Shelf To Table
Food Spotlight: Fudge
The perfect food pairing for this novel is fudge. Fudge makes a great pairing for The Once and Future Me because it feels both nostalgic and comforting, much like the 1950s world Dorothy finds herself in. Homemade fudge was a classic treat during that era — simple, sweet, and a little messy — offering a sense of warmth that contrasts beautifully with the novel’s darker, psychological themes.
The Once and Future Me by Melissa Pace
The Once and Future Me by Melissa Pace takes readers to Virginia, 1954, where a woman wakes up on a bus bound for Hanover State Psychiatric Hospital with no memory of who she is or how she got there. The doctors insist she’s Dorothy Frasier, a violent schizophrenic, but her mind tells a different story—one filled with flashes of a dystopian future and a mysterious mission to save humanity.
Page To Plate
Food Featured In The Book
During the holidays, the patients at Hanover State Psychiatric Hospital were served a traditional Thanksgiving meal. Thanksgiving food also happens to be some of my favorites, so reading that scene made me instantly crave turkey, macaroni & cheese, and pie while diving deeper into Dorothy’s world.
Character Cravings
Dorothy Frasier exists between two extremes—a frightened, displaced woman in the 1950s and Bix, her fierce, battle-hardened counterpart from a violent future. Because she holds both softness and strength within her, I think dark chocolate with sea salt would be the perfect food to represent her. The bittersweet chocolate reflects Dorothy’s vulnerability and the weight she carries, while the sharp salt mirrors Bix’s toughness and survival instinct.
Book Club Bite
Mini pies in different flavors would make such a cute book club treat for discussing this novel. Pies feel perfectly fitting for the 1950s setting — especially classics like apple, cherry, or pecan pie.
“Same old Georgie. Going along to get along.” –Melissa Pace