The Foodie Handbook, by Pim Techamuanvivit, will most likely appeal to those who are already foodies, and for such readers, this book is a treasure. Pim manages to touch on all the food senses, and take the reader on a journey through the world of homemade gourmet foods, proper restaurant dining and fine wine.
How to Eat Like a Foodie
Pim's first chapter reminds readers what it's like to eat purely for the pleasure of it. No greasy boxes of fried chicken nuggets, no strictly vegan raw food diets, no extremes or tasteless shortcuts of any kind. Her words evoke the feeling of sensuality surrounding food, and remind the reader of the pure delight waiting to be enjoyed in the exquisite flavors of something really good to eat. Included are useful tips for stress free fine-restaurant dining, which is an excellent place to do some serious tasting. She suggests we first remember how to eat blissfully, then move on to the advanced degree.
How to Cook Like a Foodie
The cooking chapter in The Foodie Handbook is not the how-to instructional one might expect. Pim offers sage advice on the importance of buying quality ingredients, cooking them well and keeping things simple. It all comes back to the pleasure of tasting. And as for recipes, they should be used as suggestions, not scientific documents to be reproduced at home. This should make a lot of would-be cooks feel more welcome in the kitchen. There are some basic instructions for a few favorite meals, such as:
- How to Roast a Chicken
- Easy Roast Potatoes
- Pad Thai for Beginners
- Using a Wok
- Great Homemade Salad Dressings
- And a Compilation of Pim's Delicious Recipes
How to Drink Like a Foodie
Much like the cooking chapter, Pim's section on ordering wines and managing good wine pairings is down-to-earth and comforting. The reader gets a sense of confidence without having to take a class on fine wine. Hint: make friends with the restaurant's sommelier.
How to Be a Fabulous Foodie
While the title of this chapter may seem a bit self-indulgent, the suggestions are enough to make one swoon. If this is the life of a truly fabulous foodie, then everyone should sign on. A sampling of ideas:
- Rent a house with a kitchen in Italy or France, and cook half the meals at home
- Visit the Basque coast of Spain and eat a whole roasted turbot
- Don't try to like something dreadful
- Find a signature dish to cook
Summary
The Foodie Handbook will be an instant favorite for any lucky recipient. It reminds food lovers why they do what they do, and puts an apt description to the title of foodie, so that those of us who are obsessed with all things food related will finally understand why food is so very appealing. Excellent gift-giving material.
Title: The Foodie Handbook
Author: Pim Techamuanvivit
Publisher: Chronicle Books, 2009, 223 pp., $24.95
ISBN: 978-0-8118-6853-2
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