While cooking is undeniably one of my life's greatest passions, I can't forget the pastime I fell in love with first--reading. I remember getting in trouble as a kid for bringing my book to the kitchen table. I finished the last Harry Potter book in 10 hours. And I'm currently wading my way through Anna Karenina.
Reading has always been a comfort to me. I voraciously read anything I could get my hands on as a child. It was a way for me to take a break from the world around me. It's allowed me the pleasure of letting wonderful characters into my life, some of which feel like real people to me. Often, I find myself missing certain characters, and that's usually when I'll pick up the book and read it again. My favorite books can't go more than three years without me reading them once more.
How lucky am I, then, that so many books center around food and cooking? It's with these books that I can merge my passions, which is not only amazing, but very efficient since I am quite busy!
I've managed to read a couple here and there, and when I get the time, I'd love to read more. In fact, I'll probably need a couple for my trip to Europe in three weeks. Any suggestions?
Until then, below are two wonderful books on how food and cooking transformed the lives of two well-known culinary icons.
My Life in France by Julia Child and Alex Prud'Homme
While this book is mainly autobiographical, it is full of delicious French food. Child's experiences in France and in becoming a major icon is written with such love and enthusiasm, you can't help but be inspired.
Since I am also a fan of French culture, it was a triple delight for me to read this book. The descriptions of French life are lovely and picturesque. If you are looking for a relaxing, and quite funny, read, I strongly recommend this book.
Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly by Anthony Bourdain
One New Year's Eve a couple of years ago, Jim and I stumbled across a No Reservations marathon on the Travel channel. I very quickly became enamored with Bourdain's wry and sarcastic commentary on the culinary cultures around the world. From Paris to Thailand to Portland, Ore., Bourdain travels the globe sampling each culture's cuisine.
His personality shines through in this well-written book. Just like his show, Bourdain leaves nothing out in this portrait of how a restaurant kitchen operates. It's dirty, it's gross and it's one hell of a laugh. You'll learn more than you ever wanted to know about restaurants!
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