Rating: 
Summary: Not Just a Cookbook
Review: I think some people did not like this book because all they wanted was a cookbook. If anything, it is a Louisiana travel guide interspersed with plenty of recepies to keep you cooking all year! If you love Louisiana or love Emeril, then this is the book for you!
Rating: 
Summary: What?
Review: This is not the book that I'd recommend to anyone. How much more commercial can you get? Now, we are getting ready to be asaulted with 'Emeril' as a sitcom. Emeril used to be a pretty entertaining cook, now he is nothing more than a corporate cartoon out there shucking 'his' wares. It wouldn't surprise me if this book was written by a team of corporate hacks. .... This book was BAD!
Rating:
Summary: Bam! The Man Knows How To Have Fun!
Review: If you purchase any cookbook in the near future, make it this lively read from the favorite adopted son of N'Awlins--Emeril Lagasse. I was overwhelmingly enthralled, not just by the recipes, but all the information I found within. Each like preciously revealed secrets to a creatively sacred way of life. The Bam man takes us through streets of NOLA, (also the name of one of his restaurants), sharing his favorite places, foods, and people. His generous sparkle draws you into the sometimes naughty, always boisterous Crescent City and makes you feel right at home, cher! Themes abound in this travelogue disguised as a cookbook. My favorites are his "Cigar" party for the new father (credit given to one of his employees) and "New Years Eve" with luscious, albeit expensive, morsels and beverages Royale. With superb clear photography, fascinating historical facts, backgrounds of religious and just plain fun festivals, and oh, yes, the scrumptious recipes--this grand celebration of family, love, food, and life makes you smile as warmly as a fresh baked chocolate beignet and lovingly poured cafe au lait. A great gift for fun-loving guys and gals alike.
Rating:
Summary: Emeril's book
Review: My friends at work gave me this book for a going away present, bu t I wasn't leaving the company. I really don't know how to cook and had a hard time following the recipes. Emeril uses too many ingredients and it is hard to figure out what to do. The pictures in the book were nice, but it didn't show how to make the dishes. I wish Emeril included National Airplane Day as one of his holidays.
Rating: 
Summary: A happy medium
Review: I also recieved this book as a gift, and I loved reading it-- not looking at the recipes, but sitting down and reading it cover to cover. It's that kind of book. I agree with the reviewer who stated that it was not for beginners-- certainly not!-- but it's an interesting take on the food of both Louisiana and Emeril's multi-geographic, multi-ethnic background. If you don't like Emeril, and are just looking for some Cajun and Creole recipes, don't go here. But if you, like me, have become wound around his little finger, this is a good choice.
Rating: 
Summary: No big deal...
Review: Let me start off by saying I enjoy Emeril's show. If I see an interesting dish, I visit the FoodTV website and grab the recipie. However, I don't consider Emeril the end-all be-all of cooking. I hold a lot of dinner parites so a friend ordered this book for me for my birthday. I keep it in my bathroom. I must regretfully say that it is far handier there, than in the kitchen. I have prepared several recipies from this book. I liked a couple but no one else has tasted them but me. I simply refuse to serve them. They are mediocre at best, and though it would be easy for me to blame Emeril if I cook something bad, it reflects on me as a cook if I do. Therefore, I make sure something is worth serving to my friends before I introduce it to them, and these "Party" recipies don't have much flair. Just a lot of spice or heat or essence as he says. Sometimes he kicks it up too many notches, and sometimes not enough notches. I am no Cajun expert either, but the recipies I learned from "Paul Pruhomme's Lousiana Kitchin" are dishes that I serve with pride (By the way I don't tell my friends where I get these recipies, so they think I am a REALLY good cook). Many of Emril's recipies from his show are very good. He has a Chili recipie that is exellent and I make it all the time so don't let me come off as a jerk who hates Emreril. He really does pull off some good stuff, but they are few and far between. I like his style, and he reminds me of my uncle, that's the attraction for me. I like him and his food, just not anything from this book. I haven't seen his other books, but judging by the reviews of them, they come pretty close to this one. If you want to make food that is VERY spiced up, be my guest. But if you think you can improve Emeril's recipies by taking them down a notch, you'll come out with dishes that are just "okay". ~Paul
Rating:
Summary: Party Time
Review: Has he no shame? What was the man thinking? This book is a very sparse collection of over blown, in-your-face recipes loosely tied to various holidays and festivals. Nice pictures in the book, but on the whole not worth the cover price. This should not be included as a cookbook, but rather a coffee table book or an author's vanity piece.
Rating:
Summary: Celebrate!
Review: This wonderful book really helps bring out the party in everyone. Emeril is a master at making people of all walks of life happy. Each section of the book is broken into months of the year celebrating different festivals. The recipes, while a little weak on technicals, still fit fairly well with each occasion listed in the book. Especially notable is Emeril celebrating Rainbow Day in June. His special notes and sharing his personal experiences with the gay lifestyle are heartwarming. Although there are a lot of good points in the book, I think Emeril should have shied away from his promotion of the religious holidays, which often times are just too intolerant.
Rating:
Summary: Turn out the lights ...
Review: ... the party's over. They say that all, good things must end .... This book is not good. Emeril put a collection of mediocre recipes together and passed it off as a cookbook. His success has gotten to him. If you want a good sample of what Emeril is capable of, go look at his New New Orleans Cooking. That was written when Emeril still had his edge. Now sadly, he has gone commercial and the quality has suffered.
Rating:
Summary: Emeril is the man!
Review: There will be many chefs and cooks who will not like this book. Jealousy will play a part in this, and many are like magicians and resent Emeril's demystifying of their art. These recipies are daring challenges for the experienced cook and exciting experiments for the novice. In any case, the basic premise is the same one that rules Emeril's restaurants and TV shows -- good food, prepared well, and for celebration! Cooking and eating these recipes was a thrill and a joy -- can't wait for the next book! Thank you Emeril. Also, to the Low-Fat Nazi's out there ... celebrations are for enjoying, not for counting calories! PORK FAT RULES!
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