Slashfood http://www.slashfood.com Slashfood http://www.slashfood.com/media/feedlogo.gif Slashfood http://www.slashfood.com en-us Copyright 2009 Blogsmith, LLC. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/'Venezia' - Cookbook Spotlighthttp://www.slashfood.com/2009/11/23/venezia-cookbook-spotlight/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/11/23/venezia-cookbook-spotlight/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/11/23/venezia-cookbook-spotlight/#commentsFiled under:


Venezia

Photo: Amazon.com

'Venezia: Food and Dreams'
Recipes by Tessa Kiros
Photography by Manos Chatzikonstantis
Andrews McMeel Publishing, LLC - 2009
Buy it on Amazon

If you've had the opportunity to travel to Venice and experience its magic and charm, this book will immediately have you longing for a trip to the famed city on the sea.

Venice, a city known for gondola rides, masked Carnival goers and winding passageways, has captivated tourists for centuries. Between the sidewalk tables set up in St. Mark's Square to the candlelit restaurants hid deep in the city's nooks, the city long known for secrets has its culinary treasures revealed in "Venezia."

See what we tested and find out whether the book's worth buying after the jump.

Continue reading 'Venezia' - Cookbook Spotlight

Permalink | Email this | Comments
]]>cookbook spotlightCookbookSpotlighttessa kirosTessaKirosveneziaSarah LeTrent2009-11-23T14:00:00+00:00'The Magnolia Bakery Cookbook' - Cookbook Spotlighthttp://www.slashfood.com/2009/11/20/the-magnolia-bakery-cookbook-cookbook-spotlight/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/11/20/the-magnolia-bakery-cookbook-cookbook-spotlight/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/11/20/the-magnolia-bakery-cookbook-cookbook-spotlight/#commentsFiled under:

The Complete Magnolia Bakery Cookbook
Photo: Amazon.com
'The Complete Magnolia Bakery Cookbook'
Recipes by Allysa Torey and Jennifer Appel
Photographs by Rita Maas and Zeva Oelbaum
Simon & Schuster -- 2009
Buy it on Amazon

While we can admit that we're not the biggest fans of the extremely popular sugary concoctions (cupcakes) that Magnolia Bakery puts out, we are on the other hand, fans of their bars and squares. Yes, the cupcake movement has taken over New York City, but there's no doubt that this establishment still holds the market share with the longest lines.

"The Complete Magnolia Bakery Cookbook" consists of recipes for muffins, quick breads, coffee and Bundt cakes, cookies, brownies and bars, cupcakes and layer cakes, icings, cheesecakes, pies, tarts and ice creams. Whew. Chances are if you've ever seen it in the front window of the bakery, the secret to that recipe lies in this book, along with some new recipes from Allysa Torey's home kitchen.

See what we tested and find out whether the book's worth buying after the jump.

Continue reading 'The Magnolia Bakery Cookbook' - Cookbook Spotlight

Permalink | Email this | Comments
]]>Allysa toreycookbook spotlightjennifer appelmagnolia bakerythe complete magnolia cookbookSarah Christine2009-11-20T14:00:00+00:00'The Little Saigon Cookbook' - Cookbook Spotlighthttp://www.slashfood.com/2009/11/16/the-little-saigon-cookbook-cookbook-spotlight/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/11/16/the-little-saigon-cookbook-cookbook-spotlight/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/11/16/the-little-saigon-cookbook-cookbook-spotlight/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


The Little Saigon Cookbook book cover

Photo: littlesaigoncookbook.com.

"The Little Saigon Cookbook: Vietnamese Cuisine and Culture in Southern California's Little Saigon"
By Ann Lee
Photography by Julie Fay
Insiders' Guide -- 2006
Buy it on Amazon

Though exotic cuisines may be daunting endeavors for many cooks due to foreign and sometimes costly ingredients, "The Little Saigon Cookbook" is a clear, straightforward cookbook that sheds light on the culture while making its cuisine approachable and delectable.

