Customer Reviews

The Blue Strawbery Cookbook (Cooking Brilliantly Without Recipes)

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This cookbook was a total surprise to me. The style is witty and irreverent. The concept is terrific and the inspiration Chef Haller gives to cooks is brilliant! Just check out the suggestion for a chicken dinner for one -- stunningly simple and totally wonderful. This cookbook is a "must own" for anyone who cares about food. I highly recommend it. It's one of the best in my collection.

I bought this book after a friend cooked us a meal using the "recipes". Its fun to read and an adventure to try using his non-recipe style of cooking with unusual combinations of ingredients. My husband loved the results too.

I discovered my copy of The Blue Strawberry Cookbook which has been in my possession since 1978 and copyrighted in l976.
I was pleasantly surprised to see that James Haller and his restaurant are still giving culunary experiences, the likes of which I will never forget. It is as fabulous a book now as it was then and the pork chop recipes on p. 65 are superb. His style is casually elegant. I am so happy I will be able to revisit his recipes. I am also so impressed that James has written cookbooks for the seriously sick. Goood work.

I'm so sad this book is out of print, but at least it isn't rare. Yet.

This wonderful book is bursting with simply-prepared yet exquisite-tasting food. I must have made just about every "recipe" from this cookbook, as well as from Another Blue Strawberry, but after heavy use in the early 80s, I moved on to other cookbooks. Lately, I'd been wanting something different from the same old Cuisine or Cooking Light recipes, and I wasn't feeling ambitious enough for Julia, so I delved back into the experimental waters, and what joy.

I respect and admire Haller's attitude about fresh, real food, as well as about about adding what you want, when you want to (such as herbs and spices, a handful or pinch of this or a glass of that). Cooking without rules may be intimidating for novice cooks, or even long-time cooks; for example, I am not sure I have the confidence or experience to bake delicate cakes without precise measurements, but Haller's cookbook is one of the few I actually enjoy reading for his viewpoint as much as for his delicious dishes, and it gives me confidence to try new things. Swordfish and chocolate brandy? Sure!

Cucumbers in sour cream with bacon; trout in a cheese custard; mushrooms stuffed with scallops, Parmigiano Reggiano and bacon; sweet carrots with curried catsup; veal baked in Frangelico; fresh fruit marinated in Chambourd, the liberal use of cream and butter and thyme, and one of my favorite desserts EVER: fresh, juicy strawberries dipped in sour cream and then brown sugar. Pure heaven.

Coming from the NH seacoast area, I was lucky enough to eat at the Blue Strawberry quite some time ago, and it was one of the best dining experiences I ever had. I walked down the street to the Ceres Street Bakery afterwards for a Cocoa Heart and my day was complete. A real taste explosion!

In the early '80's, a friend and I drove up from Boston to experience this amazing restaurant many times. This cookbook has been in use in my kitchen for over 20 years...easy and elegant, with no fuss! Thanks, James Haller.

I had this book about 7 years ago and it was one of my favorites. I foolishly donated it to a local library. What a mistake! I had no idea it was still in print and was ecstatic to find it here! This is a great book. No color pictures...or pictures at all, as I recall...but the text is amusing, inspiring, not at all intimidating. I just put it on my wishlist. If I don't get it for Mother's Day, I'm buying it myself!

I bought this book as a gift for a friend who said she was "afraid to go into the kitchen". The Blue strawberry cookbook is all about having fun and being free to explore new foods and flavors with abandon. Written in the 1970s it is loaded with joyous Hippie philosophy...and butter. Like Paula Deen's most of these ideas open with "melt a stick of butter". Still, if one follows the spirit of the book, everything can be made with whatever you like. I love this book and recommend it to anyone who wants to find new ways of expressing themselves in the kitchen and in life.

Excellent cookbook. Easy directions and delicious recipes. Once you have cooked a turkey following Jim's directions, you will be delighted with the results and the amazing technique save time and energy.

Having eaten at The Blue Strawbery more times than I can count (even on my measly student budget) I was thrilled to find a cookbook to help me recreate the good times. This cookbook is not for everyone. The recipes are strictly seat of the pants, but if you dare, try them. The results will bring back the good old days, of friends, food, and flaming Sambucca (courtesy of the management on your birthday)

It's a cookbook I've had for years and wanted to give one to a friend. It wasn't in quite as good shape as I hoped, but the point is the recipes, which are all there! The delivery time was shorter than estimated, which was nice.