From a passionate and talented chef who also happens to be an Episcopalian priest comes this surprising and thought-provoking treatise on everything from prayer to poetry to puff pastry. In The Supper of the Lamb, Capon talks about festal and ferial cooking, emerging as an inspirational voice extolling the benefits and wonders of old-fashioned home cooking in a world of fast food and prepackaged cuisine. This edition includes the original recipes and a new Introduction by Deborah Madison, the founder of Greens Restaurant in San Francisco and author of several cookbooks.
Supper of the Lamb: A Culinary Reflection
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Editorial Reviews
Review
“One of the funniest, wisest, and most unorthodox cookbooks ever written.”
—Craig Claiborne, The New York Times
“The Supper of the Lamb is a rare, distilling nectar, albeit fizzy with bubbles of humor and wit...it is fully capable of rescuing us from the dangers of mediocrity daily foisted upon us by the too-fast pace of our lives.”
—From the Introduction by Deborah Madison
“The Supper of the Lamb is as awesomely funny, wise, beautiful, moving, preposterous a book as this reviewer has come across for years....It is a love letter to a world that ‘will always be more delicious
than it is useful.’”
—The New York Times Book Review
—Craig Claiborne, The New York Times
“The Supper of the Lamb is a rare, distilling nectar, albeit fizzy with bubbles of humor and wit...it is fully capable of rescuing us from the dangers of mediocrity daily foisted upon us by the too-fast pace of our lives.”
—From the Introduction by Deborah Madison
“The Supper of the Lamb is as awesomely funny, wise, beautiful, moving, preposterous a book as this reviewer has come across for years....It is a love letter to a world that ‘will always be more delicious
than it is useful.’”
—The New York Times Book Review
From the Inside Flap
From a passionate and talented chef who also happens to be an Episcopalian priest comes this surprising and thought-provoking treatise on everything from prayer to poetry to puff pastry. In The Supper of the Lamb, Capon talks about festal and ferial cooking, emerging as an inspirational voice extolling the benefits and wonders of old-fashioned home cooking in a world of fast food and prepackaged cuisine. This edition includes the original recipes and a new Introduction by Deborah Madison, the founder of Greens Restaurant in San Francisco and author of several cookbooks.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
27 of 27 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
"The Supper of the Lamb" is an unusual and profound book. The author, an Episcopal priest, is also quite the home chef, and has combined his culinary insights with his theological insights in a meaningful and moving way.
The premise of the book seems two-fold -- both indicated by the book's title. First, the book does, in fact, teach how one can serve a leg of lamb for eight people over four meals. No kidding! Each meal is described clearly, with all the ingredients easily obtainable, and all the instructions easy to follow. (His insights into stew are remarkable!)
However, the second premise indicated by the title of the book, is an introduction to "The Supper of the Lamb" as it is recounted in the book of Revelation. His understanding of Sacrifice; his description of wine; and his discussion of the "Greater Heartburn" all serve to make clear that our feasting in this life is nothing less than a foretaste of the Heavenly Kingdom.
This book needs to be read through in its entirety BEFORE you attempt any of the recipies. Then, read it again while you cook. Pray, cry, have a glass of wine, and FEAST!
31 of 33 people found the following review helpful
By NotATameLion
Format:Hardcover
Lets face it...all of us who cook (unless we are filthy rich) do a lot of work with leftovers (Ferial cooking). Yet most folks buy cookbooks that give us these grand, one time and you're done (Festal cooking) recipes. This is not what you get from Robert Capon's "The Supper of the Lamb." This book is all about Ferial cooking--and proud of it.
Capon is a true wild man. He has become one of my favorite authors (His book Between Noon and Three is one of my top ten). "The Supper of the Lamb" is earlier, yet vintage Capon.
The book is indeed a cookbook. It is also so much more. What the reader will find here, besides the recipes, are reflections on life and reality. The theme of Ferial cooking is transferred to a kind of manifesto on Ferial living. Capon sees food, and life as well, through a lens of wonder.
