Prepare for summer eating with a taste of summer reading. It's time to compile a list of books that prompt exploration of restaurants inspired by a recent read or a book that’s waiting to share its plot and food ideas.
So many books. So little time. Go devour!
Here are a few reading ideas to set the scene for the many, many local restaurants worth a visit after you turn the last page. Who knows, the first chapter may cause irresistible hunger pangs.
The book: Chocolat by Joanne Harris
A read for chocoholics. Melt in your mouth ideas with a novel set in France with a little magic realism and romance for a great escape.
The shop: Schmid’s of San Clemente, 99 Avenida Del Mar, San Clemente. 949.369.1052 schmidschocolate.com
Find your favorite Belgian chocolate from a selection of artfully crafted chocolate to chocolate-dipped fruit. The escape is a bite away.
The book: Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd
Set in 1964 South Carolina, the main character is pulled into the world of bees and honey as part of a deeper plotline.
The place: Roost 374, 374 Camino de Estrella, San Clemente. roost374.com
Honey is more than an ingredient used in food. At this speakeasy, honey goes into multiple cocktails including the gin-based Bee’s Knees and the tequila-based Honey Bee. Life is sweet.
The book: The Kamogawa Food Detectives by Hisashi Kashiwai (Jesse Kirkwood, translator)
Japanese sleuthing series about daughter and father who create dishes from their customers’ past, identifying this culinary service as “food detectives” allowing diners to bring back memories through flavor.
The restaurant: Gen Kai Sushi, 34143 Pacific Coast Hwy., Dana Point. 949.240.2004. sushiorangecounty.com
Bring back a memory or create a new one. Is Karage ( fried chicken) or sukiyaki a memory trigger for you? How about shabu shabu, a beef and vegetables dish in a special pot? The extensive menu includes something for all—sushi, sashimi, tempura, and teriyaki options. Let Gen Kai be your detective.
The book: Wicked Appetite by Janet Evanovich.
Pastry chef Lizzy inherits a historic house in Salem, Mass. Along comes mystery and wickedness.
The venue: It’s All About the Cake, 24921 Dana Point Harbor Drive, Dana Point. 949.240.7100. itsallaboutthecake.com
Fictional pastry chef Lizzy would be pleased at the offerings at the independent café. There are pain au chocolate croissants, lemon raspberry muffins, dessert shots, two-bite petite cakes, cake pops and French macarons, to name a few. Now go satisfy your wicked appetite.
The book: Still Life by Louise Penny.
The French-Canadian Inspector Armand Gamache series creates an appetite for more food and complex murder mysteries. Scrumptious food scenes often are highlights during the crime solving.
The restaurant: Gemmell’s, 34471 Golden Lantern, Dana Paint. 949.234.0063. gemmellrestaurant.com
For a touch of French to set the scene for the read (or after the read), there are plenty of French sauces and tradition to be served up. A few items include cassolette escargot sauteed with garlic (and more) in a rich burgundy sauce, scallops au confit of garlic in a garlic champagne butter sauce, and filet mignon with a wild mushroom Bordelaise sauce. Bon appetit!
Cheryl Pruett is an award-winning journalist and editor, having covered Orange County city and county topics related to the food scene for the Orange County Register, Patch.com, and local magazines. She has called Dana Point/Capistrano Beach her home for more than 30 years.