Rating: 
Summary: An Epecurean Heaven
Review: At the beginning of the book I read that he didn't like blue cheese. I told my family that I was disgusted. After reading a whole chapter, I had stuffed those words back down my throat and almost choked on them! Jeffrey Steingarten is my hero. Ok, he hasn't converted me to ketchup, but he sure got really close.
If you love, or even just like food, you will keep this book by your bed like the bible! Steingarten drags you along on his trips and adventures, from his fervent defense of fats to his dreams of Olestra, from a chapter on Venice to a chapter on sustenance (don't ask me how that works)! Within a few days you will succeed in alienating your whole family with your constant talk of food. That is until you make them read it too!
This book is a MUST!!!!!! read, so please do me the honor of reading it!
Rating:
Summary: Hilarious weird, and truthful (for the most part)
Review: This is the funniest food-book I've ever read! I laugh out loud while reading it, and my husband always wants to know "what's so funny"?Although he must be partly an epicurean hedonist, Mr. Steingarten has a very technical and, well, weird way about analyzing food. When he was nominated food editor of Vogue, instead of starting to plan wonderful exotic food trips, his first worry was - how was he going to force himself to taste things he doesn't like? He also hits on many truths - such as "the french paradoxe" - and wonderfully bashes the current American fat phobia. He often takes a very technical approach - the lesson on fruit ripening really opened my eyes. Ever wonder why avocados don't turn brown if you leave the stone in; read this. He only disappoints me with his enthusiasm for Olestra. From someone who is so on target in criticizing trashy, artificial American junk food, "Butter Busters" and the like, this is a big let-down. Read "The Zone" by Barry Sears, and 99% of Mr. Steingarten's observations (about olive oil, fats, carbohydrates, vegetarianism, etc...)will hit home.
Rating:
Summary: Brilliant!
Review: This is a wonderfully creative and fabulous book. Jeffrey Steingarten infuses his writing with contagious passion. He approaches each subject with such verve and from a perspective only he could invent. It's a great read for anyone who has a sense of humor or loves food!
Rating:
Summary: Hilarious and Informative
Review: This book is a real treat for anyone interested in food, nutrition, or cooking. The author presents, in the most entertaining form, commentary on our diet obsessions, food fixations, and nutrition nonsense. In between the laughs, you'll pick up a few pieces of genuinely interesting and useful information. As a bonus, its easy to pick up and read one or two of the essays while you are waiting for water to boil.
Rating:
Summary: Witty and wise, eclectic but intelligent
Review: Jeffrey Steingarten researches his topics meticulously. Each essay is a proper study of diet, bread making, mineral water, french fries, truffles etc. His writing is intelligent and compelling. I am not a mad foodie nor a chef but my wife read so many extracts aloud while she enjoyed it that I decided to read it. It was excellent and I can not recommend it highly enough.
Rating:
Summary: A true food lover's delight
Review: People that don't like this book, apparently don't like food. This book is one of the most interesting, delightful, humorous book on food on the market. I have read it several times, always finding it more and more amusing. His essay about food phobias enticed me to rid myself of one of mine. I never liked olives - although I actually wanted to like them - my wife eats them with delight - there are so many great recipes that call for olives - so I embarked on the task to "like them" I ate them every day for several weeks until I actually conditioned myself to like them... I love this book. Jeffrey - write another one !!!
Rating:
Summary: A Hero for the Hungry
Review: You know, I used to buy "Vogue" magazine and plough through the thousands of pages of advertisements just to get the latest diatribe from this author. I actually have the 1992 issue with his "Stuffing" article and recipe (which earned rave reviews when I made it one Thanksgiving). So imagine my happiness when I found out he was publishing a whole book of his essays and recipes. And it did not disappoint. Why do I like this man? First of all, it's hard to dislike someone who will go out on a limb and say that salt, fat and even Olestra are okay for you, and back it up with data. Secondly, he appears in his essays to be aware that he has a dream job and is milking it for all it's worth; he doesn't have any pretensions that he knows any better than anyone else. Third, he's a darn good writer, and funny to boot. Anytime he decides he needs an assistant, he can give me a call. Lastly, his recipes are well-written and logical. Mmmmm. . . .
Rating: 
Summary: Stop being so damn fussy!
Review: For all the fussy eaters out there - read this book! Your allergies are a lie, your dislikes are irrational. Jeffrey Steingarten shows how anyone can get used to anything, and that most people who claim "allergies" to a particular food aren't allergic at all, but need a socially acceptable excuse to not eat it. Stop it now. Read the book and stop making your life into a hell of "Oh no, I can't eat that, I'm allergic, I'm so sorry, but you know, I realise you put a lot of effort into making that, I wish I could eat it etc. etc."
Rating:
Summary: Unique!
Review: Did you know Jeffrey Steingarten was a lawyer before he became the food writer for Vogue? That was the best news I have heard since graduating from law school - and it was a brilliant move for Steingarten, whose wit and enthusiasm make reading this book almost like a conversation with the author himself. Steingarten's adventures in the world of food provide satisfying descriptions, great advice, and answers to questions you never knew you had. A definite must-have for every gourmet, and lawyer who dreams of a career change.
Rating:
Summary: Destroys the "food scolds" with truth and humor
Review: A very refreshing look at the way the food police are trying to control what we eat through fear and intimidation. For instance, his coverage on saturated fats, salt, and sugar provide the only sane view of the subject that I've seen (the sane view does include, of course, Julia Child). The "foodie" parts are very well done, and I compare him very favorably with the writers I'm familiar with in the foodie magazines like Saveur and Gourmet. He is willing to treat the subject with fewer hushed tones (such as dining in Japan) than the gee whiz crowd. The humor is fun, especially now that I noted in the credits that he wrote for the Lampoon. It shows. Food is too important a subject to take too extremely seriously. The usual biases show through, such as his living in New York City, but he dishes it out with great humor and a willingness to travel to some of the truly important food places in the world and the US. If you care about what you eat, this is a great read.
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