Joey Campanaro

Joey Campanaro's book is simply delicious. Let me start by saying that the pictures on this book are probably the best pictures I have seen in a cookbook; I wanted to eat each page with a picture of food in it. The recipes are a perfect balance between casualness and thoughtful preparation: what a home cooked meal feels like, in other words. I also loved the family stories and pictures included, it definitely adds a touch of heritage and gratitude.
I had the pleasure of trying his dishes when I visited his restaurant, 'The Little Owl", about 10 years ago. I confess, I went there for the photo op of being the restaurant in the building shown to be Monica and Rachel's apartment in Friends. However, when I stood next to the door for the picture, and I the smell from the food hit me, I started salivating and simply had to try it. I was so glad I did!… (mehr)

Big Love Cooking is a welcome collection of good recipes that reflect a love of good food that sets instead of follows trends. Joey Campanaro dedicated this book to his mother and grandmother and for good reason, their recipes and their food aesthetic form the foundation of his cooking, and many of their recipes are included. There are eight chapters with around ten recipes in each one. Most of the chapters, though, are organized by the main ingredients, not by the meals. The exceptions are the opening chapter on brunch and the closing chapters for “Sunday Supper” and desserts.

Big Love Cooking is full of the kind of recipes I want to make, pasta, meatballs, roasted chicken, pizza, and biscuits. There are exquisite details that elevate the recipes such as a dash of molasses and oregano in the pizza dough or sausage incorporated right into the biscuits. The recipes are amply illustrated with photos that make everything look delicious.

The recipes all have a bit of introduction and very detailed instructions. Ingredients are given in American and the rest of the world’s measurements. He also provides details on what you should stock your pantry and the kind of kitchen equipment necessary. This is a great idea. I would, however, move the chapter on stocking the pantry and buying equipment until the end simply because it takes several pages of reading before getting to the first recipe.

This book could actually be very helpful for inexperienced cooks because the instructions are so clear. However, it is designed in such a way that it might intimidate someone from even trying. These are almost all design elements, not part of the author’s recipes. The ingredients are double spaced and even salt and pepper have their own lines every time telling us Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper. Of course, he must include salt and pepper, but why not one line? The double-spacing makes the ingredient list feel longer than it is. A few times I nearly balked at a recipe, thinking it looked like more trouble than I wanted to deal with. However, reading the recipe, it was not that long or complicated, it just seemed that way.

Nonetheless, everything sounds delicious and I can vouch for the pizza dough. It’s spectacular.

I received an e-galley of Big Love Cooking from the publisher through NetGalley

Big Love Cooking at Chronicle Books
Joey Campanaro agency site

https://tonstantweaderreviews.wordpress.com/2020/09/28/9781452178639/… (mehr)

I've gotten my hands on several cookbooks and have been trying my hand at several dishes, from vegan to deserts and snacks and am rolling myself over to my computer to share my opinions.

Big Love Cooking by Joey Campanaro is fun as both a recipe book and an interesting read. Okay, you have to enjoy going through all the recipes to catch all of the notes and stories, but they are well worth it. They make the book feel more like a personal gift from the chef instead of just borrowing his recipes.

I made the Baked Ricotta Crespelle, something I had never tried. It was a fairly straightforward recipe though not what I consider an easy recipe. Many cooks will likely find it easier than I did since my feeling is based on my experience and comfort level. That said, the recipe walked me through everything just fine and the result was fantastic. I used his marinara recipe, a basic one, and was very happy with it. I will be using his marinara from now on with my own dishes.

I also made a batch of his spice mix, the Harrison Spice Mix, which I have used in some other meals and it really does add a nice touch. I'll keep some of it on hand and experiment with what it might be good in. I am looking forward to trying a few more recipes in the near future, these are excellent for both family meals and entertaining, so very versatile.

I definitely recommend this for people who like to cook hearty meals as well as those who read recipe books like books of short stories. It is both a fun and useful book.

Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via Edelweiss.… (mehr)