Interspersed with interesting stories about Vietnamese culture and traditions, the book is a well-thought out tribute to Vietnamese foodways -- with delicious recipes to boot, ranging from the obvious dishes to lesser-known exciting ones like the Shaking Beef Salad with Watercress and Tomatoes or Pork Braised in Caramel Sauce.

See what we tested and find out whether the book's worth buying after the jump.

Continue reading 'The Little Saigon Cookbook' - Cookbook Spotlight

Permalink | Email this | Comments
]]>chicken saladChickenSaladcookbookcookbook spotlightCookbookSpotlightrecipethe little saigon cookbookTheLittleSaigonCookbookvietnamvietnamese chicken saladvietnamese cookingvietnamese foodVietnameseChickenSaladVietnameseCookingVietnameseFoodAlexa Weibel2009-11-16T14:00:00+00:00'Grillin' With Gas' - Cookbook Spotlighthttp://www.slashfood.com/2009/11/13/grilling-with-gas-cookbook-spotlight/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/11/13/grilling-with-gas-cookbook-spotlight/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/11/13/grilling-with-gas-cookbook-spotlight/#commentsFiled under:


grillin with gas book cover

Photo: The Taunton Press.

'Grillin' with Gas: 150 Mouthwatering Recipes for Great Grilled Food'
by Fred Thompson
Photographs by Ben Fink
The Taunton Press -- 2009
Buy it on Amazon

"Barbecue Nation" author Fred Thompson goes through the hows and whys of gas grilling in his latest book. Here you'll learn what to look for in a gas grill, how to use it and how to turn it into a meat-smoking machine.

Along the way, you'll find some solid recipes to keep you grilling all year long.

See what we tested and whether it's worth buying after the jump.

Continue reading 'Grillin' With Gas' - Cookbook Spotlight

Permalink | Email this | Comments
]]>cookbook spotlightCookbookSpotlightfred thompsonFredThompsongrilling with gasGrillingWithGasSara Bonisteel2009-11-13T14:00:00+00:00'The Thanksgiving Table' - Cookbook Spotlighthttp://www.slashfood.com/2009/11/11/the-thanksgiving-table-cookbook-spotlight/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/11/11/the-thanksgiving-table-cookbook-spotlight/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/11/11/the-thanksgiving-table-cookbook-spotlight/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


The Thanksgiving Table cookbook cover

Photo: Amazon.com.

'The Thanksgiving Table: Recipes and Ideas to Create Your Own Holiday Tradition'
By Diane Morgan
Photography by John A. Rizzo
Chronicle Books -- 2001
Buy it on Amazon

Though Thanksgiving may be conceptually about unity and giving thanks, the feast is often anything but -- be it from menus predominantly meat-centric or overwhelmingly vegetarian that rely upon traditional recipes or adventurous ones, to lively affairs or smaller, more austere gatherings prone to the usual family quibbles.

But with the help of this book and guide, the meal itself is at least guaranteed to go smoothly, with preparation and decoration ideas as well as recipes to suit eaters and appetites of all kinds. Catering to the variety of the holiday's staples -- the smells, the anticipation, the flavor, the feel -- this book is virtually all you need to host the most perfect, memorable Thanksgiving.

See what we tested and find out whether the book's worth buying after the jump.

Continue reading 'The Thanksgiving Table' - Cookbook Spotlight

Permalink | Email this | Comments
]]>cookbookholiday cookingHolidayCookingthanksgivingthanksgiving cookingthanksgiving decoratingThanksgivingCookingThanksgivingDecoratingthanksiving decorationsThanksivingDecorationsthe thanksgiving tableTheThanksgivingTableturkeyAlexa Weibel2009-11-11T14:00:00+00:00'Quick From Scratch Italian Cookbook' - Cookbook Spotlighthttp://www.slashfood.com/2009/11/09/quick-from-scratch-italian-cookbook-cookbook-spotlight/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/11/09/quick-from-scratch-italian-cookbook-cookbook-spotlight/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/11/09/quick-from-scratch-italian-cookbook-cookbook-spotlight/#commentsFiled under:

