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Online
News August 8, 2006
Table of Contents
New Books
Arab Cooking on a Saskatchewan Homestead Habeeb
Salloum
Besides offering a great selection of traditional Middle Eastern recipes, Habeeb
Salloum (From the Land of Figs and Olives, $29.95) documents
a little-known chapter
of Canada’s immigrant history—the story of Saskatchewan’s Depression-era
Syrian community. Colour photos. Paper, 316 pp, $29.95.
Apples for Jam
Tessa Kiros
Like Nigella Lawson, Nigel Slater and a handful of others, Tess Kiros (Twelve,$34.95
and Falling Cloudberries, $45.00) is more than a recipe writer.
Aided by Lisa Greenberg’s art direction, Kiros conjures up the atmosphere
which lifts her homey foods –fish pie, tomato lasagne, hamburger patties—from
the humble to the exceptional. We have one criticism—the silvery print
is hard to read. Colour photos. Hardcover, 417 pp, $45.00.
Eater’s Digest
Lorraine Bodger
Jam-packed with lists (8 woods for grilling, foreign foods Americans love) quizzes
and short essays on all manner of food topics, this book will provide hours of
joy for any foodie. Perhaps not so arcane as Schott’s Food & Drink
Miscellany ($23.95), it is equaling charming in its own way. Hardcover,
320 pp, $25.95.
 ExtraVeganZa
Laura Matthias
Laura Matthias uses the produce from her organic farm on British Columbia’s
Saanich Peninsula to produce the freshest of vegan cuisine—mixed heirloom
potato hashbrowns, creamy basil oyster mushroom pasta, lemon maple blueberry
pie and more. Colour and black and white photos. Paper, 286 pp, $29.95.
Sam Stern’s Cooking Up a Storm
Billed the next Jamie Oliver though still a teenager, Sam Stern shares his inspiration’s
enthusiasm for simple, fresh food. With its bright design and recipes for smoothies,
pasta, soups, salads and more, this is a book that may just lure other teenagers
from the computer into the kitchen. Colour photos. Paper, 128 pp, $23.99.
Stylish Mediterranean in Minutes
Sophie Braimbridge
Cooks who prefer a visual reference will enjoy this collection of greatest
culinary hits from southern Europe and north Africa. The author is another
of the younger generation of British chefs and food writers who has trained
at the River Café (also with the Roux brothers, Sally Clarke, and Alice
Waters!) Colour photos with almost every recipe. Paper, 160 pp, $29.95.
The Dave Myers and Si King Hairy Bikers’ Cookbook
Imagine mixing a dollop of Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall with a dash of Anthony
Bourdain then welding the result to the Two Fat Ladies. What you end up with
is a thoroughly entertaining account of the food, bike culture, and history of
countries from Ireland to Vietnam as viewed from a motorcycle. When not collecting
recipes for whore’s coddle or tortilla soup, the amiably dishevelled authors
are involved in film production. Colour photos. Hardcover, 256 pp, $39.00.
Best Sellers for July 2006
Heat
Bill Buford
If you have now finished My Life in France and are looking
for another food book to read then pick up this latest arrival. It couldn't
be more different, but no less passionate, or well written.
A highly readable book from this engaging former New Yorker writer.
When Mario Batali invites amateur home cook Buford to work at Babbo,
well, you can imagine what ensues when you have a dysfunctional group
of people in a cramped area with sharp objects, hot equipment, who
really don't like each other, yes, welcome to the Babbo kitchen!
Buford combines humour, kitchen soap opera drama, the common goal
of perfection on every plate and a highly volatile Batali to keep
the rollicking pace. When Buford heads off to Italy however, the
pace lags somewhat as he sets to work with the Dante quoting butcher.
In spite of this his layman's curiosity as to the origins of Italian
food, ingredients & techniques both at Babbo and in Italy keeps
the reader engaged. And you will never again order pasta after 10
pm in a restaurant!
2. Best of Heartsmart
Bonnie Stern
The best of the Heartsmart series with 100 new recipes.
