Food in literature

Food in literature

by Apple STO

Two contemporary Polish books for teenagers: „Kawa z kardamonem” (Coffee with cardamon) and “Czekolada z chili” (Chili chocolate) by Joanna Jagiełło use food as a symbol of life. Teenagers’ life isn’t only sweet, sometimes it is difficult or sad and has rather sour flavour. The author’s opinion is that we should find good flavour in whatever happens to us. Our life with sad moments should remind us chili chocolate or cardamom coffee – we love them even if they are not just sweet. Wise and feel-good books for teenagers.

Food plays an important role in all books by Małgorzata Musierowicz, all characters cook or bake something, they have their own recipes, their attitude to food is specific, they express feelings they have by cooking, they do their best to give a pleasure to family by preparing something really delicious.

Following readers requests the author made a book where all recipes of Borejko family have been collected so that readers could taste those extraordinary cakes and other dishes and prepare them for their families or friends. It is “Łasuch literacki czyli ulubione potrawy moich bohaterów – przepisy kulinarne i wnikliwe komentarze” – ‘Literary gourmand - favorite dishes of my heroes - recipes and insightful commentary’ by Małgorzata Musierowicz.

‘Pan Kleks’ (Mr. Inkblot) by Jan Brzechwa – one of set books for 11 year olds. Mr. Kleks is the creator and headmaster of his magical Academy, which is only open for boys whose names begin with an 'A'. In this academy students eat painted food and talk with heroes of fairy tales.

Mr Kleks’s kitchen ‘The tables were brimming with tins filled with colourful glass beads of different hues and plates full of edible paint as well as an impressive collection of various paint brushes.

The windowsills were decorated with wooden crates in which bright flowers had been planted. In the middle of the kitchen there was an enormous table with a metal worktop. On top of it there was a jar filled with candle light and a number of smaller jars brimming with colourful powder.’

Mr Kleks’ cooking ‘Mr Kleks threw orange beads into an enormous pot. Then he added some white powder and poured in some water. He used a thin brush to paint green peas on the surface of this concoction, and then he added a sprinkle of candle light which instantly made the water boil. The tomato soup was ready.

Mr Kleks snatched a paint brush, dipped it in various paints, painted an omelette and spinach added some candle light, and then skilfully put everything onto a plate.’

‘Winnie-the-Pooh’

by A.A. Milne This is one of our favourite books, chosen for sentences like the following: ‘Pooh always liked a little something at eleven o’clock in the morning, and he was very glad to see Rabbit getting out the plates and mugs; and when Rabbit said, ‘Honey or condensed milk with your bread?’ he was so excited that he said, ‘Both,’ and then, so as not to seem greedy, he added, ‘But don’t bother about the bread, please.’

‘The Voyage of the Dawn Treader’

by C.S. Lewis We have chosen this book for the scene when a visit to the island of the invisible people leads to lunch served by a magician: ‘an omelette, piping hot, cold lamb and green peas, a strawberry ice, lemonsquash to drink with the meal and a cup of hot chocolate after’.