Summer Reading [General]
2008 Jul 2
Don't know how you feel about diving into something that falls on the academic side of things, but Sidney Mintz's "Sweetness and Power: the place of sugar in modern history" is pretty accessible. And though its likely been critiqued to death since its first release, Sweetness & Power remains an influential, often-cited analysis that documents the co-evolution of sugar as a commodity and of "taste" preferences (esp. in Britain).
anthropology.jhu.edu
www.amazon.com
All these political threads we're having lately remind me that this is on my list of books to re-read (hopefully soon).
anthropology.jhu.edu
www.amazon.com
All these political threads we're having lately remind me that this is on my list of books to re-read (hopefully soon).
2008 Jul 2
I second the recommendation (highly) for Michael Pollan's books "The Omnivore's Dilemma" and "In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto".
This morning, CBC's The Current with Anna Maria Tremonti re-aired an interview with him as part of their series "Diet for a Hungry Planet - Focus on Food".
This is really good and worth a listen...
www.cbc.ca
I'd also recommend:
"Salt: A World History" by Mark Kurlansky. It's the history of salt in the context of the entire world's history. Wowsa brilliant.
"Beijing Confidential: A Tale of Comrades Lost and Found" by Jan Wong. It has lots of food talk and descriptions (including the distinctively odourous durian) amidst the story of her incredible quest to find someone she encountered briefly in 1973 and is a great portrait of how Beijing has changed since then.
This morning, CBC's The Current with Anna Maria Tremonti re-aired an interview with him as part of their series "Diet for a Hungry Planet - Focus on Food".
This is really good and worth a listen...
www.cbc.ca
I'd also recommend:
"Salt: A World History" by Mark Kurlansky. It's the history of salt in the context of the entire world's history. Wowsa brilliant.
"Beijing Confidential: A Tale of Comrades Lost and Found" by Jan Wong. It has lots of food talk and descriptions (including the distinctively odourous durian) amidst the story of her incredible quest to find someone she encountered briefly in 1973 and is a great portrait of how Beijing has changed since then.
2008 Jul 4
I second the Heat and Bourdain's books. I also greatly enjoyed both of Jeffery Steingarten's books, "The Man who ate Everything" and "It must have been something I Ate". Both are collections of articles he has written and include recipes. He has a great dry sense of humour. I just finished reading "My Last Supper" by Melanie Dunea, in which she asks 50 top chefs what their last meal would be, and includes recipes.
For fiction, I read Timothy Taylor's "Stanley Park" last summer, and found it to be a great read.
For fiction, I read Timothy Taylor's "Stanley Park" last summer, and found it to be a great read.
2008 Jul 5
Along with the Pater Mayle suggestion, he also has a book called "French Lessons" which centers more on his experiences specifically with Provincial food than his more well-known "Provence" trilogy does.
My personal recomendation is 2 books of short stories written by a variety of chefs/food people - "Don't Try This At Home" (stories of the worst culinary disasters and embarrasments that they have ever lived through) and "How I Learned To Cook" (self explanitory). The former was actually ironically the thing that inspired me to go to culinary school. Nice light summer reading!
I also just finished "Alone In The Kitchen With an Eggplant" which is again a collection of stories/essays from foodies chronicling times in thier lives when they found themselves cooking for one and/or the comfort meals they crave when they have time to themselves. Not as good as the 2 former titles I mentioned, but a good read none the less - epecically if you're feeling lonely and want to wallow in it a bit lol.
My personal recomendation is 2 books of short stories written by a variety of chefs/food people - "Don't Try This At Home" (stories of the worst culinary disasters and embarrasments that they have ever lived through) and "How I Learned To Cook" (self explanitory). The former was actually ironically the thing that inspired me to go to culinary school. Nice light summer reading!
