DISH: A tome to make your mouth water

by Nikki M. Mascali
Weekender Editor

A TOME TO MAKE YOUR MOUTH WATER

Earlier this month, one of my favorite food sites, SeriousEats.com, released “Serious Eats: A Comprehensive Guide to Making and Eating Delicious Food Wherever You Are.” And just like its viral counterpoint that took its first bite in 2006, the book is full of lush, food-porn worthy photos and write-ups on burgers, pizza, sandwiches, confections, street food, fried food and more — and there is definitely more.

“Read it for fun,” explains the “How to Use This Book Section.” “Read it to discover how we approach the world of food, how we’ve learned to spot the true gems, and what we’ve learned about the stories behind them. Read it to see how others eat across the country. … and read it to understand what drives some of the greatest chefs and sandwich-makers and farmers in the nation.”

Each section of this two-years-in-the-making book features a brief lead in on each topic, some anecdotes from Serious Eats founder (and the book’s main writer), Ed Levine, comments from some readers of Serious Eats and, of course, those mouth-watering descriptions and photos.

Plus, one of the book’s contributors, J. Kenji Lopez-Alt (aka the “recipe czar”), developed 50 of the Serious Eats staffers’ favorite recipes. Some of the standouts include the secret to super-eggy scrambled eggs, a patty melt that looks so golden and cheesy I may or may not have nibbled the page it was on, an indulgent lobster roll and even halal cart-style chicken and rice with white sauce to bring the great food trucks of New York to your kitchen.

Sure, I could have put this on my Christmas Wish List, but like any good foodie, how could I wait? Since getting it in my possession last week, I haven’t put it — or the pen I’ve been making a Places To Eat Stat list — down.

The writers offer not even the tiniest dash of pretentiousness, only big servings of passion. I love the way Levine and company deconstruct even the simplest plate of eggs as if they’re studying great art, because to me, they are — theirs is a passion for the edible that I share.

Do you? Ask yourself these questions from the book to find out if you, too, are a Serious Eater:

“1. Do you plan your day around what you might eat?

2. When you are heading somewhere, anywhere, will you go out of your way to eat something delicious?

3. When you daydream, do you often find yourself thinking about food?

4. Do you live to eat, rather than eat to live?

5. Have you strained relationships with friends or family by dictating the food itinerary — changing everyone’s plans to try a potentially special burger or piece of pie?”

See, Mom, I told you there were others like me!

The book retails for $27.99, visit seriouseats.com to learn more.

GLOBAL TASTE, LOCALLY

Kildare’s Irish Pub (119 Jefferson Ave., Scranton) has been selected to showcase authentic Irish cuisine at the “Glocalize, Globally Inspired, Locally Made” Kids of the World Benefit for Timmy’s Town Center inside The Mall at Steamtown.

The exhibit consists of four interactive country displays for South Korea, Kenya, Ireland and Mexico. Each country will have a map, flag, pictures, traditional dress and hands-on activities for the children, such as crafts, games and food pertaining to each country. The exhibit runs through February.

Timmy’s Town Center is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to the creation and operation of a Children’s Museum in NEPA in memory of Timmy Kelly who died of cancer at age 5. Visit timmystowncenter.org.