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dimples0508's review against another edition
4.0
I actually really enjoyed the intelligent voices and stories shared throughout this book. I would recommend this to Latinx people who know a little about prison life because your 'uncle' went to jail for a few. Interesting way that they make ramen into different meals but it definitely sounded yucky haha.
tinynavajo's review against another edition
4.0
Surprisingly good. I read all of this in a matter of a few hours, but the stories and the recipes were all quite interesting. If you're looking for a book to keep you entertained for a few hours as well as new ways to cook up some ramen noodles, then I suggest that you try this book out.
anya_reading's review against another edition
4.0
Prompt: Read a food book about a cuisine you’ve never tried before
A fellow reader on the ReadHarder 2020 Facebook Group shared that they were reading this book for the above prompt, and I had originally taken out a book about Catalan cooking from the library, but after reading Prison Noir last year, my interest in prison food led to checking out this ebook from my local library instead (sorry, Catalonia!).
Is every recipe in Prison Ramen actually ramen-related? No, though about 90% of them have ramen in there (especially chili flavored ramen - now I want to pick up a pack to see what I'm missing).
I enjoyed that Prison Ramen wasn't your typical glossy-photographed foodie book, gushing about this or that food, or - at worst - basically a glorified food blog post (I think most of you know the trope by now - tons of exposition for a mediocre recipe). There was a short blurb about prison life or getting put in the holding cell, and then a recipe. I was quite surprised at how innovative some of these recipes were - and some of them actually sounded pretty good to me, as a person who loves salty foods (most recipes featured ramen - seasoning packets and all; squeezable cheese; summer sausage, etc.). My favorite recipe in the book was the PB & Plátano Sandwich Spread - I would totally try a sandwich with peanut butter, banana, honey, and M&M's in there. Yeah!
For those who are wondering, there's even a prison hooch recipe in here - when I saw what it was made of, I nearly gagged! All in all, there were many similar themes in this cookbook that were also in Prison Noir: riots, inhumanity, and trying to stay sane and human in the face of it all. I enjoyed hearing the perspectives of the former inmates, though some of the voices (the celebrities) I'm not sure why they were included in here - I think a lesser-known convict would have been just as fine to include, to help folks with marginalized voices be heard - but so be it, I'm sure that's part of the appeal for some of the folks who picked up this book.
A fellow reader on the ReadHarder 2020 Facebook Group shared that they were reading this book for the above prompt, and I had originally taken out a book about Catalan cooking from the library, but after reading Prison Noir last year, my interest in prison food led to checking out this ebook from my local library instead (sorry, Catalonia!).
Is every recipe in Prison Ramen actually ramen-related? No, though about 90% of them have ramen in there (especially chili flavored ramen - now I want to pick up a pack to see what I'm missing).
I enjoyed that Prison Ramen wasn't your typical glossy-photographed foodie book, gushing about this or that food, or - at worst - basically a glorified food blog post (I think most of you know the trope by now - tons of exposition for a mediocre recipe). There was a short blurb about prison life or getting put in the holding cell, and then a recipe. I was quite surprised at how innovative some of these recipes were - and some of them actually sounded pretty good to me, as a person who loves salty foods (most recipes featured ramen - seasoning packets and all; squeezable cheese; summer sausage, etc.). My favorite recipe in the book was the PB & Plátano Sandwich Spread - I would totally try a sandwich with peanut butter, banana, honey, and M&M's in there. Yeah!
For those who are wondering, there's even a prison hooch recipe in here - when I saw what it was made of, I nearly gagged! All in all, there were many similar themes in this cookbook that were also in Prison Noir: riots, inhumanity, and trying to stay sane and human in the face of it all. I enjoyed hearing the perspectives of the former inmates, though some of the voices (the celebrities) I'm not sure why they were included in here - I think a lesser-known convict would have been just as fine to include, to help folks with marginalized voices be heard - but so be it, I'm sure that's part of the appeal for some of the folks who picked up this book.
5elementknitr's review against another edition
4.0
This book is full of anecdotes and recipes using ingredients the prisoners had actual access to. It pulls no punches when talking about the violence going on in a prison. There are several celebrity anecdotes as well.
My favorite recipe is the tea that uses cough drops. I'm going to have to try that one!
Ultimately, this book made me a little depressed having to face the reality of those behind bars, but I still recommend it.
My favorite recipe is the tea that uses cough drops. I'm going to have to try that one!
Ultimately, this book made me a little depressed having to face the reality of those behind bars, but I still recommend it.
teenytinylibrary's review against another edition
3.0
How can you resist a title like that? Prison Ramen is a work of love - love of camaraderie and eating good food (or as good as you can make it in prison). Interspersed between creative recipes are little anecdotes about prison life written by various inmates as well as celebrities who've spent time behind bars, including Shia LeBoeuf, Slash, and Danny Trejo. I'll admit that I haven't had the time to make any of the recipes, but they do sound appealing. This would be a great addition to a library cookbook collection. I can see teens and college students picking this up for the recipes. Because really, who doesn't love ramen?
saavybookworm's review against another edition
3.0
It was fascinating to read some celebrity stories like Slash and Shia LaBoeuf but I don't think I would try any of these recipes.
aziz_reads's review against another edition
5.0
So I happen to know a friend who has been to our local county jail a couple of times. You can imagine how awkward it was for me to ask "Hey, can I ask you some things about jail food because this seems kind of crazy."
Fortunately he agreed, and assured me that Ramen Tamales are an actual thing, as are 'nuts to butts'. I also heard a few stories about jail that are pretty much only funny in retrospect, but still good stories.
What I like about this book is that it's not just a recipe book. A prison recipe book with no context is boring. But the authors give us context in the form of a story before every recipe, Yeah, there are also letters and things from a few celebrities, but it doesn't need them. The stories and recipes stand on their own.
Overall: I'm still scared to give it as a gift for fear of being offensive, BUT I will definitely be buying it for a few high school grads I know who have never been to prison but will most likely be living off Ramen for a couple of years.
A big thank you to NetGalley and the Publishers for a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review
Fortunately he agreed, and assured me that Ramen Tamales are an actual thing, as are 'nuts to butts'. I also heard a few stories about jail that are pretty much only funny in retrospect, but still good stories.
What I like about this book is that it's not just a recipe book. A prison recipe book with no context is boring. But the authors give us context in the form of a story before every recipe, Yeah, there are also letters and things from a few celebrities, but it doesn't need them. The stories and recipes stand on their own.
Overall: I'm still scared to give it as a gift for fear of being offensive, BUT I will definitely be buying it for a few high school grads I know who have never been to prison but will most likely be living off Ramen for a couple of years.
A big thank you to NetGalley and the Publishers for a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review