If cookbooks constitute a literary genre, Tanya Holland's *California Soul* is an instant classic. As a collection of recipes, Tanya has always had a knack for writing accessible ones. For instance, there's "Butternut and Acorn Squash, Pear, and Goat Cheese Gratin" (just in time for Thanksgiving!). Sounds fancy, and then you realize, hey, I could actually MAKE this.
But this book offers far more. First, it's beautiful, full of cool color photographs of California landscapes. That's also exactly what Alice Walker said in her Foreword: "California Soul is the most beautiful cookbook I've ever read. Or seen."
There's more. Sprinkled throughout are "Historical Detours" and "Maker Profiles." Even if you can't or won't cook, the book is worth your investment just for reading. There's stuff here that's going to start popping up in academic bibliographies and endnotes, guaranteed. Savor it.
Congrats to @jennifercoolidge and the entire amazing cast of the @thewhitelotus. I couldn't have loved this season and these characters more! 🇮🇹 🪷
White lotus theme by Cristobal Tapia
de Veer
This Entire Bookstore Is Dedicated to Black Food Writing
Sisters Gabrielle and Danielle Davenport started BEM Books & More to celebrate Black stories in food and cooking.
by Kayla Stewart
On a cold, sunny day in December, I made my way from Upper Manhattan to downtown Brooklyn. I was on a hunt for Christmas gifts with meaning. I pulled my empty bag towards my coat as I walked toward a store where I’d find readable, edible goods to fill it with: BEM Books & More, one of the only Black-owned, food-centric bookstores in the United States.
Sisters Gabrielle and Danielle Davenport created and have operated this delicious dreamworld in Brooklyn since 2021. The bookstore stocks cookbooks by Black chefs as well as fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and childrens’ books that are related to food and written by Black writers. Their selection, which is available online, always includes new releases like Ghetto Gastro’s Black Power Kitchen and Tanya Holland’s California Soul, which Gabrielle, a native Californian, says she “can’t stop gazing at.”
“We knew there were food bookstores in the world and lots of wonderful Black-owned bookstores that we love, but we weren't aware of a Black food bookstore,” says Danielle. “It felt like a really exciting, super tiny niche for us to dig into and to really think about all of the ways that food works in our storytelling and cultures.”
Based in Brooklyn, the sisters host pop ups across New York City—including a holiday popup at BRIC, an arts center in Brooklyn, this season—and maintain a large online selection of their products. They’re hopeful for an eventual permanent storefront, but in the meantime, they’re focused on the mission that fuels the bookstore: bringing joy to readers around the world through Black stories about the many wonders of food and cooking.
I sat down with the duo to learn what fuels the sisters, how they curate their selection, and what they’re reading now.
WARNING! This show is for adults. We drink cocktails, have potty mouths and, at least, one of us was raised by wolves.
The Clockwork Cabaret is a production of Agony Aunt Studios. Featuring that darling DJ Duo, Lady Attercop and Emmett Davenport. Our theme music is made especially for us by Kyle O’Door.
This episode aired on Mad Wasp Radio, 03.10.24.
New episodes air on Mad Wasp Radio on Sundays @ 12pm GMT! Listen at www.madwaspradio.com or via TuneIn radio app!
Playlist:
The Steamboat Cabaret – The Importance of Being Nice
Amanda Palmer – No Surprises
Charming Disaster – Disembodied Head
The Ditty Bops – Ooh La La
Joe Strummer – Johnny Appleseed (feat. The Mescaleros)
Tom Waits – Walk Away
Jolie Holland – Old Fashioned Morphine
The Be Good Tanyas – When Doves Cry
Rickie Lee Jones – Show Biz Kids
Tracy Bonham – Mother Mother
Man Man – Engrish Bwudd
April Smith and the Great Picture Show – Terrible Things
La vida no es tan dulce como parece… “The White Lotus · Temporada 2”
La sátira de esta temporada se desarrolla en un resort siciliano y sigue las hazañas de varios huéspedes y empleados a lo largo de una semana.
· Estreno: 30 de octubre de 2022 en HBO y HBO Max.
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F. Murray Abraham es Bert Di Grasso · De visita en Sicilia con su hijo, Dominic, y su nieto, Albie, Bert se está volviendo frágil, pero todavía se ve a sí mismo como viril y capaz.
Jennifer Coolidge es Tanya Mcquoid Hunt · Una mujer rica e inestable que viaja con su esposo, Greg, y su asistente, Portia.
Adam DiMarco es Albie Di Grasso · Hijo de Dominic y nieto de Bert, Albie es un graduado universitario, dulce y observador, que a menudo sirve como pacificador de su familia.
Meghann Fahy es Daphne Babcock · Una ama de casa que visita Italia con su esposo, Cameron, y otra pareja, Ethan y Harper.
Jon Gries es Greg · El marido de Tanya, que no está muy contento de que su asistente haya sido invitada a su escapada romántica.
Beatrice Grannò es Mia · Una local siciliana, Mia es una cantante talentosa en busca de su gran oportunidad.
Tom Hollander es Quentin · Un expatriado inglés que está de vacaciones con sus amigos y su sobrino, Jack.
Sabrina Impacciatore es Valentina · La gerente apasionada y dedicada a cargo del resort White Lotus en Taormina, que espera la perfección de su personal.
Michael Imperioli es Dominic Di Grasso · Un productor de Hollywood que visita Sicilia con su anciano padre, Bert y su hijo posuniversitario, Albie para explorar sus raíces ancestrales.
Theo James es Cameron Babcock · Un exitoso hombre de negocios de una familia adinerada, está de vacaciones con su esposa Daphne.
Aubrey Plaza es Harper Spiller · Harper visita Italia con el compañero de cuarto de Ethan, Cameron y Daphne.
Haley Lu Richardson es Portia · Una chica de pueblo y recién graduada de la universidad, Portia viaja con su jefa, Tanya, con la esperanza de vivir aventuras.
Will Sharpe es Ethan Spiller · Después de un éxito profesional reciente, Ethan y Harper, son invitados a unas vacaciones en Italia por parte de Cameron y Daphne.
Simona Tabasco es Lucia · Una local siciliana que frecuenta el resort White Lotus en busca de trabajo y oportunidades entre la clientela adinerada.
Leo Woodall es Jack · Un invitado magnético que se hospeda en The White Lotus con su tío, Quentin.