http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com collaborative book reviews about all things food and wine Fri, 16 Jul 2010 05:32:31 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 en hourly 1 http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/2168_the-foodie-handbook-pim-techamuanvivit-2009-uk http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/2168_the-foodie-handbook-pim-techamuanvivit-2009-uk#comments Sun, 09 Aug 2009 01:18:26 +0000 Jason S http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/?p=2168 The author of the massively popular blog Chez Pim attempts to guide us to appreciating food, dining, and cooking (again) with her unique brand of sass and humor. While the dining tips are useful and the recipes look delicious, some of the material appears simply a supplement to (or derivative of) the blog. Her guide is a mixed bag of earnest, well-thought-out advice and odd name- and place-dropping that somehow makes being a foodie synonymous with being well-traveled and well-connected (or synonymous with Pim’s life), contrary to her stated objectives.]]> http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/2168_the-foodie-handbook-pim-techamuanvivit-2009-uk/feed 0 http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/727_chocolate-louis-e-grivetti-2009-us-review http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/727_chocolate-louis-e-grivetti-2009-us-review#comments Thu, 30 Apr 2009 01:20:42 +0000 Duncan Markham http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/?p=727 Chocolate is a mammoth work from the Chocolate History Group at the University of California, Davis. The culmination of ten years of anthropological and archival research, this is a book for a narrow range of readers with interests in food research, anthropology and history, or for those whose curiosity will be sated by an enormous range of fascinating tidbits about chocolate. As a volume representing the final output from the group, it is a collection of 56 academic essays covering anything from the religious significance of chocolate in pre-Colombian and post-colonisation societies to advertising cards in 19th century Europe and North America. As might be expected, this is no light reading and generalist readers may find it hard going. Despite the title, the remit of the research group was strongly oriented towards the Americas, leaving European chocolate history rather neglected in the final product. ]]> http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/727_chocolate-louis-e-grivetti-2009-us-review/feed 0 http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/584_how-to-be-a-better-foodie-sudi-pigott-2008-uk-full http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/584_how-to-be-a-better-foodie-sudi-pigott-2008-uk-full#comments Sun, 19 Apr 2009 08:28:41 +0000 Sarah http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/?p=584 Sudi Pigott’s fun little book, How to be a Better Foodie, is a tongue-in-cheek look at high foodie-ism. Bulging with tips, advice and foodie facts, in an extreme level of detail, it’s entertaining and informative in parts, but laughably bad in others. Pigott’s boundless enthusiasm comes across as pretentious numerous times, which often makes for painful reading.]]> http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/584_how-to-be-a-better-foodie-sudi-pigott-2008-uk-full/feed 2 http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/432_03-03-09220544 http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/432_03-03-09220544#comments Sat, 21 Mar 2009 06:28:59 +0000 Mark Manguerra http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/?p=432 Extensively researched and beautifully photographed, Izakaya is an inspiring, enjoyable tour into this cornerstone of Japanese food culture. In addition there are more than 60 authentic recipes straight from the chefs of some of Japan's best izakayas, making this book a must-have for anyone interested in Japanese cuisine. More than a cookbook or a guidebook, Izakaya is the next best thing to being there. ]]> http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/432_03-03-09220544/feed 0 http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/348_vegetarian-dishes-from-the-middle-east-arto-der-haroutunian-2008-uk-brief http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/348_vegetarian-dishes-from-the-middle-east-arto-der-haroutunian-2008-uk-brief#comments Tue, 03 Feb 2009 14:09:14 +0000 Lucy http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/?p=348 The recipes contained within this unassuming, un-illustrated reissue glow. They openly embrace the full spectrum of ethical eating. The vast majority, in fact, are vegan. None of the ingredients (bitter almonds excepted) are difficult for a home cook to locate but, most importantly, this is a book of delicious, exquisite food; simple to make, exotic enough to tempt jaded palates and written in an elegant, spare style. Instruction is straightforward and, where appropriate, Haroutunian’s introductions, themselves short and sweet, are peppered with wisdom from classic Arabian literature. I only wish the word Vegetarian could be replaced with the word Vegetable in the title. It deserves a wider audience. ]]> http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/348_vegetarian-dishes-from-the-middle-east-arto-der-haroutunian-2008-uk-brief/feed 0 http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/83_eating-between-the-lines-rebecca-huntley-2008-au-full http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/83_eating-between-the-lines-rebecca-huntley-2008-au-full#comments Thu, 11 Dec 2008 01:55:39 +0000 Duncan Markham http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/?p=83 Eating Between the Lines claims to be "A different kind of food tour" and sociologist Rebecca Huntley certainly takes the readers on a journey. The book is a series of discreet chapters exploring aspects of food culture in Australia. From the subtitle of the book, "Food & Equality in Australia", you might expect the focus to be on poverty, access to food, and perhaps the ability to cook. In fact, Huntley ranges over these themes and adds a sociopolitical agenda involving gender roles, racism, Slow Food and more. At times, the reader might feel that the author lacks much insight into deeper cultural and historical issues, leaving her argumentation a little popular-conscience rather than achieving insightful examination. Nonetheless, many interesting pieces of information come out of the interviews and stories and the footnotes are interesting. I found Eating Between the Lines very irritating, but it's well written and designed to hit the right "how terrible" buttons with certain types of readers. Huntley might, however, have cast her net a bit too wide, because there are enough touches of sneering through the book that she might well offend even some of her target audience.]]> http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/83_eating-between-the-lines-rebecca-huntley-2008-au-full/feed 1