I also just finished "Alone In The Kitchen With an Eggplant" which is again a collection of stories/essays from foodies chronicling times in thier lives when they found themselves cooking for one and/or the comfort meals they crave when they have time to themselves. Not as good as the 2 former titles I mentioned, but a good read none the less - epecically if you're feeling lonely and want to wallow in it a bit lol.
2008 Jul 8
Momomoto, Tre & Food Is Hot - Thanks for your input. Wow it looks like I sure have a great list to choose from. I like the fact that there is such a diverse mix of things... something to suit every mood (the long travel days, lazy days, rain days, beach days, lol). I need to get myself to Chapters and make my selections.
For anyone who has worked as a waiter (and who hasn't?) I just heard of another book Waiter Rant that is to be released at the end of July, hopefully I can get a copy before I leave for vacation... sounds like a good cheezy read for the days to be spent with my toes in the sand at the beach.
"According to The Waiter, eighty percent of customers are nice people just looking for something to eat. The remaining twenty percent, however, are socially maladjusted psychopaths. Waiter Rant offers the server's unique point of view, replete with tales of customer stupidity, arrogant misbehavior, and unseen bits of human grace transpiring in the most unlikely places. Through outrageous stories, The Waiter reveals the secrets to getting good service, proper tipping etiquette, and how to keep him from spitting in your food. The Waiter also shares his ongoing struggle, at age thirty-eight, to figure out if he can finally leave the first job at which he's truly thrived." (as per Amazon)
For anyone who has worked as a waiter (and who hasn't?) I just heard of another book Waiter Rant that is to be released at the end of July, hopefully I can get a copy before I leave for vacation... sounds like a good cheezy read for the days to be spent with my toes in the sand at the beach.
"According to The Waiter, eighty percent of customers are nice people just looking for something to eat. The remaining twenty percent, however, are socially maladjusted psychopaths. Waiter Rant offers the server's unique point of view, replete with tales of customer stupidity, arrogant misbehavior, and unseen bits of human grace transpiring in the most unlikely places. Through outrageous stories, The Waiter reveals the secrets to getting good service, proper tipping etiquette, and how to keep him from spitting in your food. The Waiter also shares his ongoing struggle, at age thirty-eight, to figure out if he can finally leave the first job at which he's truly thrived." (as per Amazon)
2008 Jul 8
I can recommend Waiter Rant. I haven't read the book but I have been reading his blog for years, well before he became famous enough to get a book deal. (His blog is also called "Waiter Rant" and it is linked to by our wiki here.)
He's a very talented and entertaining writer with many stories to tell.
He's a very talented and entertaining writer with many stories to tell.
2008 Jul 17
Food & Think, not certain if you're still mulling over your summer reading list, but a couple threads in the past day(s) reminded me of another (off-the-beaten-path) possibility, a journal article that would serve as an (analytical) companion piece to Tampopo, a movie cited in several previous threads (and much beloved in certain foodie circles):
ottawafoodies.com/forum/1069
ottawafoodies.com/forum/1072
The article is by Emiko Ohnuki-Tierney, a Japanese born anthropologist:
www.anthropology.wisc.edu
The writing is a bit "academese" (and i believe English isn't her first language to begin with), but this should almost be required reading for people who have watched Tampopo. Ohnuki-Tierney "reads" and describes the film as "serious" cultural critique / satire: its no mistake, for example, that Itami (director) chooses a Ramen (noodle) shop as his site for that satire. But, he does so with an obviously deep appreciation of the same traditions he's skewers (including the mythologizing of the "authentic" other), and both the film and the article are chock-full of delicious food as culture descriptions.
as i suggest, it might not be regular summer-lite reading ... and the film itself is not everybody's cup of tea. But, since its freely available (as a pdf article), there's little penalty for reading the first few paragraphs to see how it grabs you. But, to repeat, its best read before or after watching the movie itself ... which, you can rent from Invisible Video on lisgar (if you're interested).
