Review
Posted in: Books > Food and Drink Books
24 / 07 / 2007
The most common question I’m asked is “What do I cook at home when I by myself?” My usual response varies from something quick and easy to dishes slightly gourmet. Factors include whether I need to photograph a dish or try a new ingredient and what ingredients and how much time is available. But on a whole, I’m usually over indulgent when dining by myself.
Now a new book titled ‘Alone in the Kitchen with an Eggplant’ asks that exact question to 26 writers and foodies. The book seeks to uncover what foods they eat when they’re by themselves. Their stories include acts of sheer desperation from being single through to others being divorced and lonely. No matter the reason ‘Alone in the Kitchen with an Eggplant’ takes readers on a journey of personal exploration and experiences.
‘Alone in the Kitchen with an Eggplant’ is co-ordinated and edited by New Yorker, Jenni Ferrari-Alder who is self described as an egg-seller, literary agency assistant and a bookseller. Jenni begins the book by talking about her experiences as a student and her desperate decisions in front of empty refrigerators and bare cupboards. Jenni named the book from an essay by the late Laurie Colwin, from her book Home Cooking.
At the end of each writer’s chapter, many offer recipes, but unsurprisingly most recipes represent easy to make comfort food from simple Eggs Florentine to Kippers mash, through to a very refined Chilli recipe. However there are alone diners who go all out for the finest meal and indulge like Amanda Hesser’s Truffled egg toast. But my favourite recipe is Marcella Hazan’s Italian styled grilled cheese and ham sandwich.
The book reminded me of when I was Executive Chef of the Parkroyal Perth and often after dinner service I’d wander into the restaurant to find a dozen single diners reading a magazine or novel. Most would be in Perth on business away from Sydney or Melbourne by themselves. I’d often interrupt them, introduce myself and take a seat, grab two beers and have a chat. From then on in every night they stayed they always dined in the restaurant hoping to catch me for a chat and a beer.
Alone in the Kitchen with an Eggplant isn’t really a cookbook as such, but is a great book to read when you don’t feel like reading a cookbook or fiction novel.
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