Lovin’ This Cookbook!
Pros: Beautifully illustrated; Durable book; Unique recipes
Cons: Long ingredient lists; recipes aren’t for novice cooks
Reviewed by Heather Will
I love cookbooks and this is one of the nicest that I’ve seen in a while. It’s the best of both worlds: a cookbook and a story that explains a personal journey. This is definitely a must for any Guy Fieri fan. This book is well constructed right down to the hard cover and thick pages. This cookbook truly represents Guy Fieri and his fun, wacky personality.
Throughout the cookbook there are fun illustrations and cartoons designed by Fieri’s tattoo and most of the recipes have a color photograph which is a definite plus in my book. This book is just plain fun to look through in my opinion. I love that Fieri includes personal stories about how some of the recipes came to be. There are also tribute recipes for his late sister that add such a personal feel to the book. Fieri definitely makes a connection with the readers.
I’ve had the opportunity to make several of the recipes in this cookbook and I haven’t been disappointed yet. I think my favorite recipe was the Cajun Chicken with Alfredo. It’s a beautifully rich dish with just the right touch of spice. The sun-dried tomatoes are a nice addition to break up some of the richness. While this recipe was nicely laid out, it may not be the best choice for a new cook. It fails to mention that the sauce should be consistently stirred so that it doesn’t burn and stick to the pan. These are the simple little tricks that can save a dish. Overall, this is a great recipe and I will absolutely make it again.
One of my other favorite recipes from this book was the Sangria-Glazed Shrimp. This is a fun and refreshing dish that would be great for a summer patio party. The combination of fruit juices and wine made for a great glaze and the apple and pepper garnish gave a nice crush. I found it to be the perfect balance of flavors. Next time, I would add some type of rice to make it a hearty meal. Even without rice, it was a successful recipe.
Some of the other fabulous recipes in this book included Grilled Romaine with Blue Cheese-Bacon Vinaigrette and Asian Fried Quinoa. The grilled romaine made for a quick and easy dinner on a busy night and the quinoa was nice change for lunch at work. It was also a great way to sneak in the veggies that everyone needs more of. These are recipes that I will use again and again. I’m looking forward to cooking my way through this cookbook and finding my new favorite recipes.
This is a cookbook that definitely inspires fun in the kitchen. The recipes are creative and unique and they have that well-loved Guy Fieri spin on them. The only downfall is that some of the ingredient lists are lengthy and they may use ingredients that you don’t normally have in the pantry. It’s definitely worth the trip to the store though. The results are amazing! Also, most of the recipes aren’t the healthiest option, but absolutely worth the splurge. I will be purchasing another copy of this cookbook for my brother because it would make a great gift for any culinary enthusiast.
