Hi, Reader! My name is Cara Nicoletti and I’m a butcher, former-pastry chef and writer living in Brooklyn, New York. I grew up working in my grandfather’s butcher shop outside of Boston and have been working in kitchens since I moved to New York in 2004 to attend NYU. For me, there has always been a connection between eating and reading. There is nothing as engrossing as the eating of a truly great meal and nothing that nourishes my spirit quite like the reading of a good book. Hemingway himself once said “I have discovered that there is romance in food when romance has disappeared from everywhere else.” Perhaps it is because of this symbiosis that, for me at least, some of the most romantic, most poignant scenes in literature are scenes of cooking and eating.
Yummybooks started as a book club in 2008, blossomed into a supper club in 2009, and became this blog in 2010. It has been my greatest love these past six years.
I currently work as a butcher at The Meat Hook in Brooklyn and am in the process of writing a book about my love affair with reading and cooking, to be published by Little, Brown August 18, 2015!
For updates and fun offers you can also “like” the Yummy Books facebook page, or for book, butchery, and tomfoolery-related photos and tweets you can find me on twitter and instagram @caranicoletti
All words and photographs Copyright © 2010-2015 Cara Nicoletti unless otherwise indicated. Do not duplicate without crediting or asking permission.
Ran into your parents the other night and mentioned this, it looks incredible and I can’t wait to make some of these desserts. Congrats
This blog makes me very happy. When I think Cara I think books and being fed. And David Lynch I guess. And the Celtics. But I’m not sure how you can work in those other two.
Cara,
This is wonderful. Great idea, great images, great writing. Nice work and looking forward to reading more.
Nice job! Those Cardamon buns are happening at my house immediately.
Love your blog!
Cara, stumbled upon this and love, love it! You’re a wonderful writer (no surprise) and the food!! (good thing i just ate!) Hope all is well w/ you! peace in the new year.
Hi, Mr. Leeming!
What a great surprise! Thank you so much for reading. I still remember the note you left in my mailbox after I gave my senior speech–I count you among the people who inspired me to keep reading and writing. Hope all with you is wonderful!
Fantastic!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hi! Awesome blog! How can I subscribe via email? Thanks!
Thank you! In the bottom right-hand corner of the blog there should be a little plus sign that says “follow.” Once you click it you can enter in your email address and it will update you whenever I post! If it doesn’t show up your browser might be out of date. So happy to have you!
Hi Cara,
Love the blog. Would love to chat about your ambitions to pursue a book project based on your work here. Hope you’ll be in touch.
Jason Allen Ashlock
I love this blog! It’s true–there’s a real connection between reading and eating, perhaps the amount of sensation and imagination that come from each activity. I can’t wait to read more of your stuff!
I love your blog! It is such an amazing idea, and you have such great photographs and style. Am looking forward to reading more in the future.
Thank you so much! The Hunger Games meal you prepared is absolutely fantastic–those rolls! It was so hard to resist making that lamb stew, but the flaming cake was calling to me. Thanks for stopping in!
Thanks for following me blog! I am so glad we found each other. I love your photos. Well done!
I love your blogs header pic. Did you design it? I’d be interested in what program you used, if any. I’d like to try to make my own.
I would love to know as well! It’s beautiful, and I’m also working on designing my own.
Oh, and the food pics are gorgeous….(except the pig one; I love animals.)
Oh heck yes. New favorite food blog.
Wouldn’t it be great to be able to read and eat at the same time? But that gets messy really fast, and I have poor hand-mouth coordination which means I have to look at my food as I’m eating it, making it impossible to read.
Alas.
I wish I could say I didn’t know anything about this dilemma, Claire, but (alas) most of my books are covered in jelly fingerprints and tomato sauce shmears. So happy to have you!
What a delightful blog! This librarian’s daughter can’t wait to catch up on all your posts.
Thank you, Michelle–so glad to have you! How wonderful to have a librarian for a parent, did you ever get to wander around the library after it was closed? As a kid I always thought that would be the most thrilling thing in the world (I’m not much of a dare-devil). Thanks again for stopping in!
Hi! A friend just passed on your blog and I love the idea, also being obsessed with books and food. I thought of it this morning when I received a newsletter from Small Demons, which pulls out references (to pop culture, people, locations, and the all encompassing “things”) in books and links them to other books (here’s the food and drinks one: https://www.smalldemons.com/things/products_brands/food_drinks).
