1. Surprise Me — If you choose this option, we’ll be sure to seat you at a dinner that meets your dietary restrictions (there is a place to share these with us when you register).

2. Eight Flavors: The Untold Story of American Cuisine — Sarah Lohman
Let me count the ways! The eight flavors that unite the American culinary landscape—black pepper, vanilla, curry powder, chili powder, soy sauce, garlic, MSG, and Sriracha—define this eclectic feast featuring a vegetable curry and vegan chili, along with a variety of bites that explore and expand this titular octet of tastes. VG

3. The Sentence — Louise Erdrich
Celebrate indigenous cuisine at this feast based on a novel about a Minnesota bookshop haunted by an annoying customer who dies on All Souls’ Day. The menu, inspired by recipes from the Sioux Chef and Mitsitam Café, will feature traditional foods including Three Sisters Soup (a hearty potage made with the classic, nourishing trio of corn, squash, and beans), trout, bison, and wild rice. Don’t ghost this one! P

4. Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand — Helen Simonson
In a quaint Sussex village, a retired British military man gets drawn out of his regimented world by Mrs. Ali, a widowed Pakistani village shopkeeper. This feast plays off their beautiful if unlikely friendship by offering a vibrant blend of vegetarian Indian delights with some surprising English touches. Expect the unexpected! V

5. Dinner at Mr. Jefferson’s: Three Men, Five Great Wines, and the Evening That Changed America — Charles A. Cerami
Thomas Jefferson’s history-making dinner party is being recreated on Capitol Hill—and you have an invitation! The feast starts with a champagne toast and progresses to recipes from Monticello’s kitchen, including creamed vegetable soup, garden salad greens with warm bacon dressing, a genetically authentic heritage turkey, and mac and cheese, which Jefferson introduced to America (to huzzahs from children everywhere!). M

6. Ganbatte! The Japanese Art of Always Moving Forward — Albert Liebermann
Plunge headlong into this feast of Japanese delicacies. On offer will be spring rolls, edamame, miso soup, salad with sesame seed dressing, and a variety of sushi rolls (including shrimp, salmon, and tuna) with Asian rice, followed by sweet, chewy moshi desserts. After this scrumptious meal, you can move forward to the Hill Center to continue the celebration! P

7. Convenience Store Woman — Sayaka Murata
Step into the Horimachi branch of “Smile Mart,” where Keiko Furukura is waiting to serve you. She is likely to recommend the salmon rice balls with caviar (on special today!) with a simple salad, followed by sashimi, grilled meat, a soup of mixed vegetables, and green tea ice cream. Trust her: she’s been working here for years. P

8. The Personal Librarian — Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray
Belle da Costa Greene served as personal librarian to J.P. Morgan, but she had a secret: she was a Black American who passed as white, claiming Portuguese heritage to explain her dark skin. This feast gives a nod to her purported ancestry with a savory fish stew — “Moqueca de peixe com camarão”—served with vegetables, salad, and dessert. P

9. Tonight We Improvise (“Questa sera si recita a soggetto”) — Luigi Pirandello
Step into the theatrical world of Luigi Pirandello with an authentic Sicilian dinner that promises to be as spontaneous and delightful as the play. The menu will feature curated appetizers, pasta alla Norma, and a lamb or rabbit entrée. Prepare for an evening of improvisation, lively discussion, and the warm hospitality of a Sicilian feast. Buon appetito! M

10. The Vegan — Andrew Lipstein
When Herschel Caine’s carefully constructed world starts to unravel, he regains his moral compass—and a renewed appreciation for animals—through a neighborhood dog. While this feast can’t promise an epiphany, it will feature vegan appetizers, spicy sweet potato/carrot soup, a main course of lasagna with plant-based meat, arugula/tomato salad, and bread, all gluten free. Woof! VG, G