ottawafoodies.com/forum/1069
ottawafoodies.com/forum/1072
The article is by Emiko Ohnuki-Tierney, a Japanese born anthropologist:
www.anthropology.wisc.edu
The writing is a bit "academese" (and i believe English isn't her first language to begin with), but this should almost be required reading for people who have watched Tampopo. Ohnuki-Tierney "reads" and describes the film as "serious" cultural critique / satire: its no mistake, for example, that Itami (director) chooses a Ramen (noodle) shop as his site for that satire. But, he does so with an obviously deep appreciation of the same traditions he's skewers (including the mythologizing of the "authentic" other), and both the film and the article are chock-full of delicious food as culture descriptions.
as i suggest, it might not be regular summer-lite reading ... and the film itself is not everybody's cup of tea. But, since its freely available (as a pdf article), there's little penalty for reading the first few paragraphs to see how it grabs you. But, to repeat, its best read before or after watching the movie itself ... which, you can rent from Invisible Video on lisgar (if you're interested).
2008 Jul 29
Barbara Kingsolver's Animal, Vegetable, Miracle is a wonderful story of localizing food consumption by her family (she's the author of a number of fiction books and a great writers)
The History of the World in Six Glasses by Tom Standage is also wonderful: www.amazon.com
"Few realize the prominence of beer in ancient Egypt, but it was crucial to both cultural and religious life throughout the Fertile Crescent, appearing even in the Gilgamesh epic. Wine's history has been recounted in many places, and its use to avoid often--polluted water supplies made it ubiquitous wherever grapes could be easily cultivated. Spirits, first manufactured by Arabs and later rejected by them with the rise of Islam, played a fundamental role in the ascendance of the British navy. As a stimulant, coffee found no hostility within Islam's tenets, and its use spread as the faith moved out of Arabia into Asia and Europe. Tea enjoyed similar status, and it bound China and India to the West. Cola drinks, a modern American phenomenon, relied on American mass-marketing skills to achieve dominance. An appendix gives some modern sources for some of the primitive beers and wines described in the text".
It's a great, quick read...thirst-quenching I would argue.
The History of the World in Six Glasses by Tom Standage is also wonderful: www.amazon.com
"Few realize the prominence of beer in ancient Egypt, but it was crucial to both cultural and religious life throughout the Fertile Crescent, appearing even in the Gilgamesh epic. Wine's history has been recounted in many places, and its use to avoid often--polluted water supplies made it ubiquitous wherever grapes could be easily cultivated. Spirits, first manufactured by Arabs and later rejected by them with the rise of Islam, played a fundamental role in the ascendance of the British navy. As a stimulant, coffee found no hostility within Islam's tenets, and its use spread as the faith moved out of Arabia into Asia and Europe. Tea enjoyed similar status, and it bound China and India to the West. Cola drinks, a modern American phenomenon, relied on American mass-marketing skills to achieve dominance. An appendix gives some modern sources for some of the primitive beers and wines described in the text".
It's a great, quick read...thirst-quenching I would argue.
2008 Jul 29
"As a stimulant, coffee found no hostility within Islam's tenets..."
Neither did Khat !!
I really wanted to try some Khat .... found a Somali friend who was going to 'hook me up' and everything ... but, new legislation came out and Khat became a illegal in Canada.
In Canada, cathinone (the stimulant found in Khat) is a controlled substance under Schedule III of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA), meaning it is illegal to possess or obtain unless approved by a medical practitioner.
I wonder if there are any 'Khat friendly' doctors out there.
Neither did Khat !!
I really wanted to try some Khat .... found a Somali friend who was going to 'hook me up' and everything ... but, new legislation came out and Khat became a illegal in Canada.
In Canada, cathinone (the stimulant found in Khat) is a controlled substance under Schedule III of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA), meaning it is illegal to possess or obtain unless approved by a medical practitioner.
I wonder if there are any 'Khat friendly' doctors out there.
