This is a collection of Jeffrey Steingarten's food articles for Vogue. If you love eating and cooking, you will probably enjoy this book. Steingarten makes it his mission to track down the best cheeses, meats, baked goods, and other tasty treats, and he also investigates various cooking methods. Some of those methods, by his own admission, are not possible for people who have other jobs and aren't funded by a magazine, but many of them are. He also debunks myths about MSG, chocolate, and other foods.

Steingarten has a lively, companionable style and often strikes a confessional note that cuts through what might otherwise come off as pretentious (his many trips to Paris to eat, his caviar sampling, chats with chefs like Daniel Boulud, etc.). For example, in a discussion about eating deep-fried bamboo worms in Thailand, he writes: "For a baht or two, I bought a bag and ate them like Fritos. I love nearly everything deep-fried, but I especially love Fritos." The articles all seem to be just the right length--long enough to feel that he had said the most important things but not so long that I wanted to put the book down and come back later because I was tired of reading about cuts of beef or whatever.

Overall, the book is both entertaining and informative. I plan to share it with friends (but only those I can count on to return it!). ( )

In search of both the perfect barbecue and the perfect weight loss drug.

In an age where everyone who has ever had a meal anywhere seems to think they can write about food (just as anyone who travels to the south of Europe thinks that the public wants to read a book about it) Steingarten's writing stands out. He may be obsessive beyond what is considered normal - the measures he takes to fulfill notions about what he wants can take him to different continents or result in him cooking way too many batches of dog food - but you can't help but cheer him on as he writes about it in such a wry, acerbic style. His chapter on people who claim they have food allergies should be required reading for everyone for a start. Yes, he can be snobbish, demeaning, and plain rude, but the fact is he knows what he is writing about, and in the comfort of our own home, over a well prepared snack or a good drink, we can laugh along, partly due to the humour, and partly glad we are not the intended target.

In neat little self-contained chapters, each story in this book is witty and entertaining, and educational. This is a book that no food lover should deny themselves. ( )

The man is passionate about his food. There are a few recipes, too! ( )