Food Lover’s Book Club is a bimonthly discussion of a cookbook or food-related book led by 5280‘s food editor Amanda M. Faison. The free gathering takes place at the Cherry Creek Library.

Chocolate and Valentine’s Day is so…predictable. That’s why we’ll explore the complex world of caramel instead. I team up with Ellen Daehnick from Helliemae’s Handcrafted Caramels to deconstruct the delightful treat. The chosen book is the unexpected Bitter: A Taste of the World’s Most Dangerous Flavor by Jennifer McLagan (reviewed by Slate here). Daehnick and I will specifically reference the chapter “Dark, Forbidden, and Very Bitter” where McLagan outlines two caramel recipes and makes the argument that the best caramel has bitter notes (Daehnick agrees). Plus: samples and a demo!

Details: Whether you’ve read and cooked from the book or not, join Daehnick and me for a lively discussion on Wednesday, February 11, at the Cherry Creek Library.

Next up: The CSA on Wednesday, April 8—same time, same place. Lyle Davis and Sylvia Tawse of Pastures of Plenty Farm join me to explore the world of Community Supported Agriculture. Buying a farm share both helps ensure the success of local farms and connects you to your food in a way that no grocery store can. It also means you’re likely to end up with vegetables you’ve never cooked with (kohlrabi!) and an abundance of others (zucchini!). Embrace this element of surprise and you’ll become a better, more instinctive cook. The chosen book is A Platter of Figs by former Chez Panisse chef David Tanis (check it out, buy it, cook from it, and come ready to discuss).

Free, 6 p.m., Ross-Cherry Creek Branch Library, 305 Milwaukee St., 720-865-0120.

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—Caramel photo via Shutterstock

Amanda M. Faison
Amanda M. Faison
Freelance writer Amanda M. Faison spent 20 years at 5280 Magazine, 12 of those as Food Editor.