California Golden is a Must Read 1960s Surf Saga
The free-wheeling 1960s have been the inspiration for so much fabulous fiction, from movies to shows, novels and beyond. Count Melanie Benjamin’s latest novel, California Golden, as one of the most poignant and near-perfect of the lot. Inspired by a real-life surf goddess, Melanie brings to life the Donnelly women. Mom Carol is a living legend, and her two daughters are not far behind. As Carol dodges the weight of motherhood, her daughters are mostly left to find their own way when off their surfboards. Mindy answers the call of Hollywood, carving out a niche career in the surfside blockbusters of the day; Ginger follows the allure of a man named Tom who fancies himself a bit elevated from those around him. As the years go by, all three women are left to the consequences of their own decisions until finally they are brought back together as three grown women with a change of path laid out before them.
California Golden
by Melanie Benjamin
Two Perfect Wine Pairings for California Golden
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| Ancient Peaks Paso Robles Zinfandel | Stel+Mar Chardonnay |
| Naturally we’re staying on the west coast for our California Golden wine picks. First up is this Ancient Peaks Paso Robles Zinfandel a go. It’s as complex as any of the Donnelly women, being at once fruit forward and full of spice. We like our Zinfandels with a little extra chill, but you do you. | For our white pick, give this Stel+Mar Chardonnay a try. It’s got everything you’d want in a mellow day’s crisp, cold glass of wine: a touch of tropical fruit, a little bit of warmth, and plenty of body. And that label is everything to us right now. |
Salt and Pepper Shrimp
From The Honeysuckle Cookbook by Dzung Lewis
We wanted a recipe this week that spoke to the oceanside setting of SoCal’s shoreline. This Salt and Pepper Shrimp dish from The Honeysuckle Cookbook proved the perfect pairing! We also love that the author of this cookbook grew up in SoCal in a Vietnamese household — which perfectly ties to the novel’s Vietnam-set scenes.
INGREDIENTS
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STEPS 1. Fill a large bowl with ice, add water to cover, and then add the shrimp. This will help tighten the meat and make it nice and “crunchy” or firm. Soak the shrimp for 5 minutes. 2. In a medium bowl, stir together the cornstarch, 2 teaspoons salt, 1 teaspoon pepper, and the garlic powder. Set aside. 3. Make the shallot mixture: Heat a large cast-iron skillet over medium heat. Drizzle in 1 tablespoon oil and toss in the garlic, shallot, scallion, and chile (if using). Cook and stir until fragrant, a minute or so, then transfer the mixture to a bowl and set aside. 4. Drain the shrimp and pat dry with paper towels, then add all the shrimp to the cornstarch mixture. Toss to coat each piece thoroughly. 5. Pour 1/4 inch of oil into the same skillet and set over medium-high heat. When the oil is hot enough that any leftover shallots are sizzling vigorously, working in batches, add about 6 shrimp to the pan. Fry until golden brown, about 2 minutes, then flip to the other side. Cook the other side until golden brown, another minute. Transfer the shrimp to a plate lined with paper towels and give them another quick sprinkle of salt and pepper. Make sure to do this while the shrimp is still piping hot so that the salt and pepper sticks. Repeat until all the shrimp are cooked, adding more oil to the pan as necessary. 6. Garnish with the reserved shallot mixture, sprinkle with fresh cilantro, and serve piping hot. (This is best eaten immediately.) Enjoy! |
| Excerpt from THE HONEYSUCKLE COOKBOOK; 100 Healthy, Feel-Good Recipes to Live Deliciously by Dzung Lewis. Copyright © 2020 by Dzung Lewis. Published by Rodale Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House. |
California Golden covers a lot of ground — or should we say beach? From Malibu to Vietnam to Hawaii, Melanie captures a glorious era from recent history while also crafting characters who you’ll come to feel for in big ways. Oh, yes. This is a novel that you’re going to want to think and talk about at length. Need a little help keeping your conversation or consideration on track? We’ve got you covered.
Get the discussion questions.
California Golden is so evocative of such a specific moment in history — a moment that was known for so much, and not least of all the music. On more than one occasion, the author calls out a particular song or musician. Fully immerse yourself in the era with this oh so groovy playlist that will bring you right back to that freewheeling era.
Listen on Spotify.
Mai Tai Cocktail
During Mindy’s run as a movie starlet — the Girl in the Curl — she’s a regular at the iconic Whisky a Go Go and Trader Vic’s. Her drink of choice while out on the town? A mai tai. Here’s the recipe the author shared with us, in case you want to shake things up yourself.
Shake all ingredients over ice:
- 2 oz. top shelf Caribbean rum
- 1/2 oz. Orange Curacao liqueur
- 3/4 oz. freshly squeezed lime juice
- 1/3 oz. Orgeat (almond) sugar syrup
- 1/4 oz. rich sugar syrup (ratio of 2 sugar to 1 water)
Shake, strain into a double old fashioned glass, garnish with your choice of lime, mint, or a fruit skewer (pineapple and maraschino cherries).
If California Golden left you jonesing for another dose of surf culture, check out the fascinating and wild memoir Barbarian Days by William Finnegan. William knows surfing — and also knows traveling, reporting, writing, reading, growing, and living. In his 2015 book, which went on to win the Pulitzer Prize for autobiography, Finnegan touches on all of these things, and manages to do so in a way that is fluid and poetic, but not precious nor sentimental. Barbarian Days is a brilliant work of narrative nonfiction, and you’ll walk away feeling like you’ve just been gifted a peek inside a very protected world.
Get the book.
Bonus: Check out even more fun bits the publisher’s California Golden book club kit!