Quick From Scratch Italian Cookbook by Food & Wine Magazine
Photo: Amazon.com
'Quick From Scratch Italian Cookbook'
Recipes from Food & Wine Magazine
Photographs by Melanie Acevedo
Food & Wine Books -- 2009
Buy it on Amazon

Whether you're an avid subscriber to Food & Wine or you visit the website once in a while for a recipe, this is the book to add to your kitchen shelves. "Quick from Scratch Italian Cookbook" provides cooks of all levels with satisfying and healthy recipes. Classics are translated into practical weeknight meals with basic step-by-step instructions and there are recipes for every season.

And what would an Italian meal be without wine? There's a no-fuss wine-pairing recommendation for each and every recipe to take pressure off the cook.

Boasting everything from antipasti, soup and pasta, to fish, poultry and steak, recipes like linguine with cauliflower, garlic and bread crumbs and baked rigatoni with spinach, ricotta and Fontina will keep everyone at the table content. Finish the meal off with one of many tantalizing desserts such as honey-baked figs with ice cream or espresso granita with whipped cream.

See what we tested and find out whether the book's worth buying after the jump.

Continue reading 'Quick From Scratch Italian Cookbook' - Cookbook Spotlight

Permalink | Email this | Comments
]]>cookbook spotlightCookbookSpotlightFood and winefood and wine magazineFoodAndWineFoodAndWineMagazineQuick From Scratch Italian CookbookQuickFromScratchItalianCookbookSarah Christine2009-11-09T14:00:00+00:00'Antojitos' - Cookbook Spotlighthttp://www.slashfood.com/2009/11/06/antojitos-cookbook-spotlight/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/11/06/antojitos-cookbook-spotlight/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/11/06/antojitos-cookbook-spotlight/#commentsFiled under:


antojitos cookbook review

Photo: Ten Speed Press.

'Antojitos: Festive and Flavorful Mexican Small Plates'
by Barbara Sibley and Margaritte Malfy with Mary Goodbody
Photography by Lucy Schaeffer
Ten Speed Press -- 2009
Buy it on Amazon

Antojitos, as Barbara Sibley and Margaritte Malfy explain in their book of the same name, are small bites sometimes eaten as appetizers in Mexican cuisine and sometime just downed as a street snack to satisfy between-meals hunger pangs.

The owners of New York City's La Palapa have written a book that covers all manner of these spicy snacks -- from empanadas and tacos to ceviches and mole. Along the way, they give brief stories about the dishes as well as menus perfect for any fiesta, and colorful pages filled with images of Loteria cards and stock Mexican art that add a whimsical touch to the cookbook.

See what we tested and whether it's worth buying after the jump.

Continue reading 'Antojitos' - Cookbook Spotlight

Permalink | Email this | Comments
]]>adobo sauceAdoboSauceantojitosbarbara sibleyBarbaraSibleyla palapaLaPalapamargaritte malfyMargaritteMalfymexican cuisinemexican foodMexicanCuisineMexicanFoodtomatillosSara Bonisteel2009-11-06T14:00:00+00:00'Momofuku' - Cookbook Spotlighthttp://www.slashfood.com/2009/11/04/momofuku-cookbook-spotlight/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/11/04/momofuku-cookbook-spotlight/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/11/04/momofuku-cookbook-spotlight/#commentsFiled under:


momofuku cookbook review

Photo: Amazon.com.

'Momofuku'
by David Chang and Peter Meehan
Photographs by Gabriele Stabile
Clarkson Potter -- 2009
Buy it on Amazon

Even if you haven't eaten at one of the Momofuku restaurants in New York City, chances are you've heard about David Chang -- the James Beard award-winning chef painted at times as a "neurotic" "culinary rebel" who just happens to be "a pork-loving, pickle-happy individualist."

