In order for me to like a cookbook it has to have three
things: an attractive layout with beautiful and plentiful pictures, be
written from the heart with personal experiences interlaced with tasty and
unique recipes, and it has to be inspiring. So, Food with Friends, the Art of
Simple Gatherings by Leela Cyd, meeting the above criteria should be a
five-star book...but it isn't. Don't get me wrong, I like it, I like it a lot,
but I am a member of the food blogging community and a "foodie," so
the biggest appeal for me were the lovely layouts, and wonderful text. The
recipes were secondary.
Now, normally, this wouldn't bother me because while
they did not inspire me, the layouts, the Anything-Goes Breakfast Board, and
section called "Tiny Takeaways" on treats to make, beautifully
package, and give to friends did. But the inspiration came more from the photos
than the food.
Now, it's just a guess, but I think most people buy cookbooks
for the recipes more than anything else. In this book you will be offered
things like Sweet Tahini Buns, Raw Vegan Cacao and Coconut Hearts, Socca Cakes
with Labneh & Fennel, Rose Flan, Matcha Egg Cream, and Orange Blossom
Hagelslag on Toast.
The title is also a bit of a let down in that there is nothing simple about the
recipes in this book. Okay, the Maple Kettle Corn was simple, and it was good,
but ay-yi-yi, most of the recipes require a lot of time, a decent bit of skill,
and some oddball ingredients. And, if I can be honest, there was really no
recipe in this book that I wanted to make. I'd like to think that the reason
for this is because the recipes in this book lean more to the sweet than the
savory, and I prefer the latter, but, really, while they all presented
beautifully, none of them really sounded good.
This book speaks to a specific audience, and while I thought I'd be a member of
that group, I simply wasn't. But don't let me discourage you. Give it a look at
your local library to see if it is the book for you and, if it is, dive right
in and buy a copy. If you enjoy reading cookbooks as much as I do, you will be
well entertained. If you prefer to cook from them, you might just feel this one
falls short.
Three and a half out of five stars.
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Blogging
for Books in exchange for an honest review.
