Celebrate Chicago!; A Taste of Our Town

Rating:
Summary: Showcases more than 250 recipes
Review: The fourth community cookbook to be published by The Junior League of Chicago, Celebrate Chicago!: A Taste Of Our Town showcases more than 250 recipes combining both fresh and available ingredients for menu items that would grace any table and satisfy any appetite with a very special Chicago-style elegance and gusto. From Grandmother's Pumpkin Bread; Autumn Squash and Apple Bisque; Crab-Topped Salad Towers; and Lamb Burgers with Yogurt Sauce; to Chicken and Wild Mushroom Strudel with Dried Cherries; Banana Cream Chocolate Chip Muffins; Caramel Grahams; and Picnic-in-the-Park Potato Salad. Celebrate Chicago! is a very highly recommended addition to any kitchen cookbook collection!

Rating:
Summary: Whose Chicago Is It, Anyway?
Review: This cookbook has some interesting recipes, like Bay Scallop Chowder, Angel Hair Pasta with Three Caviars, Mushroom Risotto, Filet Mignon with Madeira Sauce, Honey Bourbon Grilled Pork Tenderloin, and my personl favorite, Zuppa di Pesce (seafood linguini), something that is almost as fun to say as it is to make and eat. It also has some basic staples, like Chinese Fried Rice, Italian Beef, and Amazing Meat Loaf. It suffers, however, from a lack of some key recipes I associate with Chicago and which I had hoped to find, like barbecued baby back ribs or stuffed pizza (a failing which may be explained in part when you note the source of the cookbook, the Junior League of Chicago). In part, the book makes up for this failing by inserting recipes from celebrities, like Michael Jordan. Overall, it is quite good because it has some very useful recipes which can be made with ingredients that are likely to be found in the kitchen, the recipes are simply written, and there are many recipes which you always wanted to make your own. I'm off to try the Grilled Crab Burgers, Paella, and Jambalya recipes.