Food and Writing/Literature and Gastronomy

When Norma and I decided to do it, we had just had a really great meal. We were in that heightened state. We saw endless possibilities. I think that’s why it happened.

As to the meal, it could have been at Muzzicone, or at Regiro, or Gallo Nero, or la Sfizieria, or Ristorante Rogi, or Il Passaggio, or Antica Pieve or La Piana or Pietro or Buon Gustaio or Il Ristoro di Via Dante or Le Bindi or the Garden Restaurant, who knows, I can’t remember now. It’s a blur. Food here in Castiglion Fiorentino has that effect. You eat and suddenly anything is possible. Every idea is brilliant. Later you forget where you were.

After the fog cleared, we knew this: We wanted to have a writing workshop here in Tuscany in which food would provide the inspiration, the alimentary sensations, the backdrop, the accents, the history, the setting.

Then we gave it a name: “Writing is Delicious.”

We scheduled it: October 15-22, 2019.

We made sure Alfeo at Le Santucce had rooms for everyone. We talked to the truffle hunter, the olive oil expert, the chef, the cooking teacher, the winemaker, the restaurateurs, everybody.

And we knew this: Writing would be central. It wouldn’t be a silly “holiday in Tuscany.” Nor would it be “food writing.” It would be, rather, a celebration of the Amherst Writers and Artists method in a specific sensual context in which amazing visions would come forth, summoned by the power of the senses.

Food would provide the prompts. Settings would provide the prompts. Experiences would provide the prompts.

Also we would read great writing. The reading would be both pleasure and education. So I started reading.

The first great book I found was Stories from the Kitchen. This turned out to be a fabulous book. At first I was afraid it might be “food writing” but it wasn’t! It was great! It has wonderful writing in it by Virginia Woolf, Dickens, Maupassant, Proust, T.C. Boyle, Emile Zola, Günter Grass … you name it! Awesome collection!
When you sign up for the workshop I will send you this book so you can read it too. It will be our map of possibilities. It will be our common text. You will love it.
Finally, here is my clever slogan: Write about eating. Eat about writing.
You get the picture.