Well, now it's his turn to tell his story. The world is finally getting a cookbook from the man who built his food empire on a simple bowl of ramen.

"Living up to high expectations sucks," he writes in "Momofuku." "But for all that, I know this: I am one very lucky bastard."

Lucky, yes, but it helps that his creations are filled with unlikely but delicious flavor pairings.

See what we tested and whether it's worth buying after the jump.

Continue reading 'Momofuku' - Cookbook Spotlight

Permalink | Email this | Comments
]]>david changDavidChangmomofukumomofuku andomomofuku cookbookMomofukuAndoMomofukuCookbookramenSara Bonisteel2009-11-04T14:00:00+00:00'Long Nights and Log Fires' - Cookbook Spotlighthttp://www.slashfood.com/2009/11/02/long-nights-and-log-fires-cookbook-spotlight/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/11/02/long-nights-and-log-fires-cookbook-spotlight/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/11/02/long-nights-and-log-fires-cookbook-spotlight/#commentsFiled under:


Long Nights and Log Fires: Warming Comfort Food for Family and Friends

Photo: Amazon.

'Long Nights and Log Fires: Warming Comfort Food for Family and Friends'
Commissioning Editor Julia Charles
Photography by Ryland Peters & Small
Ryland Peters & Small -- 2009
Buy it on Amazon

"When the cold wind blows and the snow piles up outside, where better to be than at the heart of a warm kitchen, enjoying the aromas of good home cooking wafting from the oven?" ponders the intro to the supremely satisfying "Long Nights and Log Fires" cookbook.

Crafting a comprehensive repertoire to all things comfort food, the gratifying collection dishes up everything from "soups and snacks," "sides and salads" to "one-pot wonders," "bakes and desserts" and even heart-warming drinks, including Mocha Maple Coffee and Mexican Chocolate with Vanilla Cream. Using a bevy of autumnal ingredients -- relying on fresh produce, flavorful herbs and spices and a comforting dairy element -- this cookbook features everything sweet, spicy and savory to satisfy palates on cold nights.

See what we tested and find out whether the book's worth buying after the jump.

Continue reading 'Long Nights and Log Fires' - Cookbook Spotlight

Permalink | Email this | Comments
]]>butternut squashbutternut squash soupButternutSquashButternutSquashSoupcomfort foodComfortFoodcookbookcookbook spotlightCookbookSpotlightlong nights and log firesLongNightsAndLogFirespumpkinryland peters and smallRylandPetersAndSmallsoul foodSoulFoodAlexa Weibel2009-11-02T14:00:00+00:00'Savory Baking' - Cookbook Spotlighthttp://www.slashfood.com/2009/10/26/savory-baking-cookbook-spotlight/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/10/26/savory-baking-cookbook-spotlight/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/10/26/savory-baking-cookbook-spotlight/#commentsFiled under: ,


savory baking cookbook review

Photo: Chronicle Books

'Savory Baking: Warm and Inspiring Recipes for Crisp, Crumbly, Flaky Pastries'
by Mary Cech
Photography by Noel Barnhurst
Chronicle Books -- 2009
Buy it on Amazon

Baking doesn't have to be a sweet thing, as Mary Cech proves in her new cookbook "Savory Baking." The veteran pastry chef turns traditional pastries upside down with recipes for seafood strudel, Yukon gold brown betty and caprese-salad-filled profiteroles in this mouthwatering book.

You don't have to throw out everything you know about baking to feel at home in Cech's kitchen. Instead, you'll use your skills to whip up creative twists to the classics.

See what we tested and find out whether the book's worth buying after the jump.