11. Frankenstein — Mary Shelley
Join your hosts for an evening of electrifying fun and monstrous delights at this feast inspired by Mary Shelley’s Gothic tale of a Modern Prometheus. Their creations will include cured meats, crostini, a blood red beet & tomato soup with beef dumplings, and—insert ominous organ chord here—brain cake. This one promises to really make you come alive! M

12. A Plate of Hope: The Inspiring Story of Chef José Andrés and the World Central Kitchen — Erin Frankel
Pay homage to everybody’s favorite chef and humanitarian, the DMV’s own José Andrés, with a menu that celebrates his Spanish heritage and love of cooking. Assorted tapas, including some from his cookbooks, will be followed by seafood paella. This feast will more than live up to the beloved chef’s philosophy: “No one should ever go hungry!” P

13. The Ornament of the World — Maria Rosa Menocal
The subtitle of this classic bestseller—“How Muslims, Jews, and Christians Created a Culture of Tolerance in Medieval Spain”—sets the stage for this feast. The menu will showcase a dish that really brings it all together: Chicken Marbella, a savory gem of tender, juicy chicken stewed in garlic and herbs with plump prunes, briny capers, and tangy green olives. Cocktails and Mediterranean appetizers will also reflect the multicultural heritage of the Spanish conviviencia. M, G

14. And Then You Die — Michael Dibdin
Italian police detective Aurelio Zen is convalescing at a Tuscan seaside resort following an assassination attempt. Forced to lie low, he’s bored—but at least he’s eating well, reveling in the regional specialties for which the area is renowned. This international feast will feature both Italian and Spanish courses, including Bistecca alla Florentina, risotto, and Catalan-style spinach. Delizioso! M

15. Looking for Salvation at the Dairy Queen — Susan Gregg Gilmore
If you grew up in a small American town, you probably cruised the Dairy Queen, dreaming of life beyond your burg—just like the heroine of this novel, which serves as a jumping-off point for a vegetarian Southern feast. Think gumbo, cornbread, tomato salad, something fried… and be sure to save room for dessert (Dilly Bars, of course!). V

16. Death Comes for the Archbishop — Willa Cather
The classic story of a 19th-century priest serving in the red hills of territorial New Mexico provides the backdrop for this Santa Fe-style Southwestern feast. While the priesthood might not approve, margaritas will definitely be served. Guacamole and pico de gallo will be followed by a shrimp appetizer and—la pieza de resistencia—a festive entrée of Christmas-in-October enchiladas with red and green chile sauce and sides. M, G

17. Power Through Witchcraft — Louise Huebner (official witch of Los Angeles 1968)
Join your friendly neighborhood witches, wizards, and other sexy beasts for a harvest feast fit for a coven. Appetizers of stuffed mushrooms, spinach artichoke puffs and smoky devils (vegan deviled eggs)—served around a bonfire (weather permitting)—will be followed by arugula salad and a cauldron of butternut squash stew with beans and mushrooms. This one sounds spellbinding! V, VG

18. The Secret History — Donna Tartt
Inspired by this thriller about a charismatic classics professor at a New England College and his class of clever, eccentric students, this feast riffs on their Dionysian revels with a decadent menu of pâté, rillettes, and cheeses, followed by a chestnut soup with foie gras and, for the main course, a (sacrificial?) roasted lamb. Let the bacchanal begin! M

19. Lessons in Chemistry — Bonnie Garmus
Chemist Elizabeth Zott’s 1960s cooking show turned tradition on its head—much like this feast, which features modern twists on mid-century favorites. Remember highballs and cocktail party hors d’oeuvres like cheese balls and deviled eggs? And who could forget casseroles, meatloaf, tomato aspic, and that go-to crowd-pleaser, beef stroganoff? How retro can you go?! M

20. On Booze — F. Scott Fitzgerald
Who better to ruminate on alcohol than the guy who wrote drinking into almost every one of his stories? Accompanying the prohibition cocktails at this lush feast will be a period menu of deviled eggs, Waldorf salad, leg of lamb, rice pilaf, and Duchess potatoes. Live jazz music will be provided with dinner, making this one the bee’s knees! M

