Fussell's last two books, Crazy for Corn (LJ 4/15/96) and The Story of Corn (LJ 7/92), have made her the Queen of Corn, but she is also the author of a number of other books on food and cooking. Recipes from two of these, Eating In (1986) and Home Plates (NAL: Dutton, 1990) have been revised and collected here, along with 45 new ones. Most are one-dish meals for two people; all are for simple, vibrantly flavored dishes, presented in an unintimidating, companionable style. For most collections.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Addressing harried nine-to-fivers, Fussell argues persuasively that the home bistro is the ideal way to cook for yourself, stressing ingredients not technique. With the caveat that this volume is not an entirely new work--additional recipes have been added to two previously published collections, Eating In (1986) and Home Plates (1990)--she delivers the goods. The majority of the recipes are for one-dish meals for two, but vegetables, fish, poultry, and meats are all covered nicely. Whether it's pan-grilled portobello mushrooms or pasta with artichokes and olives, the recipes are uniformly enticing. For those who like to cook but have grown weary of what Fussell calls the opera bouffe of grand cuisine, this volume may bring a little fun back to the kitchen. Bill Ott

See all Product Description

Tag this product

(What's this?)

Think of a tag as a keyword or label you consider is strongly related to this product.
Tags will help all customers organize and find favorite items.

Customer Reviews

4 Reviews

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

Average Customer Review

4.5 out of 5 stars (4 customer reviews)

Share your thoughts with other customers:

Create your own review

Most helpful customer reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Simple, sumptuous, and satisfying food, Dec 19 2003

By	Fyuzhn "fyuzhn" (America) - See all my reviews

I was so pleased to find a cookbook that used simple ingredients and had quick recipes to make such elegant, delicious fare. Also, as the recipes are intended for two people, I don't have to worry about storing a ton of leftovers. Many of the recipes are great for any season. Another thing that may be overlooked is the selection of delectable meatless dishes, making this a good purchase or gift for a vegetarian, or someone who just doesn't eat a lot of meat. (Meat lovers, fear not! We are not overlooked by any means.) The author also includes tidbits on substitutions and serving suggestions. The wine suggestions are also handy; the right wine really can enhance a meal.

From a casual lunch with a friend or dinner with a significant other, this book allows you to plan any kind of meal your heart desires, and not be exhausted from preparing.

The ability to find all of the ingredients at my local grocer, the lack of bulky leftovers, and the variety of yummy foods ensure I'll always have this book in my kitchen.

Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)

5.0 out of 5 stars Simoly elegant, Jan 21 2001

By	"really-siobhan" (Winchester, MA United States) - See all my reviews

I wonder if a reader from Plaino, TX read the same book or if a reader somehow got confused when reviewing Home Bistro? This is a book in which EVERY RECIPE HAS A SHORT LIST OF INGREDIENTS. In fact, it is the perfect "last minute" cookbook, which is how veteran author Betty Fussell describes it. Small in size, it is the perfect book to glance through after a long day at work, sitting on the stool in your kitchen, watching the tv news while trying to figure out how to rest your soul by enlivening your palate. Fussell's aim is to suggest one dish meals, although she does offer valuable side-dish and wine go-togethers. And her one-dish meals are not the "hot dish" of Lake Woebegone fame or your mother-in-laws dry macaroni and cheese with a corn-flake topping (yuck!), but imaginative meals that draw on European, New World and Asian traditions. Let's face, what is more relaxing and more rewarding, 1.) a meal made up of take-aways from the deli where the mayonnaise always tastes suspicious; 2.) a meal made up of convenience food from supermarket boxes; 3.) a meal made from simple and fresh ingredients that can be ready in the time it takes to cook frozen french fries? For me, three is the answer and that is part of the reason why I like Fussell's book.

Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)

3.0 out of 5 stars Too Fussy, Too Many Ingredients, Aug 22 2000

By A Customer

This is probably a great little cookbook for the gourmet cook. However, this is not what I was looking for. I want classy recipes with no more than 8 ingredients (and preferrably less than that) that take a minimum amount of preparation. Most recipes in this book have many ingredients and quite a few call for things I've never even heard of (such as cardamom), and things that I do not have on hand. It's fairly small - I scanned every recipe in less than half an hour. The author does include wine suggestions for each item, if you are interested in that. I am returning my copy.

Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)

Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review

› See all 4 customer reviews...

Most recent customer reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Spectacular quality recipes, wonderful food.
I purchased this book on a whim and was absolutely thrilled with the quality of the recipes. I was so impressed that I purchased an additional copy for my daughter and her... Read more

Published on Jul 23 1998