Great+books+about+food


 * Great Books About Food: Read and Recommended by WWW Cooking In Cairo Participants**

The author remembers life growing up in Cairo's Garden City in the 1930s and 40s. Her exuberant, food-loving family provides comfort and love after her father's death and her subsequent abandonment by a flighty socialite mother. Wonderful recipes and a charming evocation of a lost Egypt. (CAC Library / book is on order) Recommended by Ms Phillips*
 * Apricots on the Nile: a memoir with recipes** by Colette Rossant

Sequel to Apricots on the Nile. Following WW II fourteen year-old Colette returns to live with her grandmother in Paris. Once again, her love of food sustains her in difficult times. Later she falls in love with a dashing young American - much to the dismay of her family. Recommended by Ms Phillips*
 * Return to Paris: A memoir** by Colette Rossant

The author chronicles her coming-of-age by retelling the stories about herself and her crazy family that she heard while at her mother's kitchen table when she was a child. (CAC Library / 641.5092 / REI) Recommended by Astrid
 * Tender at the bone: growing up at the table** by Ruth Reichl

This continuation of Ruth Reichl's story focuses on her early married years living in a commune in San Francisco. She works as a chef and then a restaurant critic. Great recipes included. (CAC Library / 641.5092 / REI)
 * Comfort me with apples: more adventures at the table** by Ruth Reichl

Now the food critic for "The New York Times," Reichl tells of her adventures adopting different disguises and personas in order to get a true picture of the restaurants she reviewed, and includes some of her most notable reviews, as well as a selection of favorite recipes. (CAC Library / 641.5092 / REI) Recommended by Farida
 * Garlic and sapphires: the secret life of a critic in disguise** by Ruth Reichl

Presents the author's first-hand account of her culinary adventure as she attempts to prepare all 524 recipes in Julia Child's "Mastering the Art of French Cooking" in 365 days. The book was made into a popular movie starring Meryl Streep. (CAC Library / 641.5092 / POW)
 * Julie and Julia: 365 days, 524 recipes, 1 tiny apartment kitchen: how one girl risked her marriage, her job, and her sanity to master the art of living** by Julie Powell

The author tells how she and her family moved to southern Appalachia in order to live a simpler life, grow their own food, and live among a community of local organic growers. Commentary and opinion added by the author's teenage daughter. Book includes excellent recipes. (CAC Library / 641 / KIN)
 * Animal, vegetable, miracle: a year of food life** by Barbara Kingsolver

Presents over eight hundred recipes for traditional Middle Eastern cooking, covering every course from appetizers to drinks and sherbets. The book includes discussion of flavorings, aromatics, condiments, and oils, as well as history and stories related to food. (CAC Library / 641.5956 / ROD) Recommended by Ms Phillips*
 * The new book of Middle Eastern food** by Claudia Roden

Author presents 150 recipes from Morocco, Turkey, and Lebanon adapted for the modern home cook. She includes stories, commentary on food history, and her own observations. (CAC Library / 641.5956 / ROD)
 * Arabesque: a taste of Morocco, Turkey, and Lebanon** by Claudia Roden

Chef Bayless and his teenage daughter, Lanie, present over one hundred recipes from Mexico, Peru, France, Ireland, Italy, Spain, Morocco, Thailand, Japan, and Hong Kong as well as Oklahoma, along with tips, comments, and anecdotes. (CAC Library / 641.59 / BAY)
 * Rick and Lanie's excellent kitchen adventure** by Rick and Lanie Bayless

Beautiful, mysterious Vianne Rocher and her young daughter arrive in a small village at the start of the Lenten season and Vianne sets up a chocolate shop, much to the chagrin of the local priest. (CAC Library / PB / Harris) Recommended by Valentina * Recommended by Alex*
 * Chocolat: a novel** by Joanne Harris

A romantic and poignant tale of love and family life in turn-of-the-century Mexico. (CAC Library / F / Esquivel) Recommended by Mariam*
 * Like water for chocolate: a novel in monthly installments, with recipes, romances, and home remedies** by Laura Esquivel

The author chronicles her life in upstate New York and in Jordan, using the dishes her Jordanian father cooked to weave together her most memorable moments and the defining events in her life. (CAC Library / 810.9 / ABU) Recommended by Mariam*
 * The language of baklava** by Diane Abu-Jaber.

