Customer Reviews

The Messy Gourmet Cookbook: Fun, Adventurous Cooking

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

 

 

I have a large collection of cookbooks, but this book has rapidly become my favorite. Instead of being the usual dry collection of precise receipes, this book attempts to make cooking fun. It encourages the reader to experiment with the receipes, to make substitutions, to play with the measurements. In keeping with the spirit of the book, I found myself looking for ways to inject a little of my personality into the dishes I was making.

This is the most fun I've had with pots and pans, since the days when I was first learning how to cook.

This book turns a daily chore into a fun filled self expression catharsis...everything about cooking and eating is sexy, intimate, full of self expression, and a great way to tell someone special that they are. Whatever your tastes, this cookbook has got what it takes to entertain you into preparing a meal, and then ease the task of cleaning up. Whimsically written, illustrated and organized, it satisfies: scratching that nice itch of hunger...in just the right spot. Spot did I say? Well, plenty of ways to oust that spot too as each recipe comes with instructions to undo that little 'whoops' that occurred when you were entwined in an intimate feeding experience, all flavored with must read anecdotes and little known food facts. Interested in why hot peppers taste hot? What foods can be healers? How to prepare Spam? You name it, it's in here...and...er...tastefully done. It's a must have for Mothers Day, or Fathers Day for that matter. Even a grad who will be moving out for the first time will appreciate how to remove the evening's cooking from the sofa...

If I could include graphics, I would rate this with 5 Ms. Pacman instead of stars. Whaa-uuh whaa-uuh

td

So I must confess, I have not read the book, because I don't cook much. BUT, I know the author, Sharon Kroo, as she came on a weeklong trip that I ran about 6 years ago out in Southern Utah. She does not know that I am writing this review, and I found out about this book quite by accident.

All I can say is that this woman put together incredible dishes with the bizzare and somewhat random assortment of foods that we were able to get in middle of nowhere. Everything was so unbelievably tasty - my group was quite lucky to have had her take over the reins in the kitchen.
So while I can't quite comment on the book, I can say that the author is the real deal - a talented woman who has wonderfully unique recipes and ideas for having fun while cooking.

Cooking is about having more fun while preparing food. When you're entertaining guests at your dinner table, they shouldn't be the only ones being entertained. "Messy Gourmet" isn't just a list of recipes, but a whole attitude and approach to enjoying the process of preparation, experimentation, exploration and presentation.

I am one of the contributors to both the book and the web site, so my opinion is not wholly unbiased. For any of you who are curious but not yet convinced enough to plunk down your hard-earned cash for the Messy Gourmet book, I suggest you take a look at the MessyGourmet.com web site. If what you find there interests you, then I heartily encourage you to consider the book as well.