Keep up with the good work! The Hunger Games cake and Jane Eyre buns look especially enticing. Do you think you will do a new author each time, or add multiple recipes from books of the same author?
Cara,
I remember you telling me about your blog a few years ago at Think. I’m not sure which I’m more sad about; the fact that I didn’t delve in sooner, or that I have not created something as deliciously ingenious! I’m reading, eating, and sharing.
Love,
Christy
You left a super sweet comment on my blog last week and I just realized that you were you! I’m such a fan of your blog, YOU are great, haha.
I can’t wait until my granddaughter is old enough to do this together….read the book, eat the food. Thank you for sharing your inspiration….blessed be.
I absolutely LOVE your blog! What a wonderful idea for a food blog and for endless sources of recipe inspiration.
I love this!!!!
…I have one more reason to love To The Lighthouse, and that is – it led me to this blog. Great job and looking forward to more yummy books!
Cara
My daughter is a fan of yours and I finally went on your site to view your book, now I understand why.
Fantastic!!
Actually my daughters name is Cara McAndrews Nicoletti -recently married to a Nicoletti.
I would love to give her a copy of your book signed, any suggestions?
Yes! This is the blog I’ve been looking for. Food + Literature is a most epic combination
After reading To Kill a Mockingbird I found The Lane cake on your website. Wow!
Cara,
I am so proud of you. Seems like not too long ago you were a student at Hardy while I was the school principal. Every month I have dinner with some of the educators who taught at Hardy and I will be sure to share this with them!!!! So excited for you!!!!!
Mrs. Yelland
I found your blog on accident earlier this afternoon and haven’t been able to stop thinking about it. Food has become my obsession as of late, mostly, I think, because I’m a poor college student living in the last dregs of winter. I found your blog so inspiring and thought-provoking, I’m sad I only just discovered it. It hits me hard in two of my weak spots: food, obviously, and stories. I’d never have thought to make the kind of connection between the two that you do, although now it seems obvious and I feel stupid for not zeroing in on it before. I want to read everything. And eat everything. Thank you for this. You’ve pulled me out of my redundant, exhausting life for a moment to dream about good food and good books. Please don’t stop writing.
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Cara!
I have devoured (no pun intended) your blog since seeing the NY times article. You and I both grew up in Wellesley. You my friend are a beautiful writer. Not sure if anyone tells you that enough, but I am inspired. I have started my own blog about living a locally sourced lifestyle in Boston and you have given me so much food for thought (once again, no pun intended). I also have compiled a list of books that I need to read thanks to your marriage of reading and eating (2 of my top faves as well). Just wanted you to know that you have a raving fan!
All the best,
Claire
Congrats on your book. Worked with your mom and her twin sister at Coldwell Banker in Wellesley. Saw the nice article about you working in the butcher shop in Brooklyn. Good luck
Nancy
I like cooking and throwing parties at home to have friends tasting my new experiment on food. And as you do, I like reading too. So I run my blog since 2000 to share the dishes inspired by books I read. I used to host a book club in a feminism book store to discuss one book, written by a female writers or major female characters in the book, at a time, and share real food after the discussion. Among these theme books, I had talked about Anne from Green Gable, and the food on that day was strawberry jam on scones. You know where it comes from, right?
However, I am not a cook professional (but a trademark attorney), my food are much simpler.
I found you through an article I read on food52, and just want to stop by saying hello to you, and congratulates on your book! I wish there will be Chinese translation of your book introducing to Taiwan, or I will have a copy when the English version could be sold in Taiwan.
Have a nice day! And keep having fun on food and reading, Of course!
joining
I was at your reading in Brooklyn last night and have a belated question: Do you consider yourself now more butcher, baker or author? In which direction are you going next?
I am enjoying listening to your interview on Radio Times as I type. I can’t wait to get my hands on your book!
Enjoying your discussion on “Splendid Table,” and looking forward to “Voracious.”
So glad to hear your story on NPR this morning.
My two most favorite things to do: eat and read. In that order most of the time. I can forget to eat when a page turner comes my way yet I will never forget to read when eating. A good book is like siting down to a banquet with all my friend in the world!