Last week we talked about our Summer Writing Plans and it pains me to say that I haven’t yet managed to get started. Today was the closest I’ve come to feeling like I was on track. Our son promoted from middle school to high school yesterday, our daughter had finals, my car got clipped by another parent waiting to pick up the kids on Monday, and my husband had his wisdom teeth removed last Friday. It’s been a busy week! This week for our How I Write series, my accountability group is talking about Fictional Foodie Favorites. We were asked, “What would your main characters (hero and heroine) say are there favorite dish and why? Bonus if you share a recipe for the dish or if you have made it share a picture.”
My characters LOVE to go to Gunter’s for ices. It’s like heading over to Dairy Queen, Coldstone or a Ben & Jerry’s shop today. Something to cool you off and a social place to hang out while the weather’s warm. Marcia and Barrington end up there in Revealed. Hubert and Camilla meet there in Sweet Temptation. I’m sure others will probably drop in at some point since the ton had decided it was a place where a gentleman could take a lady unchaperoned and not risk censure.
Over at Historic Food, British food historian Ivan Day has a comprehensive article on Georgian Ices that includes lots of pictures, drawings and several receipts (an old fashioned way to say recipes). Definitely worth a look!
We’ve become very bland in what we think of as acceptable ice cream and sorbet flavors these days. In the Georgian and Regency Eras, ices could be sweet or savory. Parmesan Ice? You betcha! Elderflower, muscadine, currant were just a few of the other varieties that sound so exotic to our modern ears.
It’s funny that my heroine’s are much less food conscious than the men in my stories. Although, I have it on good authority that Tabitha (Beneath His Touch) prefers her toast with a hearty dollop of jam. Marcia’s favorite has to be the muscadine ice, a sweeter white currant ice scented with elderflowers. She might not be very experienced with men, but she’s no stranger to sensuality.
The scent of spring rose from the bowl. She dipped into the ice and scraped off a dainty portion. Raising the spoon to her lips, she reminded herself to savor the first spoonful as long as possible. Subsequent ones never satisfied the same way. Cool, tangy crystals burst in her mouth releasing the delicate, subtle taste of summer. Marcia closed her eyes and leaned against the squabs while the world around her melted away like the ice on her tongue.
On the other hand, the men like Barrington and Hubert and even Ambrose in Beneath His Touch are something of foodies. Barrington doesn’t always know the proper terms, but he knows what he likes. Ambrose, well, lets just say no one would ever accuse him of skipping a meal and he appreciates the finer fare. But Hubert, he has a definite sweet tooth and very strong memories tied to food.
Hubert Langham, Lord Dendridge, strolled along Berkeley Square, his nose lifting to catch the tantalizing scents wafting on the easterly breeze. Gunter’s iconic golden pineapple beckoned him closer to the teashop. Soon individual aromas emanating from the confectionery were distinguishable: vanilla, caramelized sugar, fresh fruit. But the floodgates of his memories erupted with the rich, luxurious scent of chocolate. His mother had brought him here prior to his being sent away to school at a tender age.
YOUR TURN: What are some of your best food associated memories? What foods set your mouth to watering just thinking about them?
And if you’d like to read about how the rest of my accountability group answered, you can find their blogs here:
* Alexia Reed * Kimberly Farris *
* Angeleque Ford * Danie Ford * Emma G. Delaney
Kristen, I’d love to try the muscadine ice … with the heat today is supposed to bring, that sounds divine and sinful at the same time.
Great character questions.
My heroine, Hayden, used to co-own a bar and grill with her sister (before it was burned to the ground), but for now is concentrating on a temporary catering business. So food has been on my mind a lot lately. The story takes place in the Florida Keys and Hayden’s favorite is the locally caught lobster when it’s in season. Dane will eat anything put in front of him, loves fish of any kind and has fond memories of conch fritters from his childhood visits to the Keys.
Pam
Doesn’t that all sound so good right now, Pam? Especially if someone else was making it!
I love good books that appeal to all the senses and food is so relatable. Even if it’s something I don’t think I’d like… I can still relate to it.
Ahh… maybe I’ll have to go watch Chocolat again…
I have to say, I love interesting flavors of gelato. Had a banana-curry gelato last year. Sounds gross. It was awesome.
As for food related memories, I will always have a special place in my heart for McDonald’s fries. The day I got married, everyone had told me not to eat because I’d be so nervous (I have a puppy tummy–it was a reasonable request). By 3:30, I was starving. So I sent my maid of honor out to get me something to eat. There are a whole set of pictures of me, in my wedding dress, with a large box of fries in my hand!
The banana-curry doesn’t actually sound that odd to me. We used to have a nice little gelato stand, but it closed. =(
I know what you mean about food and weddings! I’ll forever associate Pizza Hut with mine. We didn’t get anything to eat at the reception except a taste of cake and no one thought to make us a plate. I do that for brides now. We ended up at Pizza Hut with my parents after the reception and I was so exhausted I knocked my drink over. No pictures at least!
Me too Meggan. I love exotic flavors. Normally when I see a selection of gelato, truffles, drinks, etc, I go for flavors that would make my friends cringe. Also I am obsessed with mint-flavored food.
As for memories. chicken soup reminds me of my grandmother. Once she made a pot of it and brought it to the hospital when I had just had surgery. German chocolate cake reminds me of my parents’ anniversary when I would make it for them.
I’ve been told my writing is very food-focused. At least that part of me is auto-biographical *LOL*! I love books that feature recipes (like the Penn Dutch Inn mysteries by Tamar Meyers) and I’ve started including a recipe at the end of my novels, too.
I love books like that, Cheryl. Sherry Thomas’ DELICIOUS was like reading food porn and both Louisa Edwards‘ MARKET and RISING STAR CHEF series revolve around chefs and she always includes recipes in the back. Love the one for Brussel Sprouts.
I’ll have to check out those authors. I just eat books like that up! LOL
My WIP historical fiction is set in rural Iowa. Farm folks are very food oriented and I grew up on a farm so it’s hard for me to write without bring food into the picture. The food is basic but very tasty and always around. Fresh baked bread. Pancakes. Liver sausage. Cookies of all kinds.