Rating: 
Summary: Solid, creative, beautiful food
Review: Although I do not have their first book, the second book is a joy to use and read. The authors' sense of humor is revealed through several photographic series of comical restaurant vignettes. The food, while traditional, has a nice spin so that you really feel like you're making something special and familiar. Their fried calamari with anchovy dressing is the best ever. Directions throughout are clear and concise. The wine suggestions are helpful. This book would intimidate an insecure cook, but it is really easy to use.
Rating:
Summary: one recipe under my belt!
Review: I just made the Turkey with Apple Cider Gravy. Hands down the best turkey I have ever prepared. All of my dinner guests for Thanksgiving this year commented that it was the best turkey they have ever had. Wow! The turkey was absolutely delicious, succulent, and wonderfully flavored by the complex assortment of ingredients that came about in the brining process and the stuffing and gravy. I used quince for the first time as an ingredient in my cooking.The book is invitingly presented with it's story line approach through the photographs, sometimes silly. But yes, as another reviewer mentioned there is Jacque Pepin in the black and white photo essay in one chapter looking like he's truly enjoying himself. A great endorsement for this book as I love his cooking and personality as much as I do Julia Child. I can't wait to try other recipes from this book and soon. I think that this book will become a regular for me to try out new recipes and enhance my own knowledge of my Northern Italian Nona's cooking every day.
Rating: 
Summary: Not a Great Second Act
Review: i LOVED the first Union Square Cookbook, and use its recipes regularly...and i have been SO disappointed with this one...i have not made ANYTHING that i liked from this cookbook...spare yourself
Rating: 
Summary: Great companion to the first book
Review: If you've ever eaten at the Union Square Cafe and loved it, you'll be happy to know that there is now a 2nd book of recipes from that famed eatery. I had the first, and was very pleased to find some of my favorites in there. The second is also terrific, and a great companion to the first.
Rating:
Summary: More of the same with extra spice in the pics
Review: Most of what I found true of the first Union Square Café is also true of this sequel. And, the appearance of a sequel justifies the good opinion of the first volume. The new volume continues it's contribution to my Italian repetoire and continues to do it with recipes which are exceptionally well written. The introduction to the new volume makes it clear that many, if not most of the dishes are ... from Italian restaurants and nonas. I like this, if only because I find this much more believable than if the authors took credit for the recipes themselves. I also appreciate the traditional Italian names of the dishes as it makes it easier to compare these recipes with those done by classic Italian food writers such as Marcella Hazan and Lidia Bastianich. The new volume uses it's photographs to add a rare element of humor to the cookbook. It is great good fun to do some celebrity spotting in the pics and be reassured that if Jacque Pepin takes the trouble to eat there, something good much be going on in the back of the house. The new volume includes a long Pasta and Risotto chapter. A welcome addition. On the down side, I find some of the recipes fairly long. Several are probably too much for the casual cook, although I believe some of the length is due to their being very thorough in their explanations. Since this is a sequel to a well received book, I find the Pantry section to be a waste of space. Many named preparations from the first book are repeated in the second. Since these preparations are also available in hundreds of other books, I think this is blatant padding. Bottom line is that the book is a worthy continuation to the original.
Rating:
Summary: More of the same with extra spice in the pics
Review: Most of what I found true of the first Union Square Café is also true of this sequel. And, the appearance of a sequel justifies the good opinion of the first volume. The new volume continues it's contribution to my Italian repetoire and continues to do it with recipes which are exceptionally well written. The introduction to the new volume makes it clear that many, if not most of the dishes are ... from Italian restaurants and nonas. I like this, if only because I find this much more believable than if the authors took credit for the recipes themselves. I also appreciate the traditional Italian names of the dishes as it makes it easier to compare these recipes with those done by classic Italian food writers such as Marcella Hazan and Lidia Bastianich. The new volume uses it's photographs to add a rare element of humor to the cookbook. It is great good fun to do some celebrity spotting in the pics and be reassured that if Jacque Pepin takes the trouble to eat there, something good much be going on in the back of the house. The new volume includes a long Pasta and Risotto chapter. A welcome addition. On the down side, I find some of the recipes fairly long. Several are probably too much for the casual cook, although I believe some of the length is due to their being very thorough in their explanations. Since this is a sequel to a well received book, I find the Pantry section to be a waste of space. Many named preparations from the first book are repeated in the second. Since these preparations are also available in hundreds of other books, I think this is blatant padding. Bottom line is that the book is a worthy continuation to the original.
