Blue Plate Special: The American Diner Cookbook [Paperback]

Elizabeth McKeon (Author), Linda Everett (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1996

With a surge in fascination with Americana and a nostalgia for simpler times, a once vanishing treasure is finding its way back into the popular culture and back onto the roadsides of the country. Their names once tempted customers with a little magic to go along with a meal—the Miss Albany, the Mayfair, Webbies, the Night Owl. Now their warmth and great food draw us toward a grand dining adventure. Indeed, the American roadside diner is a place like no other, with excellent service, reasonable prices, and conversation as plentiful as the coffee.

The story of the diner began more than 100 years ago when coffee and sandwiches were first served from the back of a horse-drawn lunch wagon in Providence, Rhode Island. Slowly these roadside treasures evolved into the stainless steel railroad cars that are now associated with diners. While their popularity declined in the 1960s as fast-food chains became popular, today they are gaining in favor as more people want the personal touch present in a homey environment.

The American Diner Cookbook contains more than 450 recipes for delicious foods that can be found on diner menus nationwide. Interviews with owners and others who have worked in diners and more than 100 black-and-white photographs appear throughout.

--This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

ELIZABETH MCKEON is the author of Fit for a King®: The Elvis Presley Cookbook, Cinema Under the Stars, and numerous other books. LINDA EVERETT is a writer and researcher who provides photography services to writers and publishers. She lives near Ocean Park, Washington. Both authors have also collaborated on The Quotable King, a collection of Elvis Presley quotations. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 226 pages
• Publisher: Cumberland House Publishing (October 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1888952016
• ISBN-13: 978-1888952018
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 8 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #801,370 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

47 of 47 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Diner experience - at home, May 30, 2003

By 

Harold McFarland (Florida) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: American Diner Cookbook: More Than 450 Recipes and Nostalgia Galore (Paperback)

If you are looking for recipes that contain wheat sprouts and tofu you won't find them here. On the other hand, if you are looking for those wonderful, delectable foods served by diners all over America in the forties or fifties you will find them.

"The American Diner" has everything from diner classics like the Monte Cristo Sandwich (two recipes) to French Onion Soup and everything in between. Other common diner recipes include omelets, Delmonico potatoes, chili, baked beans, barbecue beans, Reuben sandwich, chili-burgers, maple barbeque spareribs, Santa Fe chicken, beef stew, Hungarian goulash, sauerbraten, shepherd's pie, and chicken and dumplings. Of course it also has popular desserts like apple spice cake, Black Forest cake, apple crisp, cheesecake.

While there are not a lot of cookbooks that specialize in recipes from American diners, there are a few. That brings us to the question of what makes this book different from the others and why should you prefer it? The answer to that is easy. Not only does it have more recipes than most but it also includes a section on the traditional diner fountain. This is one of the things that I remember most about diners when I grew up and the recipes are here. Fountain specialties include favorites like the Black Cow, Black Jack, and Chocolate-Peanut Butter Milk Shake. Included are the recipes to make the syrups for the fountain specialties. Try one of my favorites, make the orange syrup and then make a wonderful Orange Cream Milk Shake.

This is a highly recommended read for anyone wanting to bring home the taste of the American diner.

27 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars true americana cooking, hometown cooking at its best!, September 17, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Blue Plate Special: The American Diner Cookbook (Paperback)

This is a truely complete cookbook right down to making your own ketchup. The reciepes cover the full gambut of the american roadside diner fare, everything you can think of in home style food is there. It takes you back to being a kid again with your folks going on a vacation and eating at those great roadside eateries of the fifties and sixties. A must have for every cook to have in your library of cookbooks.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A welcome addition to any kitchen cookbook collection, March 8, 2003

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: American Diner Cookbook: More Than 450 Recipes and Nostalgia Galore (Paperback)

The roadside diner was once a fixture of American popular culture and to be found in almost every community. A place where good food, reasonable prices, friendly service, and great conversation all came together. In The American Diner Cookbook, Elizabeth McKeon and Linda Everett collaborate to present more than 450 recipes for dishes that were the staple of the diner era. From Hush Puppies; Roadside Chili; Sea Captain's Chowder; and Mushroom Burgers; to Veal Parmesan; Chicken & Dumplings; Sloppy Joes; and Chocolate Chiffon Pie, The American Diner Cookbook is a nostalgic and welcome addition to any kitchen cookbook collection, which features the added bonus of numerous historic black and white photos.