My Magnolia Summer Quotes

“If you were to cut me open, you’d find the water of the Atlantic instead of blood, driftwood instead of bones, and seashells in place of everything else.”
― Victoria Benton Frank, My Magnolia Summer

“unfeminine. Couldn’t”
― Victoria Benton Frank, My Magnolia Summer

“As soon as I was immersed in my work, cutting up the kabocha squash for the winter butternut squash soup, dicing the carrots to braise in orange juice, and starting another giant vat of chicken stock, I allowed the aromas and natural muscle rhythms of the kitchen to sweep me up in what I loved. I calmed down and experienced--- as corny as it might sound--- the joy of cooking.
I was in love with food, obsessed with it. Food wasn't just fuel; it could heal a broken heart, it could entertain, it could bring you home. Magic happened when a perfectly balanced dish came together. A beautiful symphony of flavors. Salty, sweet, acidic, crunchy, colorful, soft, hard, warm, cold. It should take you on a journey. Once I had an Italian dish called Genovese, consisting of braised rabbit over thick noodles with a carrot and pea sauce. It was so beautiful, earthy, clever, and delicious, and it warmed you from the inside. It was what I liked to call a "circle of life plate.”
― Victoria Benton Frank, My Magnolia Summer

“In the back of my closet, I saw a pink wrap dress that was hopelessly Southern. Pale pink, with little flutter sleeves all in a Swiss-dot fabric that you could see through if you held it up to the light. I would need nude undergarments, which I was sure I had. My mom always told me never to wear wild undies, you never knew who'd see them! What if I got in a car wreck?
I pulled my hair up and allowed a few red curls to fall out of a messy bun at the nape of my neck. I slipped the dress on and gave my lips a quick swipe of gloss. I chose small gold hoop earrings that had belonged to Gran at one time and stepped into a pair of gold flip-flops. I looked at myself in the mirror and reminded myself I was going to a farm.
Jim walked in. "Ready for the big... Oh, my God, Magnolia!"
"What? Too much?" I said, grimacing.
"Good God, no! You look absolutely perfect! You look like a mouthwatering pink confection! A true Southern Magnolia!”
― Victoria Benton Frank, My Magnolia Summer

“The white picket trellis was covered in climbing vines, and the soft, brown weedless soil was covered with winter squash peeking out from underneath velvety dark-green leaves. The island breeze carried the scent of Gran's rosemary plants. I went into the potting shed, grabbed the scissors, and snipped a bunch of rosemary. I could use it in the butter for the mashed potatoes that would be served with the fried chicken. I looked around at her herbs and listened to the tinkle of the wind chimes' sand dollars. I snipped some parsley and thyme. Those herbs would add depth or brightness to any dish. I also plucked a half-dozen bright-yellow lemons to add to the fish dishes.”
― Victoria Benton Frank, My Magnolia Summer

“Gran was telling me how to pronounce “jambon aux beurre,” the French name for a ham and butter sandwich.”
― Victoria Benton Frank, My Magnolia Summer

“Parmesan cheese?" Miller said. "We're not cooking Italian food."
I rolled my eyes. "Yes, keep grating it, and when you're done, whisk it into those eggs. Now you know the secret ingredient of our fried chicken."
Once the dredging pans were ready, I showed the young cooks through the four steps. They watched me closely. Ben, sweet baby--- bless him--- wrote everything down. The first step was to dry the chicken pieces with a paper towel, so they were tacky but not wet. This would enable the seasoning to stick to them. The secret here was not to salt too far in advance, because although salt helped enhance flavor, it also dried out meat. The second step was to dredge it in the flour mixed with cayenne pepper. After you shook off the excess flour, you put it into the mixture of eggs and grated Parmesan cheese. Finally, you dunked it into a second flour mixture that contained enough freshly ground black pepper to turn the mixture gray. This chicken was, as the kids say, fire, meaning it was so good. Its heat was balanced with the Parmesan cheese.”
― Victoria Benton Frank, My Magnolia Summer

