Simply Symon Suppers: Recipes and Menus for Every Week of the Year: A Cookbook by Michael Symon

Simply Symon Suppers: Recipes and Menus for Every Week of the Year: A Cookbook Reviews

• 
  Jennifer Spiliakos

  Maybe the best one yet!
• 
  Kerry Croucier

  I had seen Michael Symon on Food Network and The Chew but didn’t really start following him until he started his Facebook video posts during the COVID lockdowns. His personality and passion for good food were front and center as he cooked recipes using the same constraints on food choices everyone was facing and he made me a fan, answering questions, and offering alternative ingredients if something wasn’t available. His latest cookbook, SIMPLY SYMON SUPPERS: Recipes and Menus for Every Week of the Year, feels like a continuation of those videos.
  He discusses how he plans and shops, while giving tips for the home cook on how to plan and make cooking more efficient, giving food with maximum flavor, and keeping recipes manageable. Symon has grouped the recipes by season in full menus with sides that are interchangeable: if one doesn’t appeal to you, find another. The recipes in the “Hot and Easygoing” (summer)’ section focus on the outdoors with pairing that “allow fresh produce shine” and the Fall and Winter have cozy recipes with ingredient swaps encouraged by Symon. There are three other sections: Holidays, Desserts, and Batch Cocktails. He does share that the recipes in the Holiday section are more traditional Holiday fare, but he cooks them any time because food should be enjoyed with the ones you love whenever you can. This cookbook is full of yummy recipes, including Stove Top Mac & Cheese, Manicotti stuffed with Ricotta and Spinach, and French Onion Soup. My one complaint is minor: there are a lot of sides with shaved vegetables, which is not an easy feat for someone a little klutzy like me!
  The recipes are beautifully photographed, and I enjoyed the introductions to each. I also enjoyed reading the introductions to both the book and the sections, as I could hear Symon’s voice almost as if he was chatting with me. This is a cookbook that I will pull out often for all occasions.
  Thank you to the Clarkson Potter for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own and freely given.
  
• 
  Vicki

  I have been a fan of Michael Symon for so many years, he’s my favorite Iron Chef :). I have all of his cookbooks and love them, I love his cooking style and his recipes.
  
  This, however, is my new favorite cookbook. The recipes are interesting and challenging, inspiring me to up my cooking game. We’ve tried so many of the recipes, almost all of them being huge hits with my family. The burgers and fries and onion rings were my kids’ favorite, but the chicken paprikash with spaetzle, the pierogi casserole, the salads, the Sunday sauce with homemade pasta and meatballs, and so many others were incredibly delicious.
  My husband even liked the mushrooms with the ricotta gnocchi, something I thought would never happen :).
  
  Although not for every day meals, this cookbook is definitely worth investing time in. The recipes turn out every time, there are no duds here. I’ve been enjoying this cookbook so much. Definitely worth it.
• 
  Reading Fool

  I remember watching Michael Symon when he was one of the hosts of the TV show The Chew. He was always funny and entertaining and I liked his straightforward way of sharing his skills. This cookbook is just like that. Symon presents groups of recipes in the format of menus, as they may be prepared for supper with the family. My husband and I actually tried the menu from the Holidays section: Pastrami-Smoked Prime Rib + Brown Butter Whipped Potatoes + Charred Brussels Sprouts + Horseradish Sauce. We did it for company and it was kind of a big deal, but we're so happy we did it! Our guests enjoyed eating the meal as much as we enjoyed preparing it. I can't wait to try others; so many have caught my interest. The beautiful photographs help inspire. Clarkson Potter provided me with a free copy of this book; the opinions are my own.
• 
  Laura

  This is a modern take on seasonal eating, with a heavy emphasis on Greek, Italian and midwestern-influenced foods. He really encourages you to mix and match recipes within each section, and the instructions are easy to follow. This is laid out very clearly, and there is a photo for each recipe.
  
  Most of these would take too long for weeknight prep. However, I found most of the salads (shaved brussels sprouts, cucumber/radish) to be delicious. The batch cocktail chapter was also very useful. There isn't nutritional information, but there is a chart in the back that ties into the categories of his healthier cookbook (Fixed by Food?) that gives you an idea of things that are dairy-free, vegetarian, etc. Worth checking out for inspiration.
• 
  Valerie

  This is Michael Symon's 8th cookbook, and he focuses on the family meal tradition, "Sunday Supper," and seasonal meals. The book is divided into four seasonal chapter, plus holidays, desserts, and batch cocktails. Each of the recipes in the seasonal sections is actually an entire meal -- main dish paired with a side and a salad. Due to his heritage, there's an emphasis on Greek/Mediterranean and Eastern European recipes. Beautiful glossy photos are included for all of the dishes. Plus there's a handy chart in the back with all the recipes listed, plus their designation if they are flour-, dairy-, or meat-free. Lots of recipes that I want to try!! Highly recommended.
  
  Read more of my reviews at
  https://thegoodreader13.blogspot.com/.
• 
  Barbara Monaghan

  I'm a fan of Michale Symon from his various TV shows and appearances. He's got a great sense of humor and gives great cooking tips. This book of recipes is great, very good directions, easy to follow, and the food comes out delicious. The meals are relatively healthy comfort food. I'll be using this book quite often. I was provided a complimentary copy of this book from Clarkson Potter, but the opinions are my own.
• 
  Brindi Michele

  I want to make all of these recipes, and I love how the book is laid out by seasons (we need that here in the Midwest!), with each main dish accompanied by sides. Adding this book to my Christmas wish list ASAP! :)
• 
  Amy

  There's a little something for everyone, here!
  
  My only issue, and it's definitely one of my pet peeves - there is not a color photograph for every recipe in the book. There are photos for most things, but not all, i.e. Cauliflower Steaks.
• 
  Debbie Tollefson

  Lots of good ideas here. I may try some of the easy ones 😉
• 
  Jim Morey

  Borrowed the ebook from the library, read half a dozen random recipes, and immediately bought a hard cover.
• 
  Stephanie

  This a beautiful cookbook and I’d probably eat most of them if someone else prepared them.
• 
  Mercer County Library System

  A great cookbook with a variety of recipes and many pictures with easy directions! It would be a great book to gift, too. (Reviewed by Jodi, Hopewell Branch)
• 
  Allison Boomer

  Really loved all the recipes, and it felt like each recipe made sense with the others that were attached to it - like a meal instead of individual pieces. Great job, really love it!!