Continue reading 'Savory Baking' - Cookbook Spotlight

Permalink | Email this | Comments
]]>bakingchile cheese breadChileCheeseBreadcookbook spotlightCookbookSpotlightmary cechMaryCechsavory bakingSavoryBakingSara Bonisteel2009-10-26T14:00:00+00:00'Top Chef - The Quickfire Cookbook' - Cookbook Spotlighthttp://www.slashfood.com/2009/10/23/top-chef-the-quickfire-cookbook-cookbook-spotlight/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/10/23/top-chef-the-quickfire-cookbook-cookbook-spotlight/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/10/23/top-chef-the-quickfire-cookbook-cookbook-spotlight/#commentsFiled under:


top chef quickfire cookbook
Photo: Amazon
'Top Chef - The Quickfire Cookbook'
by Emily Miller with foreword by Padma Lakshmi
Chronicle Books -- 2009
Buy it on Amazon

It's Padma's world. The rest of us just cook in it -- just mostly without a gigantic LED countdown clock, a dozen cleaver-wielding competitors jockeying for prep space and a mandate to make haute nibbles from the contents of a 7-Eleven's snack aisle. But if that's what cremes your brulee and you haven't the tats, 'tude and temerity to audition for competitive reality TV, you can live vicariously through this book.

Or you can just go online and save the $29.95.

See what we tested and find out whether the book's worth buying after the jump.


Continue reading 'Top Chef - The Quickfire Cookbook' - Cookbook Spotlight

Permalink | Email this | Comments
]]>bravobravo tvBravoTvcookbook spotlightCookbookSpotlightpadma lakshmiPadmaLakshmitop cheftop chef recipesTopChefTopChefRecipesKat Kinsman2009-10-23T14:00:00+00:00'A Beautiful Bowl of Soup' - Cookbook Spotlighthttp://www.slashfood.com/2009/10/21/a-beautiful-bowl-of-soup-cookbook-spotlight/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/10/21/a-beautiful-bowl-of-soup-cookbook-spotlight/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/10/21/a-beautiful-bowl-of-soup-cookbook-spotlight/#commentsFiled under: , ,


beautiful bowl of soup
Photo: Hyperion
'A Beautiful Bowl of Soup: The Best Vegetarian Recipes'
by Paulette Mitchell
Photos by William Meppem
Chronicle Books-- 2004
Buy it on Amazon

A good bowl of soup is a wondrous thing, providing a warmth and satisfaction that only well-executed comfort food can supply. And "A Beautiful Bowl of Soup: The Best Vegetarian Recipes" does just that, dishing up a variety of recipes for slurps that are endlessly appealing on both visual and taste levels.

Carnivores, fret not: With soups this flavorful you won't be missing anything. These are soups for all occasions, from a refreshing Chunky Gazpacho for lazy summer suppers, to a Cream of Tomato Soup with Puff Pastry Crowns to end a long, cold day, or even the light Gingered Pear Soup to conclude a rich meal. And, perhaps more notable yet, each and every one boasts flavors so strong and textures so rich that the soups can serve as full meals on their own.

See what we tested and find out whether the book's worth buying after the jump.

Continue reading 'A Beautiful Bowl of Soup' - Cookbook Spotlight

Permalink | Email this | Comments
]]>a beautiful bowl of soupABeautifulBowlOfSoupchickpea soupChickpeaSoupchronicle booksChronicleBookscookbook spotlightCookbookSpotlightred-lentil beal stewRed-lentilBealStewAlexa Weibel2009-10-21T14:00:00+00:00'New American Table' - Cookbook Spotlighthttp://www.slashfood.com/2009/10/19/new-american-table-cookbook-spotlight/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/10/19/new-american-table-cookbook-spotlight/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/10/19/new-american-table-cookbook-spotlight/#commentsFiled under:


New American Table
Photo: Wiley.
'New American Table'
by Marcus Samuelsson
Wiley - 2009
Buy it on Amazon

The youngest chef ever to receive two three-star ratings from the New York Times, Marcus Samuelsson is known for his diversified cuisine. Born in Ethiopia and raised in Sweden by adoptive parents, Samuelsson -- drawing on his own unique upbringing -- has created an homage to the cultural origins of American cooking.

