Ideas Needed: Readathon Party Menu?

[Karin]

After learning about the National Readathon Day on the BOTN podcast, I've decided to host a party in my home. So far, 3 of my friends are coming over, but I guess it could go up to 8 or 10. I've promised to feed everyone---so, fellow readers, what would YOU serve if it were your party, 12-4PM? Oh, and what cocktails?

[Ann]

Cocktail: Tequila Mockingbird (there's actually a book of literary cocktail recipes with that title).

Proust's Madeleines (or an approximation).

I know there are many other literary dishes, but I'm drawing a blank...

[Karin]

Oh Ann, I have to find that book! I won't have Madeleines though, because I don't know the reference (I've heard it, but I don't know it) and also because I don't like them. :)

[Ann]

Here you go: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...

[Ann]

I don't know if I'd eat any of these, but:
http://www.quirkbooks.com/post/ten-ou...

I do think Green Eggs & Ham would be fun, though!

[Karin]

Just ordered it! Will have it in time for the party. Yay.

[Linda]

Esther's Orange Marmalade Cake from Jan Karon's Mitford series. I think you can find it in Jan Karon's Mitford Cookbook and Kitchen Reader: Recipes from Mitford Cooks, Favorite Tales from Mitford Books. I also found it by Googling it.

ALL of Diane Mott Davison's books have recipes in them.

Blueberries for Sal

Tea from Alice in Wonderland

Gruel (oatmeal?) from Oliver Twist or turkey from A Christmas Carol

Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe

Green Eggs and Ham

Turkish delight from The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe

Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs

Every flavor beans from Harry Potter

The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake

clam chowder from Moby-Dick; or, The Whale

Stone Soup

Apple pie and ice cream from On the Road

honey from Winnie-the-Pooh

lots of things from Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life

[Karin]

What a great list. I think I can handle lemon cake!

[Mindy]

"Bookies" -- book-shaped cookies. I just used sugar cookies and a Bible cookie cutter that I found one Easter. Frosted white, then outlined with black using those gel things. On the sides, I drew several lines to look like page edges, and I drew lines on the "pages", too. Gosh now that I describe it, they sound like a lot of work. :-) They were cute, though.

[Antonia]

Love the bookies!! But the lemon cake sounds like the perfect thing, too. Wish I were going to the party! ;)

[Jackie]

Karin a fabulous idea. Next year I may try it myself. I am curious, though, is your plan to have your guest over for the, no doubt, wonderful feast and then sit and read the four hours OR will the reading have been done prior to the party. I can't imagine 8-10 of my reading friends shutting up for four hours when gathered together.

[Karin]

I really don't know how it's going to unfold. There are 5 people plus me and most don't know each other, so it probably won't be a gabfest like it would be if it was a group of close friends. So I think I'll just set out the real food in the dining room and snacks in different reading "stations" around the house, and let people do what they want. I have seating for about 4 to lounge in the living room, and then upstairs I have a window seat with a cushion, and then I'll also open up the guest bedroom. So people can read in companionable semi-silence or if it gets chatty, they can go someplace else. I'm keeping the food pretty simple: I'm going to make a "Greens, Eggs & Ham" Frittata with kale (or spinach) and prosciutto. I bought a box of Turkish Delight. The rest will just be chippy & dippy stuff from Trader Joes, and some desserts. I did buy a few book inspired cookbooks, but won't have time to shop and cook for real. [If any of you are in Philadelphia, you are welcome to come! I live in Media, Delaware County.)

[Jackie]

Sounds great Karin. I hope you will give us a report next week. Have fun.

[Antonia]

Yeah, we want to hear all about it. Hope there are Tequila Mockingbirds!

And I want to host one next year. Wish I'd thought of it sooner!

[Karin]

I bought the drink book but alas no Tequila in my house. I will be making mexican spiced hot chocolate (just because I want to) and will probably spike it (just because I want to).

Snow expected here---people already advance warning me they might cancel because it, um, never snows in the Northeastern US

[Sue]

Snow expected here, too, and I just may have convinced enough neighbors to hunker down together with books and cocktails to make it a real readathon party. We shall see.

Karin wrote: "I bought the drink book but alas no Tequila in my house. I will be making mexican spiced hot chocolate (just because I want to) and will probably spike it (just because I want to).

Snow expected ..."

[Karin]

I wish I could post pictures here but we had:
Greens, Eggs & Ham Frittata (Green Eggs & Ham)
Turkish Delight (The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe)
Key Lime Pie (Heartburn)
Lemon Bars (The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake)
Crispy Black Bean Snacks (The Bean Trees)
Schoolhouse Alphabet Cookies
Guacamole (Lardbutt & Guacamole)
Mexican Hot Chocolate (Take your pick, but I'll say Chocolat)
Stinky Cheese (the Stinky Cheese Man)

Oh, and I read a whopping 20 pages. So, party was a food success and a reading fail, but a nice way to spend the afternoon with friends.

[Linda]

Karin wrote: "I wish I could post pictures here but we had:
Greens, Eggs & Ham Frittata (Green Eggs & Ham)
Turkish Delight (The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe)
Key Lime Pie (Heartburn)
Lemon Bars (The Particular..."

Glad your party turned out so well, Karin.

[Jackie]

Fantastic Karin.! You have inspired many, no doubt.

[Anna Maria]

Karin wrote: "I wish I could post pictures here but we had:
Greens, Eggs & Ham Frittata (Green Eggs & Ham)
Turkish Delight (The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe)
Key Lime Pie (Heartburn)
Lemon Bars (The Particular..."

Oh, what a nice menu

[Gerald]

just the book for you if your interested in drinking.

[Celeste]

What a fabulous idea! I am *so* planning a party next year, potluck :) I wish you could have posted pictures too! Is this a same time next year event? Not your party in particular, but the reads thin date.

[Karin]

I think it will be an annual event. This was the first year so I guess we'll have to see!

[Karin]

I think it will be an annual event. This was the first year so I guess we'll have to see!

[Victoria]

I really enjoyed reading through this thread!

You should check out Cara Nicoletti's book "Voracious" and also her blog which features food/book pairings (with RECIPES)! It's yummy-books.com Both the blog and then the book were born out of literary dinner parties she used to host with her friends.