As fans prepare for the Gabriel’s Inferno movie in 2020, this guide to the culinary delights in Sylvain Reynard’s book will help pass the time.
You can’t read Gabriel’s Inferno by Sylvain Reynard without noticing the role that food plays in the story. If you have ever wanted to eat your way through the book, then consider this article as your guide through the tastier side of Reynard’s sexy story, complete with recipes to help you bring some of the memorable dishes to life.
Gabriel’s Inferno was a massive hit when it debuted in 2012 and the popularity has only grown over the years. Now, in 2019, the book is about to get the motion picture treatment thanks to the wonderful folks at Passionflix. The story of Julia and Gabriel is about to come to life for a whole new audience, as well as longtime fans who have been eagerly following their story from the beginning with Giulio Berruti as Gabriel and Melanie Zanetti as Julia, and the talented Tosca Musk behind the camera.
Part One of this culinary guide to Sylvain Reynard’s riveting and sultry love story covers the start of the book through the moment when Gabriel learns Julia’s true identity. For reference, page numbers correspond to the paperback edition of Gabriel’s Inferno.
“Couscous is very nutritious”
After giving Julia a ride home on a rainy day, Julia invites Professor Emerson into her apartment. The Professor, looking to redeem himself after being an ass to his student, can’t believe that Julia lives in such a small apartment. It doesn’t even have a kitchen!
When he remarks about the size of her apartment, she tells him that she has a hot plate that allows her to make couscous. (Couscous will become something of a punchline throughout the story as a result of this moment)
Couscous is known as the national dish of Morocco. Resembling small pellets, it is traditionally made of crushed semolina. There are lots of ways to serve the dish, whether you serve it by itself or add various spices or garnishes to enhance the flavor. (p. 30)
Julia Needs a Steak Dinner
Gabriel immediately notices that Julia doesn’t have enough food in her tiny apartment and repentance is overshadowing his better judgement. (After all, professors and students cannot be friends!) He takes her to dinner at Harbor Sixty Steakhouse so that she can eat a good steak and take home the leftovers.
Gabriel is still reeling from the death of his adoptive mother, Grace. Julia is also struggling with Grace’s death, but she’s also harboring a secret of her own: She and Gabriel have met before, years ago in an apple orchard in Selinsgrove. She was 17 and he was ten years older, and after their night together they never saw each other again. Now she has finally found him, but he doesn’t remember who she was.
Gabriel ordered them each a juicy filet mignon, and it’s his hope that she will be able to take some home for later.
Antonio has seen Gabriel at his restaurant before, but he has never seen him with a woman as stunning as Julia. Though Antonio doesn’t know the nature of their relationship – which is strictly professional – he lavishes Julia with food to take home with her: Tiramisu, espresso, biscotti, grappa, and some chocolate Baci. He also gives her a jar of homemade marinara sauce to enjoy later (p. 37)
Lobby
Gabriel’s adopted sister is a whirlwind of energy and enthusiasm when she arrives in Toronto for a visit and discovers that Julia, her best friend from high school, is one of her brother’s students.
To Gabriel’s utter horror, Rachel invites Julia to a night on the town at Lobby, the hottest night spot in town. The young women order cosmos to get their night started. (p. 98)
Street Meat and Neapolitan Pizza
Later on, Gabriel’s grad student Paul offers Julia the use of the carrel in the library. It’s Professor Emerson’s private carrel but Paul has access to it and he has bestowed access to Julia. When Gabriel finds her asleep inside, she’s startled when she wakes up and almost faints because all she has eaten all day is a hot dog from the hot dog cart outside. Naturally, Gabriel isn’t amused that she ate street meat. (Read that with all of the snarky derision that italics can’t possibly convey) (p. 152)
Upon hearing that she is once again hungry, Gabriel decides to take Julia to Caffe Velo, where they share some salad and pizza (Neapolitan style, of course) before Gabriel is called away on a private matter. (p. 155)
We don’t know which kind of pizza they shared, so here’s my favorite kind of pizza: Margherita Pizza.
A Chance Encounter
Gabriel’s dark slide almost takes a disastrous turn at Lobby, where he is drinking to numb his pain while his other grad student Christa is trying to engage in some extracurricular activities with her drunken professor.
Julia happens to be passing by when Ethan, the Lobby host, spots her and begs her to help remove Gabriel before he gets kicked out. With a mango smoothie in her hand, Julia manages to trick Gabriel into leaving the bar without Christa spotting them. (p. 170)
Breakfast at Gabriel’s
After rescuing Gabriel from Lobby, Julia takes him home and puts him to bed. For a brief moment, in the midst of a drunken haze, Gabriel recognizes his Beatrice from the Selinsgrove orchard. Julia is overwhelmed with joy as they fall asleep in each other’s arms.
The next morning, Julia wakes early and prepares a breakfast tray for him, complete with eggs, bacon and coffee.
Knowing that he’s bound to have a headache, Julia also makes him a breakfast libation designed to help with the hangover he is inevitably experiencing after the events of the previous night. She also writes a very personal note to him, signing it “Your Beatrice”. (p. 192)
What Julia doesn’t expect is that Gabriel doesn’t remember his revelation from the night before, and he’s enraged and confused when he wakes up. Seeing her note only adds to that confusion and anger.
It isn’t until Julia is in the elevator that Gabriel’s memory escapes its foggy prison and allows him to make the connection between Julia and Beatrice from the orchard.
By then, though, it’s too late. She’s gone, and he is alone again.
Stay tuned…Part Two of A Foodie’s Guide to Gabriel’s Inferno is coming soon!
Be sure to follow Sylvain Reynard on Twitter and Instagram. You can purchase a copy of Gabriel’s Inferno here.
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