Getting Punchy
When we last left off, I was preparing for our first ever Punch Contest on January 30. Suffice to say, the contest went amazingly well considering every entry was alcoholic and not one book in my shop was ruined in the ensuing chaos. Samantha has written a wonderful review of the contest, which you can read here: Omnivore Books Punch Contest. You can bet it will be an annual tradition - we had a blast.
February brought more great food events, like last weekend's wine tasting with Kermit Lynch. I also had a booth for the first time at the S.F. Antiquarian Book Fair, which was...an interesting learning experience. I had a lot of fun being next to Rabelais Books, the cookbook-slingers from Maine, and met up with new customers and old friends, but I decided I prefer shopping to selling at the fair. The whole time I stood in my booth, I itched to be poring over vintage books in other booths. I always learn something new about books when I attend the book fair as a customer, and next year, I'll go back to being one!
Spring cookbooks are starting to arrive from the publishers, and there are some terrific ones coming out. Some of my favorites: Eat Your Yard! by Nan Chase; An Obsession with Ham, the Hindquarter by Bruce Weinstein & Mark Scarbrough; and The Gastronomica Reader, edited by Darra Goldstein. Oh, and all the books that authors are coming to talk about in March - you'll see all about them below. On March 8, we're co-hosting a special Nuevo Latino dinner at Destino for chef Daisy Martinez, which I'm really excited about. The first Latina to host a public television cooking show, Daisy grew up learning to cook from her Puerto Rican mother and grandmothers. After attending The French Culinary Institute with Jacques Pépin, she became the host of Daisy Cooks! on PBS and Viva Daisy! on the Food Network. Details about tickets are below, and include a copy of her new book - I hope you can join us.
I'm honored to report that a trip to Omnivore Books on Food is being included on the Taste of the Mission tour run by Lisa Rogovin - the tour is a great idea, and the perfect activity for visitors - see more about it at In the Kitchen with Lisa. I was equally honored to be included in this month's 7x7 Magazine, along with foodie folks like the owners of Bi Rite Market and Quince - good company, indeed. For those of you who'd like a peek at my home library, here's the article and photo: Tastemakers - Celia Sack, Omnivore Books
Before I leave you to the Events Section, I would like to briefly pay homage to my father-in-law, Martin Harris, who passed away in San Francisco at 87, on Feb. 5, after declining health. Lover of bon bons and his wife of 63 years, beloved elementary school teacher, avowed atheist, cynic, and Nicks fan (the three go together, after all), he was loved, he will be very missed.
I look forward to seeing you,
Celia Sack, Owner
Omnivore Books on Food
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March Events at Omnivore Books
Saturday February 27 • Michael Kalanty • 3-4 p.m. • Free
How to Bake Bread. Michael’s book focuses on the similarities among a group of breads, instead of overwhelming the reader with details. Whether for home use or professional training, The Five Families of Bread® System is a quicker, more reliable way to become a successful bread baker. Michael teaches artisan bread baking at the California Culinary Academy.
Sunday February 28 • Michael Recchiuti & Fran Gage • 3-4 p.m. • Free
Chocolate Obsession. Join San Francisco chocolatier Michael Recchiuti and cookbook author Fran Gage as we discuss the ins and outs of chocolate while snarfing samples brought by the authors!
Fri. March 5 • Peter Reinhart • 9:30 a.m. • Free
The highly respected author of The Bread Baker's Apprentice (James Beard winner) and Artisan Breads Every Day, Peter will talk to us about breakfast breads - bake some to share, if you feel moved!
Sat. March 6 • Max Watman • 3-4 p.m. • Free
Chasing the White Dog: An Amateur Outlaw's Adventures in Moonshine. Journalist Watman chronicles America's longstanding love affair with distilled spirits, a love that he shares. As long as people have been making booze, the government has wanted to control it, and Watman colorfully illustrates a conflict that stretches from the Whiskey Rebellion through Prohibition. Hopefully he'll mix up some illegal drinks for us, too!
Mon. March 8 • Dinner with Daisy Martinez • 6 p.m.
Please join us for a special dinner at Destino Restaurant with Puerto Rican chef Daisy Martinez to celebrate her new book, Daisy Morning, Noon and Night: Bringing Your Family Together with Everyday Dishes. Martinez—star of the Food Network's Viva Daisy!—draws from her own Puerto Rican traditions as well as her annual family journeys to Spanish-speaking countries around the world for her ambitious collection of recipes. $95 - details & tickets available at eventbrite.com.
Fri. March 12 • Andrew Smith • 5:30 p.m. • Free
Andy is the author of Eating History: Thirty Turning Points in the Making of American Cuisine, as well as Hamburger: A Global History and The Tomato in America. In Smith's latest tome, he reveals new angles on legendary stories, like Sarah Hale's successful efforts to make Thanksgiving a national holiday, the first food magazine (recently-shuttered Gourmet), to a recurring examination of the American obsession with French cuisine. Part of the Culinary Historians of Northern California speakers series - open to all.
Sat. March 13 • Tara Austen Weaver • 3-4 p.m. • Free
The Butcher and the Vegetarian: One Woman's Romp through a World of Men, Meat, and Moral Crisis. Raised a vegetarian, writer and editor Weaver was always diet-conscious, so it was a bit of a surprise when, in her 30s, her physician recommend meat-eating for her suffering health; Weaver's consequent foray into the world of meat is a toothsome take on the learning-to-eat-better memoir.
Wed. March 24 • Marcia Gagliardi • 6-7 p.m. • Free
The Tablehopper's Guide to Dining and Drinking in San Francisco: Find the Right Spot for Every Occasion. Come meet the woman behind Tablehopper, the weekly newsletter about everything foodie in the Bay Area! With her unique blend of enthusiasm, insider knowledge, and sass, Marcia bases her recommendations on the reason you’re going out, who you’re dining with, and how much money you have to burn.
Sat. March 27 • Lorna Sass • 3-4 p.m. • Free
Whole Grains for Busy People. For those intimidated by cooking with whole grains, veteran cookbook author Sass (The New Vegan Cookbook; Whole Grains Every Day, Every Way; etc.) breaks down the what and how of whole grains in this accessible title brimming with healthy and appealing dishes. A primer on grains, including where to buy and brand recommendations, prefaces a collection of 125 recipes, each designed to take the home cook under 30 minutes to prepare.
Sun. March 28 • Arthur Allen • 3-4 p.m. • Free
Ripe: The Search for the Perfect Tomato. The tomato. As savory as any vegetable, as sweet as its fellow fruits, the seeded succulent inspires a cult-like devotion from food lovers on all continents. This is a robust tale of how tomatoes get to the table and why some don't taste very good when they get there.
Thurs. April 1 • Edible Art Contest! • 6-7 p.m.
Yes, another great contest - this one challenges you to create a dish that references art or literature (like Warhol's Marilyn made with chocolate Smarties!). Free to entrants; $5 to look, judge, and eat.