Sunday, September 2, 2012

Just My Cup of Tea...or Coffee

     While the culinary genre deals with food, it also includes beverages. Coffee, tea, and other libations take center stage in some culinary mysteries.
     The Tea Shop Mysteries by Laura Childs tell us all about tea; the different blends, how to properly brew it, it even gives tips on hosting tea parties! While tea is obviously the star of the series, food plays an integral role too. Theodosia Browning, our protagonist, relies on Haley Parker to create wonderful dishes, both sweet and savory, to compliment the teas of the Indigo Tea Shop. Fortunately for us, recipes are also included in the books!
     Perhaps you're more of a coffee drinker. Try the Coffeehouse Mysteries by Cleo Coyle. Clare Cosi is the manager and head barista of her former mother-in-law's coffeehouse, the Village Blend. In this series we learn about coffee, including information on the beans themselves including harvesting from Clare's ex-husband, Matteo, a coffee bean buyer. But, what's an espresso without a biscotti? As with most coffee shops, the Village Blend offers food as well and our author shares some recipes in her books.
     A favorite beverage of mine is wine and there are a few wine mysteries out there. One of my favorite series is the Wine Country Mysteries by Ellen Crosby. Although wine and the vineyard are the mainstay of the series, I don't consider it a culinary mystery. We do learn about wine and grapes, but for some reason, I just don't get the cozy culinary vibe. That being said it's a fantastic series which I highly recommend.
   No matter your preference, food or drink, you're sure to find a culinary cozy mystery that's just right!

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