Best of
Food-Writing

2015

Rice, Noodle, Fish: Deep Travels Through Japan's Food Culture


Matt Goulding - 2015
    In this 5000-mile journey through the noodle shops, tempura temples, and teahouses of Japan, Matt Goulding, co-creator of the enormously popular Eat This, Not That! book series, navigates the intersection between food, history, and culture, creating one of the most ambitious and complete books ever written about Japanese culinary culture from the Western perspective.Written in the same evocative voice that drives the award-winning magazine Roads & Kingdoms, Rice, Noodle, Fish explores Japan's most intriguing culinary disciplines in seven key regions, from the kaiseki tradition of Kyoto and the sushi masters of Tokyo to the street food of Osaka and the ramen culture of Fukuoka. You won't find hotel recommendations or bus schedules; you will find a brilliant narrative that interweaves immersive food journalism with intimate portraits of the cities and the people who shape Japan's food culture.This is not your typical guidebook. Rice, Noodle, Fish is a rare blend of inspiration and information, perfect for the intrepid and armchair traveler alike. Combining literary storytelling, indispensable insider information, and world-class design and photography, the end result is the first ever guidebook for the new age of culinary tourism.

A Year of Good Eating: The Kitchen Diaries III


Nigel Slater - 2015
    The leisurely recipes and kitchen stories of the Diaries are ingeniously interspersed with seasonal sections of quick, weeknight suppers in the style of Nigel’s most recent bestseller Eat. A salmon pie with herb butter sauce or an asparagus and blue cheese tart for when you have time to cook; roasted summer vegetables with sausages or quick baked eggs and greens for when you need to get dinner on the table fast.With Nigel’s characteristically simple recipes and inspiring writing, this new book will make good eating a joy, every day of the year.

Stir: My Broken Brain and the Meals That Brought Me Home


Jessica Fechtor - 2015
      At 28, Jessica Fechtor was happily immersed in graduate school and her young marriage, and thinking about starting a family. Then one day, she went for a run and an aneurysm burst in her brain. She nearly died. She lost her sense of smell, the sight in her left eye, and was forced to the sidelines of the life she loved. Jessica’s journey to recovery began in the kitchen as soon as she was able to stand at the stovetop and stir. There, she drew strength from the restorative power of cooking and baking. Written with intelligence, humor, and warmth, Stir is a heartfelt examination of what it means to nourish and be nourished."  Woven throughout the narrative are 27 recipes for dishes that comfort and delight. For readers of M.F.K.Fisher, Molly Wizenberg, and Tamar Adler, as well as Oliver Sacks, Jill Bolte Taylor, and Susannah Cahalan, Stir is sure to inspire, and send you straight to the kitchen

Motivational Interviewing in Nutrition and Fitness


Dawn Clifford - 2015
    Yet the communication style of a health professional can make a huge difference. This book presents the proven counseling approach known as motivational interviewing (MI) and shows exactly how to use it in day-to-day interactions with clients. MI offers simple yet powerful tools for helping clients work through ambivalence, break free of diets and quick-fix solutions, and overcome barriers to change. Extensive sample dialogues illustrate specific ways to enhance conversations about meal planning and preparation, exercise, body image, disordered eating, and more. Reproducible forms and handouts can be downloaded and printed in a convenient 8 1/2" x 11" size. Instructors requesting a desk copy from Guilford will be emailed a link to supplemental PowerPoint slides and exam questions. This book is in the Applications of Motivational Interviewing series, edited by Stephen Rollnick, William R. Miller, and Theresa B. Moyers.

My Kitchen in Rome: Recipes and Notes on Italian Cooking


Rachel Roddy - 2015
    But then she happened upon the neighborhood of Testaccio, the wedge-shaped quarter of Rome that centers around the old slaughterhouse and the bustling food market, and fell instantly in love. Thus began an Italian adventure that has turned into a brand new life. My Kitchen in Rome charts a year in Rachel's small Italian kitchen, shopping, cooking, eating, and writing, capturing a uniquely domestic picture of life in this vibrant, charismatic city.Weaving together stories, memories, and recipes for thick bean soups, fresh pastas, braised vegetables, and slow-cooked meats, My Kitchen in Rome captures the spirit of Rachel's beloved blog, Rachel Eats, and offers readers the chance to cook "cucina romana" without leaving the comfort of home.