Rating:
Summary: Sophisticated Recipes for Serious Foodies
Review: Since one of my favorite recipes (Grilled Marinated Filet of Tuna) comes from Danny Meyer's and Michael Romano's first cookbook, the award-winning Union Square Café Cookbook, I was eager to get their Second Helpings from Union Square Café cookbook. Adorned by the amusing, original b & w photos by Duane Michaels, Second Helpings is chock full of sophisticated recipes that have been specially adapted and thoroughly tested for the home chef from the Union Square Café repertoire of palate-pleasing seasonal offerings. While I would not suggest that a novice cook try most of these recipes, I do recommend Second Helpings for those of us who have been cooking at home for years, who are not able to be regulars at this fabulous three-star restaurant, and who want to make some exciting new variations on classic dishes, especially for entertaining at home. Some of the recipes are summer and spring seasonal, such as Lemongrass Vichyssoise, Chilled Melon and Vodka Soup, Soft Shell Crabs with Tomato Nage, and Spring Risotto - I'll look forward to trying them in warmer weather. Others are perfect for harvest-time, fall, winter, and holiday cooking and baking - the first recipe I tried was Green Tomato Chutney, which used up my late-season bounty of unripe fresh tomatoes. I served it with my newest favorite dish - Chili and Sage-Rubbed Salmon, accompanied by buttered rice, with Plum Clafoutis for dessert, all accompanied by Champagne. (Almost every recipe is paired with excellent wine recommendations.) Other recipes I can't wait to try are: Eggplant 'Meatballs' (meatless polpettine); Spaghettini con Bottarga (bottarga is sun-dried tuna or mullet roe, popular in Sardinia); Grilled Salmon with Lentil and Beet Vinaigrette, (which is also good on grilled shrimp or lobster); Sicilian-Style Salmon (salmon with tomatoes, raisins, olives, and almonds); Red Snapper with Cognac Sauce; Indian 'Bouillabaisse'; Michael's Garlic-Lemon Steak; and Bollito di Vitello, (which is served at USC every Wednesday). For the holidays, I am looking forward to making Roast Turkey with Apple-Cider Gravy and Maple-Roasted Sweet Potatoes. For mashed-potato lovers, Second Helpings has four new variations! Also included is the recipe for USC's famous Italian Fries. For condiment lovers, there are four chutney recipes: green tomato, apple-pear, plum, and quince. For dessert lovers, there are many temptations - my favorites are the cookie recipes (chocolate chip-oatmeal and peanut butter). The only drawback to this excellent new cookbook is that no timing is given for prep work or cooking of the recipes, and that there are almost no pictures of the finished dishes. Several recipes require that you start preparation the night before you plan to serve the dishes. I haven't found these things to be a problem though, but I do have to read through the recipes several times and try to figure out the time I'll need. For most recipes, but certainly not all, I recommend making them on free days or weekends, when you're not feeling rushed. Some of the recipes call for Indian spices or other ingredients that are easily available through mail order if you can't find them locally. What I love most about these new recipes is that when reading them I feel like Chef Romano (and Mr. Meyer) are chatting with me, advising me what pan or dish to use, and relaying anecdotes from their restaurant and from their travels. Second Helpings is an excellent and exciting new cookbook. I plan to give it to my foodie friends for the holidays!
