Favorite Food Books?
I just finished reading a great perspective on the obesity problems in the US, and now I am on to a *fabulous* book, called The Fortune Cookie Chronicles. Basically, I have a month between my last class this summer and the next term in the autumn, when I will again be swamped with work and homework. So, I am trying to get as many foodie-type books in as possible and I was hoping to hear from you guys about your suggestions.
Not cookbooks (heaven knows I need to start using the ones that I have already, since I rarely use recipes), but rather, travel writing, novels, political/economic perspectives on health/nutrition/food/history of eating, et cetera. Any suggestions would be great and what are your favorites? What did you like about them? Do you read foodie-oriented books very often?
And does anyone else secretly read cookbooks as though they were novels, like I have done?
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25 Comments:
M.F.K. Fisher's books are wonderful.
Tokyorosa at 1:00PM on 08/01/08
I loved Like Water For Chocolate. Great novel and a recipe or two sprinkled throughout.
chiff0nade at 1:53PM on 08/01/08
The Omnivore's Dilemma or In Defense of Food, both by Michael Pollan.
Chew on That at 2:11PM on 08/01/08
Traveller - what is the name of the book about obesity that you just finished?
I am in the same boat as you are - I am trying to read as many books (food-related or not) before I go back to school. And I agree Fortune Cookie Chronicles is a great book - I am finishing it up right now!
hoipolloi at 2:50PM on 08/01/08
"Heat" by Bill Buford was an incredible view of someone who is really interested in food diving head-first into the restaurant industry. And the ol' favorite "Kitchen Confidential" by Tony Bourdain
megannesta at 3:03PM on 08/01/08
Yes, Michael Pollan!
Barbara Kingsolver's Animal, Vegetable, Miracle
Peter Singer's The Ethics of What We Eat
Marion Nestle's What to Eat
Twinkie Deconstructed
Fast Food Nation
All of Ruth Reichl's books -- fantastic reads and superb recipes.
Calvin Trillin's Tummy Trilogy
Julia Child's My Life in France
jbeach at 4:21PM on 08/01/08
http://www.amazon.ca/Salt-Mark-Kurlansky/dp/0142001619
I found Salt by Mark Kurlansky interesting.
avideater at 4:51PM on 08/01/08
I certainly do read cookbooks as if they were novels (I may be too weird though as I even love reading menus...but don't tell anyone!)
I found "McGee on Food and Cooking: An Encyclopedia of Kitchen Science, History and Culture" by Harold McGee absolutely fascinating. I would also recommend "In search of Perfection" by Heston Blumenthal.
brooke29 at 4:54PM on 08/01/08
Michael Ruhlman wrote a series of books that I loved: The Making of a Chef, The Soul of a Chef and The Reach of A Chef. Can't give them enough praise. He writes about first hand experience with the CIA, Keller, Atchatz, on and on...
Also I second the vote for Buford's "Heat". Great read.
Also, Down and Out in Paris and London. Orson Wells. not about cooking but an awesome read for anyone who's worked food service.
sailordave at 1:11AM on 08/02/08
Jeffry Steingarten: The Man Who Ate Everything and It Must Have Been Something I Ate.
Don Luis at 7:07AM on 08/02/08
The United States of Arugula.
bessfour at 9:12AM on 08/02/08
oooh, there are so very very many... i love reading food books beyond anything. fortunately a lot of my favorites are already listed here. here are a few more that i loved, in no particular order
between bites by james villas
cooking for mr latte by amanda hesser
home cooking and more home cooking by laurie colwin
the taste of sweet by joanne chen
insatiable by gael greene
a feast made for laughter by craig claiborne
from my mother's kitchen by mimi sheraton
alice let's eat {and pretty much anything else he's written} by calvin trillin
toast by nigel slater
the world in my kitchen by colette rossant
devil in the kitchen by marco pierre white
the apprentice by jacques pepin
i just bought a book by tamasin day lewis called where shall we go for dinner that looks really good, and another memoir by james villas.
i can't wait to read the new books by fuschia dunlop and jennifer 8. lee!
cybercita at 10:10AM on 08/02/08
Any Anthony Bourdain book.