Capon's book is really a recipe for living life more fully. While his recipes for food are great, it is this "larger" recipe that holds the greatest appeal for me.
I recommend "The Supper of the Lamb" to you with all my heart.
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
By Candy Paull
Format:Paperback
This book was my first taste of Robert Farrar Capon's writings. One of those underground treasures which makes its way by word of mouth, The Supper of the Lamb was a seminal book in my spiritual and literary development, along with his book, The Parables of the Kingdom. It may include recipes, but The Supper of the Lamb is a cookbook for life.
Each chapter offers lyrical insight on what it means to be human. Read about cutting an onion in "The First Session" and you'll never take an onion for granted again. "Wave Breast and Heave Shoulder" is one of the most beautiful and biblical passages in the entire book. I have read the final pages of "The Burning Heart" many, many times and never fail to be moved. Some sections of the book are reminiscent of Annie Dillard's descriptive style in Pilgrim at Tinker Creek or some of the best of M.F.K. Fisher's writings. Capon's salty observations balance the high spirituality, creating a complex blend of philosophy and kitchen craft.
As Capon himself says, "We were given appetites, not to consume the world and forget it, but to taste its goodness and hunger to make it great." This book continues to inspire my writing, my cooking, and my spirituality. If you want a flavorful literary feast, buy The Supper of the Lamb. I highly recommend Robert Farrar Capon's other books as well. Each one is a treasure.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Cooking as Life Parable
"Supper of the Lamb" is an amazing book It is about cooking. But it is a parable for proper and energizing spirituality. Read more
Published 6 months ago by Russ Baranes
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Love Letter to Food, Life, Humanity,& God
Capon is one of my favorite writers, period. At times his writing can be too flowery, but it is often brilliant and never dull. Read more
Published 10 months ago by Bradley Bevers
5.0 out of 5 stars
great
I very much enjoyed this book. Easy read. witty. light-hearted. He capably handles an array of theological and culinary topics. Read more
Published 15 months ago by joel
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Theological Romp Through the Kitchen
Robert Farrar Capon's "The Supper of the Lamb: A Culinary Reflection" is not like any cookbook I have ever come across. At least, I think it's a cookbook. Read more
Published on February 11, 2010 by Glynn Young
5.0 out of 5 stars
Purpose to cook and eat with gusto
Delightful book! Perhaps a little out-dated. But a refreshing perspective because so. Taste comes before nutrition, says Capon, gazing with alarm at the kids' dining on Velveeta... Read more
Published on January 21, 2010 by an apt word
5.0 out of 5 stars
Eat Fully, Drink Deeply
You will never look at an onion them same way again. Pages and pages describing the lowly but fantastic onion.
Capon encourages us to enjoy our food without the guilt. Read more
Capon encourages us to enjoy our food without the guilt. Read more
Published on July 11, 2009 by Terri J. Rice
4.0 out of 5 stars
review of "Supper of the Lamb" cook book/treatise
I purchased this item because I have lost or mislaid the copy I had since the 1960's and there are several recipies in it I wished to use. Read more
Published on May 24, 2009 by P. Whitney
4.0 out of 5 stars
Joie de vivre (Joy of living)
The joy of living is what I am getting in my first read through this book. The first couple of chapters were a bit chewy but the going got rapidly easier! Read more
Published on April 22, 2009 by Ron Van Lynden
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Joyous Celebration of Food and Philosophy
Craig Claiborne and the New York Times both raved over this book, which I have recently reread after having read it first almost 40 years ago. Read more
Published on December 16, 2008 by Steven Muni
5.0 out of 5 stars
Finally -- a cook with opinions and knowledge of the Holy Bible!
I read this book in an afternoon and then studied it with five other friends (three of which are not cooks but enjoyed the wit, humor, and bibilical knowledge of the author). Read more
Published on June 23, 2008 by Super Sue
