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Favorite Food Books (non-coobook variety)
- Thread starter traca
- Start date
Farm City: The Education of an Urban Farmer by Novella Carpenter
This book is a memoir, based on Novella's experience reclaiming a lot in urban Oakland for a garden. Insightful and very well written. (I listened to this on audio. Loved the narrator and the story was so capitvating, I ended up taking the long way home so I could listen a little longer...)One of my current favorites.
This book is a memoir, based on Novella's experience reclaiming a lot in urban Oakland for a garden. Insightful and very well written. (I listened to this on audio. Loved the narrator and the story was so capitvating, I ended up taking the long way home so I could listen a little longer...)One of my current favorites.
History of the World in 6 Glasses by Tom Standage
This is another book that makes history come alive. Author approaches his topic through 6 different beverages and their impact:
(from Amazon.com)
1) Beer -- a basis for why people replaced hunting with farming
2) Wine -- the civilizer of Greece and Rome
3) Hard Spirits -- slavery, the American Revolution
4) Tea -- the life sustainer and improver
5) Coffee -- the fuel for the enlightenment
6) Cola -- particularly Coca-cola the expression of cultural dominance.
This is another book that makes history come alive. Author approaches his topic through 6 different beverages and their impact:
(from Amazon.com)
1) Beer -- a basis for why people replaced hunting with farming
2) Wine -- the civilizer of Greece and Rome
3) Hard Spirits -- slavery, the American Revolution
4) Tea -- the life sustainer and improver
5) Coffee -- the fuel for the enlightenment
6) Cola -- particularly Coca-cola the expression of cultural dominance.
The Last Chinese Chef by Nicole Mones
The author includes many 'quotations' from the main character's grandfather that just blew me away (about how important sharing food with family and friends is, etc.). So much so that one of them was my first blog post.
And a customer of mine was so taken by the same passage that she had the labels on her wedding favors (artisan olive oils with personalized labels) printed with it.
The author includes many 'quotations' from the main character's grandfather that just blew me away (about how important sharing food with family and friends is, etc.). So much so that one of them was my first blog post.
And a customer of mine was so taken by the same passage that she had the labels on her wedding favors (artisan olive oils with personalized labels) printed with it.
michael-in-phoenix
Well-known member
Both collections of Laurie Colwin's essays from Gourmet.
Oy - I can't believe I forgot to include it in my post - here it is!
“Apprentices have asked me, what is the most exalted peak of cuisine? Is it the freshest ingredients , the most complex flavors? Is it the rustic, or the rare? It is none of these. The peak is neither eating nor cooking, but the giving and sharing of food. Great food should never be taken alone. What pleasure can a man take in fine cuisine unless he invites cherished friends, counts the days until the banquet, and composes an anticipatory poem for his letter of invitation”.
“Apprentices have asked me, what is the most exalted peak of cuisine? Is it the freshest ingredients , the most complex flavors? Is it the rustic, or the rare? It is none of these. The peak is neither eating nor cooking, but the giving and sharing of food. Great food should never be taken alone. What pleasure can a man take in fine cuisine unless he invites cherished friends, counts the days until the banquet, and composes an anticipatory poem for his letter of invitation”.
cynupstateny
Well-known member
One of my favorites: The Making of a Chef- about being a student at the CIA.
Laurie Colwin's essays. Jacques Pepin's autobio. Very light fiction, but a fun book- Cooking for Mr. Latte.
Laurie Colwin's essays. Jacques Pepin's autobio. Very light fiction, but a fun book- Cooking for Mr. Latte.
luisa_calif
Well-known member
Traca (and others) Are you finding these in bookstores or at the Library?
barbara-in-va
Well-known member
I enjoyed: All the Presidents Pastries: 25 Years in the White House
by Roland Mesnier and
Five Quarters of the Orange by Joanne Harris
Oldie: Under the Tuscan Sun
by Roland Mesnier and
Five Quarters of the Orange by Joanne Harris
Oldie: Under the Tuscan Sun