Reviews

Best Food Writing 2007 by Holly Hughes

ahartwic's review

4.0

If you have even a hint of foodie in you, you will probably like at least something in this collection. Geographically and culturally diverse, it also isn't afraid to represent various viewpoints on social issues like the slow foods movement. I would recommend reading after you eat, though, because it will certainly send you to the refrigerator.

ballinnnnnn's review

3.0

I came across this collection of food writing at a used book store that was having a 50% off sale, and I was familiar with this particular "brand" sine I had read some of their travel collections back in college. I figured reading an older edition would be interesting to see what has stayed similar and what has changed in the last decade or so, in regards to food in general. Like expected, some things are exactly the same, while others trends felt new in 2007 and are common place now, such as food trucks. It's kind of hard to review or grade it as a whole, since as a collection, there's probably 100 different articles with just as many authors. I do appreciate how the editor grouped the articles into different sections, such as meat, or home cooking. It's very easy to pick up the book for one or two articles and then put it down for months since it isn't a linear story, so I actually read it over the course of a year in between other things I was reading, but for the most part, I did enjoy Ms. Hughes' collection.

eupomene's review

4.0

I really recommend this series of anthologies. I'm looking forward to reading 2008's. If you enjoy reading about all aspects of food these are delicious. I really appreciated the fact that more essays discussed food and restaurants from the middle of the country, not just NY and LA, this time.

wmhenrymorris's review

Some nice essays, but too much about families and relationships and chefs and farmers. All good stuff that should be part of food writing, but at some point one tires of it all and wonders where is the writing about, you know, food. Also -- a severe lack of great restaurant and/or food product reviews.

However, the closing essay "Simple Cooking, Then and Now" by John Thorne is fantastic.