FEAST! FEAST! FEAST!

Well, since Thanksgiving I have been thinking a lot about food--preparation, entertainment, purchasing. Now that the big Christmas week is here, I am getting stuff ready for my family and a few friends who will visit. Probably some of you are doing the same. So I want to recommend a wonderful book and website that might be of interest to you and you prepare those feasts.

At the bookstore where I work, I sometimes get advance readers copies of books that are about to be released. In October I picked up a book titled The Amateur Gourmet by Adam D. Roberts (New York: Bantam, 2007). Adam is a self-taught cook who left the practice of law in order to follow his heart right into the kitchen. He loves cooking, takes great delight in having his friends around and writes a warm and joyous prose (and, ironically, he was trained in law school!!!). As you can imagine, I read a good number of books in 2007, mostly ponderous theological, political and historical volumes. But I am naming Adam's book my selection for best book of 2007. The reason: His contagious enthusiasm moves the reader away from packaged or fast food to something very basic and essential: Cooking and eating well.

The good thing is that if you do not have access to his book, you can get to know him, his cooking, his partner and his friends through a fabulous website. Just go to: www.amateurgourmet.com and you can even sign up for his postings. Do it! And then try some of his cooking. Later this week, when my daughter Nelia spends time in Indianapolis from Washington, DC, I plan of baking with her his most recent offering on Red Velvet Cake.

So this is my final blog of the year. I am glad that I revived The Blue Ogee. Your readers comments, both public and private, have been much appreciated.

Have a good holiday and New Year.