M. Suzanne Terry

Culinary Giants

As you might have gathered from this week (if not from before), I read a lot of books about food. Today, I want to share with you five of my favorite people.

1. Barbara Smith – B. Smith writes hospitality well. Her Entertaining and Cooking for Friends is my go-to book on the subject. Fun fact: she was the first African American model to be on the cover of Mademoiselle.
2. Alice Waters – I am sitting here getting teary over how much I love her. One of the main reasons I want to visit California someday (aside from my friends there, of course) is to visit Chez Panisse. She is one of the stars of the Slow Food movement, and I can sit and read The Art of Simple Food: Notes, Lessons, and Recipes from a Delicious Revolution like a novel.
3. Ruth Reichl – Tender at the Bone is the book that started my obsession with food writers. I can’t remember if it was this book or Comfort Me With Apples that told the story of Danny Kaye’s lemon cream sauce, but you should just read both of them and then make it immediately.
4. Nigella Lawson – Nigella Bites, like all her books, is a gorgeous book full of beautiful recipes. I knew I would love her when, while writing about dessert that included a substantial amount of booze, she said something to the effect that you could leave it out – if you really must – if there are children but that otherwise more is more.
5. Mark Bittman – If you want an excellent break down of the food system and the politics that accompany it, Food Matters is the way to go. And for those of you who have had my waffles, his recipe in How to Cook Everything is my go-to. You’re welcome.

Who are some of your favorite food writers?

I’m writing 31 Days of Shelfies.