Hey There, Dumpling!: 100 Recipes for Dumplings, Buns, Noodles, and Other Asian Treats


Kenny Lao - 2015
    He has made dumplings at large family parties, in professional kitchens with Michelin-star chefs, and even with rap mogul P. Diddy. In his first cookbook, Lao reveals how to make the perfect dumpling and host amazing dumpling parties. Hey There, Dumpling! features 100 recipes covering classic Asian and modern flavors, including Pork and Napa Cabbage and Spicy BBQ-Glazed Beef dumplings, mix-and-match tangy dips, crispy salads, delicious noodles, and festive drinks. With 50 color photographs, graphic step-by-step tutorials, and Lao's accessible approach to the kitchen, you'll be inspired to make dumplings a regular for weeknight meals and a star at your next dinner party.

Best Food Writing 2015


Holly Hughes - 2015
    Edge, Jonathan Gold, Francis Lam, Ruth Reichl, Calvin Trillin, Alice Waters. These are just some of the celebrated writers and foodies whose work has appeared in Best Food Writing over the past fifteen years. Whether written by an established journalist or an up-and-coming blogger, the essays offered in each edition represent the cream of that year's crop in food writing. And 2015 promises to uphold the same high standards with a dynamic mix of writers offering provocative journalism, intriguing profiles, moving memoir, and more.

The Community Table: Recipes Stories from the Jewish Community Center in Manhattan Beyond


Katja Goldman - 2015
    The buildings are hives of activity; at any given moment, hundreds of people of all ages, backgrounds, interests, and opinions gather to engage in a myriad of activities. And nothing says community more than food.While sitting down to enjoy a meal together is undeniably bonding, working together to prepare it is even more so. Now, three chefs who are longstanding members of the JCC Manhattan share classic recipes such as Weekly Challah, Latkes Four Ways, and Pumpkin Rugelach, plus an inspiring selection of contemporary dishes with a farm-to-table emphasis and international flavors: Fig and Fennel Bread, Iraqi Lamb Burgers, Brussels Sprouts with Pomegranate and Citrus Glaze, and much more. Holiday menu suggestions and a complete chart grouping recipes by dietary restriction (meat, pareve, dairy) are included as well.With anecdotal contributions from JCCs all around the country, this cookbook highlights the JCC's vibrant, eclectic community-and celebrates all of its many flavors.

Spiralizer Recipe Book: Spiralizer Recipes for Weight Loss, Detox, Anti-Aging & So Much More!


Stephanie Shaw - 2015
    That’s why you bought a Spiralizer. To help you easily create delicious meals and encourage a healthy lifestyle in your household. Make the most of this powerful new tool by equipping yourself with a few easy-to-follow recipes. In my long-awaited second book, I walk you through 60 detailed, easy-to-follow recipes for promoting a healthy lifestyle for you and your family.You’ll quickly discover how easy it is to add new, inspired twists to your existing recipes. You’ll also learn how to properly select vegetables and use them with your Spiralizer to create meals that are as beautiful as they are delicious.Included in my book are 60 delicious recipes to help you prepare healthy food your family will love. Including:- Specially-designed Spiralized recipes that children love!- Quick, easy Spiralized salad recipes for radiant skin.- Tasty recipe ideas to promote healthy weight loss.- 10 gluten-free recipes using powerful anti-inflammatory ingredients.- Heart-healthy recipes with Spiralized vegetables.- Delicious salad recipes with anti-aging properties.Each recipe comes bundled with a full ingredients list, step-by-step instructions, and detailed nutritional information. You’ll also find information about the specific health benefits of each ingredient, including how they can help you fight disease and ward off aging.Whether you’ve just embarked on a new gluten-free diet, or if you’re already a veteran paleo chef, use the recipes in my book to encourage healthier eating in your family. It’s easy to add vegetables to any meal with a Spiralizer, once you know how.

