Rating: 
Summary: Profound and meaning ful. A cookbook like no other.
Review: "The Supper of the Lamb" is an unusual and profound book. The author, an Episcopal priest, is also quite the home chef, and has combined his culinary insights with his theological insights in a meaningful and moving way.The premise of the book seems two-fold -- both indicated by the book's title. First, the book does, in fact, teach how one can serve a leg of lamb for eight people over four meals. No kidding! Each meal is described clearly, with all the ingredients easily obtainable, and all the instructions easy to follow. (His insights into stew are remarkable!) However, the second premise indicated by the title of the book, is an introduction to "The Supper of the Lamb" as it is recounted in the book of Revelation. His understanding of Sacrifice; his description of wine; and his discussion of the "Greater Heartburn" all serve to make clear that our feasting in this life is nothing less than a foretaste of the Heavenly Kingdom. This book needs to be read through in its entirety BEFORE you attempt any of the recipies. Then, read it again while you cook. Pray, cry, have a glass of wine, and FEAST!
Rating:
Summary: Profound and meaning ful. A cookbook like no other.
Review: "The Supper of the Lamb" is an unusual and profound book. The author, an Episcopal priest, is also quite the home chef, and has combined his culinary insights with his theological insights in a meaningful and moving way. The premise of the book seems two-fold -- both indicated by the book's title. First, the book does, in fact, teach how one can serve a leg of lamb for eight people over four meals. No kidding! Each meal is described clearly, with all the ingredients easily obtainable, and all the instructions easy to follow. (His insights into stew are remarkable!) However, the second premise indicated by the title of the book, is an introduction to "The Supper of the Lamb" as it is recounted in the book of Revelation. His understanding of Sacrifice; his description of wine; and his discussion of the "Greater Heartburn" all serve to make clear that our feasting in this life is nothing less than a foretaste of the Heavenly Kingdom. This book needs to be read through in its entirety BEFORE you attempt any of the recipies. Then, read it again while you cook. Pray, cry, have a glass of wine, and FEAST!
Rating: 
Summary: Delightful
Review: A spiritual mentor of mine once said, "I'm going to write a book about food and spirituality, and you can do my research for me." I laughed and said, "Sorry, you've been beaten to it already." I was thinking of this book by Robert Farrar Capon. A delightful celebration of food and the Spirit! Worth buying simply for his devotional reflection on the beauties of an onion. I sometimes think of it when I peel an onion, and I smile. There is obviously tongue in cheek here, but there is also spiritual depth. The Bible makes it clear that we can be enslaved by food, and this seems to be reaching a nadir in our time- people obsessed with either eating or not eating. What we need are wise, humble men like Brother Capon, to remind us of the powerful mysteries of food and the path by which we can both enjoy it and be free in our enjoyment. This is not a cookbook, but it gives us much needed "recipes" all the same!
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful treatise on cooking and food - and life.
Review: And it has some great recipes, too. His insights into food and life speak of exuberance. This is clearly a labor of love. It's a great book to read aloud and share with others. Oh, yes, and I recommend actually sitting down with the onion.
Rating:
Summary: Profound and hilarious
Review: Father Capon has written one of the most absurd "cookbooks" anyone has ever seen. It purports to be about serving eight people four meals from a (large) leg of lamb. His wanderings in tortured philosophical byeways and his admonitions about avoiding water in soups ("soup waterer!") will make you reach for the wine bottle instead. He is clearly a portly fellow who enjoys hearty food, not stinting on the butter, but determined to find the best in life (or at least the best food in life). I have re-read the book several times, and always come away with the sense of awe at a man so dedicated to his stomach and to avoiding the traps of modern "inventions" in cookware and lifestyles. Buy it: you'll not regret the time you spend reading it, admiring it, and chuckling aloud every few pages. There are recipes occasionally in the first two thirds of the book, all dealing with those 8 times 4 servings, but also a wonderful collection of special recipes toward the end. Do read it: it may just change your life.
Rating:
Summary: Meditations on Food
Review: Food writing is a difficult task. It's much easier to jot down a few (or many) recipes that describe the feelings, emotion and psychology of the food experience. One advantage that food writing has over, say car writing or sports writing, is the multitude of functionality. One can raise, prepare, buy, eat and savor food. It is used for romance, for celebration, for friendship, bereavement or religious fulfillment. In fact, to some it is almost a religious experience. This is especially true of the author, Robert Capon, a priest in the Episcopal church. He can be deep, funny, poignant or edifying. These various essays touch on many subjects, all of them related one way or another to food. His comments like, "God may be simple but simplicity makes a bad god." are par for the course. His strong likes (natural food, discipline, earnest preparation and freinds) and dislikes (fancy stoves, kitchen gadgets, easy recipes, strong cologne, arriving late) are fully detailed. A compendium of recipes follow the essays.
Rating:
Summary: Meditations on Food
Review: Food writing is a difficult task. It's much easier to jot down a few (or many) recipes that describe the feelings, emotion and psychology of the food experience. One advantage that food writing has over, say car writing or sports writing, is the multitude of functionality. One can raise, prepare, buy, eat and savor food. It is used for romance, for celebration, for friendship, bereavement or religious fulfillment. In fact, to some it is almost a religious experience. This is especially true of the author, Robert Capon, a priest in the Episcopal church. He can be deep, funny, poignant or edifying. These various essays touch on many subjects, all of them related one way or another to food. His comments like, "God may be simple but simplicity makes a bad god." are par for the course. His strong likes (natural food, discipline, earnest preparation and freinds) and dislikes (fancy stoves, kitchen gadgets, easy recipes, strong cologne, arriving late) are fully detailed. A compendium of recipes follow the essays.
Rating:
Summary: Joy to the World!
Review: I came across The Supper of the Lamb at a particularly deep and prolonged nadir in my life, and not being particularly religious, I was sceptical. O what joy! What love! What exuberance, richness, fertility and fancy! What unbounded wonder! Father Capon shows us the wonder in ordinary things, and shows us how to look, really look, at humble, quotidian things to see the glory in them -- the chapter on a simple brown onion is worth the entire book. So is the chapter on wine. Again and again, I've stretched out my hand and the right book was there. Thank you Father Capon for showing me the way back to laughter, love and celebration! L'chaim!
Rating:
Summary: Joy to the World!
Review: I came across The Supper of the Lamb at a particularly deep and prolonged nadir in my life, and not being particularly religious, I was sceptical. O what joy! What love! What exuberance, richness, fertility and fancy! What unbounded wonder! Father Capon shows us the wonder in ordinary things, and shows us how to look, really look, at humble, quotidian things to see the glory in them -- the chapter on a simple brown onion is worth the entire book. So is the chapter on wine. Again and again, I've stretched out my hand and the right book was there. Thank you Father Capon for showing me the way back to laughter, love and celebration! L'chaim!
Rating:
Summary: Eating with Bob Capon
Review: I grew up around Bob Capon. My father is also an Episcopal priest, and our families often got together to break bread. The kitchen was the place to be. This book, which I hadn't read for many years, brought back lots of memories. Capon was one of the first "crazy" people I ever met. (I was around 9 years old.) I am a better person for it. Food and God. God and Food. They go together especially well in this book.
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