“The cooks went outside to Alice's truck and brought in six pies, a crate of veggies, and a bushel of fresh crabs. I was beside myself with excitement.
We took out large hotel pans, filled them with ice, and poured the oysters and crabs on them to keep them fresh. It was a beautiful sight.
Her veggie basket also included the juiciest grapefruits I'd ever seen. I decided to serve them alongside the beautiful crab. My mind was going crazy with different ways to combine all these fresh ingredients. In New York we had wonderful seafood and produce, but most of it was imported. According to my palate, though, no crab was tastier than one that had been swimming a hundred yards from your table earlier in the day.”
― Victoria Benton Frank, My Magnolia Summer

“The sight of the pale-yellow façade of 82 Queen with the large golden numerals on the small black awning over the narrow entrance always made me smile. It was one of the grand dames of the Charleston restaurant scene. Opened in 1982 and comprised of three adjoining eighteenth-century town houses and a courtyard, it was the first restaurant to combine the local African, French, Caribbean, and Anglo-Saxon tastes to create a new culinary genre known as Lowcountry cuisine.”
― Victoria Benton Frank, My Magnolia Summer

“Buster's daughters certainly hadn't spared any expense, and, surprisingly, had chosen the perfect dishes--- ham biscuits, maple ham slices with artichoke relish, golden pimento mac and cheese, and a tray of salad. Not a morsel of frozen seafood in sight! Of course, I gave all the credit to the caterer, one of the best in Charleston. I was impressed by the beautiful blend of lettuces, Bibb, frisée, and red oak.”
― Victoria Benton Frank, My Magnolia Summer

“I loved driving over the ocean, watching all the shrimp boats and the seagulls flying around them looking for a snack. Many people find them annoying, but I'd always been struck by the beauty of their white wings gently flapping against the bright-blue sky. It was low tide now, and I could see the sandpipers pecking around the oyster shells that dotted the marshlands, hoping to get lucky. It was a privilege to coexist with these wild creatures in their natural habitat.”
― Victoria Benton Frank, My Magnolia Summer

“Are you planning on kissing me behind a haystack or something?"
"Oh, I plan on a lot worse, Maggie.”
― Victoria Benton Frank, My Magnolia Summer

“He undid his shirt and I stared at his tan chest, covered with a light dusting of golden hair. He reminded me of a lion, and I felt like a lioness, proud and ready. His belt was off so fast, it clunked when it hit the ground, and he stepped out of his jeans. I was almost blinded by my desire for him then. It was like the edges of my vision were blurred. I reached out to him, and he pulled me close, unhooking my bra and tossing it on the pile of tangled clothes on the grass, and then pressing me against him again. His chest was so warm against my skin that it only made me burn hotter.”
― Victoria Benton Frank, My Magnolia Summer

“We made love then, under the trees, near the bank of the marsh sprinkled with snow-white egrets. I held him to me, and I looked up at the sky, thinking that this moment must be what absolute perfection was like. It felt as if we were melding together in a timeless kind of bliss. When we were both satiated, Sam shielded me from the breeze with his big body, keeping his arms around me, and I curled into his nook, closing my eyes. Every part of me tingled with pleasure and satisfaction. I had never felt like that before.”
― Victoria Benton Frank, My Magnolia Summer

“Maybe violets don't have thorns like roses, or heavy fragrances like lilies or magnolias, but they are just as strong.”
― Victoria Benton Frank, My Magnolia Summer

“I went outside into the alley behind the restaurant next to a dumpster and ate the rest of the chicken myself. It was damn good. It was perfectly fried and moist. You could taste the gentle hints of thyme and cayenne pepper I had used in the buttermilk last night to brine it. It was perfectly seasoned and crunched with every bite. The collards that she totally ignored were tender and rich with vinegar and bacon.”
― Victoria Benton Frank, My Magnolia Summer

“Alice had been hired as our pastry chef. She baked her pies in the morning, or off site, and brought them in as needed. They were beautiful, and let's be honest, the world needed some of her magic pies. Pecan, peach, strawberry rhubarb, lemon chiffon, chess, chocolate pudding... the list went on. She even made a root beer pie.”
― Victoria Benton Frank, My Magnolia Summer