The author draws on memories of favorite foods while tracing her childhood in India. Joffrey describes her love of family history and includes more then thirty recipes from her childhood. (CAC Library / 641.5092 / JAF)
 * Climbing the mango trees: a memoir of a childhood in India** by Madhur Jaffrey

"An American food writer finds solace and love - as well as the most inspiring food she's ever eaten - during a visit to China." (Pub Weekly) Recommended by Walid
 * The Last Chinese chef: a novel** by Nicole Mones

The author describes the joys and oddities of life in Provence where he and his wife restored an old farmhouse and enjoyed the region's food. (CAC Library / 914.4 / MAY) Recommended by MR Trumpold*
 * A year in Provence** by Peter Mayle

This celebrity chef and urban griller has produced several cookbooks that include all the basics of grilling as well as hip and snazzy recipes for meats, fish, vegetables, and more. Recommended by Damian
 * Bobby Flay's Mesa Grill cookbook: explosive flavors from the Southwestern kitchen** by Bobby Flay

This Savannah restaurateur presents recipes from her large extended family in a cookbook with more than 140 dishes and lots of family photos. Recommended by Damian*
 * Paula Deen's the Deen family cookbook** by Paula Deen


 * How I lost my heart to the restaurant business** by Karen Hubert Allison Abandoning life as an art student, Katterina Kittridge embraces her real love, cooking, and eventually opens a wildly successful restaurant. (CAC / F Allison) Recommended by Ms Phillips

When sixteen-year-old Hope and the aunt who has raised her move from Brooklyn to Mulhoney, Wisconsin, to work as waitress and cook in the Welcome Stairways diner, they become involved with the diner owner's political campaign to oust the town's corrupt mayor. (CAC / F Bauer) Recommended by Ms Phillips*
 * Hope was here** by Joan Bauer

Bonnie Wolf, a food commentator for National Public Radio, presents a collection of thoughts about the world of food. She links food to family and growing up, to culture and ethnic identity. Food brings people together, sustains friendships, and enlivens travel. Good writing - often very funny. Recommended by Ms Phillips*
 * Talking with my mouth full: Crab cakes, bundt cakes, and other kitchen stories** by Bonnie Wolf

Plagued by alcoholism and miserable relationships, the author turns her life around with the help of eight famous cooks who help her on her way to health, happiness, and a satisfying life as a writer and as a cook. Severson writes thoughtfully about food and its importance in our lives. Recommended by Ms Phillips*
 * Spoon fed: How eight cooks saved my life** by Kim Severson

In 1929 a young American, Mary Francis Kennedy Fisher, sailed to France where she passionately embraced a whole new world of cooking, eating, drinking, and the pleasures of the table. Fisher shares stories of her life grounded by wonderful meals and fascinating adventures. Recommended by Ms Phillips*
 * The gastronomical me** by M F K Fisher

Written in honor of the 100th anniversary of Mary Francis Kennedy Fisher's birth, the author revisits the many kitchens in America and Europe where Mary Francis cooked. The book is illustrated with family photographs and evocative watercolors. (CAC / 641.5092 / FIS ) Recommended by Ms Phillips*
 * M.F.K. Fisher among the pots and pans: Celebrating her kitchens** by Joan Reardon

Famous cookbook author and television chef Julia Child recounts her life in France just after World War II when her husband Paul, a diplomat, was posted there. She says, "Those early years in France were among the best of my life...I found my true calling, experienced an awakening of the senses, and had such fun that I hardly stopped moving long enough to catch my breath." Recommended by Ms Phillips*
 * My life in France** by Julia Child with Alex Prud'homme

Presents a collection of recipes combined with interesting memories experienced by Maya Angelou over her long literary career. (CAC / 810.9 / ANG)
 * Hallelujah! The welcome table: A lifetime of memories with recipes** by Maya Angelou