Samuelsson shares more than 300 recipes in his half-cookbook, half-travelogue that showcases the ethnic influences on American cuisine, from Pickled Herring Hot Dogs to down-home Boiled Peanuts; Jerk-Spiced Catfish with Green Papaya Salad to Latkes with Apple-Horseradish Sauce. It's quickly apparent his take on American cuisine isn't the stereotypical apple pie and bacon cheeseburger.

See what we tested and find out whether the book's worth buying after the jump.

Continue reading 'New American Table' - Cookbook Spotlight

Permalink | Email this | Comments
]]>cookbook spotlightCookbookSpotlightethnic cuisineEthnicCuisinemarcus samuelssonMarcusSamuelssonnew american tableNewAmericanTableSarah LeTrent2009-10-19T14:00:00+00:00'Jamie's Food Revolution' - Cookbook Spotlighthttp://www.slashfood.com/2009/10/16/jamies-food-revolution-cookbook-spotlight/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/10/16/jamies-food-revolution-cookbook-spotlight/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/10/16/jamies-food-revolution-cookbook-spotlight/#commentsFiled under:


jamie's food revolution
Photo: Hyperion
'Jamie's Food Revolution: Rediscover How to Cook Simple, Delicious, Affordable Meals'
by Jamie Oliver
Hyperion -- 2009
Buy it on Amazon

The revolution will not be supersized. Jamie Oliver is a man on a mission to reclaim traditional home cooking from the fast and processed food purveyors of the world via simple, inexpensive, appealing recipes.

The book kicks off with a rah-rah manifesto that dovetails with Oliver's televised traveling roadshows geared toward getting the least healthy eaters in the UK and the USA to back out of the drive-thru and drive home healthier eating habits, centered around the debatably lost art of home cooking. He presents a compelling argument with solid, satisfying building-block recipes and oddly heartstring-plucking photo profiles of plain ol' folks cooking at home.

See what we tested and find out whether the book's worth buying after the jump.

Continue reading 'Jamie's Food Revolution' - Cookbook Spotlight

Permalink | Email this | Comments
]]>cookbook spotlightCookbookSpotlightjamie oliverJamieOliverjamies food revolutionJamiesFoodRevolutionmac and cheesemac cheeseMacAndCheesemacaroni and cheesemacaroni and cheese from scratchMacaroniAndCheeseMacaroniAndCheeseFromScratchMacCheesesaladKat Kinsman2009-10-16T14:00:00+00:00'The Hummingbird Bakery Cookbook' - Cookbook Spotlighthttp://www.slashfood.com/2009/10/14/the-hummingbird-bakery-cookbook-spotlight/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/10/14/the-hummingbird-bakery-cookbook-spotlight/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/10/14/the-hummingbird-bakery-cookbook-spotlight/#commentsFiled under: , ,


cooking with pumpkins and squash

'The Hummingbird Bakery Cookbook'
Recipes by Tarek Malouk and the Hummingbird Bakers
Photographs by Peter Cassidy
Rylan Peters & Small -- 2009
Buy it on Amazon

Once a journalist, London-based writer Tarek Malouk forsook his career to indulge his love of American desserts. As visions of cupcakes, pies and brownies pranced in his head, he enrolled in baking classes in New York and returned to London, eager to open a restaurant to showcase his cherished treats.

Though one might typically be hard-pressed to picture a hard-nosed journalist convert to cooking and create such a loving, warm cookbook, Malouk successfully conveys his love and appreciation for the range of American desserts in "The Hummingbird Cookbook."

See what we tested and find out whether the book's worth buying after the jump.