Kids Cook French: Les enfants cuisinent a la francaise


Claudine Pépin - 2015
    It gets them interested in making their own meals and better eating habits, while also teaching them the importance of culture. Featuring classic, simple dishes inspired by French cuisine, each recipe is shown in both French and English and accompanied by charming illustrations. With an emphasis on fresh ingredients and hands-on preparation, dishes include traditional starters, main courses, and desserts. Your child's creativity will be sparked, as will your deeper connection with them--so, get them in that kitchen and start playing chef. Who knows - you might have the next great French cuisine Chef standing next to you!"Kids Cook French is a magical introduction to some of the most delicious French classics. With Claudine's recipes, her father's and her daughter's illustrations, this is a book by a family for your family." - Dana Cowin, Editor in Chief, FOOD & WINE"I cannot think of anyone more qualified to write a French cookbook for children than Claudine Pepin! A trusted television personality, accomplished cook, seasoned teacher, and dedicated mom, Claudine has spent her entire life learning from and cooking alongside the most renowned chefs in the world. Complete with countless personal stories, beautiful illustrations by her father and her daughter, and timeless recipes developed with her husband, Kids Cook French is an absolute delight for the whole family and a source of inspiration for aspiring chefs of all ages. Bravo!" - Gail Simmons, TV host and author of Talking With My Mouth Full "If there's one thing I've learned from the French, it's that good cooking is not an end in itself. Rather, it's the crucial thing that brings the family together for a meal at the end of every day - and nothing's more important than that. Claudine Pepin, Jacques's daughter, was schooled in this lesson from birth. Now she is paying it forward. Simply but clearly written, and vivid with illustrations that recall the "Madeleine" books, "Kids Cook French" is seductive. If anyone can tempt kids away from nuggets and pizza, into the kitchen, and on to the dinner table, it's Claudine." - Sara Moulton of Sara's Weeknight Meals"My dear friends, Claudine and her father Jacques Pépin, have taught America to love French cooking. Now, with this very special book, these two amazing storytellers have shared their passion for family, fun and good food with a new generation of cooks. Claudine's recipes open a window into the flavors of France, and Jacques astonishing drawings will inspire children to be hungry for more!" - Jose Andres, internationally acclaimed chef, author, educator, and owner of ThinkFoodGroup

Lucky Peach: Issue 14


David Chang - 2015
    Each issue focuses on a single theme, and explores that theme through essays, art, photography, and recipes.

Southern Provisions: The Creation and Revival of a Cuisine


David S. Shields - 2015
    From creamy grits to simmering pots of beans and greens, we think we know how these classic foods should taste. Yet the southern food we eat today tastes almost nothing like the dishes our ancestors enjoyed, because the varied crops and livestock that originally defined this cuisine have largely disappeared. Now a growing movement of chefs and farmers is seeking to change that by recovering the rich flavor and diversity of southern food. At the center of that movement is historian David S. Shields, who has spent over a decade researching early American agricultural and cooking practices.  In Southern Provisions, he reveals how the true ingredients of southern cooking have been all but forgotten and how the lessons of its current restoration and recultivation can be applied to other regional foodways. Shields’s turf is the southern Lowcountry, from the peanut patches of Wilmington, North Carolina to the sugarcane fields of the Georgia Sea Islands and the citrus groves of Amelia Island, Florida. He takes us on a historical excursion to this region, drawing connections among plants, farms, growers, seed brokers, vendors, cooks, and consumers over time. Shields begins by looking at how professional chefs during the nineteenth century set standards of taste that elevated southern cooking to the level of cuisine. He then turns to the role of food markets in creating demand for ingredients and enabling conversation between producers and preparers. Next, his focus shifts to the field, showing how the key ingredients—rice, sugarcane, sorghum, benne, cottonseed, peanuts, and citrus—emerged and went on to play a significant role in commerce and consumption. Shields concludes with a look at the challenges of reclaiming both farming and cooking traditions. From Carolina Gold rice to white flint corn, the ingredients of authentic southern cooking are returning to fields and dinner plates, and with Shields as our guide, we can satisfy our hunger both for the most flavorful regional dishes and their history.

The Laws of Cooking: And How to Break Them


Justin Warner - 2015
    . . and How to Break Them encourages improvisation and play, while explaining Justin Warner's unique ideas about "flavor theory"-like color theory, but for your tongue. By introducing eleven laws based on familiar foods (e.g., "The Law of Peanut Butter and Jelly"; "The Law of Coffee, Cream, and Sugar"), the book will teach you why certain flavors combine brilliantly, and then show how these combinations work in 110 more complex and inventive recipes (Tomato Soup with "Grilled Cheese" Ravioli; Scallops with Black Sesame and Cherry). At the end of every recipe, Justin "breaks the law" by adding a seemingly discordant flavor that takes the combination to a new level.

Zora Neale Hurston on Florida Food: Recipes, Remedies & Simple Pleasures


Frederick Douglass Opie - 2015
    Hurston did for Florida what William Faulkner did for Mississippi - provided insight into a state's history and culture through various styles of writing. Her collected food stories, folklore and remedies, and the related recipes food professor Fred Opie pairs with them, are essential reading for those who love to cook and eat.

