The Great New American Writers Cookbook

Rating:
Summary: Absolutely brilliant!
Review: I must confess that since the advent of the Internet, I have not found it necessary to buy many cookbooks (sorry, authors), because the recipe for just about anything can be found on the virtual Web, but this book caught my eye, went on my Amazon Wish List and was received for Christmas. What an absolute treat! The recipes as such are almost secondary in this book, because the point is that all of them have been contributed by American authors, including such jaw-dropping talents as Pete Dexter and Elmore Leonard. And Jay McInerney and E. Annie Proulx. And many more. Now, as one who likes to cook and has by dint of circumstance done so in Eastern Europe for more than a decade now, I find a distressing reliance in some of these recipes on such things as Campbell's soups. With the possible exception of the most detailed bisques and, perhaps, Bouillabaisse, soup is so easy and wonderful to cook at home that there should be no excuse for this. But I digress. The true joy to this book is the writing which accompanies many of the recipes. Thus, for instance, you would never find this ingredient in the oeuvre of Julia Childs:

1 lb. turkey hearts (Do not attempt to collect individually - very messy and inconvenient to the turkeys)

Or instructions such as this; "Now serve with rice and, on the side, a well-iced can of Pabst Blue Ribbon, one per guest, with extra in the icebox. Without the Pabst is okay, but not true Appalachian".

This is a book which would be appropriate not just for those who spend lots of time in the kitchen, but to anyone who enjoys American literature. There's enough for both kinds of people (and I'll bet lots of Amazon users correspond to both descriptions). I can't recommend this book more highly!