What I'm Reading: A Thousand Days in Tuscany

At times, I wish I could be transported somewhere far away. Somewhere where the simplest observances of daily life become noticeable and interesting again. Typically, this requires visiting a culture different from my own- that's where travel literature comes in to play. With in moments of opening the pages you can be picking grapes in the hills of Tuscany or climbing the Eiffel Tower in Paris.

A Thousand Days in Tuscany by Marlena De Blasi, my latest travel lit find, is one that not only satisfies my desire for travel but also my love of food. In the novel, De Blasi chronicles the seasons of her life with her Italian husband after they move from Venice to San Casciano dei Bagni, a province of Siena, Italy.

Shortly after their move, the couple meets Barlozzo, a rustic, Italian character whose daily visits give the reader a peek into the Italian mindset and way of life. The Duke, as he is referred to, also teaches the De Blasies how food is foraged for and prepared in Tuscany. He helps them build their own brick oven for baking bread, pick grapes and chestnuts and even wild greens and truffles. Things you couldn't even imagine doing in suburban America. 

What struck me most about this novel was the beautiful, vivid descriptions of the rustic food De Blasi prepares. Not only could you easily prepare the dish after reading the paragraph but you could almost hear, smell and taste it.  If you're looking for more direction, she graciously provides formal recipes between most chapters. 

By Guido Barberis

Like all good novels, A Thousand Days in Tuscany is not short on romance. You experience the ups and downs in her relationship with her husband as well as the tender love the Duke has for his long time sweetheart. The novel also provides lessons here and there in the origins of some Italian and English words- such as compagna, or companion from con, with, and pane, bread. A person with whom we break bread. It's amazing how learning something so simple can be fascinating and eye-opening.

If you loved Under the Tuscan Sun, you will love the brilliant cultural and gastronomic descriptions De Blasi pours onto every page of this book. Looking for more to read? Visit her Amazon page here for more travel writing and cookbooks. 

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Talking Southern with the Lee Brothers

It all started with a pot of boiled peanuts in a tiny Manhattan apartment. Two James Beard Awards later, Matt and Ted Lee have become the go-to guys for Southern food- satisfying home cooks with both the comfort of grandma's fried chicken as well as fresh, updated southern recipes for modern living. During their trip to Tulsa, I was able to steal some time with this captivating duo to learn more about their career before a question and answer session at the Philbrook Museum of Art.

Though experts in their field, the Lee Brothers do not hail from deep Southern roots, rather they were born in New York. As young adolescents, their family moved to Charleston where the rich food culture created in them such strong ties to the South that it laid the foundation for their unforeseen journey into the food and travel world. After completing college and moving back to New York, a longing for southern delights such as boiled peanuts and fig preserves inspired Matt and Ted to track down and boil up a fifty-pound bag of raw peanuts. Although they identified an apparent niche, boiled peanuts did not become "the snack of the 90s" as they had hoped. Rather, this treat, curious to those unfamiliar, appealed to expatriate Southerners strewn across all parts of the country inspiring their mail-order catalog of southern pantry staples- The Lee Bros. Boiled Peanuts Catalogue.

The Lee Brothers said they couldn't see where they were headed when they started- and how could they? The catalog, with its hand-drawn illustrations, would lead to a travel piece and future contributing editors spot in Travel + Leisure, which further lead them to food writing and ultimately their first award-winning cookbook. 

It took Matt and Ted Lee a whopping six years to compile over two hundred recipes into the nearly six hundred pages that make up their first book, The Lee Bros. Southern Cookbook. Originally a fraction of the size and lacking a traditional fried chicken recipe, the cooks went back into the test kitchen until they had created a masterpiece inspired by traditions stretching across the entire Southern region. Taking home two James Beard Awards, best in breed and best in show according to Matt, as well as two IACP awards, their hard work paid off. From punches to pickles, Southern Cookbook is packed with both updated classics and lesser known treats, such as pickled peach fruit salad gelée, all set amongst fascinating stories that serve to make this more than a cookbook- it’s a southern experience in itself.

Their latest cookbook, The Lee Bros. Simple Fresh Southern, gives southern food the facelift it so much deserved. True to its title, this book is packed with easy to put together recipes featuring beautiful, fresh ingredients. “Fresh” also describes the Lee Brothers’ updated perspective on the cuisine, still emphasizing a key attribute of southern cooking- resourcefulness. While helping in the kitchen, Matt and Ted learned make do with what was available; they recount a memory of one of their influences, described as an old southern sage, using yogurt in her biscuits because she was out of buttermilk. Though unappealing to the eye, they made for the most delicious biscuits she had had in her many years.