Battersby: Extraordinary Food from an Ordinary Kitchen


Joseph Ogrodnek - 2015
    To pull off world-class food in such tight quarters, they have developed systems of organization founded on a roster of dishes that are largely prepared in advance (sometimes days in advance) and finished just before serving. And that is how they have organized their first cookbook: each recipe is divided into "to prep" and "to serve" instructions. And the recipes--from Crispy Kale Salad with Brussels Sprouts and Kohlrabi to Duck Breast with Quince and Radishes, from Corn Soup with Shrimp to Apricots with Honey and Sweet Ricotta--will make your meals memorable!

The Chickpea Flour Cookbook: Healthy Gluten-Free and Grain-Free Recipes to Power Every Meal of the Day


Camilla V. Saulsbury - 2015
    Exceptionally high in protein, fiber, and iron, and gluten-free, grain-free, and low-glycemic, chickpea flour is the total package. The Chickpea Flour Cookbook is your go-to resource for using this tremendously versatile and nutritious pantry staple. Chickpea flour also known as garbanzo bean flour, besan, and gram flour is simply dried chickpeas ground into a fine flour ready to be incorporated into any number of savory and sweet recipes. Used for centuries in Mediterranean, Indian, and Southeast Asian cooking, chickpea flour is no passing fad. It s all-natural and incredibly easy to use, no gums or starches necessary. Nut-free and soy-free to boot, chickpea flour is a high fiber carbohydrate that doesn t spike blood sugar levels. Its numerous health benefits make it ideal for a wide range of special diets. Better yet, chickpea flour is affordable a fraction of the cost of other pricey grain-free flours out there. The Chickpea Flour Cookbook has over 80 delicious, healthy, easy-to-make recipes to power every meal of the day, including: Loaded Southwestern Chickpea Omelet (egg-free), Pumpkin Spice Waffles, Brown Sugar Banana Bread, Chickpea Tortilla Wraps, Carrot-Sesame Crackers, Sweet Chile-Garlic Crisps, Chickpea Pasta, Baked Coconut-Chickpea Onion Rings, Pumpkin-Sage Gnocchi, Smoky Backyard BBQ Burgers, Skillet Pizza, Sweet Potato Falafel, Double Chocolate Cake, Molasses Spice Cookies, Brown-Butter Blondies, and much, much more. With The Chickpea Flour Cookbook, clean eating has never been simpler or easier. Beloved treats get a huge nutritional boost without sacrificing flavor or texture. In addition to being gluten-free, all of the recipes are free of nuts, grains, and soy, and the vast majority of recipes in the collection are either naturally vegan (dairy- and egg-free) or include vegan options, making this cookbook accessible to everyone."

The Periodic Table of Wine


Sarah Rowlands - 2015
    The foundation of the book is a periodic table designed to give a visual overview of how different styles of the world’s wines relate to one another. Beginning with white wines in columns on the left, the table then highlights rosé in the middle, and then reds in the columns on the right. The rows, running from top to bottom, are organized by quality of flavor—fruit and spice, green and mineral, sweet, etc. If you like one “element” or wine type in the table, you can discover other examples situated around it you might also enjoy. The book also offers substantial descriptions of the 127 “elements,” or wines, each of which includes a full background and, frequently, food pairings. The book will be published with a companion volume, The Periodic Table of Cocktails.

Taking the Heat: Women Chefs and Gender Inequality in the Professional Kitchen


Deborah A. Harris - 2015
    While media suggest that the occupation is undergoing a transformation, one thing remains clear: being a chef is a decidedly male-dominated job. Over the past six years, the prestigious James Beard Foundation has presented 84 awards for excellence as a chef, but only 19 were given to women. Likewise, Food and Wine magazine has recognized the talent of 110 chefs on its annual “Best New Chef” list since 2000, and to date, only 16 women have been included. How is it that women—the gender most associated with cooking—have lagged behind men in this occupation? Taking the Heat examines how the world of professional chefs is gendered, what conditions have led to this gender segregation, and how women chefs feel about their work in relation to men. Tracing the historical evolution of the profession and analyzing over two thousand examples of chef profiles and restaurant reviews, as well as in-depth interviews with thirty-three women chefs, Deborah A. Harris and Patti Giuffre reveal a great irony between the present realities of the culinary profession and the traditional, cultural associations of cooking and gender. Since occupations filled with women are often culturally and economically devalued, male members exclude women to enhance the job’s legitimacy. For women chefs, these professional obstacles and other challenges, such as how to balance work and family, ultimately push some of the women out of the career.  Although female chefs may be outsiders in many professional kitchens, the participants in Taking the Heat recount advantages that women chefs offer their workplaces and strengths that Harris and Giuffre argue can help offer women chefs—and women in other male-dominated occupations—opportunities for greater representation within their fields. Click here to access the Taking the Heat teaching guide (http://rutgerspress.rutgers.edu/pages...).

