1. When Sylvia and Herbert Woods bought a small Harlem luncheonette in 1962, they never dreamed that it would become famous as the premier soul food restaurant in Harlem. Their four children and many friends and relatives all contributed to this accomplishment, and Sylvia’s latest book (after Sylvia’s Soul Food) is as much a testament to them as it is to the Southern food she serves. A friendly introduction describes Sylvia’s early life in Hemingway, S.C., emphasizing hard work, spirituality, devotion to family and cooking according to the seasons. Seventy photographs illustrate the stories she tells, creating the atmosphere of a family album. Get it now.
2. Known for keeping it “Super Simple,” Gerry Garvin is turning up the heat in the kitchen in his debut cookbook full of great tasting recipes for an array of cuisines including French, Italian, Cajun, Indian and down-home American. As the host of Turn Up the Heat with G. Garvin, now in its second season on TV One, Garvin combines his impressive culinary resume with his engaging, down-to-earth style to offer simple techniques for savory recipes along with laugh-out-loud anecdotes and indispensable cooking know-how. Get it now.
3. From the grandson of Harlem’s queen of soul food, Sylvia Woods, comes a revolution in cooking down-home foods that taste as good as you remember but with less fat, salt, and calories. Lindsey Williams knows soul food. He grew up in the kitchen of his grandmother’s restaurant, Sylvia’s, where he mastered the art of soul-food cooking. But a lifetime of biscuits, coleslaw, corn bread, and fried chicken took its toll. When the scale tipped 400 pounds, Lindsey knew it was time to make some changes. The result is Neo Soul, a new kind of cooking that brings all the flavors to the plate but slashes the fat and calories. Get it now.
4. Miss Patti, as fierce as ever, sharing more than 100 new recipes that will have your mouth watering and your guests begging for seconds! With dishes ranging from the Over the Top, Top, Top Macaroni and Cheese (with shrimp and lobster!), to the Poached Salmon with Basil Cream Sauce and Fettuccine, to the Tender and Juicy Barbecued Baby Back Ribs, to the Fried Apple Pie, there’s something perfect for every occasion. She not only walks you through the preparation of her favorite dishes with ease, but also shares heartfelt and witty stories about food, family, and life throughout the book. Her first two cookbooks were hits and this one is sure to please as well. Get it now.
5. The Neelys’ down-home approach to cooking has earned them the highest accolades from coast to coast. It has also won them millions of viewers on the Food Network. Simply put, the Neelys are all about good food and good times. In this, their eagerly awaited debut cookbook, the Neelys share the delicious food they have been cooking up for years both at home and in their restaurants. Pat and Gina hail from families with a boundless love of cooking and bedrock traditions of sharing meals. At the Neelys’, mealtime is family time, and that means no stinting on “the sauce.” Indeed, that’s one of the Neely secrets: the liberal application of barbeque sauce to almost anything—spaghetti, nachos, salad, you name it. Of course, there are other secrets as well, and you will find them all in the pages of Down Home with the Neelys, along with more than 120 mouthwatering recipes. Get it now.
6. In his bestselling The Soul of a New Cuisine, Marcus Samuelsson returned to the land of his birth to explore the continent’s rich diversity of cultures and cuisines through recipes and stories from his travels in Africa. Now, in The New American Table, Samuelsson takes you on a journey of the inspired food of the United States, his beloved adopted country. Acclaimed for the distinct and diverse cuisine he has created at Aquavit and Riingo, Samuelsson shares more than 300 recipes that embody the uniquely inclusive spirit of American cuisine, from high-end fare to street food; down-home Southern cooking to Southwestern flavors to Asian cuisines, and beyond. Get it now.
7. While Smith has authored two books on entertaining, she actually considers this her cookbook debut, which she says, was inspired by her desire to share her love of Southern food while giving it an update. Interspersing recipes with facts about their historical or personal origin, Smith introduces readers to the nuances of the region’s cuisine, from Carolina low country’s shrimp and grits to the Cajun maque choux of Louisiana. Where possible, she has substituted healthier renditions, eliminating fatty meats or reducing sugar. Smith tops it off with a chapter devoted to beverages, including a number of interesting cocktails (pistachio margarita-tini and strawberry sangria with rose geranium), which, in keeping with her home-entertaining pedigree, will get the party started. Throughout, Smith remains an affable host, keeping the proceedings accessible and fun. Get it now.
8. In this electric, eclectic collection of vegan soul food, West Coast chef Bryant Terry manages not only to demystify classic southern cooking, he makes it healthier and more accessible. With a low-key approach, commonly sourced ingredients and recipes worthy of any palette. An impressive amount of information for each recipe, including entertainment recommendations, is also provided. Many dishes will make the list of to-trys: a riff on the traditional Gumbo Z’Herbs that’s traditionally eaten during Lent; a roasted potato salad with a parsley-pine nut pesto; and the ubiquitous chow-chow, a vinegar-laced relish that’s indispensable with greens. Terry’s simplicity is also commendable: a side of wilted swiss chard and spinach with lemon-tahini dressing is a healthier, creamier alternative to Caesar salad, and his Simple Seared Green Beans are a terrific way to enjoy the vegetable at its peak; classic treats like peach cobbler and mint juleps are also included. Though something of a Pyrrhic victory-a terrific and tasty collection of healthy Southern variations unfortunately relegated to the “vegan” ghetto-Terry’s latest will make a happy discovery for cooks of any dietary persuasions. Get it now.
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Thursday, November 25th 2010 at 3:56PM
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