Okay, I’ve been giving this a bit of a think and I’d really like to test this out with readers of this and my other food blogs - I’m starting The ReadCookEat Cookbook Book Club and Testing Academy - and you’re invited! The premise is this - we select one cookbook (or other foodie book) a month, each choose a different (or the same, doesnt’ really matter) recipe to make from it, photograph the results, discuss whether or not we thought it was worth the time/effort/expense and then share our results.
I’m not going to limit this to cookbooks but if there is any special equipment that helps prepare the dishes in question that can be part of our discussion. Perhaps if the book isn’t a cookbook but more a foodie type book we can suggest some recipes that are inspired by whatever we’re reading. I’m hoping that over time we’ll come up with a compendium of reviewed books so that readers will know what’s worth buying, what’s not worth the hype and what to completely avoid at all costs. I’d be completely open to suggestions for the month of August to start so either comment away or email me with what you think!
15 responses so far ↓
C(h)ristine // July 13, 2006 at 1:03 pm
this could be VERY fun.
Eric // July 13, 2006 at 1:54 pm
I thought so too!!!!
So, whaddya think? Garlic and Sapphires? Sunday Suppers at Lucques? What’s your suggestion for August? (I was going to say The Omnivore’s Dilemma but you’re already into that one…
Anyone else got some good ideas?
Melanie // July 13, 2006 at 2:09 pm
I am down for whatever. I do love the garlic, though.
C(h)ristine // July 13, 2006 at 2:16 pm
I’m up for Garlic and Sapphires (but does it contain recipes? I must confess, I haven’t even flipped through the book yet, so high is my trust in Ruth Reichl’s writing). I would recommend Omnivore’s Dilemma, except there are NO recipes in that book at all.
Jacques Pepin’s memoir, “The Apprentice” is a CHARMING read and it DOES contain recipes (some of which I want to make)!
So do both of Jeffrey Steingarten’s books–he has some fair looking recipes in there.
(And what is Sunday Suppers at Lucques?)
Melanie: I am not sure if Garlic and Sapphires has recipes, let alone recipes with garlic…it is Ruth Reichl’s book about being a restaurant critic.
Eric // July 13, 2006 at 4:05 pm
What about if the book doesn’t have recipes in it, the dishes need to have a specific ingredient inspired by the title? Garlic and Sapphires could have , gee, I don’t know, garlic perhaps?
Omnivore’s dilemma could have animal, mineral AND vegetable? Foodie reading is so diverse!
Sunday Suppers at Lucques is my current newest Holy Grail of cookbooks, check it out on Amazon and gaze in wonder at the loveliness…
C(h)ristine // July 13, 2006 at 4:20 pm
Omnivore’s Dilemma could challenge people to cook a meal WITHOUT corn on it, and without ANY corn by products (such as corn syrup or high fructose corn syrup), food that is GROWN LOCALLY, and if beef, beef that is grassfed, and definitely organic ingredients.
woo!
Eric // July 14, 2006 at 5:36 am
Now that’s the spirit! I’m liking that idea! keep them coming!
C(h)ristine // July 14, 2006 at 8:14 am
well–that is a heckuva lot easier than what Michael Pollan imposed on himself in the last chapter–he made a meal in which he killed his own meat, foraged for his own mushrooms, and all in all, didn’t actually pay for a single item of food (it was all gathered by himself).
but that’s a bit unrealistic a demand, and i don’t think a lot of people would participate with THOSE guidelines.
I’m starting Garlic and Sapphires tonight.
connie // July 14, 2006 at 11:11 am
This project sounds like fun!
There’s a current movement - “locavore” - somewhat related to “The Omnivore’s Dilemma”. It takes Alice Waters’ idea of supporting local farmers to the next level. Basically, you set a parameter by picking a certain adius from where you live, and you can only eat food that is grown, produced and processed within that radius. It can get very tricky!
arilyne // July 16, 2006 at 7:16 pm
Count me in! I’m Korean so natch, alllll about garlic!
C(h)ristine // July 16, 2006 at 8:31 pm
okay–I started reading Garlic and Sapphires this weekend. There _are_ recipes in it.
Eric // July 17, 2006 at 1:46 pm
Okay, so I’m thinking that Garlic and Sapphires will be the book for August! How about we all read and post which recipes we want to tackle? I’ll post another entry highlighting this! Thanks for the feedback everyone!!!!
C(h)ristine // July 17, 2006 at 10:08 pm
Here is the index of recipes in “Garlic and Sapphires”:
*Aushak
*Roasted brussel sprouts
*Last-minute chocolate cake
*Nicky’s vanilla cake
*Roast chicken with potatoes, onions, and garlic
*Gougeres
*Hash browns
*Roast leg of lamb with garlic and rosemary
*Matzo brei
*Moules marinieres
*New York cheesecake
*Sort-of Thai noodles
*Scalloped potatoes
*Roasted rhubarb
*Risotto Primavera
*Spaghetti Carbonara
*Pureed watercress
Basically, enough to go around…and even if two people claim one recipe, it would be interesting if individual cooks decide to adapt the recipe at all, and if there are any varying results.
Economy news and blog // January 11, 2007 at 9:31 am
Very amazing site! I wish I could do something as nice as you did…mary
wilbur // January 28, 2007 at 1:00 am
hasta la vista baby!
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