Novels that talk about food: 15 stories with a gastronomic background

Perhaps if we talk about food books, the first thing you think of is a recipe book. But really between gastronomy and books there is much more than you think. Well, there are an infinity of novels that talk about foodor where food has a relevant role in the plot.

Because food has taken a much more important role than biological in all areas. This includes literature, where we can find many copies that use food as an important resource.

That is why we have decided to show you in this post 15 of the best novels where food is important. So sit back and find something to eat, because the following books are sure to whet your appetite.

1. The scent of crime by Xavier Gutiérrez

NOVELS THAT TALK ABOUT FOOD

This black novel written by the famous chef Xavier Gutiérrez, catches you just with the title. And it is the perfect combination between the mysteries and gastronomy novelsas it tells several stories, which at first may seem isolated from each other.

But as the characters are introduced, little by little you can sense the role they will play in the story. The novel revolves around several cases of murders and mysterious deathsin which each victim is related to the world of food.

A mystery that will whet your appetite and leave you intrigued until the end.

2. Joanne Harris Chocolate

Chocolate is the little addiction of many, and the thing that makes a bad day a little better. And in Lansquenetthe town in which the story of this novel takes place, will be one of the protagonists of this story.

The novel revolves around Vianne Rocher and her daughter Anouk, who upon reaching Lasquenet opens a chocolate shop. And Vianne, taking advantage of her ability to know what people want, gives her customers the perfect sweets. Meanwhile, little by little Vianne becomes the temptation of the priest of the church across the street, Francis Raynaud.

A novel that tells a sweet story full of love and chocolate.

3. Like water for chocolate by Laura Esquivel

in this beautiful novel about food, we can see how Laura uses the food prepared by the protagonist, Tita, to show us her feelings. As she goes through a really tough situation.

With her mother sick, and having rejected her great love in order to take care of her, Tita is caught up in a whirlwind of feelings. Also, she he learned to convey his feelings to those who ate his disheseven making them cry when trying them.

Undoubtedly a novel full of sentimentality and drama that will surely make you want to try a dish that makes you tear up.

4. Five Orange Quarters by Joanne Harris

Another book by Joanne Harris that becomes a best seller, and of course, if this novel is loaded with feelings that make you want to keep reading. The novel revolves around Framboisea girl who after several years returns to her homeland.

She is not recognized by anyone as the daughter of Mirabelle Dartigan, who even after her death is blamed for a tragedy that occurred long ago. But Framboise, connects with her mother through her recipes written in a notebook.

You will not be able to stop reading this interesting story that connects the past through the delicious recipes included in the novel.

5. Carvalho recipes by Manuel Vázquez Montalbán

NOVELS THAT TALK ABOUT FOOD

This collection of 8 intrepid volumes catches anyone within its pages, not only because of the mysteries that detective Pepe Carvalho solves. but also for all dishes and recipes shown in the novel.

Food lovers fall in love with these stories, because as the story progresses, Detective Carvalho explains his favorite recipes. Since they help him think when a case becomes difficult, and thus he makes a sample of the best recipes of traditional Spanish cuisine.

If you are caught by detective stories, Pepe Carvalho’s will undoubtedly win you over.

6. Bedroom Secrets of the Great Chefs by Irvine Welsh

The name may seem as strange as it is intriguing, but among the novels about foodThis is one that cannot be missed. The protagonist of it, Danny Skinner, could be described as a modern version of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, due to the life he leads.

On the one hand, he lives surrounded by parties, gigantic drunkenness and women, and on the other, he works inspecting the health of restaurants in Health and Environment. In addition, he takes advantage of that position to find out the dark secrets of the greatest chefs, looking for his biological father.

Follow Danny, and unravel the mysteries of his past and the secrets of the great chefs, in this story full of surprises.

7. The chef has died by Yanet Acosta

This other food related novel, revolves around the death of the most famous chef in the world, who, although it sounds unbelievable and somewhat paradoxical, died eating an octopus. The departure of this chef, from Spain, causes a worldwide stir.

From that moment, people only talk about who will be his successor, his strange death and the questions he left behind when he died that way. Will he have committed suicide? A murder? Or maybe it really was an accident. But to make sure which one is correct, the insurer hires an agent, Ken Cabreira, to investigate.

If this mystery has you intrigued, we invite you to follow in the footsteps of agent Ken, to find the truth

8. Man does not live on caviar alone by Johannes Simmel

It’s interesting gastronomic novel shows us the life of Thomas Lieven, who is a German banker who lives in the city of London. His life is quiet, but as soon as the Second World War breaks out, Thomas is forced to work as a spy for various countries.

