
Not going to lie – I love food. I’m no food expert, but I do like me some good food. One of the things I love about books is when the author includes intricate detail, like describing an outfit in great lengths, or including a meal. Who doesn’t want to attend a mad tea party, or a feast at Hogwarts?

Who wouldn’t want to attend a feast (or any meal, for that matter) at Hogwarts? Aside from the amazing food that is presented (everything from Yorkshire Puddings to cakes to a variety of meats, fruit and veggies, along with candies and more), something interesting almost always happens at a feast. In Harry’s first year, a troll was in a dungeon during the Halloween feast. During the first feast (Start of Term Feast) of every year, the first years are sorted into their respective houses. In Harry’s fourth year, there was a Welcoming Feast that introduced the readers (and the students of Hogwarts) to the students of Beauxbatons Academy of Magic and Durmstrang Institute. Also, you get to sit in the Great Hall. Enough said.

In chapter seven, Alice stumbles across the Mad Hatter and March Hare enjoying a tea party. There are numerous teas and snacks so who wouldn’t want to go? Aside from the delightful tastes, in this particular tea Alice is introduced to the Hatter and Hare, several key points to the plot, and several other key parts. One of these plots include Hatter and Hare’s numerous riddles and jokes. The most famous of these include “Why is a raven like a writing desk?”

It’s not so much a literary meal as much as a food punishment of sorts, but it’s worth a mention. Bruce, a classmate of Matilda, is caught stealing a piece of Ms. Trunchbull’s beloved chocolate cake. To punish him, he is forced to eat the entire cake. Bruce does so, stunning not only his peers, but Ms. Trunchbull herself. It’s one hell of a scene and one that would’ve been incredible to attend.

Okay, who wouldn’t want to attend this little get together? The Dwarves have a clear love of food and drink, and it’s during this little party that we truly start in on the adventure of Bilbo Baggins. In spite of himself, Bilbo is hired as a burglar by Gandalf. This leads to him to accompanying a group of Dwarves to reclaim the Lonely Mountain and its treasure from Smaug the dragon. To even just be in the background of this event would be amazing.
These are just a few famous literary meals (parties, punishments, festivities - whatever you choose to call them). There are so many more, so let us know which ones you’d like to attend.