“Sweet Tarts” to be Celebrated at Casa de la Noche

“Sweet Tarts” to be Celebrated at Casa de la Noche

By B. Black

 

What you may have heard is true: Casa de la Noche, the beautiful and charming 18-room boutique bed & breakfast hotel on Calle Organos in Centro, was once, in the post-war years when prostitution in Mexico was legal, a well-known and beloved brothel. A brilliantly colorful place, with a more than colorful history, Casa de la Noche today operates another kind of hospitality—as a respite for travelers, an artists’ haven, and an events salon. 

 

An upcoming event at Casa de la Noche, on Thursday afternoon, Nov. 19, will celebrate—what else?—tarts. And not just any type of tarts. These will be sweet tarts, the kind to be nibbled with coffee or tea at teatime at intimate tables in the open-air courtyard. The long-term plan is that Casa de la Noche will be serving tarts at teatime regularly in the future.

 

As a foretaste of tarts to come, Barbara Poole (aka “Madam Turca”), Casa de la Noche’s owner, will host a celebratory event for the newly published book, “Sweet Tarts for my Sweethearts: Stories and Recipes from a Culinary Career,” by Bonnie Lee Black (Nighthawk Press) on      Nov. 19 at 4 p.m.

 

Tasting-size portions of several Thanksgiving-themed recipes from “Sweet Tarts” will be offered for guests’ gustatory pleasure, and Bonnie will read short pieces from her new book and take questions from guests about tart-baking. The “Sweet Tarts” cookbook will also be available for holiday gift purchases.

 

For Black, writing and cooking have always been analogous. Both, she feels, involve the thoughtful and loving preparation of something good for another’s consumption. This cookbook is a compilation of some of her favorite, tried-and-true sweet tart recipes, along with related stories, drawn from her long culinary and writing careers.

 

An honors graduate of the Columbia University writing program in New York City, with an MFA in creative writing from Antioch University in Los Angeles, Black is the author of three memoirs, one novel, many published essays, and an award-winning weekly blog. She is a blue-ribbon graduate of Peter Kump’s New York Cooking School and had a catering business in Manhattan for 10 years before joining the Peace Corps in 1996. “Sweet Tarts” is her fifth published book. For more, visit www.bonnieleeblack.com.

 

At the Nov. 19 event, socially distanced protocols will be strictly followed. As such, seating in the outdoor courtyard will be limited, so please be sure to RSVP Casa de la Noche at 415 152 0732 to reserve your seat. Remember that November weather can be nippy, so dress appropriately. And do wear your mask.