I like food. In fact, I like food so much I read about it whenever I get the chance. Fortunately food writing is getting it’s own section in most bookstores. It may be a bit off the ‘hot sauce’ topic, but I recommend the books below to any of the HSB readers:
Fork It Over: The Intrepid Adventures of a Professional Eater
“Barbecue without wood is like French food without butter, inappropriate and insulting” – While this book is not all about BBQ and rarely touches on spicey food – it’s still a great read. Each section is a selection of Alan’s best work.
Gastronaut: Adventures in food for the romantic, the foolhardy, and the brave.
I picked this up in the bookstore and just happened to flip to the section titled: “A Personal Journey Into Extreme Flatulence” Right then and there I was sold. The book is part experiment, part history and part fun. The writer Stefan Gates is British, so expect not to understand all of the slang used. I read the book in one day.
The Best Food Writing 2005: For Every Cook & Food Lover
This book is an amazing compliation of the Best Food Writing of the Year. There are editions going back to 2000, so you may want to take the time to pick up them all. This edition contains a great editorial entitled “Some Like It Extra Hot” which is about Prince’s Hot Chicken Shack. The author, Ramsey captures not only the flavors but the culinary psychopathology of hot-chicken addicts.
The Chowhound’s Guide to the New York Tristate Area
If you live in the Tri-State area, pick up this book! It’s an excellent resource for the hole in the wall locations foodies love. Again, this is one book I read in one day and bookmarked no less then 20 new places to try out. Did you know there’s a place called Rice Dreams in Manhattan that sells nothing but rice pudding? Are you looking for mozerella that can weaken your knees or do you have a craving for West African Peanut Stew? This book will help you find it all in NYC.
13 responses to “HSB Recommended Reading”
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sorry Nick, the other comment ended up in the wrong post 🙂
I highly recommend “Kitchen Confidential” by Anthony Bourdain. He did the Chef’s Tour series on Food Network and has another show on the Travel Channel now.
He is kind of like the anti-celebrity chef. Very honest, very entertaining; you will laugh out loud and learn too.
Totally agree with “Kitchen Confidential” as well as adding,
“Extreme Cuisine: The Weird & Wonderful Foods That People Eat” by Anthony Bourdain (Foreword), Jerry Hopkins, Michael Freeman.
Anthony Bourdain is by far my favorite, A Cook’s Tour is also a great read. His writing is fantastic! Thanks for the suggestions Nick, I am always looking for a good book.
I LOVE FOOD books! I love to cook and of course eat, as you can tell by the size of my behind! Always looking for the next great food book! Thanks Nick!
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I LOVE HIM! He is such an ass, but such a lovable ass because he is just being honest. But I would NOT want to work in the kitchen with him. Chefs are their own breed and what makes him lovable on TV makes him the most hatred man in the kitchens! But I would definitely sit down and have a drink or two with him! (OK, it doesn’t take much to make me have a drink with anyone in particular, but I think I might enjoy talking with him! 😉 )
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He also has the perfect job – traveling + great food/drink! Simply an amazing way to make a living.
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I agree completely! Must be nice.
Here’s the last couple I’ve read and recommend:
1. “The Food Chronology: A Food Lover’s Compendium of Events and Anecdotes, From Prehistory to the Present” by James Trager
2. “The Kitchen Detective” by Christopher Kimball
3. “Why Does Popcorn Pop?” by Don Voorhees
4. “The Professional Chef” 7th Edition by the CIA
Fork it over was an exciting book, I thought. I am an avid Anthony Bourdain fan, even his non-food books are worth a look.
I’ve been wondering if his other stories are any good. Aren’t they detective stories? Are they food related in any way shape or form?
Any of you ever went into a barnes and noble to find a chile plant book. yea good luck they have like one and it sucks and is wrapped in plastic. Anyone grow thier own chile’s out there and has a california like climate? I cant get anything to grow. Green thumb of doom.
The Time Out New York that came in yesterday recommends the following:
Insatiable: Tales from a Life of Delicious – Gael Greene
Garlic and Sapphires – Ruth Reichl
Eating My Words – Mimi Sheraton