Welcome back to Wine, Dine, and Read! Join me as I merge my passion for novels with the allure of culinary arts and yummy drinks. Each week, I’ll guide you through a book, craft a themed recipe, select a wine (or cocktail), and choose a song that I think works with the story—creating a fully immersive experience!
Book Overview
I can’t seem to pass up a book by Emily Henry. Even though I know the main characters will probably end up together, I’m totally hooked on their ups and downs throughout the story. “Book Lovers” caught me in the same way. Nora isn’t your typical romance novel heroine—she’s strong and doesn’t need anyone to save her, and I love that about her. Charlie gets this, and he doesn’t back down or get scared off by her strength. For me, cheering for Nora felt like cheering for myself in the dating world. Plus, as a city girl about to move to North Carolina, the setting felt like a sneak peek into my own future. I know the book has mixed reviews, but for me, it’s a fresh take on love and on a kind of heroine who definitely deserves her happy ending.
The Perfect Pairing
Why Goat Cheese Salad and a Dirty Gin Martini
When we first meet Nora and Charlie in New York City, Nora’s at lunch, declaring, ‘the goat cheese salad is phenomenal.’ Considering her irritation with Charlie and that tense call with Grant earlier, she also goes for a dirty gin martini. So, why mess with a perfect scene? It just felt right to whip up both—the salad and the martini—even though a martini isn’t exactly wine. But hey, I do enjoy a good cocktail every now and then, so why not?
The Audio Choice
Now, for the soundtrack of our culinary-lit adventure: “Adore You” by Harry Styles felt like the perfect pairing with its heartfelt melody and earnest lyrics. Sung from the perspective of a man who’s deeply drawn to a woman and determined to adore her, it mirrors the developing affection and admiration Charlie feels for Nora in ‘Book Lovers.’ It’s the kind of track that deepens the emotional connection, balancing the romantic and supportive dynamics of their relationship.
Recipe: Goat Cheese Salad with Apples, Pecans and Roast Chicken
Ingredients for Salad
- 1-2 handfuls of arugula
- 1 apple, sliced
- 1/4 pecans, chopped
- 2-4 tbsp crumbled goat cheese
- 1-2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 1/2 tsp honey
- Salt and pepper
- 1/2 cup diced roast chicken (if you don’t want to make it vegetarian like Nora’s version)
Instructions
Get a big salad bowl and place your arugula in it.
Chop up your apples and pecans to whatever size works best for you, toss on top of the arugula.
Add in crumbled goat cheese and chicken (if you’re adding), sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste.
Drizzle good olive oil over the salad, and a bit of honey. Mix and eat!
Seriously one of the easiest recipes ever, but it’s SO good.
Products Used:
Eager to see how this turns out? Or want more snippets from “Book Lovers”? Don’t forget to follow me on Pinterest and Instagram at @winedineandread. I’ll be sharing the cooking video, plus some fun bits and bobs from the book that didn’t make it into this post.
See you next week for another bookish and delicious adventure!
Image Credit
All images are produced by Wine, Dine and Read unless otherwise stated. Other images not produced by WDR in this blog and on social media are:
- Images of North Carolina and NYC: Google
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