I've stumbled across something of an food writing crisis. Namely, my problem stems from the fact that I don't always want to feature cookbooks in a column that is clearly labeled "Cookbook of the Day." In the past, I've stretched the limits of the category, spotlighting books of essays that include a few recipes or even once writing about a cookbook that teaches you how to cook for your dog. Today's Cookbook of the Day is a volume written by Calvin Trillin, one of the greatest food writers to ever live. However, it does not contain a single recipe. In spite of the fact that it doesn't offer the reader lists of ingredients and cooking instructions, Alice, Let's Eat is a book that is rooted firmly in the world of eating and pleasure. First published in 1978, it contains essays that were previously published in the New Yorker, The Atlantic Monthly as well as other publications. Despite that, it reads like a cohesive volume, taking the reader to barbecue joints in North Carolina, local markets in England and crawfish stands in Martinique.
This is one of the books that I turn to when I start to lose touch with my love for food, when the busy-ness of life prevents me from fully appreciating the process of shopping, cooking and eating. Lately I've been struggling to see food as a joy and have instead seen it as just one more thing I have to deal with. Trillin always sees eating as a pleasuresome adventure and his enthusiasm usually helps me shake off my malaise and jump back into the joy of food.
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