Customer Reviews

Hidden Kitchens: Stories, Recipes and More from NPR's The Kitchen Sisters

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
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This was a membership gift from NPR. I thought, of all my choices, it would be most interesting. I'm glad that I didn't buy it. The book focuses more on the narratives of the different cooks in unlikely places than on the recipes that they use. All of the stories are excellent reminders that all people love food, and that we are quite clever in inserting good food in our daily life, wherever that might be. The most inspiring to me was the first story of the homeless and nearly homeless who use the George Foreman grill on the streets or in SRO hotels where cooking is forbidden. This is contrasted with Foreman's life as a child, where hunger was a constant presence. I am sure that I will try some of the recipes, but cannot recommend the book unless you like The Hidden Kitchens on NPR, which I had never heard of until now.

Someone has said that a kitchen is the heart of a home - it's certainly the heart of this delightful audio book splendidly read by Academy Award winning actress Frances McDormand. Few who saw "Fargo" will forget her command of the screen; few who listen to "Hidden Kitchens" will not be enchanted by her command of the stories, whether they're funny, moving or absurd.

Renowned chef Alice Waters contributes a special commentary in which she notes: "The curious and wonderful thing about the stories in this book is how much they resemble good things to eat. They can be surprising and they can be reassuringly familiar and they can be comforting and they can be outrageous."

How true!

The audio is taken in part from NPR's Hidden Kitchen Hotline, which hundreds of listeners have called with a plethora of messages regarding recipes, kitchen happenings, and cooking successes and failures. There is also a good deal of new material which Nelson and Silva have gathered from a variety of sources.

Listeners will be amazed to hear of the doings in a San Francisco cab yard, or by the lakes of Minnesota, or in a NASCAR kitchen paralleling a race track. And, there's more.

"Hidden Kitchens" is pure delight.

- Gail Cooke

A selection of quirky pieces. Most are phone message left for the kitchen sisters. Some good, some just ramble on and on. I am a fan of the show so I was expecting more.

Heard HIDDEN KITCHEN (Macmillan Audio), written by Davia Nelson and Nikkii Silva--aka "The Kitchen Sisters."

These two women took much of the material in this book from NPR's Hidden Kitchen Hotline . . . this was a place where hundreds of listeners called with messages regarding recipes and kitchen happenings, as well as cooking successes and failures. There's also new material that the authors assembled from a variety of sources.

Many of the short stories were quirky and often interesting . . . some were quite moving; in particular, wherein I learned how the George Foreman grill was used as a kitchen in a homeless shelter . . . also of interest: the tale of a makeshift kitchen crammed in the racing pits of NASCAR.

I also liked the accompany brief pieces of music and, also, Frances McDormand's excellent narration . . . my only criticism has to do with the fact that I could have done without the telephone beeps and recorded messages that could have easily been edited out.

I had heard an interview with the authors on NPR and decided I had to read the entire book. It's terrific, and full of places and people you'd like to visit -- and many are still in existence and you really could visit today. With the news intent on telling only awful and terrifying stories of humankind, this book is a must read alternative-- You'll be so proud of the human race, and want to participate more. Could be a textbook resource for high school U.S. History too.

What makes this a fun book to read -- and a great gift idea -- are the stories about all the unexpected places & methods people have set up as cooking facilities. Some of the anecdotes are amusing, or provide a glimpse into a lifestyle that we are unlikely to experience in person (the chef on the Great Lakes freighter) - while other stories tug at one's emotions (the George Foreman Grill & SRO homeless shelter rooms, especially) ... It is a pleasure to add this book to our library of armchair travels.

Although I bought this book for myself, I think it would make an ideal Christmas gift, as long as your recepient likes recipes and poignant stories about homeless people using the george forman grill to cook with. Because I spent under a nickle for the book, I cannot think of a better Christmas value.

Recipes pepper Hidden Kitchens: Stories, Recipes, and More from NPR's The Kitchen Sisters, but Hidden Kitchens is more than just the chronicle of the beloved National Public Radio Morning Edition series. As part of the Hidden Kitchen project, two women called The Kitchen Sisters put forth an NPR hotline and asked listeners, "What food traditions are disappearing from your life? Who glues your community together through food? What should be captured and documented before it disappears or changes beyond recognition?" The response came like an avalanche. Hundreds of humorous, profound, wistful, and heart-rending true stories were submitted; the best of them are presented in Hidden Kitchens, along with recipes, color photographs, and illustrations. From food in the galleys of Great Lakes ships to a secret civil rights kitchen in Montgomery, Alabama, the stories Hidden Kitchens all have in common the zest to create great food, and through taste, help human beings connect with one another. Highly recommended.

Well it finally arrived... after Christmas. It was a little disappointing that it took so long. Had to buy another gift at the last minute to cover for the tardy one.

Because you're going to want to take off immediately for a trip that will cram in as many Hidden Kitchens as possible. A fantastic idea, thoughtfully and intelligently written. I loved it!