Between their two books, the influences behind both their southern food education and delicious recipes are well illustrated. While speaking with the chefs, I got to hear more about the cookbook writing process itself. A true collaboration between the brothers, they follow their nose, whether it’s playing around with the shad roe that’s in season or a recipe from an old cookbook that tickles their fancy. In the test kitchen, they hash out recipes and exchange drafts, deciding whether they will take a traditional or updated approach. After investing plenty of time in developing the recipe, Matt and Ted say the delightful stories throughout the book come easily, the brother with the most relevant and entertaining anecdote writing the headnote.

Though Ted’s English degree has obvious benefits, I was interested how Matt’s studies in art history influenced his food writing. Both focusing on aesthetics, he found the two arenas actually quite similar. Having had to dissect over dozens of pages works of art most of us would find difficult to give a dozen words, Matt found food writing easy in comparison. The challenge with food writing, he describes, is fitting a surreal experience into the limited word count required by the magazine and newspaper world. Also credited with influencing their writing is their mother. A school headmistress, she was constantly mapping connections and histories amongst her pupils, a skill the Lee Brothers apply when connecting food to interesting characters and local history.

Avid collectors of American cookbooks, the brothers turned me onto a local gem that has been hiding right under my nose, Cleora’s Kitchen. This cookbook has everything they look for- a sense of place, personality and history. In fact, they tell me that this book was the first in the genre of autobiographical cookbooks and it all took place right here in Oklahoma!

For those interested in pursuing a career in the travel or culinary world, the Lee Brothers advise following your passion and developing it as fully as possible- with a little fine tuning it just might lead to something. Finding that they have worked backwards to reach their current destination, they learned that there is no set path leading to a particular career. Neither trained cooks nor entrepreneurs, their story inspires you to follow that itch.

In the works is their third book, The Lee Bros. Charleston Kitchen, projected for October 2012.  Chronicling growing up in the city’s rich culture with its strong connections to food, the reader will get both a taste for its contemporary scene as well as its past as they bring to life untold Charleston stories with reinvented recipes. Also of note is their line of cookware offered through HSN debuted this spring. The Lee Brothers take their career day by day but express hopes of making a bigger presence in the TV realm; they excite that their career has no expiration date- they can cook, eat, and write about food and travel until they die!

Next month, the International Association of Culinary Professionals will announce its awards, for which Simple Fresh Southern is nominated. While Ted will celebrate in Austin, Matt will be unable to attend though they both agree they can let someone else win this time. Unable to attend in 2007, the brothers remember dining at the Five & Ten restaurant in Athens, Georgia when they received the call that Southern Cookbook had taken home two awards.

If you're looking to have an inspiring food experience while in Charleston, the Lee Brothers advise you to experience their city at both ends of the spectrum- rural and urban, high and low. Seek out not just local restaurants but also interesting producers. They suggest visiting Bowens Island where oysters provide a far from luxury experience that is wonderful in its own right. For a more refined dining experience they suggest Hominy Grill or McCrady’s, which takes an inventive approach to southern cuisine.

From Simple Fresh Southern: Creamy Asparagus Soup with Grilled Asparagus, Radish Butter, Curried New Potato Salad, and Cabbage and Lime Salad with Roasted Peanuts

If you are not able to visit the south for an authentic experience, you can always pour over the pages of Southern Cookbook and Simple Fresh Southern and picture yourself transported to a place where food is central and as much a part of history as the people making it. Try your hand at some of their recipes and you will find not only the tastes and smells but also the warmth of the south itself infusing into your kitchen.

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A Book Signing: James Mauro's Twilight at the World of Tomorrow

Last night at Tulsa's iconic Philbrook Museum of Art, Book Smart Tulsa held yet another fascinating and successful event. The star of the evening was James Mauro, author of Twilight at the World of Tomorrow: Genius, Madness, Murder and the 1939 World's Fair on the Brink of War.

In typical Book Smart Tulsa fashion, this was not just a book signing- this was an experience. Entering the museum, you were greeted by the sounds of a local musician echoing off the walls of the rotunda and offered sticker replicas of buttons worn at the 1939 World's Fair. Before grabbing a seat, many made their way to the bar where you could grab a zombie- the unofficial official cocktail of the fair. A mix of apricot brandy and various rums and fruit juices, there is a reason why it's called a zombie- you may feel a little dazed after indulging in this potent, yet delicious beverage!

Before the author began his presentation, you were invited to make your way through the American Streamlined Design exhibit that features streamlined objects from the 1920s to 1950s- the same design used throughout the 1939 World's Fair, making Philbrook the perfect place to host this author.

