Jisu Sheen photo
Paulette Rosen: "This is as big as it gets" at the annual Edible Book Tea.
Puns, novels, and tasty delights took over New Haven arts center Creative Arts Workshop (CAW) Sunday afternoon as the Book Arts department celebrated their 23rd annual Edible Book Tea, a free event inviting members of the public to contribute any edible item inspired by a book. The snack could be modeled after the book’s title or something within the story, or it could even look like the book itself.
In the end, 19 delicious creations made it to the event, each one a small creative wonder. “It’s built into a lovely community of people,” said Paulette Rosen, head of the Book Arts Department at CAW and the organizer of New Haven’s Edible Book Teas since their start. “Many people come back.” CAW’s neighbor Koffee? donated coffee, tea, and cold drinks.
And the best part? After an hour of oohs and ahhs from viewers walking around the different displays, everyone got to dig in.
For bookworms out there with a refined palate, here’s a chance to put your skills to the test: Can you match the following edible items with the book that inspired them?
The answer key, along with a guide to interpret results, can be found at the bottom.
Here are the books:
A. Bloomsbury Portraits
B. Butterflies of New England
C. Calvin and Hobbes
D. Chicken Soup with Rice
E. Death is Stupid
F. Little Mouse and the Big Cupcake
G. Make Way for Ducklings
H. Narwhal and Otter Friends
I. Small Things Like These
J. Supa Fail 3
K. Tea: The Drink that Changed the World
L. The Bake Shop Ghost
M. The Catcher in the Rye
N. The Penderwicks on Gardam Street
O. The Phantom of the Opera
P. The Reading List
Q. The Stinky Cheese Man
R. The Tale of Peter Rabbit
S. Why We Swim
And here are the foods:
1
By Molly, Eli, and Sarah Sinusas
2
By Cole Moody
3
By Jenny Simpson
4
By Jane Snell Copes
5
By Susan Klein
6
By Megan Smith, Nell Smith, and Audra
7
By Margie Haggerty
8
By Peg Sancomb
9
By Annie de Graaf
10
By Adali Michaelson
11
By Carrie Savage
12
By Susan and Maggie Yolen
13
By Beth Lyons
14
By Yvonne Kavanagh
15
By Sarah, Judy, and Norman Cole
16
By Lily Sutton and Mindi Englart
17
By Ginny Eicher
18
By BJ Lambert
19
By Paulette Rosen
Answer key: 1J, 2C (Calvin and “Kebabs”), 3L, 4B, 5A, 6N, 7Q, 8H, 9K, 10F, 11G, 12M (The “Catsup” in the Rye), 13P, 14S, 15R (The “Tail” of Peter Rabbit), 16E, 17I, 18O (The “Fontina” of the Opera), 19D
How to interpret your results:
If you answered 0 – 5 right, you are a Garbage Disposal. You’ll eat anything, not even knowing or caring whether it’s a work of great literary merit.
If you answered 6 – 10 right, you are at the Big Kids’ Table. Not quite the adults’ table with the juicy gossip and Chardonnay, but at least you’ve proven you know your ABCs.
If you answered 11 – 15 right, you are a Smart Cookie. You’ve both bought and sold books at Book Trader, and you’ll sink your teeth into a great novel.
If you answered 16 – 19 right, you have made it to Food Blogger status. Is anyone reading your takes on the city’s best soups? Doesn’t matter; you’re too busy devouring your To Be Read pile. Congrats, champ.