"One cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well." So said Virginia Woolf, and we heartily concur. However, while Ms. Woolf might approve of these literary cocktails, I tend to think cold toast and stale coffee (ala Steinbeck) isn't what she had in mind for "fine dining." Ah well! To each his own. Enjoy a peek at 12 great writers and their go-to snacks, as illustrated by the wonderful Wendy MacNaughton.
"Snacks of the Great Scribblers" first appeared in The New York Times when Ms. MacNaughton became curious about the snacking habits of great writers, and the answers turned out to be "all over the culinary map." Walt Whitman apparently began his day with oysters and meat; Gustave Flaubert relied on eggs, vegetables, cheese or fruit, and a mug of cold chocolate; and Mark Kurlansky, the author of Salt and Cod, lives on espresso, "as black as possible."
What's your favorite snack while working? I have to admit: I'm a fan of popcorn. I make it on the stove in coconut oil, then top it off with salt and, if I'm feeling particularly punchy, some Grade B maple syrup. That usually tides me over for at least an hour or two!
Read More: Snacks of the Great Scribblers at The New York Times
Related: Literary Drinks: 10 Famous Fiction Writers and Their Cocktails
(Illustration: Wendy MacNaughton for The New York Times)
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I loved this and great idea to use popcorn. I tend to overeat snacks so I often stick to Rishi earl gray, rooibos or other iced tea. When I'm feeling indulgent I drink shade grown coffee with whipped cream and chocolate sauce.
I'd pay for a nice print of that to frame and hang in my kitchen.
I'm pretty much Truman Capote with smoked almonds and olives on the side.
Capote had it figured out!
:o My bf loves near raw beef pho too
Maple & brown sugar oatmeal (reduced sugar), raw veggies & red pepper hummus, and pretzels.
Now i know why kafka reads so boring.
It wasn't just Byron who had eating issues. Women of the late 18th century and early 19th century sometimes ate sand to kill their appetites. It wasn't great for their health: this coincided with "the White Plague," TB.