Continue reading 'The Hummingbird Bakery Cookbook' - Cookbook Spotlight

Permalink | Email this | Comments
]]>american dessertsAmericanDessertscupcakescupcakes abroadCupcakesAbroadhummingbird bakeryhummingbird bakery cookbookHummingbirdBakeryHummingbirdBakeryCookbooktarek maloukTarekMaloukAlexa Weibel2009-10-14T14:00:00+00:00'My New Orleans' - Cookbook Spotlighthttp://www.slashfood.com/2009/10/12/my-new-orleans-cookbook-spotlight/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/10/12/my-new-orleans-cookbook-spotlight/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/10/12/my-new-orleans-cookbook-spotlight/#commentsFiled under:


john best my new orleans
Photo: Andrews McMeel
'My New Orleans - The Cookbook: 200 of My Favorite Recipes from My Hometown'
By John Besh
Photographs by Ditte Isager
Andrews McMeel -- 2009
Buy it on Amazon

Chef John Besh's magnum opus on the food of his hometown could easily be mistaken for a coffee table-style photography book edited by someone with one heck of a food fetish. That'd be only partially correct.

Besh celebrates and contextualizes New Orleans cuisine within a reverent, passionate travelogue and memoir based around the ingredients and food rituals of a full year in the Big Easy. In this 374-page volume, the chef, restaurateur (including August, Lüke, Besh Steak, Domenica, La Provence and the upcoming the American Sector at the National WWII Museum), "Next Iron Chef" contender, former Marine and father of four weaves an intimate, illustrated narrative of a life lived deliciously in one of the world's most important food cities.

Through touching vignettes from his childhood, emergence into chefhood and post-Katrina rebuilding efforts, as well as informative sidebars about key Creole and Cajun ingredients and paens to his favorite food haunts, Besh stokes and slakes a multitude of hungers for lovers of this city on the mend.

It's also one hell of a cookbook.

See what we tested and find out whether the book's worth buying after the jump.

Continue reading 'My New Orleans' - Cookbook Spotlight

Permalink | Email this | Comments
]]>cookbook reviewcookbook spotlightCookbookReviewCookbookSpotlightdorothy kalinsDorothyKalinsjohn beshJohnBeshmy new orleansMyNewOrleansNew orleansNewOrleansKat Kinsman2009-10-12T14:00:00+00:00'The Yellow Door: Our Story, Our Recipes' - Cookbook Spotlighthttp://www.slashfood.com/2009/10/09/the-yellow-door-our-story-our-recipes-cookbook-spotlight/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/10/09/the-yellow-door-our-story-our-recipes-cookbook-spotlight/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/10/09/the-yellow-door-our-story-our-recipes-cookbook-spotlight/#commentsFiled under:


cooking with pumpkins and squash

'The Yellow Door: Our Story, Our Recipes'
By Simon Dougan
Photographs by Cliona O'Flaherty
Blackstaff Press -- 2008
Buy it on Amazon

After four years in London, "hungry young chef" Simon Dougan returned to his hometown of Gilford, Northern Ireland, and took what he considered a temporary position at pub-fare restaurant Sarah's Moon. At a time when local cuisine prized prawn cocktails as "one of the smartest dishes on any menu," and boiled eggs were a regular staple, Dougan preceded the gastropubs of today, seeking to serve more polished dishes, with an emphasis on heightened flavors, fresh ingredients and a cooked-to-order standard.

"The one thing we always remembered was only to use the freshest and best ingredients," Dougan writes. "This is still at the core of the business, and just as important now as it ever was." This notably warm cookbook imparts Dougan's heartfelt approach to refined home cooking with a fabulous collection of recipes.

See what we tested and find out whether the book's worth buying after the jump.

