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.The Oxford Companion to American Food and Drink

from: OUP USA

July 05, 2007

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.Moro East

by: Samantha Clark, Samuel Clark

November 01, 2007
Famous for Spanish- and North African-style food, the couple have gone East - literally and metaphorically. A few years ago they `acquired' an allotment in London's East End and found, amongst fellow growers, Turks, Greeks and Cypriots. The two Sams swiftly became part of the allotment community even if there's little detail of any actual digging in the book. Rather it marks the passage of the seasons and the breadth of the crops with rich and alluring recipes - some their own, others weeded from neighbours.

Not that you have to grow-your-own to enjoy or cook them. They concentrate, not surprisingly, on vegetables and are cool about using up "all the bits" or eating weeds or young leaves - I'd never imagined young poppy leaves ... Read More:
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.The Discovery of France

by: Graham Robb

September 07, 2007
I must admit I was seduced by the wonderful cover photo of Mont-Saint-Michel, and the title which suggests a romantic travel book, where the local peculiarities are grounded in the authors knowledge of local history - something like a H.V.Morton's Traveller in Italy for today (and for France).

What you actually get is a social history of the provincial French peasantry from 1780 to 1880. I now find out that the American edition has a sub-title very like this, but not a sign of it on my copy, or on Amazon-UK. However, it is well written and so not as dull as that sounds, in fact it is good to read, and interesting in a rather vague way - paints pictures rather then pushing a thesis.

The only way it is 'heavy' is ... Read More:
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.Week in Week Out

by: Simon Hopkinson

September 21, 2007
I too, was misled by the title into thinking this would be everyday recipes, arranged by the seasons, but it turns out that 'Week in, week out' refers not to the cooking but to the writing of his weekly column in the Independent. Although there are 52 columns there are no headings and no very discernible order (starts with New Year, Christmas still being mentioned on p.67) so you can't easily find a recipe suitable for a particular time of year.

Although some of the recipes are very good, and the methods given are very thorough, this was spoilt for me as an enjoyable read by the sheer tetchiness of the author's tone. As the favourable review by Henrietta Green notes, he is 'dismissive of modern food fads'. Well, he seems to be dismissive ... Read More:
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.Gastronomy of Italy

by: Anna Del Conte

October 22, 2004
I was advised to read this by a chef, best piece of advice I have had for ages.
If there was a book like this for each area of interest, you wouldn't need many books!
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.Gomorrah: Italy's Other Mafia

by: Roberto Saviano

January 18, 2008
Saviano's insight on this deadly subject made me wonder a few times about his personal relationship with the people he so openly denounces. This is a 28-year-old courageous man who has decided to put his life on the line to cast some light into the darkes area of Italy's social and political life. When I read the first chapter, I had the distinct feeling that what I had in my hands was a truly ground-breaking book. When I read about the links between organised crime and global trade, and to such a scale as well, I could understand why Italy is in the G8 in spite of his disastrous economy and almost irreversible ideological void. Who thinks that organised crime is a phenomenon contained within the Italian peninsula, must think again. Eye-opening and inspirational.
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.Sweet Honey, Bitter Lemons: Travels in Sicily on a Vespa

by: Matthew Fort

April 03, 2008
Many people will have seen Matthew Fort on Great British Menu or read his Guardian columns over the years. His passion for food is totally infectious. And behind his affable demeanour is a sharp mind, wonderful eye for detail and delightfully involving use of language. On this journey around Sicily he also shows an awful lot of himself. It is a very personal journey. It shows not only a sense of the history of the places he visits, it also tells a lot about his own self; his family relationships, his strength of character, his willingness to engage anyone and everyone in his quest. You sense how hard such a journey is; the loneliness of several weeks on a scooter, the uncertainty of what you will find. This is a rare book as it is readable for so many reasons: as a foodie, as a travel ... Read More:
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.The Oxford Companion to Food

by: Alan Davidson

September 21, 2006
20 years work and 2650 entries. Alan Davidson has long been my favourite food author and this confirms it.
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.Francesco's Kitchen

by: Francesco Da Mosto

October 11, 2007
This is a wonderful book for all those who are passionate about Venice. Presented with great style, it is certainly up to the standard of Franceso's previous publications. But this is not just a book of traditional recipes and pretty photographs, many pages are devoted to the produce used in Venetian cooking and the history of various ingredients. There are pages describing 18th. century life in the palazzi of Venice and four pages devoted to the humble fork. This is a book that will transport you to the Grand Canal everytime you read it. Oh if only all trattoria and ristorante in Venice had a copy!
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.The Food of Italy

by: Claudia Roden

November 26, 1998
Is this book a classic ? Its a book I turn often to read for pleasure and use for cooking. Ms Roden writes about the food of each region in a clear and unfussy way. There's background on regional cuisuces and wines thrown prefacing each chapter. Most of the ensuing recipes are winners - easy to make; ingredients can be sourced without a trip to Italy(!); and results for me have been delicious ! The index lists dishes by type which is very handy indeed if you fancy a bowl of pasta but don't want to trawl though each region's recipes.
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