100 Words for Foodies

How do you know if you're a foodie?

Maybe it's this: When you're not putting great food in your mouth, you're using your mouth to talk about that great food. If that sounds a little bit like you, this book might teach you the vocabulary words you need to talk even more about the food you love!

The words are arranged alphabetically, with definitions given of various spices, dishes, even tools. This book works much like a dictionary, and was, in fact, put together by the editors of the American Heritage Dictionary. Many of the entries also include a "word history" which talks about how the word came about. I found the entry for "nacho" particularly interesting. Besides word histories, "100 Words for Foodies" also includes recipes for selected entries.

A few other words in this book are chaat (a certain sort of South Asian snack), sancocho (a Latin American stew) and mandoline (a tool for slicing veggies and sometimes fingers) - among many many others (well, 97 others, anyway)

Is there an entry for "nom"? Find out by picking up your very own copy.

I Like Food, Food Tastes Good

I Like Food, Food Tastes Good
(In the Kitchen with Your Favorite Bands)

c 2007 Kata Zuaro

Exploding Sandwich, Eddie Vedder Stew, and Chocolate Worm are among the recipes included here. While most of the recipes were submitted directly by bands, bandmembers, and various girlfriends/wives/parents of bandmembers, the recipe for Exploding Sandwich was transcribed from a hidden track on a record by singer-songwriter Hayden. Recent releases of that particular record no longer contain the hidden track, so Hayden said the recipe for Exploding Sandwich could be included in this book.

You'll find within I Like Food recipes for the usual occasions: breakfast, main course, dessert, etc. And, being a book of recipes from touring rock bands, there's even a hangover remedy included (Cheesy Sleazy).

Speaking of hangovers, there's also a section of drink recipes. The John Glenn is a simple combination of Tang instant breakfast drink and vodka. A variant uses Jack Daniels instead of vodka and is called the Buzz Aldrin.

One of the most entertaining recipes to read (or simply to look at) is Africanitas Ricas, which was submitted by Devendra Banhard. This is not your standard recipe notation, in that it involves an abundance of exclamation points, random capitalization and what appears to be plain old gobbledygook (but might be some sort of incantation) (see photo).

The books titles comes from the song "I Like Food" by Descendents. Here's part of the song's lyrics:

I like food, food tastes good!
I like food, food tastes good!
Juicy burgers, greasy fries,
Turkey legs and raw fish eyes
Teenage girls, with ketchup too!
Get out of my way, or I'll eat you!


Now, get this book, crank up the tunes, and get cooking! 

The Twinkies Cookbook

Yes, it really exists.

The Twinkies Cookbook: An Inventive and Unexpected Recipe Collection

According to this book, "Twinkies sparkle with an undeniable magic - a star that seems to shine brighter with age."

The recipes are presented in seven chapters, including "Gourmet Twinkies," "Twinkie Drinks," and "Twinkies and Meat."

Among the recipes: Twinkie Lasagna, Pigs in a Twinkie, and a Twinkie Wedding Cake.

A side note: Something I discovered while reading this book is that - after you look at it over and over again - the word Twinkie starts looking really strange. Perhaps I just need some Twinkie Sushi to clear my mind.

By Hook or by Cook:The Official Nevada Brothel Cookbook

By Hook or by Cook: The Official Nevada Brothel Cookbook
(Cat House Cuisine Concocted by Nevada's Finest Working Ladies)

Edited by J.R. Schwartz (Fourth Edition: 2001)

This jokey cookbook offers recipes from 'Nevada's Finest Working Ladies' and includes recipes such as "Nut Nibbles", "Eggs Bend a Dick" and "The Twilight Bone."



The recipes are followed by a section on "Aphrodisiacs, Food and Therapy" and a questionable "Glossary of Terms". :)

The book's Disclaimer reveals that everything in it is made up (although it assures you that the recipes are, in fact, edible).