Rating:
Summary: Sophisticated Recipes for Serious Foodies
Review: Since one of my favorite recipes (Grilled Marinated Filet of Tuna) comes from Danny Meyer's and Michael Romano's first cookbook, the award-winning Union Square Café Cookbook, I was eager to get their Second Helpings from Union Square Café cookbook. Adorned by the amusing, original b & w photos by Duane Michaels, Second Helpings is chock full of sophisticated recipes that have been specially adapted and thoroughly tested for the home chef from the Union Square Café repertoire of palate-pleasing seasonal offerings. While I would not suggest that a novice cook try most of these recipes, I do recommend Second Helpings for those of us who have been cooking at home for years, who are not able to be regulars at this fabulous three-star restaurant, and who want to make some exciting new variations on classic dishes, especially for entertaining at home. Some of the recipes are summer and spring seasonal, such as Lemongrass Vichyssoise, Chilled Melon and Vodka Soup, Soft Shell Crabs with Tomato Nage, and Spring Risotto - I'll look forward to trying them in warmer weather. Others are perfect for harvest-time, fall, winter, and holiday cooking and baking - the first recipe I tried was Green Tomato Chutney, which used up my late-season bounty of unripe fresh tomatoes. I served it with my newest favorite dish - Chili and Sage-Rubbed Salmon, accompanied by buttered rice, with Plum Clafoutis for dessert, all accompanied by Champagne. (Almost every recipe is paired with excellent wine recommendations.) Other recipes I can't wait to try are: Eggplant 'Meatballs' (meatless polpettine); Spaghettini con Bottarga (bottarga is sun-dried tuna or mullet roe, popular in Sardinia); Grilled Salmon with Lentil and Beet Vinaigrette, (which is also good on grilled shrimp or lobster); Sicilian-Style Salmon (salmon with tomatoes, raisins, olives, and almonds); Red Snapper with Cognac Sauce; Indian 'Bouillabaisse'; Michael's Garlic-Lemon Steak; and Bollito di Vitello, (which is served at USC every Wednesday). For the holidays, I am looking forward to making Roast Turkey with Apple-Cider Gravy and Maple-Roasted Sweet Potatoes. For mashed-potato lovers, Second Helpings has four new variations! Also included is the recipe for USC's famous Italian Fries. For condiment lovers, there are four chutney recipes: green tomato, apple-pear, plum, and quince. For dessert lovers, there are many temptations - my favorites are the cookie recipes (chocolate chip-oatmeal and peanut butter). The only drawback to this excellent new cookbook is that no timing is given for prep work or cooking of the recipes, and that there are almost no pictures of the finished dishes. Several recipes require that you start preparation the night before you plan to serve the dishes. I haven't found these things to be a problem though, but I do have to read through the recipes several times and try to figure out the time I'll need. For most recipes, but certainly not all, I recommend making them on free days or weekends, when you're not feeling rushed. Some of the recipes call for Indian spices or other ingredients that are easily available through mail order if you can't find them locally. What I love most about these new recipes is that when reading them I feel like Chef Romano (and Mr. Meyer) are chatting with me, advising me what pan or dish to use, and relaying anecdotes from their restaurant and from their travels. Second Helpings is an excellent and exciting new cookbook. I plan to give it to my foodie friends for the holidays!
Rating:
Summary: Second Helpings
Review: Some of these recipes are a little difficult to follow, but overall this is a good cookbook. The entrees are crowd pleasers at dinner parties!
Rating:
Summary: Not a Great Second Act
Review: Sometimes the ingredient lists are a bit daunting,especially if one lives outside of a major metropolitan area, but it's worth the effort. The impressive thing about the recipes included in Union Square Cafe's second cookbook is that the various flavors are distinct while working together. For example, a pasta dish with gorgonzola and fresh corn requires that you simmer the husks in a broth--what an odd notion and what a great result !
I would say that the procedures are straightforward, but time-consuming. These are recipes that you have to plan for; they are not last-minute, just home-from-work desperation dinners. With that in mind, these are tasty, perhaps even mind -(not to say waist-) expanding recipes.
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