Rating: 
Summary: comfort in a form we can all enjoy
Review: Art Smith provides different fare from the standard soups, salads, and table settings, while appealing to our fondest recollections of family times centered around food. Mr. Smith looks beyond a recipe's basic ingredients to capture the essence of food as a tool for connection to our family and friends. This book provides a means to meet the need of our society at this time to shore up our sense of security and to distract us from our sense of loss, if only for a few hours -- the memory of preparing and sharing comfort foods deeply rooted in Southern culture, but surprisingly venturing into ethnic cuisines with Pakistani flatbread and Jewish Challah, provides a warm place we can all retreat to for strength. If you like to read cookbooks like a novel, this one provides delicious prose. The recipes that I have tried, particularly Adelaide's Peach Cobbler, Tomato Ginger Chutney, and French Chocolate Almond Pie, are easy to follow, work, and provide the elements for a bountiful table. This book is equally suited for the dinner table or the coffee table.
Rating:
Summary: A Beautiful Book
Review: Art Smith's book is so beautiful to look at and reads like a book. When I got it in the mail, I sat down and read the whole thing. I've only tried one muffin recipe so far, but it was delicous and I'm looking forward to trying new recipes.
Rating:
Summary: Wholesome
Review: Art Smiths' book is full of wholesome family recipes we can all understand. No wonder Oprah likes him! We can all relate to his testimonials about childhood memories around the table. We need to take a lesson about not being so busy we forget to set at the table with our families.
The recipes are easy to understand and Ohhhh Soooo Good.
Rating: 
Summary: Not quite what I expected
Review: At first glance the book was great. It's a feel good book that carries a good message. However, I found that the recipes were not for everyday cooks. Many of the recipes called for special ingredients that are not available at regular grocery stores. The author does provide sources for mail order but doesn't offer alternate ingredients. I found the same to be true with the appliances and cookware the author says to use. Not everyone has a Kitchen-aid or cast iron skillets, again, no alternate methods were given.
Rating: 
Summary: GREAT RECIPES, BUT MOST REQUIRE CONSIDERABLE TIME!
Review: I agree totally that more and more families are getting away from the tradition of actually sitting down and sharing a meal together as often as we once did. Work schedules, children's activities, and other responsibilities often collide. The result can be skipped meals or staggered meals where everyone seems to be eating a different thing at a different time.The menus in this book are certainly unique. I have tried a few on week-ends and they are delicious. The only negative aspect I found is the preparation time. For those of us who truly are trying to jungle and balance family and work outside the home, there simply is not the time at the end of the day (or the energy) to attempt putting together many of these recipes. Most of the recipes are best saved for the week-end or special family gatherings - they are certainly not your typical everyday, evening fare.
Rating:
Summary: Back to the table
Review: I disagree with some of the other reviews that said that this book does not contain "family friendly" and "easy" recipe. Art's recipes for Smothered Chicken and Red Beans & Rice have fast become my family's favorite foods, and they are very easy to make. I love this cookbook and would recommend it to others who are looking for some simple, homestyle recipes for their families.
Rating:
Summary: Buy it for the Chocolate Cake Recipe!!!
Review: I just saw Art Smith on Oprah and my mouth is watering. He uses a lot of fresh ingredients which require a little more time and planning, but he Sun-dried Tomato Scalloped Potatoes and his Auntie's Chocolate Pecan Cake are worth the effort. The cake looks so good I'm making it for dinner tonight-- It has a hot chocolate and pecan frosting... y u m
Rating:
Summary: Great Food and Good Times
Review: I love this cookbook. It has recipes that remind me of back home and those family get-togethers of childhood. I have definitely earmarked a few of them for the family thanksgiving gathering this year. I think that this book celebrates the idea of just getting together with family and reconnecting. When I was living in my hometown which isn't that big of a place, I would go months without seeing my cousins, or aunts and uncles simply because we were all busy with daily life. This book inspires me to have a few more visits back home, and to invite them all over to gather around the table and catch up.
Rating:
Summary: A nice cookbook to have.....with a caveat!!
Review: I really enjoyed this cookbook for the simple reason that it has so many recipes that can be utilized for just about any occasion. If you're a fan of Southern cooking, you'll see many many familiar foods in this book. I would also have to agree with many of the comments made about the book so far; there are some recipes in here that just aren't practical if you're strapped for time OR are fond of simpler, more traditional fare. I think the easiest way to remedy this would be to save some of the more intricate recipes for weekends or times when one can devote more time to their meal preparation. You will find that this isn't a spur-of-the-moment cookbook; if you want to make something in here more than likely you'll have to make a trip to the store beforehand, that is unless you happen to always have a stocked pantry of tomatillos and chiles de arbol. Overall, I would recommend this cookbook. It's a great addition for those cooks that plan a trip to the store around their meal preparation. It may not be the best choice for those in a hurry or who don't like to spend a good amount of time cooking or baking.
Rating:
Summary: Good Food, Good Message
Review: I really like this cookbook and I was rather surprised to read some of the reviews that complained about the book being unpractical and unrealistic. I think that although we live in busy times his message is great. Most people I know eat on the run and only eat together (without the TV) during holidays and special occasions. I am one of those people, so this book made me think for a minute. Although some recipes in this book appear to be more time consuming than others (as in most cookbooks), I have tried several recipes that were very reasonable (time wise). For example, last night I made the Grilled Fish Fillets with Watercress Mustard and Tarragon (i found the mustard at a Flagship Randalls) and the Romaine with Lemon Parmesan Vinaigrette. They were delicious and not difficult to prepare. Yes, there are many recipes that seem a little time consuming to make, but I am just wondering why this book is getting so much slack for that. I collect many cookbooks, and typically, unless it is advertised as a "Quick and Easy" cookbook, there is usually a mix of quick to not-so-quick recipes in most cookbooks. I think the message of Back to the Table is important. Whether you can do it seven days a week or just two, mealtime is a great opportunity to spend quality time with your family. I may not always have time to make a sit down dinner for my family every night of the week, but I am going to make a realistic goal for myself and work on it!
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