21. What's Next? A Backstage Pass to the West Wing, Its Cast and Crew, and Its Enduring Legacy of Service — Melissa Fitzgerald and Mary McCormack
Come drink from the keg of glory at this feast inspired by culinary favorites of the cast of the hit TV show, the West Wing. The diverse menu—with a special emphasis on Caribbean and Southern cuisine—will include rice and peas, jerk chicken, salmon, mac and cheese, and vegetable curry. What better way to prepare for the upcoming election than to raise a glass to President Bartlet! M, P, V, VG

22. Stealing Buddha’s Dinner — Bich Minh Nguyen
No need to purloin anybody’s dinner, especially Buddha’s! There will be more than enough to go around at this plentiful feast featuring Vietnamese comfort foods such as crêpes and spring rolls and—with a sympathetic bow to Nguyen’s hunger to fit into her new home in the Midwest—a selection of iconic American finger foods and sides. M, P

23. On the Noodle Road: From Beijing to Rome, With Love and Pasta — Jen Lin-Liu
Traveling in Italy, Jen Lin-Liu was struck by the similarity of the cuisine to the food she had eaten and cooked in China, leading her to wonder: “Who really invented the noodle?” While this feast may not provide the answer to that riddle, it will start you down the path to finding out by sampling different noodle dishes and tasty treats from countries all along the “Noodle Road.” M

24. Zorba the Greek — Nicholas Kazantzakis
Early 1900’s Cretan peasant Zorba’s zest for life, even in the face of tragedy, reminds us to enjoy life’s simple pleasures. Come indulge in fresh foods from the land and sea—olive oil, tomatoes and fresh cheeses, seafood and local farm raised meats—that let you appreciate places where this mantra rings true today. Kali Orexi! M

25. The Lathe of Heaven — Ursula K. Le Guin
Le Guin envisioned a world decimated by global warming in this novel set in Portland, but you can celebrate what’s left of nature’s bounty with this Northwest-inspired feast, featuring oven-roasted side of salmon, sautéed mushrooms, and whole/multigrain pilaf, paired with an Oregon Pinot Noir, and followed by an artisanal cheese course. Eco guilt optional! P

26. Dante’s Inferno — Dante Alighieri
Celebrate the classic poet’s descent into the underworld with this rustic Tuscan dinner based on the cuisines of Florence and Bologna. The first circle will feature Pappardelle pasta with Bolognese sauce, followed by Chicken Florentine, cannellini beans with herbs and prosciutto, and a panzanella salad, and ending with cheese, poached pears, and Florentines. Sounds like a hell of a meal! M

27. The Great Derangement: Climate Change and the Unthinkable — Amitav Ghosh
Indian novelist Amitav Ghosh thinks that future generations may consider us deranged. He could well be right—but in the meantime, why not indulge yourself with a vegetarian feast that offers all the delights of that spicy, curry-inspired cuisine: samosas, tandooris, masalas, savory rice—with plenty of raita and naan to dull the bite. V

28. The Paris Wife — Paula McLain
After Hadley Richardson’s whirlwind romance and marriage to Ernest Hemingway, the “Lost Generation” pair set sail for Paris, which provides the backdrop for this feast of 1920s brasserie fare, including Coq au Vin, Cassoulet, and of course, cocktails. C’est si bon! M

29. The Lager Queen of Minnesota — J. Ryan Stradal
A novel about family businesses built on both beer and pie seems like the perfect inspiration for this mid-Western meal committed to exemplifying “Minnesota Nice.” Minnesota has been in the news lately, and it is time to acclimate your palate to the famous “Hotdishes” from the head of the Mississippi river. Like Garrison Keilor's sonoros baritone, these dishes will fill you with comfort. Also, there will be beer. M,V