Staten Italy: Nothin' but the Best Italian-American Classics, from Our Block to Yours


Francis Garcia - 2015
    Authors Fran and Sal are two regular guys from the neighborhood, cousins and best friends, whose DNA reads garlic and oil (they're fifth generation in the food business) and whose six hugely successful restaurants, starting with the legendary Artichoke Pizza, have impressed critics, fellow chefs, and chowhounds alike. They have written a book celebrating big flavor, along with loving (and hilarious) family stories, and rooted in the great Italian-American tradition, handed down through the generations. The recipes are unfussy...simple and fast for school nights, fancier for weekends and holidays and offer readers a transporting, full-bodied take-away, rather than just a book about spaghetti and meatballs. Here you will find Eggs Pizziaola, Pork Cutlets with Hot Peppers and Vinegar, their famous Cauliflower Fritters, and many more authentic dishes served up with gusto.

Savoring Gotham: A Food Lover's Companion to New York City


Andrew F. Smith - 2015
    The Big Apple--a telling nickname--is the city of 50,000 eateries, of fish wriggling in Chinatown baskets, huge pastrami sandwiches on rye, fizzy egg creams, and frosted black and whites. It is home to possibly thedensest concentration of ethnic and regional food establishments in the world, from German and Jewish delis to Greek diners, Brazilian steakhouses, Puerto Rican and Dominican bodegas, halal food carts, Irish pubs, Little Italy, and two Koreatowns (Flushing and Manhattan). This is the city where, ifyou choose to have Thai for dinner, you might also choose exactly which region of Thailand you wish to dine in.Savoring Gotham weaves the full tapestry of the city's rich gastronomy in nearly 570 accessible, informative A-to-Z entries. Written by nearly 180 of the most notable food experts-most of them New Yorkers--Savoring Gotham addresses the food, people, places, and institutions that have made New Yorkcuisine so wildly diverse and immensely appealing. Reach only a little ways back into the city's ever-changing culinary kaleidoscope and discover automats, the precursor to fast food restaurants, where diners in a hurry dropped nickels into slots to unlock their premade meal of choice. Or travel tothe nineteenth century, when oysters cost a few cents and were pulled by the bucketful from the Hudson River. Back then the city was one of the major centers of sugar refining, and of brewing, too--48 breweries once existed in Brooklyn alone, accounting for roughly 10% of all the beer brewed in theUnited States. Travel further back still and learn of the Native Americans who arrived in the area 5,000 years before New York was New York, and who planted the maize, squash, and beans that European and other settlers to the New World embraced centuries later.Savoring Gotham covers New York's culinary history, but also some of the most recognizable restaurants, eateries, and culinary personalities today. And it delves into more esoteric culinary realities, such as urban farming, beekeeping, the Three Martini Lunch and the Power Lunch, and novels, movies, and paintings that memorably depict Gotham's foodscapes. From hot dog stands to haute cuisine, each borough is represented. A foreword by Brooklyn Brewery Brewmaster Garrett Oliver and an extensive bibliography round out this sweeping new collection.

The Outdoor Table: The Ultimate Cookbook for Your Next Backyard BBQ, Front-Porch Meal, Tailgate, or Picnic


April McKinney - 2015
     When most people say they are going out to eat, they usually mean out to a restaurant. But it could mean a front porch brunch with your closest friends; a nighttime concert in the park; a tailgate party at the stadium; a moonlit dinner at the drive-in movie theater; or a picnic at a vineyard. Whether at a planned event or just an impromptu cookout in the backyard with your friends and neighbors, The Outdoor Table is your guide to creating portable dishes that you can prepare ahead of time and serve cold or at room temperature when you get to your destination that your family and friends will love. It’s time to pack a picnic and start making memories.