John Thorne's classic first collection is filled with straightforward eating, home cooking, vigorous opinions, and the gracefully intelligent writing that makes him a cult favorite of people who like to think about food.
Simple Cooking
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Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
Similarities between the versatile zucchini and the blandly grating familiarity "Have a nice day" could easily escape the average cook, but Thorne, the editor of the Simple Cooking newsletter, thinks about such things. He also ponders Alice B. Toklas and the differences between fat and thin chefs. This multifarious collection of recipe-laced pieces gathers topics as diverse as stuffed grape leaves, picnics and the culinary subculture of "truly awful recipes." The substance of Thorne's work is not the exotic, but the everyday. For example, a department store's food processor demonstration leads him to contemplate picture-perfect ingredients (and the cooks who demand them), turning the event into a thought-provoking essay. Recipes are likewise basic. Cocoa, macaroni and cheese, French toast and cheesecake are lovingly and thoroughly explored. Also offered are more adventurous but equally easy dishes: pears and toasted hazelnuts in whipped cream with Armagnac, strawberries with lemon and black pepper, and pork-and-apple pie. Incisive, hilarious and occasionally nostalgic, this volume will delight many readers, reminding them why they enjoy the pleasures of food and cooking.
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
From Library Journal
Thorne's essays with recipes originated in his culinary newsletter, Simple Cooking. His writing ingredients include reminscence, diary, and daydream, with seasonings of whimsey and irony, and a taste of nostalgia. His recipes evolve naturally from the essays. The recollection of eating his first stuffed grape leaf leads to recalling walks in fragrant fields, the place of grape leaves in Middle Eastern cooking, how to select the fresh leaves, and light recipes for stuffings. A final paragraph suggests further books to read. The next topic is strawberries and cream, a grand topic for many a gifted writer. Literate and leisurely, Thorne will please readers of Fisher and Capon. SP
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
13 of 17 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Hardcover
This is a great collection of essays on diverse food topics. The author (it might be authors - I'm not completely clear on this) writes very well, and views food and its associated pleasures from a fresh and often stimulating perspective. Everything they (he?) write merits attention. I would also refer readers to "Simple Pig" and their newsletter - check 'homeboy@outlawcook.com' to subscribe.
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I read cookbooks for the stories as much as for the recipes; I really enjoyed his stories. I also ordered Mrs. Appleyard Cooks because he mentioned it in his book as a really good source of stories and recipes from earlier years, and it was as fun to read--with some good recipes, also. I would order more Thorne books--
