Lucia Watson is proprietor of Lucia's Restaurant, Wine Bar and Lucia's to Go. Her love for cooking began watching her grandmother Lulu pick blueberries and bake bread at the family cabin up north. Here are five books about food she thinks everyone should read.
"My Life in France," by Julia Child and Alex Prudhomme. A wonderful story of how Julia learned about food and cooking as well as a glimpse into her personal life.
"Honey From a Weed," by Patience Gray. Much more than a cookbook, this is a description of a way of life and food all but gone in parts of the Mediterranean.
"Down and Out in Paris and London," by George Orwell. This book includes descriptions of the crazy kitchen life in hotels in 1920s' London and Paris.
"The One-Room Schoolhouse," by Jim Heynen. Jim is one of our local treasures, and I love these stories of growing up on a farm and Midwest farm life. It's a glimpse into the wonder of looking at growing food and weeds, and how farm cooks get the crusts so perfect for their apple pies (a hysterical story), all from a kid's perspective.
"Coming Home to Eat," by Gary Nabhan. Gary's brilliant description of a year of local eating and what he learned about our food systems and his community.
KIM ODE
