The Frugal Gourmet Cooks Three Ancient Cuisines: China * Greece * Rome by Jeff Smith

The Frugal Gourmet Cooks Three Ancient Cuisines: China * Greece * Rome Reviews

• 
  Juliana

  This one has been rattling around on my shelves for quite a long time and it is time to try a few of these recipes.
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  Susan Mazur Stommen

  Nothing caught my eye. But then, I've read apulius and others...
  Once you've learned how to make garum, and stuff an ostrich with a peacock, there's nothing Jeff can really add...
• 
  Ginnie Grant

  The way this book was written it was really confusing and hard to understand
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  Amber Robbins

  This is a wonderful book for anyone wanting genuine authentic recipes from China, Greece, or Rome. There are more Chinese recipes than the others because this focuses on the silk road trade route, contains chapters on historical lessons, and plenty of well organized recipes with good explanations. The only thing I take a star away from is the fact that there are controversial recipes included that westerners would definitely not have access to the ingredients, legally, for like shark fin soup or live shrimp that you give alchohol to and eat while they are alive. And I only remove a star to signal to others that this is there and that there are dozens of recipes you will likely never be able to use in modern times both for legal and moral reasons. I personally give it five stars
• 
  Bookfanatic

  A favorite cookbook of mine. The recipes aren't difficult. If you live in a large metropolitan area with ethnic stores, you can find these ingredients easily. I love the little anecdotes and tidbits that Jeff Smith gives for each recipe. He has a very warm, folksy way of writing. You feel like he's talking to you. This is an unpretentious cookbook. My one complaint is the lack of photos. I love my cookbooks to have glossy photos. If you can get past the lack of photos for the recipes, you'll find this is a gem of a book.
• 
  Lisa

  Arranged by main ingredient, this book covers a great range of foods from three cuisines that, in authentic form, weren't adequately known in 1989. A great resource for learning to use certain ingredients, and a marvelous primer on the combinations of flavors that are the hallmarks of truly authentic chinese, greek, and (roman) italian food. Interesting anecdotes about Jeff Smith's experiences eating these foods in their native lands.
• 
  Kathleen

  better than the original book, at least for vegetarians. there's more here to work with. and many of the dishes can be adapted (i.e., trading garlic broth for chicken broth). i really love the way he writes about the importance of eating together with family and friends. his sense of community and longing for connection is touching, even if the recipes aren't that fantastic overall.
• 
  Conrad

  The focaccia recipe is excellent and the tips on Greek cuisine are fine, but I really disliked the section on Chinese cooking, which focuses on the spectacular (c'mon, Jeff, who's actually going to make Drunken Shrimp?!) rather than the practical.
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  OssifrageRage

  Learn some food history while you cook.
  
  This book offers some very interesting recipes and techniques.
  
  I would classify this as a browse-before-you-buy or get it used. Some recipes overlap with other Frugal Gourmet books. I do not find myself using as many recipes from this book.
• 
  Chris Brimmer

  I use this book a lot. Proceeds go to his victims so don't worry about making a child molester some money.
• 
  MJ

  Does a great job with authentic recipes and is pretty accessible if you have access to the specialized ingredients.
• 
  Teresa

  I loved his show and love his books, but some of these excellent recipies are really out there and I will never cook them.
• 
  Fredrick Danysh

  Former cooking show host Jeff Smith has adapted food from China, Greece, and Italy for the American home cook. Most of these recipes were featured in his television shows.
• 
  Cindy

  Quite good, written in an engaging style with recipes easily followed be most beginning to intermediate cooks.
• 
  Yaaresse

  Personal controversies and accusations aside, the guy put out a solid series of cookbooks.
• 
  KennyO

  It isnt a terribly engaging cookbook but with Smith's eye for historic and cultural authenticity this is a very good source for recipes and information on these three cuisines.