of the most vicious. She literally cast a death curse as she was kissing Alistair... enough said. Not to mention in the second book she literally plots out everyone's deaths while they sleep in the rooms next door. I love her. Moving on to Alistair though, homie just needs a hug and someone to care about him. I loved how he tried to act like a monster (though sometimes he really was) but eventually everyone realizes he just traumatized and clumsy (and a loverboy at heart...). He is also one of my favorite characters and I'm glad he gets to leave everything (his grief, trauma, horrible family name and legacy) behind at the end of book 2. Not to mention his relationship with Gavin- genuinely one of the best slow burn, enemies-to-lovers storylines I have ever seen. Their relationship was so cleverly thought out and I'm glad that after they fight through many death experiences to end the tournament, that they can be happy together. Honorable mentions to Finley, Briony, and Reid, whom I didn't love but enjoyed their POVs anyways. I feel like of any of the MCs to die, Briony made the most sense and I wasn't even surprised as I read the chapter. She always wanted to be the hero, so she got the martyr role in the end. I know there's more I'm leaving out, but in the interest of this being relatively short, I'll just say this; you will not regret picking up this series!

[an-organized-confusion]

I should be going to bed.

But I’m amused how in 2-3 of my AUs, one could pull out the “you’re not you, when you’re hungry“ joke with.

iZombie - ‘cause zombies. Especially Team Z: Janus, Virgil, and the twins. Though I see Remus ribbing Roman about that one the most. “How about we go to Lo’s [work]place (morgue) and grab a snack (brains)?“ (Never mind how Roman do be struggling the most with this mess.)

Begotten - Well. With Beasts the hunger is like metaphysical stuff. Not-exactly-nice acts to provoke and feed off strong emotions in humans (usually some type of fear response.) Like in iZ!AU - the Beasts are the same dudes on Team Z. I can’t help but think the twins may end up garnering a reputation like, “The Draconic Thief (Roman) & The Tentacled Deep Sea Vandal (Remus).“

Gymrat - The most banal version of this trope. Since it’s a realistic, slice of life AU. So an actual Snickers bar might get produced in the situation at hand. I think from most to least prone to getting hangry (extremely loosely):

Roman (look, this man is already highly emotional and dramatic)

Remus (especially when particularly anemic or in pain)

Virgil (especially when already stressed/cranky)

Janus (especially during a flare-up - cranky from pain and a bit more hungry thanks to corticosteroid usage)

Logan (more likely to compound moments where dude just needs to go find a quiet place to scream about customer BS)

Patton (man’s disciplined, what can I say?).

Only real question mark is with the Promethean!AU. Yeah, they can eat food... but their bodies are like alchemical furnaces getting fueled... rather than something more visceral/natural? It’s not as pressing to address, besides Trying To Appear Like A Normal Human Being.