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I'm heading into my last semester of grad school and preparing to write my thesis. It's a collection of essays about cooking, kitchen tools and family. One of the things my adviser requires is a plan, including a reading list of books that are in the subject area and will help guide me through the work. I've been pulling the list together both physically and on paper. Friday morning I wandered through my apartment, creating a stack of food books that I already owned that could join the list. (I realize that Laurie Colwin is totally absent from the line up, but I say in my defense that my mom currently is in possession of my copies of "Home Cooking" and "More Home Cooking").
I also queried some friends for book recommendations and was referred to a great segment that aired on NPR's Morning Edition back in June. In it Steve Inskeep spoke with Ruth Reichl about her favorite food memoirs. In the segment she spoke about several books, but then also furnished NPR with a more complete list of gastronomical memoirs for posting on the website.
Okay Slashfoodies, what are your favorite food memoirs?
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8-13-2007 @6:55PM Karen said... You need only MFK Fisher, Laurie Colwin, Heat, and My Life in France (Julia).
Asked and answered.
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8-13-2007 @8:15PM PGM said... My all time favorite: _Pass The Polenta_, by Teresa Lust.
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8-13-2007 @8:32PM Laurel said... Never Eat Your Heart Out, by Judith Moore-not to be missed.
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8-13-2007 @9:52PM Jason said... MFK Fisher - Consider The Oyster (and anything else by her!)
The Man Who Ate Everything - Jeffrey Steingarten
Kitchen Confidential - Anthony Bourdain
Toast - Nigel Slater
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8-13-2007 @11:00PM staja said... Anything by James Beard or Calvin Trillan
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8-13-2007 @11:47PM Tamara said... It's more than just a food memoir so I'm not sure it entirely fits your request but I loved Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert.
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8-14-2007 @12:20AM laurie said... In addition to those already listed:
Consuming Passions by Michael Lee West
Through the Kitchen Window, edited by Arlene Voski Avakian
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8-14-2007 @12:24AM superfan laurie said... Also...I haven't read it yet, but I just picked up an anthology edited by Jenni Ferrari-Adler. It's called "Alone in the Kitchen with an Eggplant: Confessions of Cooking for One and Dining Alone."
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8-14-2007 @1:51AM Kitt said... Wow, there are so many good ones. MFKF's "The Art of Eating" (five of her books in one) probably tops my list, but I also have a soft spot for George Lang's autobiography, "Nobody Knows the Truffles I've Seen," which was probably my first foodie book and the first ever felt inspired to cook out of. I recently enjoyed "The Language of Baklava" and "Heat," too. And most of the Modern Library's food series (I see you have one). And Ruth Reichl's memoirs, Calvin Trillin's, A.J. Liebling's ... gah, so many.
All my books are in storage right now, or I could name about 20 more "favorites" out of the many I own.
Kitt
http://www.kittalog.com
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8-14-2007 @3:16AM Ed said... I like Heat, Kitchen Confidential, A Cook's Tour (which is more of a travel book than a memoir, but just throwing it out there. I gave it to a couple of people who enjoyed it immensely.) I like Trillin too, though I have read his stuff more as articles than the food books, he is excellent though.
Loved the question, there is some real good stuff out there.
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8-14-2007 @2:54AM arasmus2 said... Ruth Reichel for sure, any of her books are good, but I think I enjoyed her most recent one the best.
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8-14-2007 @4:46AM Angela said... Ruth Riechl's Garlic and Sapphires
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8-14-2007 @8:53AM Julie D. said... In addition to the great books mentioned above, American Pie by Pascale le Draoulec.
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8-14-2007 @8:42AM melissa said... Garlic and Sapphires
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8-14-2007 @10:01AM Cigarlady said... A Cook's Tour by Anthony Bourdain; Untangling My Chopsticks by Victoria Riccardi; Jack's Skillet by Jack Butler; John Thorne's books Outlaw Cook, Serious Pig, Simple Cooking, Pot on the fire; and I prefer Elizabeth David to MFK.
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8-14-2007 @1:40PM Densie said... I agree with Kitchen Confidential, but I loved reading (from cover to cover until way too late at night!) "What Einstein Told His Cook" by Robert Wolke and Marlene Parrish. He goes through the science and myth of all those "wives tales" of cooking. A great read for sure and includes lots of recipes to demonstrate the points.
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8-14-2007 @1:48PM Sarah said... "Untangling My Chopsticks" by Vitoria Abbott Ricardi
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8-14-2007 @10:57PM Grace said... Apprentice: My life in the kitchen by Jacque Pepin
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8-14-2007 @4:47PM Grace said... Apprentice: My life in the kitchen by Jacque Pepin
And not for quality,but rather for novely, there is a series of Mennonite food based mystery novels that I used to read...I'm sure a quick internet search will reveal them.
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8-15-2007 @1:51AM Kat K. said... AJ Liebling - Between Meals: An Appetite for Paris
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