READING, WATCHING, GOING

What do you like to read and watch? What are some of your favorite restaurants? Send a comment to me, I'd love to hear about your lists.


READING
I love to read and cookbooks are right at the top of my list! Here are a few of my favorites:

Joy of Cooking - Irma S. Rombauer and Marion Rombauer Becker
How to Cook Everything - Mark Bittman
American Classics - Editors of Cook's Illustrated
Monday to Friday Cookbook - Michele Urvater
Lidia's Italian Table - Lidia Matticchio Bastianich
and a very old cookbook of my mother's dated from about 1942, sorry, the cover is long gone and I don't know who wrote or published it

When I have time, I enjoy a good mystery novel and here are some that are food-related:
AUTHORS
Nancy Pickard based on characters and a story created by Virginia Rich:
The Blue Corn Murders, 27 Ingredient Chili Con Carne Murders
Virginia Rich
The Baked Bean Supper Murders, The Secret Ingredient Murders
Ruth Birmingham:
Blue Plate Special, Sweet Georgia
Jerrilyn Farmer:
Mumbo Gumbo, Dim Sum Dead, Killer Wedding
Susan Wittig Albert:
Rosemary Remembered, Lavender Lies, Chile Death
Diane Mott Davidson:
many, many books including Dying for Chocolate, Cereal Killer
Nancy Fairbanks:
Chocolate Quake, The Perils of Paella
Lou Jane Temple:
Revenge of the Barbecue Queens, The Cornbread Killer, Bread on Arrival
Phillis Richman:
The Butter Did It, Who's Afraid of Virginia Ham?
Peter King:
Dine and Die on the Danube Express

OTHER FICTION:
Erica Bauermeister:
The School of Essential Ingredients
Nicole Mones:
The Last Chinese Chef


WATCHING
I love movies too and here is a short list of food-related movies I have enjoyed:

Babette's Feast - Starring Stephane Audran; Director Gabriel Axel
Big Night - Starring Stanley Tucci and Tony Shalhoub; Directors Stanley Tucci and Campbell Scott
Chocolat - Starring Juliette Binoche; Director Lasse Hallstrom
Christmas in Connecticut - Starring Barbara Stanwyck; Director Peter Godfrey
Dinner at Eight - Starring John Barrymore, Jean Harlow, Billie Burke; Director George Cukor
Like Water for Chocolate - Starring Lumi Cavazos, Marco Leonardi; Director Alfonso Arau
The Man Who Came to Dinner - Starring Bette Davis, Monty Woolley, Billie Burke; Director William Keighley
Tortilla Soup - Starring Hector Elizondo, Elizabeth Pena; Director Maria Ripoll
Waitress - Starring Keri Russell and Nathan Fillion; Director Adrienne Shelly
What's Cooking? - Starring Mercedes Ruehl, Alfre Woodard, Dennis Haysbert; Director Gurinder Chadha
Woman on Top - Starring Penelope Cruz; Director Fina Torres

GOING
Local restaurants deserve your attention when your time and budget allow. Here are some of my favorites in no particular order:

San Luis Obispo County:
Joe's Other Place - Templeton
Odyssey World Cafe - Paso Robles
Gus' Grocery - San Luis Obispo
Tacos Acapulco - Grover Beach
Mo's BBQ - Pismo Beach & San Luis Obispo
Golden Gong - Grover Beach
Gold Rush Room at the Madonna Inn - San Luis Obispo
Giant Manhattan Pizza - Pismo Beach
Jocko's Steakhouse - Nipomo
Margie's Diner - San Luis Obispo and elsewhere
Cowgirl Cafe - Nipomo
Mustache Pete's Italian Eatery - Cambria
Chulo's Cafe & Cantina - Templeton