Arriving to the event, I was unfamiliar with the book and the author himself but I knew that this would not stop me from enjoying the evening and I was right. Mauro gave a great presentation complete with plenty of fascinating photographs and interesting anecdotes about the 1939 World's Fair in New York. From the designs featured at the fair grounds to the little known 4th of July bombing, Mauro was able to take dates, names and facts and present them like he was giving a first-hand account. 

The 1939 World's Fair marked the debut of the television, nylons, the fax machine and the first public use of fluorescent lighting (for better or for worse, as Mauro put it). Also making a presence at the fair was none other than Albert Einstein, whom the fair gave a mere five minutes to explain to the public cosmic rays. The most fascinating part about this World's Fair is its location in history. Situated between the Great Depression and World War II, the irony of peace being the World's Fair theme while the world was on the brink of war is astounding. Having recently visited the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, it was a shocking contrast to what was really happening in Europe. 

After Mauro finished his presentation, he took poignant questions from the audience. Amongst those in attendance were visitors to the 1939 World's Fair itself! Seated at my table was a woman who was named after a lady her parents met while attending the fair, inspiring her to come to the event. Good-spirited competition finished out the evening with a game of trivia focusing on 1939-1940s facts- needless to say I did not have much to contribute!

Next time an interesting Book Smart Tulsa event comes up but you're worried that you haven't read the book or are unfamiliar with the author, fear not! You will come away entertained and enlightened with another book for your reading list.

Haven't caught the American Streamlined Design exhibit yet? It runs until May 15th- and guess what! The first two weeks in May are free! Don't miss it!

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The Pioneer Woman: The Accidental Country Girl Comes to the Mayo

Another successful event from Book Smart Tulsa! An estimated 700 fans forfeited Mardi Gras celebrations to meet the fabulous Pioneer Woman herself, Ree Drummond, at The Mayo Hotel in downtown Tulsa. Her latest book, The Pioneer Woman: Black Heels to Tractor Wheels-- A Love Story, tells the story of her meeting Marlboro Man, winding up on a cattle ranch and their first year of marriage.

There could be no better venue to bring out the city girl in Ree than the Crystal Ballroom of this historic hotel. There was even a cash bar and valet parking available!

{Insert oohs and ahhs here}

The Pioneer Woman, with her brother, Mike, took to the podium and immediately surpassed every expectation I had of her. Could it be possible that she is even more darling in person?

After a blizzard canceled her first book signing, Ree still couldn't catch a break getting to Tulsa. Driving into town, her brakes went out and she had to take out some fencing- everyone was OK! Still a little shook up, Ree shares that she is not a fan of public speaking- even the four-year-olds at church make her nervous- so she quickly got to signing the hundreds and hundreds of books before her.

The crowd waited patiently for hours to have their chance to share a few words with PW herself and take advantage of many photo opportunities. Mike even penned a few covers, stirred up some laughs and shared some loving moments with his sister...

Aww!

Not everyone could make the transition from city to country life as graciously as The Pioneer Woman has, let alone turn it into an opportunity. I'm guessing the patience and diligence that she demonstrated during this event has a lot to do with it! We reached the front of the line after a mere four hours of anticipation and she gave us the same attention and dazzling smile as if we had been the very first. This woman really appreciates her fans- and we appreciate her!

I'm excited to dive into her new book and hear any feedback from those who have read it!

During the event, Jeff Martin, from Book Smart Tulsa announced some exciting upcoming events I hadn't seen posted on their website. Much to my delight, they were about my favorite subject- food! Of note,  Book Smart Tulsa is helping to bring the Lee Brothers to Philbrook Museum on April 30th. You might recognize them from appearances on Food Network and Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations. Also, Joanne Chang of Flour Bakery & Cafe in Boston and Dorie Greenspan, author of Around My French Table will be making appearances!

Don't miss Book Smart's next event- it's a big one! They will be celebrating their two year anniversary along with the release of Jeff Martin and C. Max Magee's new book- The Late American Novel: Writers on the Future of Books. Catch it Thursday, March 10th at Dwelling Spaces at 7pm!

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Yann Martel: A Book Signing

Book Smart Tulsa brought another great author to town- Yann Martel, author of the beloved Life of Pi and his most recent Beatrice and Virgil. Now, don't be mad at me- I forgot my camera. But this is pretty much what it looked like:

This book signing had a very different feel than that with Elizabeth Gilbert- largely due to the difference in genres I suppose. Martel, unlike Gilbert, did not read an excerpt from his latest book but rather talked on the intentions he had for Life of Pi and his inspiration for writing Beatrice and Virgil.

It was interesting to hear exactly what the Martel's intentions were with Life of Pi. Though the book is still up to interpretation by its readers, the book signing brought a rare chance to hear from the author what he was really thinking when he wrote it. Being a very black and white person, I much appreciated this!

