This post is part of Beth Fish Reads' Weekend Cooking. If you have anything related to food, cookbook reviews, novel or non-fiction book reviews, recipes, movie reviews, etc., head over to Beth Fish Reads and add your post. Or, if you want to read food related posts, head over to read what some interesting people have to say about food.
Table of Contents by Judy Gelman & Vicki Levy Knapp
Published by Gelman & Levy Knapp ISBN 978-1440504037
Paperback, $15.95, 287 pages
While strolling through the Library of Congress book shop on a recent visit, I checked out their clearance table and saw a book so perfect for this blog, I could not resist- Table of Contents: From Breakfast with Anita Diamant to Dessert with James Patterson- a Generous Helping of Recipes, Writings, and Insights from Today's Bestselling Authors.
Since I am a book blogger who blogs about food weekly, thanks to Beth Fish Reads' Weekend Cooking meme, this was something I had to peruse. There were so many of my favorite authors in there- Jennifer Haigh, Lisa Genova, Joshilyn Jackson, Elinor Lipman, Meg Wolitzer and of course, Adriana Trigiani, whose newest novel, The Supreme Macaroni Company, publishes in November.
Each author is listed with their most recent books, and a few questions to answer, such as who inspired them, what readers should know, what readers frequently ask, and authors who have influenced them. I found this section to be so interesting as the reader really gets a quick snapshot of what each makes each author tick.
A recipe from the author follows; sometimes it is one of the author's favorites, (Elizabeth Berg chose her favorite meatloaf) sometimes it is a recipe from one of their books (Kathleen's Veal Marengo from Elinor Lipman's The Family Man), and sometimes it a recipe inspired by a character in their books (Enzo's Pancakes from Garth Stein's Racing in the Rain).
There are a lot of ethnic recipes here too: Lisa See's Three Generation Curried Tomato Beef Lo Mein from China, Adam Verghese's Irachi Ulathu (Mom's Beef Fry) from South India, Monique Truong's Bo` Kho from Vietnam, and Esmeralda Santiago's Pernil from Puerto Rico.
The book is compiled by the creators of BookClubCookbook.com, where you can find recipes from authors and ideas for your next book club meeting, and even suggest books for the website. It's a fun book and I can't wait to try some of these dishes; I think Frances Mayes's Summer Shrimp Salad might be first up on my list.
The link for their website is here. Table of Contents is available on Amazon for just $6.38, and you can't even buy lunch for that.
What a fantastic book. And as you said, perfect for those of us who love to read and cook.
ReplyDeleteI simply could not walk away from that clearance table without picking it up.
DeleteOh, do I need another book? but how Can I not check it out??
ReplyDeleteI didn't need it either, but I did not let that stop me.
DeleteI have an earlier edition of this book and had fun trying out some of the recipes. Here's my post from a couple of years ago:
ReplyDeletehttp://lakesidemusing.blogspot.com/2011/02/table-of-contents-by-judy-gelman-vicki.html
Terrific review and your shrimp looks wonderful.
DeleteOh, what a cool find!
ReplyDeleteIt is a fun book.
DeleteWhat a cool book. I like the recipe books with stories, or is that the other way around...a book with good stories and some recipes interspersed :-)
ReplyDeleteIt's fun just to thumb through.
DeleteI've never heard of this book, but it sounds perfect for all the bookish foodies who frequent Weekend Cooking! Great find, Diane!
ReplyDeleteThe perfect cookbook for book lovers! Had to go put it on my wishlist! :)
ReplyDeleteWow, how have I missed this book? It sounds just fantastic. Thanks so much for letting us know about it.
ReplyDeleteSo many cookbooks, so little time to enjoy them!
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like an interesting book. I love that you found at The Library of Congress bookstore sale table! What a find.
ReplyDeleteI've made Lisa See's lo mein before. It was great!
ReplyDeleteThis (cook)book sounds awesome.
Never heard of it but it sounds like fun trying your fav author's recipes.
ReplyDelete