3.Cheapeats Toronto
2006 edition
This latest edition of the best selling guide sends the reader to neighbourhood
hidden gems that are also gratefully, inexpensive. Breakfast, lunch and dinner
- no stone is left unturned in the quest for good cheap eats. You will delight
in finding new places to spend your hard earned dollar; indexes are organized
by neighbourhoods as well as cuisines. Also included celebrity favourites,
Olivia Chow's fav? Bright Pearl Restaurant on Spadina. Rick Mercer? The Detroit
Eatery on the Danforth. Softcover, $11.95.
4. Molecular Gastronomy
Herve This
5. Apples for Jam
Tessa Kiros
Like Nigella Lawson, Nigel Slater and a handful of others, Tess Kiros (Twelve,$34.95
and Falling Cloudberries, $45.00) is more than a recipe writer.
Aided by Lisa Greenberg’s art direction, Kiros conjures up the atmosphere
which lifts her homey foods –fish pie, tomato lasagne, hamburger patties—from
the humble to the exceptional. We have one criticism—the silvery print
is hard to read. Colour photos. Hardcover, 417pp, $45.00.
6. Rhubarb: More than Just Pies
Sandi Vitt and Michael Hickman
Except for asparagus, nothing else says "Spring!" so much as rhubarb.
This little book has just about every way to use rhubarb: beverages, condiments,
preserves and desserts, desserts, desserts. Softcover, 144 pp, $14.95.
7. Heaven on Earth Project
Michael Stadtlander
A celebration of food and its connection to the earth, Michael Stadtlander's
first book chronicles his summer 2005 Heaven on Earth project, following the
chef and his apprentices from planting to consuming the fruits of their labours.
Colour photos. Hardcover, 97 pp, $90.00.
8. Nasty Bits
Anthony Bourdain
Bourdain is back with his candid and over the top passion for food. A writer/chef
who is never afraid to take on the establishment and the activists, individually
or at the same time, in the quest for taste.
9. The Silver Spoon
The trick for the team translating this classic Italian book(originally published
in 1950, now in its eighth edition) for English-speaking cooks was to balance
the English tendency to over-explain with the opposite impulse amongst Italians.
While shifting this balance and substituting ingredients where certain products
were unavailable outside of Italy, the team which included Tom Norrington-Davies
has managed to maintain The Silver Spoon’s distinctly
Italian character. Along with its 2000 recipes, this edition also features
menus from some of the most-renowned Italian chefs from the past 50 years.
Mario Batalia, Lidia Bastianich, Ruth Rogers and Rose Gray, and Aldo Zilli
are among the group of farflung chefs. Colour photos. Hardcover, 1263 pp, $59.95.
10. Jamie's Italy
Jamie Oliver
One of the great delights of this business has been watching the maturation
of Jamie Oliver. In this culinary tour of Italy he celebrates the food which
played a major part in his early career with Rose Gray and Ruth Rogers at the
River Café, with Gennaro Contaldo, with Antonio Carlucci. There are
some less familiar versions of well-known dishes including some particularly
seductive risottos, one with artichoke, another with cauliflower. Not just
content to pass along recipes, Oliver also creates a sense of the place and
of the personalities which have shaped them and perhaps himself. Wonderful
photograph of landscapes, food, and people. Hardcover, 319 pp, $49.95.
Food News
Well, we apologize for our lack of contact, too much eating,
travelling and golf. (And why is it golf courses get away with such
mediocre
food?)
Now, if you haven't had the pulled pork from Cumbrae's new
location on Bayview you really must. Kawathara Dairy ice
cream is an indulgence not to be missed. Many of you will have it in cottage
country, but you can get it here in Toronto, we have found it on
Church Street at Super Freshmart (524 Church Street). Our favourite
flavours - Raspberry Ripple, Black Cherry and Moosetracks.
It seems
watermelon salads have become the latest item to show up on restaurant
menus and in magazines.
Julie, our resident NZ staff memeber, was in Montreal,
and was bowled over by Jean Talon market, the displays of fruit & vegetables,
every tomato, every funghi, the middle eastern place that sold
the most wonderful tagines, of course the cheeses, so a market not to
miss on your travels.
We were wondering what you, our customers
thought is the best burger you have eaten? Let us know and we can tally
up the
results and
pass it on in our next newsletter. Back to top |
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