The Book Bender

Pairing literature with food and drink

Monthly Archives: December 2011

Dec. 28

Eggnog and punch for a holiday crowd

My only regret from throwing a holiday party? Abandoning my camera for my punch glass. There’s no photos of the punch, and there won’t be until the next time I decide to bestow boozy merriment on guests. The two drinks I … Continue reading

Dec. 27

Review: A Reuben sandwich from Other Coast Cafe

I stumbled into this sandwich place while shopping for holiday cards at Venue in Old Ballard. Or Ole Baller’ if you’re slurring after a visit to one of the watering holes in the area. I passed a man who was … Continue reading

Dec. 25

Merry Christmas with a prime rib and some light holiday reading

Once again, I turned to Chef John of Food Wishes for my high-stakes dinners. Why? Because he’s never let me down. And, even on his off days he’s funnier than me. We’re usually turkey-ed out by the time Christmas rolls … Continue reading

Dec. 20

Latkes to lighten a ‘Super Sad True Love Story’

Gary Shteyngart’s “Super Sad True Love Story” (2010) is quite possibly the best book I’ve read this year. I’m using “quite possibly” to hedge my bets that I’ll discover a gem of a book in the next 11 days before New … Continue reading

Dec. 18

An important read: Methadone as a painkiller in Washington state

If you missed last week’s Sunday edition, you can still read an incredible investigative series by The Seattle Times online here. Two reporters spent the past year studying methadone, a commonly prescribed painkiller that is a cheaper alternative to brand-name … Continue reading