TALK about cooking up a storm!
Not long ago, Jessica Seinfeld -- wife of comedian Jerry Seinfeld -- found herself in the middle of a gastronomic brouhaha following the release of her cookbook, Deceptively Delicious.
Recipe for success: Jessica Seinfeld
Almost immediately, detractors began pointing out similarities between Deceptively Delicious and The Sneaky Chef, a previously published work by Missy Chase Lepine. Both books target the parents of picky eaters; Seinfeld and Lepine suggest pureeing vegetables like spinach and cauliflower, then embedding the results in kid-friendly meals such as macaroni and cheese.
Charges of plagiarism arose after it was revealed Lepine submitted her original manuscript to HarperCollins -- the firm behind Seinfeld's book -- in February 2006. (Jerry Seinfeld defended his wife on late-night TV, describing Lepine as a three-named "wacko" who's been running around, accusing people of pilfering her "mushed-up carrots.")
"Copyright of recipes is a very murky area and I suspect if it weren't for the fact she was Jerry Seinfeld's wife, there probably would have been far less press about it," says Alison Fryer, manager of Toronto's The Cookbook Store. Fryer's shop -- devoted entirely to cookbooks from around the world -- regularly stocks new releases by people not commonly associated with lemon reamers and slotted spoons.
"Paul Newman has done a couple, there have been compilation ones like the Country Singers of Nashville Cookbook... and I understand that Oprah's magazine, O, is releasing a cookbook next year, too," Fryer says when reached at her office. "But these types of books generally have a short shelf life -- surprise, surprise."
Well, surprise, again. Research proves that at one time or another, everyone from Tom Cruise to Andy Warhol to Isaac Hayes has had a recipe or cookbook published in his name. Want to whip up Patti Labelle's Say My Name Smothered Chicken? Learn how in LaBelle Cuisine: Recipes to Sing About (1999). How about Katharine Hepburn's brownies? You'll find the recipe in David Lebowitz's The Great Book of Chocolate (2004).
And so, in recognition of Jessica Seinfeld -- and all those other celebrity-types who fancy themselves epicures -- we've put together a directory of cookbooks guaranteed to glitz up your dinner table and add star power to your pantry.
TV dinners
Hell's Kitchen. Iron Chef. The Galloping Gourmet... the small screen loves big appetites, it seems. That's probably why it's so easy to track down cookbooks penned by TV stars, as well as ones inspired by the telly's most popular programs.
* Today's Kitchen Cookbook, by Stephanie Karpinske and Laurie Dolphin (2005): Before she packed her TelePrompTer for CBS, Katie Couric teamed up with her early morning co-hosts for Today's Kitchen Cookbook. This 224-page volume features a slew of recipes from chefs and restaurateurs who appeared on Today, as well as contributions from Katie, Matt and the gang. Be sure to match 'er up with weatherman Al Roker's pre-gastric bypass release, Al Roker's Big Bad Book of Barbecue (2002).
* In the Kitchen with Rosie: Oprah's Favorite Recipes, by Rosie Daley (1994): The world's wealthiest book critic combines with her personal chef, Rosie Daley, to endorse recipes with a heart-healthy message. Un-fried french fries, anyone?
* Alice's Brady Bunch Cookbook, by Ann B. Davis (1994): Author Davis, a.k.a. Sam the Butcher's main squeeze, gets the ball rolling by stating, "Personally, I can't cook." Things don't get much better after that, with entries like Marcia, Marcia, Marcia Muffins and Cindy's Buttery Just Butter Cookies.
* The I Love Lucy Cookbook, by Sarah Key (1994): Lucille Ball, America's first lady of comedy, is the inspiration for this collection, which is tied to her seminal TV series. Also by author Sarah Key: The Wizard of Oz Cookbook, The Casablanca Cookbook and The Some Like It Hot Cookbook. Notice a trend developing?
* The Desperate Housewives Cookbook, by Christopher Styler and Scott Tobis (2006): Salivating over the lovely ladies of Wisteria Lane is nothing new, except this time, blame it on Bree's braised duck, Susan's garlic mashed potatoes, Edie's sausage puttanesca and Gabrielle's pineapple-peach smoothies.
* The Star Trek Cookbook: Food from the 23rd Century and Beyond, by Ethan Phillips (1999): "Dammit, Jim, I'm a doctor, not a chef..." (Must to avoid: Vulcan Mocha ice cream.)
* Other notables:
The Bewitched Cookbook: Magic in the Kitchen, by Kasey Rogers (she played minor character Louise Tate, doncha know) (1995); The Sopranos Family Cookbook: As Compiled by Artie Bucco, by Allen Rucker and Michele Scicolone (2002); Suzanne Somers' Get Skinny on Fabulous Food, by Suzanne Somers (1999); Cooking Without Looking, by Vicki Gabereau (1994).
Sing for your supper
Smokey Joe's Café. Alice's Restaurant. Breakfast in America... musicians have long celebrated the art of cuisine in song. Here's a list of cookbooks written in the key of D, for delish.
* A Musical Feast: Recipes From Over 100 of the World's Most Famous Musical Artists, by Wendy Diamond (1995): Contributions by the likes of Whitney Houston (Candied Yams), Madonna (Cholesterol Cherry Torte) and the Beach Boys (Surf Potato, natch) with all proceeds going to the homeless. Not to be undone, singer/songwriter Randy Newman offers this can't-miss Primitive Cheese Sandwich recipe:
3 slices English cheddar cheese
2 slices white bread
Place cheese between bread slices, stacking carefully... accompany the sandwich with a simple muscatel or, for a more formal luncheon, with a brisk shot or two of rye. One serving.
