Literature and food blend at Orradre

By Tara Kathleen King

Santa Clara's Orradre Library is now offering an exciting new event: Literary Cuisine.

During this event's first appearance on campus on May 18, attendees participated in a talk and enjoyed a buffet lunch before a speaker was introduced.

Orradre Library works in cooperation with Barnes and Noble and Bon Appetit to bring this event to campus. Orradre Library chooses the author or work and promotes the event. Barnes and Noble brings copies of the work, or representative works by the featured author, while Bon Appetit puts together a menu for the occasion.

The first Literary Cuisine focused on a well-known author's not-so-well-known book. John Steinbeck's "Log from the 'Sea of Cortez'" was the focal point of the program. Literary Cuisine facilitated discussions on the literary work featured that day.

Steinbeck, who is a northern California native, "Log from the 'Sea of Cortez'" is currently the subject of great interest locally.

"Scientists from Stanford are making the same journey through the Sea of Cortez, Gulf of California, that Steinbeck did 60 years ago to see what had changed, and what had not," said Fred Gertler, the head of customer services at Orradre Library.

Book selections are made by inquiries of student, faculty and staff interest.

"Orradre Library invited our staff and students to suggest books or authors that might lend themselves naturally to food, like 'Water for Chocolate' or the novels of Amy Tan," Gertler said.

In addition to the obvious intellectual stimulation, students will also have the opportunity to enjoy a type of meal that Gertler believes is probably better than what Benson serves on a daily basis.

The whole Santa Clara community is encouraged to take advantage of these events. This event provides attendees with a lunch and the opportunity to exchange ideas on the literary work.

"Last week's event was also proud to host the Director of the Center for Steinbeck Studies at San Jose State University, who was just back from the Sea of Cortez," Gertler said.

He also hopes that this event will encourage more reading among Santa Clara students. Gertler believes that Literary Cuisine will serve to further "advance the university's strategic initiative to build a community of scholars."

Gertler wishes to make Literary Cuisine a quarterly event. The next will take place at the end of fall quarter, featuring the Charles Dickens' classic holiday novel, "A Christmas Carol." A meal centered on this book will also be provided.

To offer suggestions about authors or books to be featured in Literary Cuisine, contact Fred Gertler at fgertler@scu.edu.

û Contact Tara Kathleen King at (408) 554-4546 or tking1@scu.edu.