Books ‘n’ Food
Submitted by Susan on April 1, 2014 – 11:52 amNo Comment
Road Trips Foodies often are voracious readers. Megan Pacella of USA Today has created a literary food trail just for us. Yes, we’re talking book-themed restaurants and bars.
“There’s nothing quite as indulgent as enjoying a hearty meal and a great cocktail over your favorite book,” she writes. At these bars and restaurants, “you can combine your love of food and reading in lounges that pay homage to famous writers and their words.
“The best part? Most of these establishments are decked out with their very own library — so don’t be afraid to dine alone with a good book.”
Her selections are these:
- Alice’s Tea Cup (102 West 73rd Street, New York, New York): Yes, we’re referencing Lewis Carroll’s timeless classic here (think: Mad Hatter’s Tea Party).
- Bluebeard (653 Virginia Avenue, Indianapolis, Indiana): Yes, it’s named for Indy-native Kurt Vonnegut’s 1987 novel and there’s a library with copies of some of his famous books.
- Poe’s Tavern (2210 Middle Street, Sullivan’s Island, South Carolina): Edgar Allen Poe’s time at Sullivan’s Island is said to have inspired “The Gold Bug”, a short story about a beetle that leads to buried treasure.
- Eatonville Restaurant (2121 14th Street, NW, Washington, D.C.): this Zora Neale Hurston-inspired restaurant was opened to help mend a decade-old dispute between Hurston and her contemporary, Langston Hughes — a restaurant named in his honor (Poets and Busboys) is across the street.
- Wilde Bar and Restaurant (3130 North Broadway, Chicago, Illinois): This upscale bar in the Lakeview neighborhood, channeling Wilde’s famous quote that “love and gluttony justify everything,” serves up gigantic portions of hearty Irish fare.
- The Hobbit Café (2243 Richmond, Houston, Texas): A menu full of Middle Earth references plus portraits and figurines of Gandalf and more round out this Tolkien-themed restaurant.
- Hemingway’s Lounge (6356 Hollywood Boulevard, Hollywood, California): It’s the cocktail menu that conjures up the memory of the pugnacious writer (sip the Sun Also Rises, The Old Man and the Sea and For Whom the Bell Tolls).
- Onegin (391 Sixth Avenue, New York, New York): The eatery pays homage to Russian author Alexander Pushkin amidst décor reminiscent of 19th-century St. Petersburg and menu items such as blini and borscht.
