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Good books call for a cozy chair, and how about a nice sip of something? Hot coffee, sparkling water or perhaps something a little stronger. Try Culinary Thrill Seeking with these reads and pairings:

“Ghostlight Keith Carter” – Have you ever just looked at bark, or moss or feathers and thought, Keith Carter would love this? Do you know just enough about the swamps, marshes, baygalls, bayous and fens of Southeast Texas to be a little spooked? Have you set up a bottle tree? Carter lives in and loves this area and is known worldwide for his striking black and white images of the birds, wildlife, nature and people we see every day. But his photography shares his artistic vision in a artsy, folksy way that connects us all and makes us appreciate what we have here. This new University of Texas Press picture book includes a story by Bret Anthony Johnston.

Pairing: Moonshine in a tin cup. If you can’t get some, homemade, I calculate wine of your choosing in a stemmed glass would contrast nicely with these earthy themes.

“Texas Lithographs: A Century of History in Images” – All things Texas from Audubon shore birds, San Antonio Missions and images on sheet music and yes, politics, are covered in this 500+ page book. Galveston lovers are especially represented. It’s the parting scene titled “Galveston’s Awful Calamity – Gulf Tidal Wave, September 8, 1900” that will shake the reader. Survivors stumble through wreckage in the forefront as the gulf continues to pour in as a parting-of-the-red-sea effect. There’s more. For some Texas history, try a good port wine and sit in a leather library chair.  Ron Tyler presents this heavy-with-history University of Texas Press issue.

“Sobremesa” – I pick Mezcal con Agua Tonica to sip while reading this cookbook. Rub a cut side of lime around your tumbler edge and cover the edge in chile lime or agave worm chile salt. Add good quality mezcal, orange peel and tonic water. Now you’re good to go with just about anything on any page of “Sobremesa: Tasty Mexican Recipes for Every Day” by Susana Villasuso. Sobremesa means “over the table” which implies friends and family need to be part of this. We’re going beyond our beloved Tex Mex with baked scallops with charred jalapeno and red pepper butter, served in shells. Shredded Salmon Salad, Pork Belly and Pinto Beans in Sala Verde and Adobo Verde Roasted Cauliflower Tacos are making me weep! Finish with iced cream made from frozen mango, served in a cone and dotted with flower petals.

“Your Outdoor Room” – Consider levels, stairs, mood and themes for your outdoor space. What do you want to do there? Chill out while working from home or hide an ugly view? Theme? How about beachy, Japanese, Moroccan tile or desert? Colors? Plant patterns? Upscaling bicycle spokes into a plant trellis? We’ve got some things to think about, but Manoj Malde’s book, subtitled “How to Design a Garden You Can Live In,” has content inspiration and photos. I want to live in these pages. Pairing: May as well design an outdoor bar. Let’s do something tropical. Maybe rum punch in a hurricane glass. We’ll need some fruit rimming the glass. And lots of friends to admire our work. 

“We Shook Up the World” – How music was made and legends made combine histories of two history makers. “The Spiritual Rebellion of Muhammad Ali and George Harrison” is the subtitle of Tracy Daughtery’s University of Oklahoma Press book. It’s a thoughtful blend of the era as these two made their own impressions on culture. Beyond nostalgia, it’ a paring in and of itself. Read, re-live and learn. Did you know “She Came in Through the Bathroom Window” came from intense “Apple Scruffs?” These were fans who hung out at the studio. Some actually broke into Paul McCartney’s house and stole his trousers. As for a beverage paring: This is a long and well-documented read. How about a spot of tea with the lads. Though I read white wine is what Harrison enjoyed in the studio.

Darragh Doiron is a Port Arthur area foodie pairing adventures and flavors. Share your crazy ideas at darraghcastillo@icloud.com