They say the kitchen is the heart of the home, which makes it a perfect venue for storytelling, especially during meal preparation. In between all that slicing, chopping, and stove watching, food-themed eAudiobooks are sure to spice up any number of mundane culinary tasks. Besides, spending more time in the kitchen accompanied by an engrossing audiobook can take a sizable bite out of your reading wish list.
Whether it’s a murder mystery, memoir, or romance, the publishing world is serving up a growing menu of eAudiobooks involving cooking and other gastronomic delights. The following titles are sure to enrich your kitchen time with many hours of literary enjoyment. All titles are available for download from the Mechanics Institute Library.
Scarlet Feather by Maeve Binchy - If you’ve never experienced Maeve Binchy’s dry sense of humor and sunny disposition, you’re in for a treat. Two chefs meet in cooking school and share a common dream: to open the best eating establishment Dublin has ever seen. This is the delightful story of Cathy Scarlet and Tom Feather and their first year as proprietors of the Scarlet Feather Restaurant.
Penne Dreadful by Catherine Bruns - The first in the Italian Chef Mystery series is about local chef Tessa Esposito, whose husband’s fatal accident has now turned into a murder investigation. A light but satisfying appetizer that gets 4.5 stars in Goodreads.
Kitchen Yarns: Notes on Life, Love, and Food by Ann Hood - A heartwarming collection of essays to help you appreciate the power of a home-cooked meal. Hood is a master at creating community through industry--she is also the bestselling author of The Book That Matters Most and The Knitting Circle.
Queen of the Cookbooks by Ashton Lee - Mystery and comic relief involving a book club, a cooking contest, and a new library. Hearty fare for an intrepid cooking spree.
Death Comes in Through the Kitchen by Theresa Dovelpage - Set in Havana during the Black Spring of 2003, a charming but poison-laced culinary mystery reveals the darker side of the modern Revolution, complete with authentic Cuban recipes. A delicious, rich treat from veteran actress and narrator Cynthia Farrell.
The Second-Worst Restaurant in France by Alexander McCall Smith - A witty, charming sequel to My Italian Bulldozer about food writer Paul Stuart. This time, Stuart is struggling to extricate his finances and separate his reputation from an infamous local eatery. Gentle humor and mouth-watering descriptions of French food will tempt listeners to make travel plans.
A Homemade Life: Stories and Recipes from My Kitchen Table by Molly Wizenberg - Substantial, hearty fare about the author’s Parisian journey and how it led to her highly popular food blog, Orangette.
Sugar and Spice by Angela Britnell - This light romance between workaholic chef Lily Redman and brooding, ex-military guy Kenen Rowse is set against a Cornwall backdrop. Sweet and breezy, perfect for a quick escape.
