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Meet Grace

Grace at the Coffee Mugg(le) mural
Grace reading on her Kindle

Hi, I’m Grace G.G.

I’m the reader and reluctant cook behind A Literary Feast. I grew up in New England and now live in Texas, not far from Austin, with my family, including two boys who keep me very busy in the kitchen. I belong to a book club, I run a yearly Reading Challenge, and I will happily talk about Gilmore Girls for as long as you will let me.

What you can expect here

  • Honest opinions on the books I review, whether I loved them or not.
  • Recipes written out in full, with ingredients and steps.
  • Clear disclosure when something is sponsored. You can read how that works in my disclosure policy.

Questions or a book recommendation? Get in touch.

Mining for meal plans in literature, with a healthy dose of Emily Gilmore. 

I am a voracious reader, but a reluctant cook. The introduction of two small dictators in my home has impelled me to spend much more time in the kitchen than I prefer. Follow me on a journey to blend the world of books with the minutiae of daily life. We’ll look at the role food plays in literature and use that knowledge to put supper on the table.

Oh, and let’s recreate all of Emily Gilmore’s Friday Night Dinners. What a good excuse to watch more Gilmore girls!

Food in Literature

“Of course reading and thinking are important but, my God, food is important too.”
― Iris Murdoch, The Sea, the Sea

On days where I would much rather read than slice three more strawberries for Things 1 & 2, I have a fantasy that some brainy scientist would finally develop a pill that we could take once a day, providing all of the nutritional intake necessary for life and health. My guess is that it would wreak havoc on global economics. But what would it do socially?

Humans thrive physically, mentally, emotionally, and interpersonally on food. When was the last time a friend texted you about meeting up? Nine times out of ten, I bet the suggestion somehow revolved around food. “Let’s meet for lunch!” “Coffee tomorrow morning?” “Are you up for happy hour today?” And what about dating? Consider the awkwardness of a first date if there was no chewing to distract you from the fact that he may be hot, but he obviously hasn’t read a book in his life. Dinner and a movie has become the American fall-back standard for date nights. Even nights in are routinely spent in front of the TV with snacks in hand.

As food has played an integral role in our culture, it has invariably crept into our writings and entertainment. I’m not just talking about food blogs, cookbooks, and the Food Network; I’m talking about the description of what Jane Eyre ate for breakfast (burnt porridge) and the contents of a Gatsby mansion buffet (glistening hors-d’oeuvre, spiced baked hams crowded against salads of harlequin designs and pastry pigs and turkeys bewitched to a dark gold). Did you notice? No? The fact remains that this most basic of elements often lies hidden in the classics as well as in pop lit. As I progress through the blog, we’ll examine food references in literature and recreate some meals. No particular order or plan– I only hope that the kiddos will eat some of it. Also on a mission to raise little readers. Are you with me?

Dinner with the Gilmores

If you know me, you know that Gilmore Girls is my show. They are my homegirls, my escapism, my standard for witty dialogue. Emily Gilmore is my favorite character, and Kelly Bishop is the Queen. She’s complex, bitingly sharp-witted, and always classy. Her Friday night dinners, though at times coerced, are masterpieces of elegance and delectableness every week.

(Unfamiliar with Gilmore Girls? Read my intro here.)

My quiet little dining nook can never match the grace and splendour of the Gilmore home. Pictures, then, will require a bit of added imagination. Follow me as I lead you on a journey through seven seasons of Gilmore Girls’ Friday night dinners. After all, don’t we deserve a little bit of luxury?

Start Here

New to A Literary Feast? These six posts are a good introduction to what the site is about.

What You’ll Find Here

A Literary Feast has been pairing books with food for years. A few highlights from the archive:

How Books Are Reviewed

Reviews here are honest opinions. Some books get a rave, and some get a much cooler reception, like the ending that left me unmoved in Calico Joe. A review tells you what worked, what did not, and who might enjoy the book.

How Recipes Are Handled

Recipes on this site come from a few places:

  • Recipes written out on the site: these appear in the post itself, usually with a recipe card listing the ingredients and steps.
  • Recipes shared by others: when someone else’s recipe appears here, such as a guest post or a family recipe from an author, they are credited by name.
  • Meal plans: many weekly meal plans link to recipes on other food sites, and those links and credits go to the original creators.

Sponsorships and Your Privacy

Anything sponsored is disclosed. You can read the details in the disclosure policy, and the privacy policy explains what data this site collects and how it is used. Businesses interested in working together can visit Work With Me.

Corrections

Spot a mistake in a recipe, a broken link, or something out of date? Please let me know and I will look into it and fix it.