This, I find, is one of the hardest parts of descriptive writing. I'm currently writing the first draft of a novel set in West Africa, and discovering the food comes into it a couple times, but I've never been completely happy with what I've come up with.

One of the best examples I've ever heard (and I'm sorry, I can't remember where it comes from) is someone trying champagne for the first time and they describe it as tasting like 'an apple peeled with a steel knife.' Wonderful.

Does anyone else find this hard? Any tips?

Cheers

Harry

Where's Jilly Goolden when you need her!

Yes, so hard, and because it is, any description that's really accurate can appear laboured.

Emma

Claudia Roden is a chef and food writer who does very well in this. Check her out. S

What does an apple peeled with a steel knife taste like?

Joe

Champagne apparently, Jo.

I'll look up the Claudia Roden, Shika, thanks.

I agree, Emma. Simile and metaphor seem to be the only way forward.

Cheers all

Harry