Firehouse Food: Cooking with San Francisco's Firefighters (Paperback)

~ (Author), Steve Siegelman (Author), Paul Moore (Photographer) "Alison worked as a caterer in her native England and in Australia before moving to San Francisco and finding her dream career as a firefighter..." (more)
Key Phrases: adjust the oven rack, large bowl with water, medium prawns, San Francisco, Mexican Red Rice, Secret Sauce (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

San Francisco firefighter and chef Chase Wilson wittily sums up her feelings about cooking for her fellow firefighters: "It's putting dinner on the table for 14 that gets my adrenaline going." And with that, authors Dolese (food writer and cookbook photos stylist) and Siegelman (cookbook writer) present meals that can be prepared for either army or family. These recipes, which often reflect the flavor of San Francisco, are as simple as Coleslaw with Pineapple and Dried Cherries (from Marty Verhaeg, Engine 13) or as time-consuming as Pork Mole, which can be prepared two days ahead of time (from Theresa Wolowic, Engine 32). The flavor-intense Villa Gumbo requires a roux and is served by Rich Gibson, whose Station 37, founded in 1915, ranks as one of the oldest. Desserts such as Warm Swiss Almond Apple Cake (from Lt. Richard Busalacchi, Truck 19) round out the recipes. From beginning to end, this accessible cookbook presents an enthusiastic, adrenaline-infused tone perfect for homecooks of any level.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Description

Firefighters are famous for their food and it’s no wonder since they cook their own meals seven days a week. All that practice, not to mention the peer pressure, makes for some of the best recipes in town, especially when that town is a culinary mecca like San Francisco. Firehouse Food introduces firehouse life, its brave denizens, and more than 100 of their best recipes. We meet greenhorns and veterans, retirees and local characters, all the while enjoying terrific meals designed to cook up easy and satisfy the whole crew. The recipes reflect the diversity of the San Francisco Fire Department personnel themselves—Latin-American, Asian, African, Italian, Irish, Eastern European—with a melting pot of delectable flavors. From barbecue by the experts to a Pineapple Upside Down Cake just like mom’s, these dishes are forgiving enough for anyone to try, and generous enough for everyone to enjoy. With color photographs of meals, downtime, cookery in action, and of course the food itself, Firehouse Food illustrates the daily routine that turns a firehouse into a family.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Chronicle Books (May 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0811839885
• ISBN-13: 978-0811839884
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 8.2 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #89,351 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Come on baby light my FIRE!!! (BEST COOK BOOK), September 4, 2003

By	R. Boyd (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

While visiting the Yountville fire station, we saw this book in the hands of a young, apron wearing firefighter responsible for the night's dinner. The kitchen smelled so good, we were sad that the Chief did not invite us to stay.

The recipes and accompaning photos are easy to make and you will love the unique take on old world recipes. But don't think the recipes are just your mother's old platters, the dishes have an edge that you would expect in San Francisco's finest and ecclectic restaurants.

Try the recipes and you will feel like you are in their "house". The firefighters' different backgrounds offer a diversity of flavors that is unusual for a themed cookbook. The pork mole, among others, is to die for! We HIGHLY recommend this book.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Terrific flavors, January 1, 2004

By	Jim Bennett (Duvall, WA United States) - See all my reviews

My brother-in-law contributed to this, and I've eaten a lot of his (fantastic) cooking, so I'm writing with a positive bias and a lot of trust in the tastes and textures based on his talents.

So far, I've tried the Beef Barley soup and the Junkyard Dog Champion Chili. Both recipes combine a tasty collection of ingredients, a somewhat long prep time, and delicious results.

There are a number of recipes in this book that sound very warm, hearty, and flavorful. The directions are quite clear - I'd summarize the attitude of the book as trying to make it clear how to get a few good dishes just right. I hope to make it through them all.

Given the quality of what you'll end up eating, and the portion of the sale price going to charity, it's a great buy.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars San Francisco Means Good Food, November 24, 2003

By A Customer

San Francisco is a place that abounds with good food. The San Francisco Firehouse is no exception. The firefighters take pride in what's being served. Thx for sharing with this book. The green chile cheese and corn casserole is splendido. The San Diego Tribune reviewed it and sold me on buying it!