Questions for you:
1.) Have you ever tried a new recipe / food / skill because you read about it in a book?
2.) Have you ever tried a new recipe / food / skill because you were writing it into a book?
This post brought to you by research into surfing.
Mad Genius Club 
18 responses to “Shiny New Things”
Yes, of course. The sweet omelet with jelly, in Strong Poison. I didn’t do the powdered sugar, but I did take all the advice about making omelets. It was good, and the omelet advice is sound for all omelets.
I don’t know that I’ve cooked much out of books, but I’ve been inspired to eat a lot of weird stuff at restaurants because a novel recommended it.
Oh, and drinks. And particularly syllabub, mead, etc.
Yes to both.
I was trying to think of something that sounded odd that would be super-filling and came up with a lentil curry variant–which lead to me finding the existing Indian variant, which taste enough like chili that it’s entered our Friday rotation.
For trying food that I read about… countless. Although the first one I remember is cinnamon and coco mix in coffee, from the Dragon Rider’s Cook Book.
1) yes (going all the way back to me as a kid trying turkish delight after reading The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe)
2) Nope – never wrote a book.
That book also got me to try turkish delight!
I’m afraid I never learned to like the rose flavour, though I do like the pistachio. When we go to the British import store, my husband knows I won’t be stealing his turkish delight. The wine gums, on the other hand, are in danger…
Yeah, not a fan of the rose flavour either, but I did come across some that were lemon flavoured that were *fantastic. I don’t go to the import store often any more, not since I started ordering jelly babies through Amazon (that one I can’t blame on books, just Tom Baker’s 4th Doctor… =D ).
I actually really like rose flavor, although I’ve never managed to describe it to anyone else in a way that makes it seem appealing.
“It tastes like rose-scented soap smells. No, it doesn’t taste like soap, it just tastes like the smell. Wait, where are you going? It tastes good, I swear! Why are you running…?”
Yep. Several omlette variations, spice combinations, a few stew recipes tweaked, a drink the oncet, and The Thing Which Shall Not Be Named (or smelled, or eaten, or looked at, or even thought about) ever again.
All in all, several good, a few meh, one By All the Frogs Never Again!
I have a friend, Scott Slack, who is learning to ride, because he’s writing about cavalry. I watch his progress reports with interest, and have zero desire to try to learn posting a trot like him.
…Depending on how deep this research rabbit hole goes, I may end up getting a membership to a pool again, so I can get in shape enough to get some lessons on a vacation. My darling husband would likely think I’ve gone mad, except, well, research. We’ve done road trips before following the trail his characters would have taken on a cattle drive, so it’s no more mad than usual?
Water is always great for exercising! There’s several indoor surfing options, which might be a day trip for you, and easier on your knees. FlowRider is one, and I’ve seen it in use, although never tried it. There are a few in your region.
https://www.flowrider.com/projects/?q=USA
…I literally had no idea that existed. Thank you!
Reading: yes. Laurie Colwin’s food essays (not just cookbooks, the writing takes precedence) and novels. Many of my standby recipes come from her books.
I have tried to make several dishes I read about in Nero Wolfe novels, some successful, others not so much. And once from a Lord Peter Wimsey story, but I forget which one. It probably involved Port though. 😂
I have The Nero Wolfe Cookbook, but haven’t tried any of the recipes yet. Nero Wolfe has to be the champion of mystery story cuisine.
Not yet, though that’s more due to circumstances than lack of interest. The bean curd pie and Senate Soup both sounded really good, but I kind of discovered I shouldn’t have them after finding out about them.
The pan seared fish I’ve had, butt haven’t had the skill or access to fresh fish to do myself. But it was something someone who is a skilled cook and has regular access to fresh fish could do.
(Was a couple of characters’ morning routine. He’d check the fish weirs in the morning, bring a couple of likely ones home, and she’d sear them up for breakfast.)
I too asked about Turkish Delight as a child after reading The Chronicles of Narnia. My uncle (who had given me the books) handed me a box of Aplets and Cotlets. “Here you go” he said. “Thanks, but why isn’t it called Turkish Delight?” “Well, the family that makes that were ethnic Armenians who escaped Turkey during their ‘ethnic cleansing’ and made it to the USA. They’re not going to call it Turkish Delight, even if it is.”
And it absolutely is.
(and really good stuff, too)
1: I’m sure I have but I can’t really remember any particular instances right now.
2: I want to try some Cuban food because I researched it for a part of my second serial when the main character ends up in Miami and eats at a Cuban restaurant for the first time.