Customer Reviews

The Men of the Pacific Street Social Club Cook: Home-Style Recipes and Unforgettable Stories

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This cookbook is fantastic! My mom was Italian, and the recipes here are truly authentic. I loved the format of daily recipes, and I spent a week just following along. The stories are wonderful, it is like having a visit back to my old neighborhood of long ago here in Boston. My special recommendations: Joe Red's Chicken Meatball Soup, Bolognese Sauce, BOTH Pasta Puttenescas, Fried Pepper Wet Sandwich, Italian Cheesecake...OH, HECK...JUST TRY THEM ALL !! You will not be disappointed.

I lived across the street from Our Lady of Loretto and went to school with the author, Gerard Renny. This november, my mom Graziella Tirino one of the last true "die hards" finally moved from Pacific St. The recipes and the stories along with the pictures had me thinking back to the old neighborhood and how much fun we used to have. We didn't have much but we had friends, good food and plenty of it. This book and the wonderful receipes are a part of my past and I look forward to sharing it with family and friends. aka Rosetta

If my mom who came from Italy had written a cook book, it would have had these recipes. The Cavatelli are super and bring me back to my mom's kitchen every time I make them. The marinara sauce so simple and easy has the truest and clearest flavors of any I've made. When I want to be nostalgic, I reach for this cookbook.. not only to cook from but to read also.

I bought this book for my father-in-law who grew up in East New York and loves to cook. He is thrilled with the recipes which he says are simply written and authentic to what he ate growing up there 80 years ago. He also loved the pictures and rememberances of "the old neighborhood." I've never bought him another gift that made him this happy. He's buying a bunch to give to other Brooklyn friends.

To all of you who know the authors of these recipes, Buster is my father. I must say that when "Buster" makes his pie everyone stops what they are doing and enjoys it. Grab it while you can because it doesnt last long.
Growing up my parents always told us of all the good ole' stories. Both of my parents Kathy & Buster grew up in East New York, they were both in the Drum and bugle corp. Even till this day my father plays the tape of him in concert. I wish that i had been able to experience all the old time memories, instead i live through theirs. You can actually listen to the story a hundred times and never get bored of it.

Reading this book was great even the recipes are fabulous. In my own opinion it was wonderful idea to publish not only a cook book with delicious recipes in them but also to share great stories from where our parents grew up. Wish i could taste the lemon ice that was made in the back of Paul's Candy Store in an old bathtub! (with the long stick pretzles!!!)

Not many people keep the traditions of an Italian household - but in my days we did- church on Sunday, pick up Itlalian bread on the way home and dinner at 2:00 p.m.!!

I hope that everyone enjoys this cook book and the literature!

The recipe for manicotti is the best recipe for manicotti that I have ever found, and it makes the best manicotti I have ever eaten. It is absolutely wonderful, and it's a real crowd pleaser. If you have a group of people you are cooking for, and you have vegetarians, children, and/or picky eaters in the lot, this is the recipe to use.

I was hoping maybe Gerard wrote another cookbook, that is what brought me to this site. As I type this I have the Coyote Chicken cooking in the oven, it smells so good. My Father and husband are Italian and many of the recipes are similar to family recipes. There are many favorite recipes both are simple but delicious, that I make over and over again.

It was a wonderful, nostalgic trip down memory lane for me. The Esposito Family were warm, caring and loving people. My very fondest memories are with them. Some of the recipes I already had from them, but now I have more. All my friends have bought every book I buy -- I can't keep a supply of them. We are going to have an Esposito cookout at my next bookclub meeting.

Great book for anyone to give their kids. I grew up in the neighborhood and tried many times to explain to my kids what life was like in East New York in the '50's; the closeness of family and friends and the importance of the church and school as an extension of the family. I have give the book to my son to read and will give it to my daughter when he is finished. Gerard Renny did a great job of explaining everything to the next generation, as well as giving those of us a chance to relive our youth in the best neighborhood in Brooklyn.

great book the stories are wounderful i know all the people the places the food was like years melted away.this was a time of hard work and family when we were all helping each other i can smell my moms cooking now