There's a whole list of titles like that; "cookbooks" that are really explorations into the cultural phenomanon called southern cooking. They're partly the author's rememberances, partly anecdotes from other people, partly interviews, and wholly great reading.

My favorite of these is Joseph Dabney's Smokehouse Ham, Spoon Bread & Scuppernong Wine because it's more regional in nature, being an exploration of "the Folklore and Art of Sourthern Appalachian Cooking." In other words, it's closer to home for me and Janie than a book about, say, Georgia cookery.

A really interesting new book, which I'm in the process of reviewing, is Bon Appetit, Y'all. Virginia Willis was raised in the culinary tradition of the deep south. She was then classically trained in France. Her recipes are a "fusion" (lord, I hate that word) of those two influences. And her stories are wonderful reads.

Just a reminder for anyone ordering books (or anything else) from Amazon.

Please go over to ChefTalk first (ChefTalk - Cooking Forums, Cook Book Review, Cooking Articles and Recipes by the chefs) and use the direct link button in the forums over there. Doing so helps my quarterly paycheck.

Thanks.

Cathy,

I got 'New Greek Cuisine' for a friend for Christmas a few months back. I only had a chance to flip thru it a bit, but it was a handsome, substantial book, with lots of great photos (which is a big deal to me).

I'm still reading and spending time with my last bunch of 'new membership freebies' from a few weeks back, 'Screen Doors & Sweet Tea', "The Deen Brother's Ya'll Come Eat", 'Cresent City Cooking', "Lidia's Italian American Kitchen', and 'The Commemorative Edition: Edna Lewis' Taste of Country Cooking'.

Next, books I want to pick-up are the remaining ones I don't yet have of the 'Beautiful Cookbook' series. I only have: 'The Beautiful Pacific North-West Cookbook', "The Beautiful Australia Cookbook', and 'The Beautiful Texas Cookbook' and I'd like to pick them all up used, of course from Amazon and Barnes & Noble...

They all sound like good titles! Today I ordered thru the bookclub my free choice and I chose:Spain and

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? my head is throbbing so bad I can't remember the whole name I will let you know later! Sorry

Would that be Spain and the World Table, Cathy?

If so, it's a great book that you'll really enjoy. It's a CIA imprinteur, and resulted from their last Worlds of Flavor International Conference & Festival, which is held annually in November.

You remember I talked about the Grilled Lamb Chops with Salsade Pasitas Rojas? That came out of this book.

One thing you might want to try. On page 51 is a recipe for cold Mussel Escabeche. I couldn't find decent mussels when I made it, so subbed squid, which worked incredibly well.

Cut the bodies into wide strips and cook in boiling water for about 90 seconds (the rule with squid is to cook them for less than 2 minutes or more than 20). Refresh in ice water. Then proceed with the recipe.

Delish!