James Beard's Simple Foods [Hardcover]

James Beard (Author), Hal Kendig (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1993

In the early 1970's, James Beard was approached by "American Way", American Airlines' in-flight magazine, to write a monthly column in the form of a series of cooking lessons. He agreed, and ended up writing 70 columns for the magazine, collected in book form for the first time in "James Beard's Simple Foods". Loosely organized under the headings "Beard's Basics", "Preparing and Cooking, A to Z", and "Holiday Specials", this book ranges in topic from understanding meat cuts and tips on outdoor grilling, to an assortment of fruit cobbler recipes and instructions for making sausage, all written in the style for which James Beard was best known.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Throughout the mid-1970s, the late Beard wrote a monthly column for American Airlines' in-flight magazine, American Way. The columns, designed as cooking lessons, have not been gathered together until now--so here is an unexpected treat for Beard's many, many fans. He begins with the basics: knives, the difference between a simmer and boil, and, to start it all off, "Good Cooking Is in Your Hands." Then there are columns on ingredients and techniques, followed by "holiday specials." Each one includes a menu so even the novice could prepare a meal of stuffed pork chops and a classic ratatouille some ten pages into the book. Beard's wonderfully descriptive prose gives a sense of immediacy to the text, and his remarks remain as timely today as when they were written. An essential purchase. Previewed in Prepub Alert, LJ 1/93; Homestyle Books alternate.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 272 pages
• Publisher: Macmillan Pub Co (May 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0025080709
• ISBN-13: 978-0025080706
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.2 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,020,103 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful Essays for anyone who cooks or wants to, November 12, 2008

By 

RT Booklover (Millwood VA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: James Beard's Simple Foods (Hardcover)

The thing I love about this collection of essays about foods and cooking is that it doesn't just report recipes. It talks about techniques, ingredients, cooking tools in a very friendly and informative way. It is a pleasure to read and it encourages experimentation. In explaining both the essentials and variations on the topics & dishes covered, James Beard gives you the confidence to make dishes your own. It is more than a cook book.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The is a wonderful book, one of my favorites, July 3, 2008

By 

Katherine in New York - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: James Beard's Simple Foods (Paperback)

This is a wonderful cookbook, one of my all-time favorites. It's written in easy to read, easy to do, prose in which Beard walks you through the fundamentals of fabulous crepes, roast chicken and other basics. It's talky and much more detailed [...]

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great book, December 15, 2010

By 

Mayuchico "mayuchico" (Southern California) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: James Beard's Simple Foods (Paperback)

I happened to pick up this book at a library. I didn't expect much, but fell in love with it. I could not put it down. I was even sad toward the end because I didn't want to finish it! It is not easy to find a book like that nowadays. You can tell how much he loved food and to eat. After I returned it, I purchased a copy for my book shelf.