Food for Talk is a book club for anyone interested in cooking!  Instructions on how to join this community of home cooks and fellow culinary travelers can be found after the description of this month's cookbook.  If reading about food, experimenting with new recipes and learning from other cooks sounds fun, sign up and join us on the second Sunday of every month at 3pm! Locations vary.

This month:  Portugal: Recipes and Ingredients by Anais Delon

About this month's cookbook: Portugal by Anais Delon

This vibrant introduction to Portuguese cooking profiles a dozen chefs, each offering dishes from seaside restaurants, neighborhood bistros, and contemporary hotspots.

The book is rich in photography—plated dishes, local markets, wine shops, and street scenes all contribute to a strong sense of place. Seafood features prominently, especially octopus and salt cod,. There are even unexpected combinations like sweetbreads with shellfish sauce and watercress.

Other highlights include roasted spare ribs with savory French toast and a whimsically named “Nun’s Bottom Salad” made with black-eyed peas, fresh goat cheese, and tomato confit. Desserts and pastries often center on chocolate, orange, or both.

The energy and range of the food are engaging—but the book's design gets in the way. Recipe formatting is inconsistent, with ingredient lists sometimes squeezed at the bottom of the page or placed overleaf from instructions, requiring constant flipping. Some text, particularly in the chef profiles and introductory notes, is printed in black over dark backgrounds, making it difficult to read—as if legibility were an afterthought.

How to Join:

It's as easy as 1, 2, 3...
1. Register with Barbara Shatara bshatara@burlingtonvt.gov
2. Pick up a copy of the book from the Library's Main Desk. 
3. Read it, make a dish (not required though) and bring it to the discussion at 3 pm.