“It felt like we were on fire. Everything got so hot, it was almost too much to stand. Kissing him, having his body close. I thought of how you feel when you're eating a meal and don't realize how hungry you are till you're three bites in. You start eating faster, savoring every bite. Now I couldn't stop, so I took another kiss, then another. I let his tongue slip into my mouth, and I shivered again. He smiled at my reaction and went in for more. The way his hands started to move over my body gave me the impression he had been there before. I could have stopped, I knew I should have stopped, but all the drama and emotional pain I'd experienced over the last few days made me recklessly ignore that thought. I tore his shirt off.
He gasped, which made me giggle. I covered my mouth, and he grabbed my hand and put it around his neck. He scooped me up and I tightened my thighs around his waist. He sat me down on the bar and peeled off my blouse. Any last ounce of Southern lady I had left in me exited the building. I unhooked my bra and threw it across the room. Screw it. If I was going to go ahead and make a mistake, I might as well take the fast lane. We watched it slingshot and land on a booth.
"Is the door locked?" he asked, gasping for air.
"Think so," I said, taking big gulping breaths. I was drowning and was totally fine with it.
"Good," he said.
He pulled me to the end of the bar and pulled my shoes off. I hopped off and helped him along by unbuttoning my jeans and wiggling out of them as sexily as I could. He did the same.
"Man, you look good enough to eat," he said.
"So do you. Take a bite," I said.
We were standing about four feet apart and our clothes were all over the floor. I stood there almost naked and drank in the sight of him. He took a few slow steps toward me, like a lion about to jump on his prey, and dug in.”
― Victoria Benton Frank, My Magnolia Summer

“God, you're beautiful," he said, unleashing the adjective Ronny had never used to describe me.
"Ha, come on, I'm still a mess from the kitchen," I said.
"I don't see anything messy. I smell dinner, and you're making me hungry," he said, moving closer.
God, this was heating up quickly. "You don't smell all the garlic, onions, and fryer oil?" I said, giggling and feeling shy.
"I love fried food, Maggie." He inhaled deeply, and we both laughed.”
― Victoria Benton Frank, My Magnolia Summer

“He thought I was interesting enough to show up at my family's restaurant and make me a few drinks. He wanted to spend time with me. He was a professional doctor, for crying out loud! I was having late-night drinks with a doctor. Where were all the little debutantes I'd grown up with now, when I would have liked them to watch me digging into their holy grail?”
― Victoria Benton Frank, My Magnolia Summer

“So you're doing your fried chicken, Alice?"
"No, ma'am, I'm doing your fried chicken. It's time to bring back the original recipe to the Lantern," Alice said.
"I love that idea," I said.
Tradition always markets well in the South.”
― Victoria Benton Frank, My Magnolia Summer

“I saw exactly how they'd ordered the burger and the fish and noticed that they'd asked for mayo.
Violet came back into the kitchen. "Maggie, we just had a ten-top walk in. Are you ready for this?"
"Yes, I got it. Don't worry, it's all under control," I replied. "Alice, let's cut up the rest of that fresh basil, we are going to make an herb mayo. Ben, I need you to tell me where everything is."
The next few minutes were a bit of a blur. Ben gave me the ins and outs and Alice whipped up a yummy aioli. We decided to add it on the side of each burger or plate of fries going out. I looked around the kitchen and decided to make some homemade mac and cheese. We had all the ingredients: milk, cheese, flour, butter, and even some dried ground nutmeg and cayenne pepper. We threw the mac and cheese into little ramekins and crushed up some bread crumbs to put on top. At least I could contribute something new to the menu.”
― Victoria Benton Frank, My Magnolia Summer