2008 Jul 29
Captain C - I know a "Khat Friendly" Doctor....
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
A Veterinarian
>^..^<
Meow...
LOL
Did ya get catch all my "funnies" in the Coppola topic... I dreamed them up just for your amusement... afterall I gotta prove you are not just the only one who has a sense of humour around here. LOL
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
A Veterinarian
>^..^<
Meow...
LOL
Did ya get catch all my "funnies" in the Coppola topic... I dreamed them up just for your amusement... afterall I gotta prove you are not just the only one who has a sense of humour around here. LOL
2012 Apr 2
Since my brother's new book is called "Roll up the Rim" and is a comedic take on the importance of Tim Horton's culture in the Maritime Provinces, I think it qualifies for this thread :-)
His first book "Like This" was one of the 5 books shortlisted for the first Giller Prize in 1995.
His second book "Twenty Six" in 2003 was a national best seller, and was a fictional account of the Westray mining tragedy under our home town of Stellarton.
For this book he is going Indie, and currently running a funding campaign through the Indie-Go-Go webiste.
www.indiegogo.com/rolluptherim
His first book "Like This" was one of the 5 books shortlisted for the first Giller Prize in 1995.
His second book "Twenty Six" in 2003 was a national best seller, and was a fictional account of the Westray mining tragedy under our home town of Stellarton.
For this book he is going Indie, and currently running a funding campaign through the Indie-Go-Go webiste.
www.indiegogo.com/rolluptherim
2013 Mar 24
Someone just sent me a PM that they have received their copy of my brother's book - I had completely forgotten that I had plugged it in this thread. Anyway, it is definitely foodie related and his promo tour is in full swing right now across Nova Scotia - if you happen to be down there keep your eye out at your local Library since that is where he is doing the promos.
I read the ebook on my phone (on the bus) before my hardcopy had arrived, but the hardcopies are now shipping. It's a good light-hearted read - of course I am somewhat biased :-) We'll see how it does critically ... his first 2 books were a success critically
EDIT: His blog where you can follow the progress of the book if you want, or find out how to buy one. Now that he has all the copies mailed out from the IndieGoGo campaign, he is starting to fill orders for book stores across the country.
leomckay.com/
I read the ebook on my phone (on the bus) before my hardcopy had arrived, but the hardcopies are now shipping. It's a good light-hearted read - of course I am somewhat biased :-) We'll see how it does critically ... his first 2 books were a success critically
EDIT: His blog where you can follow the progress of the book if you want, or find out how to buy one. Now that he has all the copies mailed out from the IndieGoGo campaign, he is starting to fill orders for book stores across the country.
leomckay.com/
2013 Mar 30
I didn't realize that was your brother, zymurgist. I bought "twenty six" for my mother just after it came out - I like to buy her interesting looking books for Christmas every year. Her book club also read it recently so she dusted off her copy for that...
She and my dad now live in a small Nova Scotian town and Tim Hortons is an integral part of the daily routine for most of the residents. I need to track this one down!
She and my dad now live in a small Nova Scotian town and Tim Hortons is an integral part of the daily routine for most of the residents. I need to track this one down!
Food&Think
Two summers ago when "Insatiable" was released I passed many a hot summer afternoon with it in one hand and a cool glass of something in the other... I'm not quite sure which was more intoxicating. For those who may not know, Gael Greene was the food critic for New York Magazine for more than 30 years, and "Insatiable" is a sort of autobiography. Not only is Ms. Greene funny and entertaining in her story but she brings to the page "the steam" from her other written works (Soft Porn Writer as a cover for a Food Critic, LOL, ya gotta love it) since the 1960s she has been truly considered.... ummmm naughty. "Insatiable" offers Food, Wine, Sex, Money, Travel, Famous People, Recipes, Tell All Tales, Famous People Sex, more Food, more Wine, more Sex.... a Fantastic Summer Read.
Maybe I'll just read it all over again!