Fried Clams at Aunt Evelyn’s | Steamers at Aunt Carrie’s | With chef Kelly Fields in Provincetown | Paula and pizza on the beach | |
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This is my favorite kind of newsletter to write: a travelogue! I'm just back from a refreshing two weeks in New England, where we got so relaxed that I actually cried on the beach the day before we had to leave. The highlight for me was taking a pizza down to the shore on Cape Cod at dusk (where it's warm in the evenings!), and watching the sunset as pods of seals leisurely swam by. Could anything be more romantic? Maybe sipping cold martinis on Adirondack chairs overlooking Provincetown Harbor, which we also did.
We spent our first week in Rhode Island, exploring the beautiful area around Tiverton and Little Compton, dotted with farm stands and little beaches. Our first stop was at Groundswell Cafe, which is now a sprawling compound of bakery-restaurant-picnic takeout-garden store-homewares store-ice cream shop. Somehow, it manages to retain an intimate feel, and everything they make is delicious. We wasted no time hitting up the clam shacks and lobster joints that my numerous customers and social media friends recommended. At Evelyn's Drive-In in Tiverton, we dug in to sumptuous platters of fried clam bellies, and at historic Aunt Carrie's in Narragansett, we demolished our lobster rolls in record time (they were the cheapest and most generous of the whole trip). After book scouting in Providence at Paper Nautilus Books, we relished our pasta dinner at Al Forno, a classic haunt that is still one of the best Italian restaurants in the country. There, we started with an appetizer of oven-roasted clams, which the restaurant procures from an awesome little seafood shop in Bristol called Andrade's Catch. Andrade's is a gem of a place, now run by the second generation, and stocked with some of the best locally caught and raised fish and shellfish in Rhode Island.
On our way to Cape Cod, we stopped to have dinner with one of my best online customers, whom I'd never met in person. It was a blast to finally meet, not to mention get to see all the books she's purchased from me over the years in her library. We spent the night with Bay Area pastry chef Emily Luchetti, who has a family home on Buzzard's Bay, and she naturally made an unforgettable berry brioche pudding (with an enormous side bowl of perfectly whipped cream), which she pronounced "so easy to make!" I guess if you've been the pastry chef at Stars and Farallon, almost any dessert is easy to make.
We drove out to Provincetown, at the very end of Cape Cod, on a cloudy day, and checked in at our favorite place to stay, The Red Inn. No sooner had we unpacked than we had those cold martinis in hand. Built in 1805, the lovely rooms overlook the harbor, and each has doors that lead out to a deck with chaises. The following day brought torrential downpours, which meant it was a perfect day for vintage book scouting! I drove over to Isaiah Thomas Books in Cotuit, and proceeded to get lost for hours. The place is enormous, and made me want to start collecting in whole new subject areas. I even bought an 1895 instruction manual on how to write love letters because I couldn't just let it languish there! I guess I'll just put it in our "Etiquette" section.
Once the sun came back out, Paula and I hit the beach, where we propped up our beach chairs, swam in the ocean, and read novels all day long. (Tip: our favorite beach is Race Point, which is long and finely sandy, and where those seals can be spotted daily). We had a rollicking dinner date one night with chef Kelly Fields, who became famous for her Southern biscuits at Willa Jean in New Orleans before packing it north to P-Town. She now heads up brunch at The Restaurant at The Crown and Anchor, but she took us to dinner at Sal's Place, which was by far the best place we ate in Provincetown. Make a reservation in person the minute you get to town, and order everything! She brought along her friend Rebecca, who owns Pop+Dutch, the perfect spot to grab a sandwich or pastry before heading to the beach. We also really loved our meal at Joon, a modern Persian restaurant with innovative seasonal dishes and cocktails.
We came home tan and happy, and I'm back in the swing of things at Omnivore, where we're teeing up a rapidly intense schedule of events. Check out our listings below, and check back to see additions as they pop up!
Sincerely,
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Wed. Aug. 2 • Lisa Donovan • Our Lady of Perpetual Hunger: A Memoir • 6:30 P.M. FREE!
Noted chef and James Beard Award-winning essayist Lisa Donovan's searing, beautiful, and searching chronicle of reclaiming her own story and the narrative of the women who came before her. Her family's matriarchs found strength and passion through food, and they inspired Donovan's accomplished career. Donovan's love language is hospitality, and she wants to welcome everyone to the table of good food and fairness.
CAN'T BE THERE? PRE-ORDER A SIGNED BOOK.
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Sat. Aug. 19 • Nandita Godbole • Masaleydaar: Classic Indian Spice Blends • 3:00 P.M. FREE!
