Customer Reviews

The Brooklyn Cookbook (Knopf Cooks American)

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

In addition to the fact that the recipes work and are delicious, the best thing about this book was that it traced the ethnic roots of the many diverse cultures that made Brooklyn a true melting pot. I grew up in Fort Greene/Clinton Hill and that book brought me back home for a little while longer. Reading the stories that accompanied each of the recipes, I was again transported to the experiences and landmarks of my childhood and that of my parents - football weddings, the Botanical Garden, Junior's, Jahn's Ice Cream Parlor,Ebinger's Bakery, Bamonte's Restaurant, the Garden Room at Abraham and Straus, weekend picnics at Crestwood Lake. I could almost hear Aunt Jennie and my mother arguing over whose cooking most closely resembled their mother's (it was my mother,although Aunt Jennie wielded a mean fusilli rod!!) More importantly, I found myself immersed again in the sense of family and community that are my home borough - a sense that transcends every ethnic background. It was fun, poignant and tasty! I have given this book to friends as gifts over the past few years and everyone loved it. Only one criticism. In the section on Cammereri's Bakery, with the references to the movie Moonstruck, Gilberto Godoy (the real life bakery owner), did not play Ronnie Cammereri. Nicolas Cage played Ronnie, one of the starring roles. Given the popularity of the movie,that was probably the one item that should have been absolutely correct.

My youth was spent in Cleveland, Ohio with excellent family cooks that made their own noodles, doughnuts, Christmas cookies, and superb roast pork-sauerkraut dinners. When, as a cook book collector, I began reading this book, I was transferred to the melting pot of America, back to my French/German background of cooking traditions. When I would "come up for air", I was almost sad to return to my present day setting as the Brooklyn neighborhoods and traditions warmed my heart. This is a beautiful slice of another part of the ethnic mix of America when people shared customs with their children. I wanted to move to Brooklyn back to those days as beautifully delineated in the Brooklyn Cookbook. Most of the recipes are ridiculous, like the thought of hanging something in a cheesecloth off the back porch. It's a history book filled with love and amazing, old-fashioned recipes. We'd never make them today so don't buy it strictly for the recipes!It's Brooklyn during a lovely time in America, and I would love to have been there! (Wonderful for a holiday read!) Madge Bruner

This is a wonderful book, especially for any babyboomer who originally hails from Brooklyn or even just the New York City area. The stories are heartwarming and paired with marvelous photos that capture the essence of Brooklyn culture from the 40s through the 80s. Some of these recipes are right out of my childhood and food that I haven't thought of in years. Although many of the recipes are not compatible with today's more health conscious cooking, they are wonderful to try once in a while for a treat. It's a comfort just to have this book around.

I found this book above the stove at the Eastern Parkway home of my youngish stepmother. Oh what a joy! Lots of good recipes but even better is the detailed description of every ethnic group to have entered Brooklyn (starting with the Canarsee Native Americans), even MY people the Swedes (and the Finns and the Norwegians) - who knew? It's all fast and somewhat superficial (there is so much to cover), but the recipes all look interesting - the majority are Italian and Jewish of course - but so much else. I'm online now to buy the book for my best friend for her birthday.

My youth was spent in Cleveland, Ohio with excellent family cooks that made their own noodles, doughnuts, Christmas cookies, and superb roast pork-sauerkraut dinners. When, as a cook book collector, I began reading this book, I was transferred to the melting pot of America, back to my French/German background of cooking traditions. When I would "come up for air", I was almost sad to return to my present day setting as the Brooklyn neighborhoods and traditions warmed my heart. This is a beautiful slice of another part of the ethnic mix of America when people shared customs with their children. I wanted to move to Brooklyn back to those days as beautifully delineated in the Brooklyn Cookbook. Most of the recipes are ridiculous, like the thought of hanging something in a cheesecloth off the back porch made me appreciate my family culiunary traditions.It's a history book filled with love and amazing, old-fashioned recipes. We'd never make them today so don't buy it strictly for the recipes!It's Brooklyn during a lovely time in America, and I would love to have been there! Madge Bruner

This is a fantastic book about Brooklyn well-known places and a good cookbook, especially for former and present Brooklynites! My relatives and friends from Brooklyn all want to purchase a copy.!

Weather or not you have a connection to Brooklyn (63.4% do) you will find this cookbook both useful and interesting. A wonderful tour of the borough and its diverse population, each recipe comes with its own story of origin. In effect this book becomes an oral history of the place filtered through the various ethnic foods that make up the character of the people who moved here. Just as importantly, I find myself making use of the recipes and have found that this is one of my go-to cookbooks. I highly recommend this book.

This book has the most fabulous,genuine ethnic specialties, and it is a real window into the heart and soul of these cultures that inhabit Brooklyn. Make sure that the book you purchase is a second edition or later, at least that is the word.

I loved this cookbook! It not only has the recipe for Lundy's famous Manhattan clam chowder, it also tells about Fox's U-bet Syrup, the Dodgers, Flatbush, the old Flatbush & Kings Highway cafeterias, Ba-Tempte pickles,Coney Island, Sheepshead Bay & much more....Detailed stories & recipies of all the neighborhoods from Williamsburg to Mill Basin....Many ethnicities & recipes for many of their foods: Irish, Italian, Polish, German, Jewish. Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful! It covers the decades from the 1940s through the 1970s and would be esecially fun for folks who are baby boomers, like myself. Brought back many memories and I've tried many of the recipes -- they still work and are very good. Bravo!! A very good cookbook and a very interesting history of Brooklyn. Highly recommended Book.

One of the best books cookbook or otherwise I have bought in a very long time. I read it cover to cover and enjoyed every page.
I grew up in Queens, the other boroughs need to get with it and create their own cookbooks. Pictures, stories and great recipes.