pjracz10 at 10:47AM on 08/02/08
I finished Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver a couple weeks ago, about her year of eating locally. It really got me thinking about making more of an effort to eat locally (just got back from the Farmer's Market!)
mrsmoosie at 12:20PM on 08/02/08
Roodfood and Square Meals by Jane and Michael Stern
cambriana at 12:42PM on 08/02/08
I'd have to echo a lot of the selections...Ruth Reichl, Calvin Trillin, Buford's Heat and add Michelle Lee West's "A Food Obsessed Life"
I enjoyed "Julie and Julia" and foodie mysteries are one of my guilty pleasures. Not great lit - but a fun distraction and the Diane Mott Davidson books have some great recipes.
Currently reading Animal, Vegetable, Miracle. It makes me wish I had worked a little harder at putting in my garden. Barbara Kingsolver is coming to the Prairie Fest at the Land Institute in September. Really looking forward to hearing her discuss the book.
dutchgal at 1:30PM on 08/02/08
Ominvore's Dilemma, Michael Pollan.
Also, Thomas Keller's French Laundry cookbook has some beautiful descriptions of foods and methods that make you really appreciate food and the care that goes into cooking a great meal.
Tactful_Cactus at 2:18PM on 08/02/08
Ruth Reichl - Garlic and sapphires.
And yes, I also read cookbooks like novels. Cover to cover.
supersu75 at 3:35PM on 08/02/08
I second anything by Anthony Bourdain, and Buford's "Heat".
McGee's book is fantastic, but I only use it as a reference. I also like Ruhlman's "The Elements of Cooking".
minstrel at 4:38PM on 08/02/08
@supersu75...You're right! I forgot Garlic and Sapphires. It was amazing.
And for all you other cookbook and menu maniacs, you're not alone.
For someone who grew up without any regard for food or its prep I'm seduced by cookbooks AND menus. Must have been a chef in another life.
bessfour at 5:46PM on 08/02/08
I'm crazy for Michael Ruhlman's 'Making of...' series as well. He also happened to help Thomas Kellar write The French Laundry Cookbook.
Another recommendation is Appetite For Life, which is a wonderful biography on Julia Child.
There's also Julie and Julia -about a girl who tries to do every recipe of Mastering the Art of French Cooking in one year..it's pretty cute. (And apparently being made into a film now?)
gastronomeg at 5:52PM on 08/02/08
Word on "Omnivore's Dilemma" (I really need to get to "In Defense of Food") and anything by Bourdain - I especially love "The Nasty Bits".
If you have any sort of sweet tooth - "Candyfreak" by Steve Almond! Almond is such a wonderful writer, and it's his personal history of his obsession with candy, as well as some historical background about the candy industry. It's a great, short read.
sarahlucy at 6:41PM on 08/02/08
I'm just getting back from vacation, and while gone, I spent a lot of time reading "Her Fork In The Road- women celebrate food and travel" edited by Lisa Bach. Every single story in it caught me up and engaged me. I felt like I was travelling with all of these women- I definitely recommend it. While some of the stories I've read before, in this collection- there was something different about them. I loved the book, and definitely recommend it.
From the back of the book:
Women's relationship with food is nuanced as our most intriguing journeys: passionate and obsessive; embracing and comforting; complex and frustrating; even surprising. This savory sampling of stories journeys across borders and cultures to the heart of this age-old relationship- from familiar kitchens to the globe's far reaches.
ErikaWaz at 9:13PM on 08/02/08
I dont have a favorite specifically on food, but I love it when I read something and it mentions things like what breakfast or lunch the character had, what they cook, the restaurants they go to (any mentions of food really )
nindi_18 at 12:34AM on 08/03/08
Have to agree with anything Bourdain, Polian, and Heat...
A great book on how we perceive what we eat is Mindless Eating. When you read the story about a creative navy chef who served lemon jello with red dye and called it strawberry (to avert fights that happened by having lemon jello every night) it is fantastic. This book will make you re-examine foodies in general because of the human taste as 'confirmation'. It helps explain why people love celebrity chef restaurants that are terrible...
BirdDoggie at 10:11PM on 08/03/08