Every page of Masaleydaar transports readers into a different regional Indian kitchen. Explore historical contexts, ecologies and spices that shape its kitchens through more than 100 delectable classic & inspired Indian recipes suited for every modern dinner table. A fascinating look at India’s complex gastronomic regions, one spice blend at a time!
CAN'T BE THERE? PRE-ORDER A SIGNED BOOK.
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Tues. Sept. 5 • Shelley Lindgren & Kate Leahy • Italian Wine: The History, Regions, and Grapes of an Iconic Wine Country • 6:30 P.M. FREE!
From award-winning sommelier Shelley Lindgren, who has long been recognized (and now knighted!) for her promotion of lesser-known Italian wines, and acclaimed cookbook author Kate Leahy comes a user-friendly and charming guide to Italian wines two decades in the making. Italian Wine is a beautifully photographed and delightfully comprehensive journey to understand what Italian wine looks like today.
CAN'T BE THERE? PRE-ORDER A SIGNED BOOK.
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Fri. Sept. 8 • Dan Pelosi with special guest Juanita More • Let's Eat: 101 Recipes to Fill Your Heart & Home • 6:30 P.M. FREE!
Join us for a book release party with Dan Pelosi in conversation with Juanita More! This will be more of a book signing celebration with a short talk than our usual longer form interview-style event.
CAN'T BE THERE? PRE-ORDER A SIGNED BOOK.
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Tues. Sept. 12 • Grace Lin • Chinese Menu: The History, Myths, and Legends Behind Your Favorite Foods • 6:30 P.M. FREE!
The Newbery and Caldecott honoree and New York Times bestselling author delivers a groundbreaking, lushly illustrated exploration of the whimsical myths and stories behind your favorite American Chinese food.
These tales—based in real history and folklore—are filled with squabbling dragons, magical fruits, and hungry monks, bringing you to far-off times and marvelous places, all while making your mouth water.
CAN'T BE THERE? PRE-ORDER A SIGNED BOOK.
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Thurs. Sept. 14 • Viola Buitoni • Italy By Ingredient: Artisanal Foods, Modern Recipes • 6:30 P.M. FREE!
The history and geography of Italy’s most iconic ingredients, showing modern home chefs how to incorporate robust flavors and techniques into their kitchens!
A native Roman raised in the Umbrian countryside (and now a beloved San Francisco-based cooking instructor), Viola shares the beloved flavors of her homeland, including practical guidelines for seasonal eating, easy substitutes for hard-to-find items, and valuable shopping tips alongside her approachable recipes.
CAN'T BE THERE? PRE-ORDER A SIGNED BOOK.
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Tues. Sept. 19 • Pierre Thiam • Simply West African: Easy, Joyful Recipes for Every Kitchen • 6:30 P.M. FREE!
In Simply West African, celebrated chef and West African cooking authority Pierre Thiam unlocks the region’s essential tastes for the everyday home cook. If you already cook with ingredients like hearty greens, yams, black-eyed peas, and okra, or have enjoyed Southern staples like jambalaya and gumbo, you have tasted the deep culinary influences of this interconnected region that spans Senegal, Ghana, Côte d'Ivoire, Cameroon, Nigeria, and more.
CAN'T BE THERE? PRE-ORDER A SIGNED BOOK.
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Sat. Sept. 23 • David George Gordon, Samantha Larson and MaryAnn Barron Wagner • Heaven on the Half Shell: The Story of the Oyster in the Pacific Northwest (Second Edition) • 3:00 P.M. FREE!
Fully updated and expanded—and chock-full of “oysterabilia”—this classic text shares new insights on emerging challenges to the oyster farmer’s life as well as increased coverage of the roles of women and contemporary tribes in building this cultural tradition, past and present.
Includes carefully selected recipes, both historic and contemporary, from the region’s top chefs.
CAN'T BE THERE? PRE-ORDER A SIGNED BOOK.
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Sun. Sept. 24 • Michael A. Gardiner • Cali Baja Cuisine: Tijuana Tacos, Ensenada Aguachiles, San Diego Cali Burritos + more • 3:00 P.M. FREE!
There’s a line between Northern Baja and Southern California but nature knows no such borders and, neither does food nor the people. Baja’s food culture has long influenced Southern California and vice versa. The region has a wealth of distinctive ingredients from the ocean and the land, and Baja chefs, street stand vendors and home cooks use these ingredients and flavors to create dishes from old homes elsewhere. The mission of this book is to help it be the next big thing out of your kitchen.
CAN'T BE THERE? PRE-ORDER A SIGNED BOOK.
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Wed. Oct. 4 • Nichole Accettola • Scandinavian from Scratch: A Love Letter to the Baking of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden • 6:30 P.M. FREE!