Continue reading 'The Yellow Door: Our Story, Our Recipes' - Cookbook Spotlight

Permalink | Email this | Comments
]]>butternut squashButternutSquashcookbook spotlightCookbookSpotlightgastropubpubsarahs moonSarahsMoonsimon douganSimonDouganstrawberry sorbetStrawberrySorbetthe yellow doorTheYellowDoorAlexa Weibel2009-10-09T14:00:00+00:00'The Sweet Spot' - Cookbook Spotlighthttp://www.slashfood.com/2009/10/07/the-sweet-spot-cookbook-spotlight/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/10/07/the-sweet-spot-cookbook-spotlight/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/10/07/the-sweet-spot-cookbook-spotlight/#commentsFiled under:


the sweet spot cookbook review
Photo: HarperCollins.com
'The Sweet Spot: Asian-Inspired Desserts'
by Pichet Ong and Genevieve Ko
Photographs by Pate Eng
William Morrow -- 2007
Buy it on Amazon

Pichet Ong is a self-taught pastry chef whose talent landed him in some of the world's most esteemed kitchens, including Jean Georges.

In his first cookbook, "The Sweet Spot," Ong and co-writer Genevieve Ko explore the world of Asian desserts, many of which Ong says are slight tweaks on Western sweets.

See what we tested and find out whether the book's worth buying after the jump.

Continue reading 'The Sweet Spot' - Cookbook Spotlight

Permalink | Email this | Comments
]]>chinese almond cookiesChineseAlmondCookiescookbook spotlightCookbookSpotlightpichet ongPichetOngthe sweet spotTheSweetSpotSara Bonisteel2009-10-07T14:00:00+00:00'Cooking the Cowboy Way' - Cookbook Spotlighthttp://www.slashfood.com/2009/10/02/cooking-the-cowboy-way-cookbook-spotlight/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/10/02/cooking-the-cowboy-way-cookbook-spotlight/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/10/02/cooking-the-cowboy-way-cookbook-spotlight/#commentsFiled under:


cooking the cowboy way cover
Photo: Andrews McMeel.
'Cooking the Cowboy Way: Recipes Inspired by Campfires, Chuck Wagons, and Ranch Kitchens'
By Grady Spears with June Naylor
Photos by David Manning
Andrews McMeel Universal -- 2009
Buy it on Amazon

Saddle up, hit the trail and light that campfire. In "Cooking the Cowboy Way," Grady Spears lassos hearty recipes from cowboy cooks and ranchers who know what cow folks really want to eat after a long day on the ranch. (And it's not ceviche, as "Top Chef Vegas" contestants quickly learned).

Spears is a native Texan who owns Grady's Restaurant in Fort Worth -- a true cowboy-turned-chef known for creating authentic frontier food and bringing the spirit of the cowboy to the masses.

Continue reading 'Cooking the Cowboy Way' - Cookbook Spotlight

Permalink | Email this | Comments
]]>cookbook spotlightCookbookOfTheDayCookbookSpotlightcowboy cookingCowboyCookingcowboysSarah LeTrent2009-10-02T14:00:00+00:00'Sips and Apps' - Cookbook Spotlighthttp://www.slashfood.com/2009/09/30/sips-and-apps-cookbook-spotlight/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/09/30/sips-and-apps-cookbook-spotlight/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/09/30/sips-and-apps-cookbook-spotlight/#commentsFiled under: , ,


sips and apps
Photo: Chronicle Books.
'Sips and Apps: Classic and Contemporary Recipes for Cocktails and Appetizers'
By Kathy Casey
Photos by Angie Norwood Browne
Chronicle Books -- 2009
Buy it on Amazon

Kathy Casey isn't a mixologist, she's a "bar chef" -- a trained chef with mad cocktail skills. In "Sips and Apps," she ventures off the well-trod path of standard cocktail guides to explore cocktails with such seductive names as Black Feather and Clear Conscience.

But it's her appetizers that are sure to offer a new trick or two for your next cocktail soiree.

See what we tested and find out whether the book's worth buying after the jump.

Continue reading 'Sips and Apps' - Cookbook Spotlight

Permalink | Email this | Comments
]]>angie norwood brownAngieNorwoodBrowncookbook spotlightCookbookSpotlightdeviled eggsDeviledEggskathy caseyKathyCaseymad menMadMensips and appsSipsAndAppsSara Bonisteel2009-09-30T14:00:00+00:00