Hayley Reviews- Writers On Food
For our book club this April we read ‘Omelette’ by Jessie Ware. A singer and co-host of the popular podcast ‘Table Manners’, Jessie takes us through her life via some weird and wonderful meals and the people she shared them with. Inspired by this book, I thought I would share some more food writing that I have enjoyed and hope you will too.
Omelette by Jessie Ware
Having previously co-written a cookbook with her mother Lennie Ware, this is Jessie’s first solo piece of writing. Through her ‘foodoir’ Jessie wonderfully blends memoir, food, and travel writing to take us back to the most precious and formative moments of her life, and the food she ate.
These engaging vignettes explore a diverse set of memories, traveling from the home comforts of her father-in-law’s spag-bol to the opulence of the Chateau Marmont. There is a warmth and nostalgia to the stories, as Jessie weaves in many of the tender and beautiful moments she has spent with her friends and family, the moments which have made the food even more special. At just under 200 pages you’ll be able to easily gobble up this delightful memoir – full of warmth, family, and – most importantly – food.
Happy Fat by Sofie Hagan
I’ve talked about this book in more detail in a previous blog, and although not technically food writing, Sophie Hagen’s book has transformed the way I think about food, especially in terms of body image. Part memoir part social commentary, comedian Hagen’s humour shines through as she recounts her journey to body acceptance and explores the systems that benefit from shaming fatness, such as capitalism and the patriarchy. I think it is important to include books like this when talking about food as it is a brilliant antidote to diet culture and potential guilt that may dilute our love of eating.
Tiny Moons: A Year of Eating in Shanghai by Nina Mingya Powles
Published by The Emma Press, a small independent publisher based in Birmingham, this morsel of an essay collection is a profound yet mouth-watering study about food and what it means to belong. Centring around her time as a student with a tiny kitchen in Shanghai, Nina Mingya Powles journeys between Kota Kinabalu, Shanghai, and Wellington to explore various aspects of her identity through the dishes, snacks, and family feasts that have defined her. Tracing ‘the constants in her life: eating and cooking’, she transports readers across the globe as she considers how her multiple nationalities have shaped her thoughts about her place in the world. This collection is a wholesome and sweet reflection on identity and is full of Powles’ warm and precious memories of her family and friends.
Eat Up and Cook as You Are by Ruby Tandoh
Former Great British Bake Off contestant now author and food writer Ruby Tandoh has written for the Guardian, The New Yorker, and has several books under her belt including her latest releases ‘Eat Up’ and ‘Cook As You Are’. Covering a wide range of topics, ‘Eat Up’ is a how-to for falling back in love with eating. Here Tandoh examines the messages we are given about food, looking at how it is portrayed in film and the media and how we understand this symbolism when it comes to our own eating habits. Her discussion ranges across topics such as eating disorders, fad diets, race, and class to take a closer look at how we are told to think about food. Tandoh takes an incredibly kind and judgement free approach, including lots of recipes and advice to reinvigorate a love of food. Her latest book ‘Cook As You Are’ continues her inclusive message. Aimed at ‘real cooks’, those with maybe limited time or resources, Tandoh brings 100 inspirational recipes that focus on affordability and accessibility to help bring delicious food into every kind of kitchen.
If you enjoy the sound of any of these books I also recommend checking out Potluck Zine on Instagram @potluckzine , a magazine that celebrates home cooks' stories of cooking, eating, and sharing food.
To request any of the books discussed above please visit our request page here.