In The Garden of Monsters - Dinner with Crystal King
November 15, 6:30pm
Step into 1948 Italy for a night inspired by Crystal King's novel, IN THE GARDEN OF MONSTERS. Savor dishes with Italian and surrealist flair, while you’ll learn about Spanish artist Salvador Dalí and his connection to a real, mysterious place in Italy: the Sacro Bosco Park of the Monsters. Acclaimed chef Will Gilson will deliver bold flavors, pomegranate notes, and decadent pairings that bring this tale of Hades and Persephone to life.
Each ticket will include a signed hard copy of the book from Porter Square Books. In addition to the meal and great conversation, we’ll have an optional beverage pairing to purchase the night of the dinner. We can’t wait for this exciting evening!
Crystal King is the author of In The Garden of Monsters, The Chef’s Secret, and Feast of Sorrow, which was long-listed at the Center for Fiction’s First Novel Prize and designated as a MassBook Awards Must Read. A social media and AI professor by trade, her writing is fueled by a love of history and a passion for the food, language, and culture of Italy. Crystal has taught writing, creativity, and social media at Harvard Extension School, Boston University, and UMass Boston. A Pushcart Prize-nominated poet and former co-editor of Plum Ruby Review, she holds an MA in critical and creative thinking from UMass Boston. You can find her at crystalking.com.
A Goodreads Most Anticipated Historical Fiction Book of Fall 2024 and NYPost Best Book of October 2024
“A sinister romance and hypnotic Gothic fairytale—surreal and luscious with a fascinating twist on the story of Hades and Persephone.” —Jennifer Saint, bestselling author of Ariadne
IN THE GARDEN OF MONSTERS
Italy, 1948
Julia Lombardi is a mystery even to herself. The beautiful model can’t remember where she’s from, where she’s been, or how she came to live in Rome. When she receives an offer to accompany celebrated eccentric artist Salvador Dalí to the Sacro Bosco—Italy’s Garden of Monsters—as his muse, she’s strangely compelled to accept. It could be a chance to unlock the truth about her past…
IN THE GARDEN OF MONSTERS is a retelling of the myth of Hades and Persephone, inspired by Salvador Dalí's 1948 visit to the Sacro Bosco Mannerist statue garden.
MENU:
caviar tart with quail eggs, lemon mayo, tarragon
seared foie gras tart with pomegranate and textures of fall fruit
“gargouillou” salad of autumn produce
truffle stuffed ballottine of guinea hen with a pistachio
bleeding heart chocolate cake with malt cream and vanilla
Tickets for dinner are $105 per person, plus tax and gratuity.