So my question is this – Since cooking seems to rely so heavily on the personality and personal touch of the cook to give it its flavor, why is it then that cookbooks don’t always follow suit, too?
Sure, the recipes you’ll find in a cookbook all have the culinary sensibilities of the chefs who wrote them, but as I leaf though their pages in search of the next great meal to make, I often find myself wishing they had infused their texts with the same care and flavor that characterizes their dishes. All that to say – It’d be nice every once in a while to read a cookbook that was as original and entertaining as it was informative. If you can relate, I’d suggest checking out any of the three books listed here as they all put great spins on the traditional template.
The three authors below have all published cookbooks that, in one way or another, work outside the box to show you something new and fun. A great idea if you’ve grown tired of the usual fare.
Kafka’ Soup – A Complete History Of World Literature In 14 Recipes
Written and Illustrated By Mark Crick
If you’re a fan of classic literature in addition to being a fan of cooking, then this is the book for you. Author Mark Crick’s idea is truly original, interesting and a lot of fun to read. The formula is simple – he takes a slew of classic writers, assigns them each a dish and then provides the directions for its preparation as if personally written by that author, in their style.
Interested in whipping up a Fenkata? Let the legendary Greek poet Homer, author of the Odyssey and Illiad walk you through it. “Sing now, goddess, of the hunger of Peleus’ son Achilles.” Chocolate cake become too boring? What about when using a recipe by profanity-loving Scotsman Irvine Welsh. “Ah pour on the sugar, watching the white grains dissolve intae the golden brown liquid. They’re dissolving cleanly; it’s good fuckin shite.”
Needless to say if you have any foodies in your life that are majoring in English, you could do worse for a gift.
Street Food
By Troth Wells
A seemingly regular cookbook by most accounts, it’s not the flowery language or historical references that set this one apart, but rather the angle it chooses to take on cuisine. Instead of offering you a list of recipes for dishes that you would find served in local restaurants, Street Food teaches you how to make the snacks and meals sold by the various street vendors of the world, combining to present a awesome array of global blue-collar delicacies.
This different take on gastronomy makes for a cookbook that rings truer than most in its presentation of the cultures that lend it their recipes. It allows you to sample everything from the traditional Asian street-treats that you may already be familiar with, to what you would find sold on the sidewalks of Africa, the Caribbean and the Middle East. .
Bitchin’ Kitchen Cookbook
By Nadia G
If you’ve read the Bitchin’ Kitchen Cookbook, you know you have to give Nadia G credit for injecting some much needed humor into the genre. It really is the only cookbook I’ve personally read that goes beyond the immediate concept of each meal to provide an entertaining study on how a particular dish might fit a situation or help someone though a time in their life.
With a cool cast of characters on hand to help spice up each page and give their two cents on what’s cooking, Nadia uses her unique style of humor to yield delicious results. Her book includes anxiety blasters, one-night-stand breakfasts, make-up soups and rehab recipes. Instead of pairing meals with wines, Nadia G pairs them with relatable experiences, making for a hilarious read. Check it out.