What most interested me was Martel speaking about Beatrice and Virgil. Arriving at the book signing, I had no idea what his latest book was about but I knew there was a donkey and a monkey on the cover. Once again, Martel uses animals as protagonists to tell his story- a fact I very much like. What will catch you off guard is that the story is an animal allegory for the Holocaust.

I know- intriguing, right?

Martel describes the fascination for the Holocaust he has had since a child in school. He understood World War II and the concepts behind war, but that a country would extinguish millions of its own citizens was puzzling to him. Having no family ties to Europe or Judaism, Martel did not feel it appropriate for him to write a fictional book on the Holocaust using factual people and events. Instead, the author uses an animal allegory to, as he puts it, provide an undercurrent of truth about the Holocaust. It sounds incredible and I can't wait to read it!

Martel describes himself being an intricate planner when it comes to his writing style. Before he sits down to write the first paragraph, he knows how his book is going to end. An audience member asked if he ever changes the path of the story based off where his character is leading him. The author replied no- he tells the characters what to do.

Another project, of sorts, that Martel has is What is Stephen Harper Reading?. For as long as Stephen Harper is the Prime Minister of Canada, Yann Martel will send a new book to him every two weeks with a letter detailing why it was chosen. The website features the book choices and letters sent as well as replies received. So far, Martel has sent 100 books and received seven replies, none from the Prime Minister himself. And no, I don't think he sends them because he's a big fan. The website is quite funny and provides a great reading list!

Keep a look out- Life of Pi is currently being made into a major motion picture and will be released December 2012! Can't wait!

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Eat, Pray, and Love Elizbeth Gilbert: A Book Signing

This past Saturday, I attended my very first book signing put on by Book Smart Tulsa. It featured none other that Elizabeth Gilbert, the author of Eat, Pray, Love- now a household name.

I wasn't quite sure what to expect out of this whole book reading concept- I could imagine it easily being a bore.

But let me tell you- that woman was delightful. I didn't really care if she was talking about her book or not; she could talk about the grass growing and still get a laugh out of the audience.

The evening began with a decree from the Mayor declaring it Elizabeth Gilbert Day here in Tulsa, Oklahoma. I'm not sure how that ranks on her list of accomplishments but it was a charming touch!

The book signing was to promote her newest memoir, Committed, which chronicles the research and preparation she did leading up to her marriage to her sweetheart, Javier  Bardem. I mean, Felipe!

Seeing that I have just received a dozen books (literally) off of Amazon.com, I didn't have any intentions of buying her new book that night. But then she started reading from it... and I couldn't help myself! It was incredible!

The author chose a section of the fourth chapter in her book entitled "Marriage and Infatuation" to read to the standing-room-only crowd. On top of making everyone roll with laughter, the excerpt was so relatable and real- much like the author herself.

After the reading, Gilbert took questions from the audience and answered each of them with grace. She talked about the research that goes into writing each of her books- including reading hundreds of books for her last memoir, her feelings on the Hollywood adaption of her book (all positive), and her inability to keep up with daily meditation.

One audience member deeply inspired by Eat, Pray, Love asked Gilbert what authors or novels she looks to for inspiration. Gilbert recommended another memoir, A Three Dog Life by Abigail Thomas, and states that she also turns to Charles Dickens time and time again.

After questions were taken, the packed house filed down the aisle to have their books signed. Surprisingly, it did not take long at all!

Tulsa marked Gilbert's last stop promoting Committed and after all the publicity she claims that she is not going out into the limelight for a long time! I'm so glad I was able to see her!

If you missed this event be sure to mark the next Book Smart Tulsa signing in your calender- Yann Martel, the author of Life of Pi and a new novel Beatrice and Virgil, will be at Congregation B'nai Emunah March 1st at 7pm.

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What I'm Reading: La Bella Lingua

Travel literature is one of my favorite genres to read- especially if it is set in Europe.

Right now I am reading La Bella Lingua  by Dianne Hales.

I purchased this book because I expected it to be centered around the Italian language in relation to her travels around the country and interactions with everyday Italians. Instead, it is more focused on the historical origins and evolution of Italian.

Though the book does not meet my original expectations, it is quite interesting and offers entertaining lessons in Italian vocabulary. I enjoy how she explores using the many Italian suffixes to subtly change the meaning of a word. I also discovered a word I can relate to- Goloso: a lust for food. Italians would have a word dedicated for this purpose- I will be using this one in the future!

You really can't go wrong if you talking about Italians if you ask me!  I would recommend this book to anyone interested in languages, travel or the lovely country of Italy.

Have you read or heard of this book? Let me know!

Buy it on Amazon!

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