Introducing “Books a la Carte!”

Enjoy everything foodie from the new Green Hills Library Center (set to open in the coming months)! Books a la Carte is a unique online library experience where we infuse readers’ advisory with all things food-related. You can expect blogs, social media posts, bookmarks, and online discussions centered around food-related topics and books. As the Branch Programming Associate for Green Hills, I am already shifting my focus to culinary literacy. Though the Library won't be officially open until the fall, the Green Hills staff are already creating content for your online experience.

We are starting with a deep dive into Southern cookbooks inspired by the bestselling novel Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens. (Check out the trailer for the cinematic adaptation, hitting the big screen this July!) The story is a captivating mystery about a young girl named Kya who raises herself in the marshes of the deep South. As an adult, she is drawn to two men in the town, and when one of them is found dead, she instantly becomes the main suspect. Food plays an important role in setting the stage of this story, and readers will experience the meals Kya ate while living in the North Carolina marsh, as well as her first restaurant experience.

It's enough to make you hungry just thinking about it! In anticipation of the movie this summer, I have enjoyed making recipes from some of the Southern cookbooks we have in the Library’s collection. Here’s a small taster!

• Sweet Home Cafe Cookbook: A Celebration of African American Cooking by Albert Lukas (I made salads with homemade dressing and cornbread croutons!)
• The Lee Bros. Charleston Kitchen by Matt and Ted Lee (I created summer cocktails, including the Summer Peach Sparkler!)

Next month, watch out for more posts and photos from my Southern food journey on the Books, Movies, and Music page as well as on our MCPL Readers’ Lounge Facebook page, where you can join in exciting discussions with readers and Library staff.

Lauren H.
Green Hills Library Center