W3 Book Club: The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake

by Laura Chin, Tastemaker in Residence

The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake had many significant food references. Many of the menu items came directly from the book or were "lemon-themed", noted next to the menu item.  

Yellow was the obvious color of choice. I chose a lacy yellow table cloth borrowed from a friend, a fun lemon-themed apron to host the event. Book Club guests were adorned in yellow dresses and birthday hats, and with a touch of Teri's birthday balloons, we were set up for a night of Lemon focused fun! 

Menu

Chicken Skewers with Peanut Sauce

Wonton Chips with Mango Salsa

Chinese Salad

Doughy Pizza—Cafeteria lady’s sadness

Lemon Chicken--breaded chicken and rice

Roast Beef and Potatoes—Reminded her of her Mother’s affair

Lemon Birthday Cake with Candles—Warm citrus baked batter, lightness enfolded by cool dark swirled sugar. Underneath the chocolate and lemon and butter with a “sensation of shrinking” and “distance” somehow connected. It symbolized a lack of wholesomeness.

Lemon Tart

Vanilla Ice Cream

Sea Salt Caramels

Prepackaged cookies—symbolized the distant regulated hum of flour and butter and chocolate and factories

Limoncello Cocktail with a Twist of Lemon

W3 Book Club is not only about sharing a book, it's about the power found in preparing and sharing a table full of food and drink and the friendships that make our lives and literature rich.