Food Writing Work. With the Best Food Writing 2016 Panel at The Virginia Festival of the Book.
Welcome to my latest episode! Were you a bad food enthusiast? Did you go see Walter White at JPJ last Sunday and *NOT* go to the Best Food Writing 2016 talk? No worries, Edacious taped it for you!
This year's multiple award-winning panel included moderator and editor of the series, Holly Hughes, and contributors Joe Yonan, Food & Dining Editor for The Washington Post, Jason Tesauro, author of The Modern Gentleman, and Todd Kliman, author of The Wild Vine. Writer Monica Bhide, author of Karma and the Art of Butter Chicken was scheduled to appear but had a family emergency. All of the panelists consider themselves writers first, food being just one aspect of their work. Because food is the starting point for so many deeper conversations, a philosophy that informs this podcast as well.
Holly began editing the Best Food Writing series back in 2000. Through sixteen volumes published annually, she has presented hundreds of great pieces covering humor, travelogue, politics, memoir, history, as well as hard-hitting journalism covering all the different aspects of food. The series was conceived as a bedside table book, not a kitchen one. It makes a great gift because everyone eats. Pieces are short so you can dip into whatever strikes your fancy.
This year's pieces include a love letter to ugly food, another one to the chicken tender, and the fabulous pieces read aloud by our panelists. Works about Chef Bo Bech, chicken fried steak, and eating tacos in Mexico City appear simple on first glance. Keep reading. As with so much great food writing what's on your plate or the person cooking it is only a starting point. It's never just about the food. It's about the deeper topics, the thoughtful life questions that connect us all. The same mission behind Edacious. Using food as an entryway. There's a reason these pieces were chosen as among the best. They have a story, great storytelling, a strong sense of narrative, a profound message. Give a listen. You won't regret it.
