Friday, January 15, 2010

Feasts and Seasons

QUESTION:
"What is it that distinguishes the attitude of the feaster from that of the ordinary eater?"

ANSWER:
Sensory expectation, social pleasure, and intellectual reward.


"Instinctively we know the importance of feasting,"
but only rarely do we practice the art of eating reflectively:
"Once a year our dismal diet disappears, and . . .
we are given a glimpse of what food can mean."

--Paul Levy

One of my ritual activities for January is to peruse all my holiday cookbooks, marking ideas for next year, and making ambitious plans for future feasts. Paul Levy's book, The Feast of Christmas: Origins, Traditions, and Recipes, is one of my favorites. Also:

Home Cooking
More Home Cooking: A Writer Returns to the Kitchen
both by Laurie Colwin

The Frugal Gourmet Celebrates Christmas
The Frugal Gourmet Keeps the Feast: Past, Present, and Future
both by Jeff Smith

TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THESE TITLES,
READ THE LATEST POST ON MY BOOK BLOG:


"FEASTS AND SEASONS"
KITTI'S BOOK LIST
www.kittislist.blogspot.com














RED DINING ROOM, PHILADELPHIA, 2003

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