Cuisine of the Creative

Rating:
Summary: Arrogance and Confusion
Review: A striking example of displaying one's personal possessions, this book seems more of an ode to the authors' material obsessions than either well designed art book or useful cookbook. The contents are at once arrogant (why do we care about the author's fancy race cars?) and the method inconsistent (do the food selections reflect the artists' preferences? or what the authors' would like to serve them as dinner guests?). The layout and typography is confused and without hierarchy which makes the contents difficult and frustrating to navigate. The "research" seems to be a few quotes culled from cocktail parties and art books - sources generally not considered either reliable or scholarly. The book has nice paper.

Rating:
Summary: Arrogance and Confusion
Review: I was at the James Beard Awards Ceremony in New York and think the Nominee, Cuisine of the Creative, should have won. I'm sure it's difficult to evaluate an incredibly beautiful publication when it's equally as stunning for it's art as for it's recipes. I was glad to see that it won Best Photography Award from the International Cookbook Review in Versailles, France!

Rating:
Summary: Pass on this puppy
Review: Received this collection as a gift from a friend. To say the least it was disappointing. The authors are so self centered they focus less on the food and more on their assets. The recipes are ok, if you can find the ingredients. Naturally there will be a few missing as well as I found. I was a bit surprised the James Beard group would consider this one, but the pictures are nice -- just don't try to cook from it.

Rating:
Summary: Pass on this puppy
Review: Received this collection as a gift from a friend. To say the least it was disappointing. The authors are so self centered they focus less on the food and more on their assets. The recipes are ok, if you can find the ingredients. Naturally there will be a few missing as well as I found. I was a bit surprised the James Beard group would consider this one, but the pictures are nice -- just don't try to cook from it.

Rating:
Summary: Epicures' Delight
Review: [...] This is one of the choicest Cook Books/Menu Planners ever assembled. The food is stunningly photographed; the fare is elegant, simple yet extraordinary.

Its also entertains to speculate how each artist relates to his described menu. Some are obvious (Keith Haring & Hot Dogs . . . I'm sure they'd make his palate respond involuntarily or say Dali with a crayfish consommé). Superb photos compliment all of the selections & I find the whole concept wonderfully amusing.

Since the recipes are still the heart of the matter I'll compliment them again by saying that while almost ordinary at times, they're the quickest routes to a quality repast & the juxtaposition with the artists work produces an epicurean bonanza for the sensualist.

Rating:
Summary: Epicures' Delight
Review: [...] This is one of the choicest Cook Books/Menu Planners ever assembled. The food is stunningly photographed; the fare is elegant, simple yet extraordinary.

Its also entertains to speculate how each artist relates to his described menu. Some are obvious (Keith Haring & Hot Dogs . . . I'm sure they'd make his palate respond involuntarily or say Dali with a crayfish consommé). Superb photos compliment all of the selections & I find the whole concept wonderfully amusing.

Since the recipes are still the heart of the matter I'll compliment them again by saying that while almost ordinary at times, they're the quickest routes to a quality repast & the juxtaposition with the artists work produces an epicurean bonanza for the sensualist.