* Kill It and Grill It: Ted and Shemane Nugent's Guide to Preparing & Cooking Wild Game and Fish, by Ted Nugent (2005): "I live to eat and eat to live. I live to hunt and hunt to live." So sayeth the Motor City Madman in his dissertation on preparing wild boar, pheasant, venison, etc. Of note, the Nuge also offers helpful hints re: cleaning and dressing your kill.
* The Sinatra Celebrity Cookbook: Barbara, Frank & Friends (1996): Ol' Blue Eyes is joined by Bono, Wynonna Judd and Zubin Mehta, among others, in a charity exercise aimed at benefiting abused children. You'll get recipes for meals the Chairman of the Board scoffed at as a child growing up in Hoboken, N.J., as well as others he enjoyed later in life, alongside his wife, Barbara.
* Karma Cookbook: Great Tasting Dishes to Nourish Your Body and Feed Your Soul, by Boy George (2001): First, the Culture Club frontman discovered macrobiotic cooking. Later, the former George Alan O'Dowd hitched up with his macrobiotic mentor, Dragana Brown, to offer recipes aimed at boosting readers' immune systems. (Makeup kits sold separately.)
* Are You Hungry Tonight?: Elvis' Favorite Recipes, by Brenda Butler (1992): They're all here: Moody Blue meat loaf, peanut butter and 'nana sandwiches, even the blueprints for Elvis and Priscilla's famous, multi-tiered wedding cake.
Includes over 70 colour photos of the King performing, relaxing and, of course, chowing down. See also, All Cooked Up: Recipes and Memories from Elvis' Friends and Family, by Donna Presley Early (2005), E's cousin.
* She Came in Through the Kitchen Window: Recipes Inspired by the Beatles and Their Music, by Stephen J. Spignesi (2002): Let it Beef. Give Peas a Chance. Crumb Together. Can't Buy Me Fudge. Happiness is a Warm Bun. (Stop us anytime...)
* Other notables:
Joy of Liberace: Retro Recipes from America's Kitschiest Kitchen, by Karan Feder (2007); Naomi's Home Companion: A Treasury of Favorite Recipes, Food for Thought and Country Wit and Wisdom, by Naomi Judd (1997); Teany Book: Stories, Food, Romance, Cartoons and, of Course, Tea, by Moby (2005); The Tammy Wynette Southern Cookbook, by Tammy Wynette (1990); Rock and Roll Cookbook: Favorite Recipes from the Chart Toppers, Hit Makers and Legends of Rock and Roll, by Dick St. John (we can't get enough of Paul Anka's Taboulie My Way!).
Dinner and a movie
Chocolat. Babette's Feast. Tampopo... the film industry holds a special place in its 35 mm heart for food, as anyone who's ever forked over 20 bucks for popcorn and a Coke can well attest. Following is a smorgasbord of cookbooks, penned by stars of the silver screen...
* Morgan Freeman & Friends: Caribbean Cooking for a Cause, by Wendy Wilkinson, Donna Lee and Morgan Freeman (2006): Honestly, when does he find time to eat? Morgan Freeman, who seems to turn up in a new flick every other week, compiles an assortment of Caribbean recipes in support of the Grenada Relief Fund for victims of 2004's Hurricane Ivan. Contributors include Tom Hanks, Tim Robbins and Ben Vereen.
* The Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. Cookbook: Recipes & Reflections from Forrest Gump (1994), and Forrest Gump: My Favorite Chocolate Recipes (1995): Not only did 1994's Academy Award winner for best picture rouse a chain of restaurants (Bubba Gump Shrimp Co.), it was also the impetus for a pair of cookbooks, both by the title character's creator, Winston Groom.
* Loose in the Kitchen, by Kim Hunter (1975): Oscar-winning actress Kim Hunter -- best remembered for playing Stellaaaaaaa! Kowalski in A Streetcar Named Desire -- penned a 395-page autobiography/cookbook, touching on her years in Hollywood, and what she put on the dinner table, during that period.
* My Cookbook, by Gerard Depardieu (2005): If there's two things the French love, it's food and wine. And Jerry Lewis, if you want to count to three. Here, the star of Green Card and 102 Dalmations dedicates himself to the cuisine of his home country, with dishes like Boeuf Bourguignon and Moules Marinieres. Bon appetit!
* In the Kitchen with Miss Piggy: Fabulous Recipes from My Famous Celebrity Friends by Moi (1996): Jodie Foster (Penne With Broccoli Rabe), Clint Eastwood (Spaghetti Western) and Samuel L. Jackson (Spinach Linguine and Ground Turkey Sauce) turn up in Miss Piggy's fundraising cookbook for Citymeals-on-Wheels. Gasp alert: poet Maya Angelou's recipe for Jollof Rice calls for "3 cups diced ham."
* The Hollywood Cookbook, by Jackie Zabel (2006): Guest gourmets include Treat Williams, Ron Howard and Michael J. Fox. ("Waiter, there's a McFly in my soup!)
Other notables:
A Treasury of Great Recipes, by Vincent and Mary Price (1965); Recipes and Memories, by Sophia Loren (1998); Gone With the Wind Cookbook: Famous Southern Cooking Recipes, by Dolce & Gabbana (1991).
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