The Vineyard's most endearing chef-writer-illustrator?

At The Book Den East, we have an "island" -- like an offset kitchen bar kinda deal -- of Martha's Vineyard books and island writers. Today I found a charming Vineyard gem, Susan Branch, by way of donation.

Branch hand-writes, illustrates and watercolors entire cookbooks. The books are filled with quotes by people like Robert Frost, Emily Dickinson, E.B. White and Branch's crush, Mark Twain. They're also generously filled with endearing watercolors and cursive script that reads like a long lost friend's most carefully penned letter. These books are a knockout; a pleasure just to flip through even as a picture book -- the kind that, like a Pixar movie, is simple enough in its beauty for kiddies but profound and detailed enough to hold adults rapt. There's a sense of genuineness in Branch's books that's scarcely found; even the copyright page is fully handwritten in her lilting pen.

The quotes are prolific and Branch is as apt to whimsically transform a single letter into a sunflower as she is to paint the entire spread of a meal she's tantalizingly described in that signature script. But she also muses on Vineyard life, offers advice on how to draw or how to sun-dry tomatoes, and provides an old-fashioned picnic menu.

Anyone who loves cooking will be bowled over with these books. Anyone who loves New England and books that sweep you off your feet will enjoy and likely be inspired to whip up something in the kitchen. I flipped through every page of four volumes -- even her Christmas book -- and was enlightened throughout. Find her books here, here and at the Book Den East.

Note: Love that wonky formatting! Happens every time I import a blog I write in MS Word. Blah. Don't forget, mouse over photos for captions.