This leads him to be a master in the culinary arts, and to meet very important and outstanding characters of the time. While Thomas plays a spyserves exquisite and beautiful dishes, which encourage those who read the story to want to prepare some of those provocative dishes.

Walk with Thomas through this dark part of history, and shed some light on it with the most delicious foods.

9. Recipes to Love and Kill by Sally Andrew

tannie mary, is in charge of writing in the Karoo Tazette, a section of food and recipes, in addition to having fun cooking the recipes, she gives advice to her readers. The problem comes when one of her readers is killed, after she has advised her how to calm her violent husband.

Without a doubt you will be hypnotized with this interesting novel about suspense and gastronomy, to discover how, little by little, Tannie unearths the mystery. And of course, she at the same time knows delicious recipes from all over the globe.

Addictive reading, both for its captivating narrative and for its delicious recipes.

10. Fannie Flag Fried Green Tomatoes

NOVELS THAT TALK ABOUT FOOD

This is one beautiful story of friendship and empowerment, tells us about four women in two different times. Evelyn, who is obsessed with losing weight, and a cute, very cheerful old lady named Ninny, in the present tense. And of, as memories of a past time.

part of the story takes place at the Whistle Stop Café. Where everyone from locals to travelers tastes the delicious Fried Green Tomatoes, prepared by Ruth and Idgie. This novel is very interesting, with a surprising ending.

The sure thing is that reading it will not prevent you from wanting to try those delicious fried green tomatoes.

11. A Ten Meter Journey by Richard Morais

Whether you know this story from its novel or its movie, you will have to agree that it is a unique tale of gastronomy and feelings. Recounts the clash between two different gastronomic culturess, as are Indian and French food.

Hassan Haji, arrives in the French Alps fleeing from Bombay and opens a restaurant where they serve traditional recipes from their country. But, just ten meters away is the business of Madame Mallory, an experienced chef, specializing in the preparation of elegant French dishes.

Read this compelling story of culture shock and find out about its interesting outcome.

12. Between Gunpowder and Cinnamon by Eli Brown

Between gunpowder and cinnamon is an exciting adventure novel and recipes, which recounts the experiences lived by Owen Wedgwood. A simple cook on a ship, who is the victim of a kidnapping by a group of pirates.

Poor Owen, to save his life, is forced to invent and prepare recipes, with what little is left in the kitchen of that ship and the few kitchen utensils at his fingertips. The story ends with an unexpected twist, when the character transforms, due to the influence of Hannah Mabbot, the pirate in command of the ship.

Excellent novel of adventure, love and creation of recipes in critical situations.

13. Junichiro Tanizaki’s Gourmet Club

Is a short novel easy and enjoyable reading that brings us closer to the experiences lived by the five main characters of this story. The five men are cooks or fans of good food and because of this they form a small society or gourmet club.

The story, full of metaphors and phrases with double meanings, escalates when the club leader goes missing in Tokyo and makes an exciting discovery. What was it that he discovered? Read the gourmet club so that you find out, because as we already said, it is a short novel and we cannot tell you everything.

This short story makes an incredible connection between gastronomy and all human emotions.

14. Lemon Poppy Seed Bread by Cristina Campos

The title of this novel from the beginning introduces us to the sweet world of desserts. The story tells us the experience of two sisters who were separated when they were teenagers.

Over time, they meet again when an unknown person, or at least they think so, leaves her a pastry shop. This gives rise to various situations throughout the plotwho will help them unravel the mysteries that surround this mysterious heritage.

And while they discover the truth, the sisters prepare and bake cupcakes, cakes and other delicacies.

15. Tasting Roald Dahl

NOVELS THAT TALK ABOUT FOOD

The meticulous writing that the author does, both of the story and of the dishes, makes your mouth water. As an example, there is the sentence: “Dinner began with a plate of crispy whitebait, fried in butter…” Impossible not to crave before detailed description.

This novel was published with great sales success in 1945, but today it continues to captivate new readers who love suspense stories. The history revolves around an important bet between two of the main characters and the mysterious liquid in a glass.

The tasting is an intriguing novel that catches you from start to finish.

Surely you have already read some of the titles on our list of novels that talk about food, as we include several classics of this type of literature. But if you haven’t read any yet, we hope our summaries have made you want to immerse yourself in the world of these captivating stories.