Scandinavian From Scratch is an ode to Scandinavia and an indispensable guide to Scandinavian baking and culture from the owner of SF's Kantine. Infused with Nichole's baking expertise and love for her cherished second home, recipes are adapted for the American kitchen but deeply rooted in Scandinavian tradition.
CAN'T BE THERE? PRE-ORDER A SIGNED BOOK.
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Tues. Oct. 17 • Sylvan Mishima Brackett • Rintaro: Food and Stories from a Japanese Izakaya in California • 6:30 P.M. FREE!
RINTARO, the debut cookbook from one of San Francisco’s most acclaimed restaurants, translates the experience of a Tokyo izakaya to the home kitchen. The book comprises exciting but simple food that tastes both like Japan and California.
Through clear instruction, abundant photography, and more than 70 delicious recipes, RINTARO illustrates and demystifies Japanese bar food and is destined to live in the kitchen as well as on the coffee table.
CAN'T BE THERE? PRE-ORDER A SIGNED BOOK.
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Sat. Oct. 21 • Robert Simonson • The Encyclopedia of Cocktails: The People, Bars & Drinks, with More Than 100 Recipes • 3:00 P.M. FREE!
How did the Old-Fashioned get its name, and why has the drink endured? What drinks were invented by Sam Ross? What was the Pegu Club, and who bartended there? In The Encyclopedia of Cocktails, Robert Simonson catalogues all the essential people, places, and drinks that make up our cocktail history in a refreshing take on the conventional reference book.
CAN'T BE THERE? PRE-ORDER A SIGNED BOOK.
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Sun. Oct. 29 • Rose Wilde • Bread and Roses: 100+ Grain Forward Recipes featuring Global Ingredients and Botanicals • 3:00 P.M. FREE!
In her extraordinary debut cookbook, Rose Wilde shares her joy of grain. From buckwheat, barley, and brown rice to spelt, sonora, and sweet corn, Bread and Roses is a comprehensive guide to choosing ingredients with an impact beyond the plate, with delicious results.
CAN'T BE THERE? PRE-ORDER A SIGNED BOOK.
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Sat. Nov. 4 • Jon Kung • Kung Food: Chinese American Recipes from a Third-Culture Kitchen • 3:00 P.M. FREE!
Join us for a book release party for Jon Kung! This will be more of a book signing celebration with a short talk than our usual longer form interview-style event.
CAN'T BE THERE? PRE-ORDER A SIGNED BOOK.
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Mon. Nov. 6 • Jeremy Scheck • ScheckEats―Cooking Smarter: Friendly Recipes with a Side of Science • 6:30 P.M. FREE!
From next-gen culinary phenom and TikTok superstar Jeremy Scheck, easy and delicious recipes for every day and beyond—plus expert tips to make you a better, happier cook. Now, in this personal book brimming with approachable recipes and step-by-step guidance, Jeremy shares the building blocks of what he calls culinary literacy: understanding why a recipe works and empowering readers to cook with confidence every day.
CAN'T BE THERE? PRE-ORDER A SIGNED BOOK.
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LOCATION TBD! Tues. Nov. 7 • Erin French • Big Heart Little Stove: Bringing Home Meals & Moments from The Lost Kitchen • 6:30 P.M. FREE!
Big Heart Little Stove is your new go-to inspiration for cooking thoughtful and meaningful, yet refreshingly simple meals. With more than 75 recipes and her favorite hospitality “signatures,” Erin French—author of The Lost Kitchen cookbook and the New York Times-bestselling memoir Finding Freedom—invites readers to bring a piece of her beloved restaurant, The Lost Kitchen, home with them.
CAN'T BE THERE? PRE-ORDER A SIGNED BOOK.
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Sat. Nov. 11 • Carey Jones & John McCarthy • Every Cocktail Has a Twist: Master 25 Classic Drinks and Craft More Than 200 Variations • 3:00 P.M. FREE!
Shake up your cocktail routine with this easy-to-follow guide from the critically acclaimed authors of Be Your Own Bartender. Featuring handy diagrams, numerous variations for different palates, and surprising flavor combinations, remixing the classics has never been easier. Now you can booze your own adventure with confidence.
CAN'T BE THERE? PRE-ORDER A SIGNED BOOK.
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Mon. Nov. 13 • Fuchsia Dunlop • Invitation to a Banquet: The Story of Chinese Food • 6:30 P.M. FREE!
A celebrated author weaves decades of culinary experience and on-the-ground research into an eye-opening, spellbinding book about Chinese cuisine. Through a ‘menu’ of thirty dishes from Mapo tofu to knife-scraped noodles, drunken crabs to stir-fried greens, Dunlop illuminates some of the key themes of Chinese gastronomy and invites you to taste Chinese food as you’ve never tasted it before.
CAN'T BE THERE? PRE-ORDER A SIGNED BOOK.
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