Book Reviews – CYNTHIA D. BERTELSEN

Saints, Souls, and Haints: Ghoulish Goodies

October 29, 2021

Check this out — a recent cookbook all about Halloween, for kids young and old: Ghoulish Goodies: Creature Feature Cupcakes, Monster Eyeballs, Bat Wings, Funny Bones, Witches’ Knuckles, and Much More! (Frightful Cookbook), by Sharon Bowers (2009). Eat, drink, and enjoy the creepy yuckiness of Monster Eyeballs, Chocolate Spider Clusters, Buried Alive Cupcakes, and Screaming … More Saints, Souls, and Haints: Ghoulish Goodies

Lauren Groff’s “Florida”: Nurturing Noirishness

July 10, 2018

This is the last post I plan to write for “Gherkins & Tomatoes.” At least for a long while. After almost 10 years, it’s time to fold up the tent, so to speak, and move on. Thank you, all of my regular readers, for stopping by, I’ve loved getting to know you and sharing opinions. … More Lauren Groff’s “Florida”: Nurturing Noirishness

A Pinch of Alchemy: Samin Nosrat’s Salt Fat Acid Heat

February 9, 2018

“Anyone can cook anything and make it delicious.” That’s what chef/teacher Samin Nosrat promises, right up front, page 5, in her stunning debut – Salt Fat Acid Heat. Everybody loves an optimist. And I count Ms. Nosrat among that merry band of people, those who amble through the world with a smile on their faces, their … More A Pinch of Alchemy: Samin Nosrat’s Salt Fat Acid Heat

Madhur Jaffrey’s “Vegetarian India”: My Review on the”Modern Salt” Site

August 13, 2016

I love food from India, I mean, I really, really do. And so when I had a chance to review Madhur Jaffrey’s latest, well, what could I say??? Heck, YES! Here’s my review, of a marvelous book, on that wonderful new magazine from the U.K. – Modern Salt: MADHUR JAFFREY’S “VEGETARIAN INDIA: A JOURNEY THROUGH … More Madhur Jaffrey’s “Vegetarian India”: My Review on the”Modern Salt” Site

The Wonder Spice: A Review of Turmeric, a Cookbook by Colleen Taylor Sen and Helen Saberi

March 11, 2014

Several years ago, I set up an informal experiment with an observation of two: in my tiny two-person household, I cooked and ate only Indian food for one month, relying heavily on cookbooks by Julie Sahni and Madhur Jaffrey. I felt terrific, with more energy and alertness than I knew what to do with. Of … More The Wonder Spice: A Review of Turmeric, a Cookbook by Colleen Taylor Sen and Helen Saberi

Mushrooms at Female & Fungi

December 24, 2013

I know, I said my last post was the last until after Christmas, but I wanted to share something with you this bright sunny day. Not long ago, some people who write the remarkable web site “Female & Fungi” contacted me about my book, Mushroom: A Global History. They wanted to know more about the … More Mushrooms at Female & Fungi

Julia Child’s “The French Chef, ” by Dana Polan

July 17, 2012

“a history of early American television telescoped through the persona and history of Julia Child. . . . fascinating . . .” When you walk the streets of Cambridge, Massachusetts, you can’t miss the lingering traces of heroes and history. From the names of the men who brought you the Boston Tea Party to the … More Julia Child’s “The French Chef, ” by Dana Polan

Who was Ginette Mathiot? And Why Should You Care?

November 15, 2011

Ginette Mathiot wrote books that bring up long-lost taste memories in France, much as Marcel Proust’s oft-quoted prattle about about madeleines. Only her work proves infinitely more readable and enjoyable. She also basically sticks it to Julia and makes French cooking seem less like a prolonged session at the dentist’s. One of her books, Je … More Who was Ginette Mathiot? And Why Should You Care?