An Alphabet for Gourmets (Paperback)

~ (Author) "...and so am I, if a choice must be made between most people I know and myself..." (more)
Key Phrases: milk toast, sweet butter, Aunt Gwen, New York, San Francisco (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"I do not know of any one in the United States who writes better prose." -- W.H. Auden

"M.F.K. Fisher ... brings onstage a peach or a brace of quail and shows us history, cities, fantasies, memories, emotions." -- Patricia Storace, The New York Review of Books

"M.F.K. Fisher is our greatest food writer because she puts food in the mount, the mind and the imagination all at the same time. Beyond the gastronomical bravura, she is a passionate woman; food is her metaphor." -- Shana Alexander

"Poet of the appetites." -- John Updike

"She writes about fleeting tastes and feasts vividly, excitingly, sensuously, exquisitely. There is almost a wicked thrill in following her uninhibited track through the glories of the good life." -- James Beard

"She writes about food as others do about love, but rather better." -- Clifton Fadiman

"Since Mrs. Fisher wrote [An Alphabet for Gourmets], naturally it is witty, pungent and highly civilized, but also it has a special charm...It not only guides and titillates; it warms."--Rex Stout, The New York Times Book Review

"Full of sound counsel, shrewd observation, luscious memories of dinners eaten and wines drunk, and a lot of common sense spiced with personal recollection. It's a good mixture."-- J.H. Jackson, San Francisco Chronicle

"Entertaining and knowledgeable."--The New Yorker
-- Review

"Since Mrs. Fisher wrote [An Alphabet for Gourmets], naturally it is witty, pungent and highly civilized, but also it has a special charm...It not only guides and titillates; it warms."--Rex Stout, The New York Times Book Review

"Full of sound counsel, shrewd observation, luscious memories of dinners eaten and wines drunk, and a lot of common sense spiced with personal recollection. It's a good mixture."-- J.H. Jackson, San Francisco Chronicle

"Entertaining and knowledgeable."--The New Yorker

Product Description

In Alphabet for Gourmets, M.F.K. Fisher arranges a selection of her essays in a whimsical way that reveals the breadth and depth of her passion. From A for (dining) alone to Z for Zakuski, "a Russian hors d'oeuvre," Fisher alights on both longtime obsessions and idiosyncratic digressions. As usual, she liberates her readers from caution and slavish adherence to culinary tradition-- and salts her writings with a healthy dose of humor.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 232 pages
• Publisher: North Point Press (October 10, 1989)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0865473919
• ISBN-13: 978-0865473911
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #840,189 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Highly enjoyable, December 21, 1999

By A Customer

Particularly enjoyable for her rather obscure selection of an alphabet by which to write about food. If you want more, I recommend the compendium The Art of Eating, by the same author. This woman really enjoyed food, even the simplest meal, which might even be eaten alone and enjoyed more for the experience.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Exceeded expectations, August 19, 2009

By	Carolyn J. Robinson - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I ordered a copy of An Alphabet for Gourmets, expecting to find a softcover one similar to that in the photo. What I received was a lovely hardback copy inside a sturdy cardboard cover. The cover of the book had lovely, colorful designs on it and the inside was filled with beautiful, full color prints at the beginning of each chapter. Even the paper was higher quality, almost like cloth. This was indeed a wonderful gift book. I give kudos to the seller who went a cut above in providing this product.

5.0 out of 5 stars Not just for Gourmets, July 28, 2009

By	JAK in WDC (Washington, DC) - See all my reviews

Don't be put off by the dour photo on the cover. MFK Fisher has a lively wit and a breezy style of writing that is a joy to read. In this book she takes on topics based on the alphabet. In dining Alone, she describes the difficulty of being a food writer. She is never invited to her friend's because they think their cooking isn't good enough, so instead she goes home to a lonely supper of canned soup and crackers. The chapter on Bachelors describes a meal that on the surface is dreadfull but is made delightful due to the care and effort of the gentleman to provide hospitality to his guest. Every chapter is full of charm and the recipes are quite good. A very enjoyable book.