There’s a lot of great food mentioned in THE HALF LIFE, so if you’re hosting a book club, you’re going to have fun cooking up a storm! I’ve scoured the book, looking for menu ideas, so you don’t have to. Buon appetito!
Alcoholic Drinks
Rumaki – Served by Mary Lou at her house party
Mirto – Angela brings mirto to Mary Lou’s house party
Prosecco – Served at the first CAWS meeting Eileen attends
Gin and tonics – What Eileen gets drunk on at Tom’s going-away party
Vermentino (Sardinian white wine) – what Laura brings to Eileen’s. Bonus points if you serve it in coffee mugs.
Manhattans – served on the plane
Ichnusa – Sardinian beer
Non-alcoholic Drinks
Espresso – made in a moka pot!
Pear juice – Maureen’s drink of choice. Apricot juice is also great and very on brand!
Appetizers/Sides
Pesto (made with pine nuts) – Eileen and Francesca collect pine nuts on Caprera
Pardulàs Sarti – Francesca teaches Eileen to make these for Easter
Nutella on good Italian bread – Eileen and Paul discover Nutella their first day on the island
Calamari – Eileen and her mother enjoy calamari at Osteria da Liò
Hard cheese, jar of olives, mortadella and pane carasau (also called carte da musica) – the goodies Laura brings over to christen Eileen’s new home
Shrimp cocktail – Served on the plane
Egg salad – Eileen was meant to bring egg salad to Rita and Mary Lou’s potluck but she got distracted
Pasta Course
Culurgiones – Eileen and Francesca make these together in Francesca’s apartment
Artichoke and lamb pasta – Eileen and Paul order this on their first night in La Maddalena, then Eileen tries to recreate it and fails miserably
Fregole with mussels and potato – Eileen and Paul order this while they’re out one night
Nero di seppia (squid ink pasta) – Eileen and her mother order this at Osteria da Liò
Linguine all’aragosta (lobster linguine) – careful that you don’t get overcharged for lobster! 😉
Main Course
Teriyaki steak – Served on plane
Fondue – Served by Mary Lou at her house party
Sea bass with olives and fennel (served with sauteed spinach) – Francesca serves this to Bernardo, Eileen, and Teo in her apartment
Big Macs in a cooler – Colleen Ricard tells Eileen about a young woman whose husband brings her a Big Mac from the States
Dogfish – First meal Eileen eats in Sardinia, at lunch with Paul and Tom in Palau.
Scallops on risotto – Eileen is making this the night she asks Paul about the disappearance of Luca’s paper
Salmon filets on fregole – Eileen and Paul’s last meal
Dessert
Pabassinas – Teo takes these to his family at Christmastime
Gelato
Cornetti
Pineapple upside-down cake – Served on the plane
Apricot cookies
Amaretti cookies – these don’t make an appearance in the book but are always a good idea!
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