Books to Eat: First Gathering

Books to Eat
Curated and seasoned by Sandro William Junqueira, Giacomo Scalisi and Rosário Pinheiro


"Some meals deserve a literary ode, and some books taste as delightful as a fine delicacy. When we combine these two joys, we get BOOKS TO EAT: a gastronomic reading club where six books inspire six meals. Participants will be challenged to read and cook, eat, and discuss the books."
— Sandro William Junqueira

A school is, by nature, a place of books and learning. It is also in school that we are—or should be—infected with the desire to ‘devour’ the world. BOOKS TO EAT is born from this intersection between books, the urge to discover the world in all its diversity, and the ritual of eating. At EscolaNova, we will read and explore books, then cook and eat them, unveiling hidden recipes between the lines of words. Free association transforms into a creative act, where gastronomy reinterprets the essence of literary works. From the description of a city to the inner states of a character, the kitchen becomes a means of expression, adding flavour to the emotions and atmospheres evoked by the text.

Writer Sandro William Junqueira will introduce each chosen book, allowing participants to fully immerse themselves in its story. Once the reading has been digested, this gastronomic reading club will gather again in the EscolaNova kitchen, where, together with theatre director Giacomo Scalisi and chef Rosário Pinheiro, they will imagine and create a unique dish inspired by the book’s stories. These literary journeys will take us to different countries and cultures, reflected in Aljezur through the diverse communities that have made this place their home. Over a full day, we will cook and share the dish together. In the end, we return to the beginning—with the presentation of the next book to be ‘cooked,’ continuing this intercultural literary feast.

1^st Session - 27 april 2025
The Vegetarian
Han Kang

2^nd Session - 15 june 2025
Purple Hibiscus
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

3^rd Session - 03 august 2025
Proud Beggars
Albert Cossery

4^th Session - 12 october 2025
The Lying Life of Adults
Elena Ferrante

5^th Session - 02 november 2025
Oblivion: A Memoir
Hector Abad Faciolince

6^th Session - 14 december 2025
The Cookbook of Imaginary Places
Alberto Manguel