“Just then, like a hot knife through butter, the unmistakable aroma of Alice's apple pie cut through the smell of grease in the kitchen. The scent of apples baking in butter, cinnamon, and sugar made our mouths water.
"What the hell is that?" Nate said in a trancelike voice.
"That is undoubtedly where Alice has been, making her mile-high apple pie, if I'm not mistaken," I said. Nate looked confused, so I pointed to the little room at the back of the kitchen. "In the bakery nook, which I guess you guys haven't been using since the restaurant no longer serves fresh bread, pies, and cobblers."
"Yes, that's where I've been," Alice said, joining us. "I decided something around here should be homemade. I found some apples in the office, and some flour and sugar, and whipped up something real.”
― Victoria Benton Frank, My Magnolia Summer

“I unrolled my knife bag and saw all my old friends staring back at me. Some girls liked diamonds, some liked pearls, but just give me a good knife. Knives are sexy, that's all there is to it.”
― Victoria Benton Frank, My Magnolia Summer

“Mom, I love you! I'm going to stay here a few more days and fill in for you at the Lantern. We can talk later. I hope you feel better. I'm sorry... for your loss." I looked at Alice, who was shaking her head.
"Oh, fuck off, Maggie," my mom said, spinning around.
"That is enough!" Alice said in a louder voice than I'd ever heard her use. "Lillian Grace, you listen to me. We know you are sad, but sadness can't be a weapon you use against your own family. Maggie is your child! You can't drag the world down with you because you have a broken heart. Those things you said... she might never forget them! You are being selfish and foolish, and I know your momma taught you better than this. You lay yourself down and I'll be back to check on you in a few hours. You think long and hard about what you said. You owe your daughter an apology, because what you said is just not true. Come on, Maggie."
"I'm not a child, Alice," my mom said.
"That so? Then grow up," Alice said.”
― Victoria Benton Frank, My Magnolia Summer

“This is our family's restaurant! What do y'all think you're doing? You want to sell the building?"
"Excuse me, little girl, this is my restaurant, and don't you talk to Buster like that. If it wasn't for him, we'd be closed!" my mom said, glaring at me.
"Oh, I'm sorry. Yeah. Thanks, Buster. Did a real nice job here! Go look at the freaking disaster in the vegetable walk-in and the mess in the kitchen. Great job! Zagat will be here any minute now," I said.
"Don't be such a little bitch, Maggie. No one here gives a shit about Zagat," Mom said.
"That was really rude, Mom. Please don't talk to me that way, it hurts me when you use language like th---"
"Oh, don't give me that therapy bullshit language. I'm not a mental patient," my mother yelled.
"Yeah. Not today," I said under my breath.
"What was that?”
― Victoria Benton Frank, My Magnolia Summer

“The South is different from anywhere else on earth. Every time I returned, it seemed it was the beginning of my greatest story, like something was about to happen, the kind of something music was written about. There was a touch of magic in the air, and the Lowcountry was extra special. It must have something to do with the region's history, or maybe it was just the weather, but I felt more alive here. Even the sky was different. The sunrises were more jubilant, the stars brighter in the evenings, and the flowers more fragrant. It was easy to lose touch with nature in New York City, but just like a love that got away, you never knew how much you'd miss it until it was gone. In the evening when the sun would set, the horizon looked as if it were in flames. During a summer storm, giant blue-gray clouds pregnant with heat lightning rolled across the sky, making you run indoors filled with terror.”
― Victoria Benton Frank, My Magnolia Summer

“Gran and I were on a blanket eating one of her famous baguette sandwiches, something with ham and butter and little cornichon pickles. Gran was telling me how to pronounce "jambon aux beurre," the French name for a ham and butter sandwich.”
― Victoria Benton Frank, My Magnolia Summer

“Last night I dreamed of Charleston, as I do almost every night. Far away from my beloved land by day, at night I am there. I dreamed of the marsh grass, the coral sunsets, the smell of plough mud, and the sound of the breeze rustling through the fronds of the palmetto trees. If you were to cut me open, you'd find the water of the Atlantic instead of blood, driftwood instead of bones, and seashells in place of everything else.”
― Victoria Benton Frank, My Magnolia Summer: A Novel

“Omitting the truth is also lying.”
― Victoria Benton Frank, My Magnolia Summer