San Francisco erotica writer Simon Sheppard got things going by reading a story involving a rabbi, a young adult man and hot menorah wax.
Another woman read a story about multitasking with sex toys while on the phone with Mom.
Next it was Claire Moshenberg's turn at the Feast of Words open mike, a new monthly potluck combining local authors, chefs and on-the-spot literary composition.
Twenty-five people gathered at SOMArts Cultural Center earlier this month with dishes and ideas to match the theme: Naughty or Nice.
Given only a pair of dice, a ribbon and a chocolate squirrel as prompts, Moshenberg filled an index card with thoughts:
"Sex is, well ... dice. And legs and cigarette girls with gusto hips and wanting mouths. You are an arched eyebrow in a sea of skin. You are a gingham skirt in a breath-thick room. You are waiting always to unfold."
Using the clap-o-meter measuring system, Moshenberg's writing was judged the best, worthy of a gift certificate to Mission Pie.
"There are a lot of reading series in San Francisco, but not a lot for spontaneous writing," said Irina Zadov, director of experience and programs at Zeum, which started Feast of Words in September with SOMArts executive Director Lex Leifheit.
"Both of us had been thinking a lot about third spaces - the space between work and home, and how to use that time to slow down and be more creative," she said.
Feast of Words is a place to refresh the tradition of sitting down to a home-cooked meal and talking about creativity. IPhones are put away. Guests, as well as the invited authors, get to read their work.
"I love how Feast of Words combines writing, building community and food all inside a gallery; it feels like a dinner party with 30 unknown friends," said guest and January's invited writer Faith Adiele, author of the travel memoir, "Meeting Faith: The Thai Forest Journals of a Black Buddhist Nun."
November's theme was home away from home. Author Andrew Lam read about Vietnamese American life from his new book, "East Eats West," and chef Blair Warsham introduced the crowd to "underground guerrilla dining," where diners RSVP to find the secret location for the meal - say, a rooftop in the city.
October's theme, associated with Day of the Dead, was healing. A spoken-word performer and DJ shared his story of a cousin's gang shooting while guests dined on pumpkin tamales.
Eating and storytelling are natural partners, said caterer Azalina Eusope, who brought dishes from Azalina's Malaysian to December's Feast of Words gathering.
"There is a story behind every food, and especially coming from Malaysia, the food is a blend of three cultures, each with its own history and influences," said Eusope, who prepared coconut shallot rice, and a lentil curry vegetable dish with roasted black sesame seed.
Trained in Penang, Malaysia and Singapore, Eusope incubated her business at La Cocina in San Francisco. In 2009, Bon Apetit magazine named her one of 10 top upcoming chefs for 2010.
"I can't wait to write about this night on my blog, because the story Simon read was, well, so amazing yet so taboo in my culture," Eusope said. "In Malaysia, no one talks about sex, or about being gay."
As the event wound down, guests folded their notebooks, recycled their plates and said their goodbyes. Everyone was invited to take a glass ornament from the branch centerpieces.
"Some people love to share with the group, and others write but are not ready to read," Leifheit said. "The great thing is they can take it home and it becomes a kernel of inspiration."
Feast of Words: A Literary Potluck
Featuring author Faith Adiele and chef Peter Jackson of Canvas Underground. 7-9 p.m. Jan. 4, at SOMArts Cultural Center, 934 Brannan St, between Eighth and Ninth streets, San Francisco.
Theme: Blurred Identity
Tickets: $10 advance, $5 with a potluck dish and $12 at the door.