January 12, 2009

Book Report: Tender at the Bone

Tender at the Bone was my Christmas stocking book and my companion on the cross-country flight to North Carolina. It’s a vivid read about food critic Ruth Reichl’s childhood and love affair with cooking. Plus, it comes with recipes!

I especially liked her descriptions of a different era in New York, one with cooks and maids. Our tiny turn-of-the-century apartment is set up with a service entrance to the kitchen, which always astounded me. A one-bedroom apartment with a full-time cook?

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This article was written by

mrsem

There are 14 comments for this article

Sasha January 12, 2009 at 3:28 pm

Hi,

I’ve never commented here before, but I’ve been reading your blog for a while– I love your what to wear posts!

Have you read “Garlic and Sapphires: The Secret Life of a Critic in Disguise?” It is her book about her time as the food critic for the New York Times. I liked it even better than “Tender at the Bone”. It was funny and touching– not really what you would expect from a book about a restaurant critic.
AEO January 12, 2009 at 4:03 pm

I loved this book and also loved Garlic and Sapphires. Both were so enjoyable!
Meghan January 12, 2009 at 4:10 pm

I’ve really enjoyed her books. Just last week I was flipping through “Garlic and Sapphires” looking for a recipe! Her book “Comfort Me With Apples” is quite good too.
Rachel January 12, 2009 at 5:50 pm

I loved it! And Comfort Me with Apples was pretty amazing too.
hyb January 12, 2009 at 6:24 pm

This is one of my favorite books of all time. I would definitely suggest that you read Comfort me with Apples, too. I found Garlic and Sapphires to be very different, not as personal, but still enjoyable.
Tanya January 12, 2009 at 9:05 pm

Too funny…I received Tender at the Bone and Garlic and Sapphires as holiday presents from my family! Glad to hear you enjoyed and recommend.
Jennifer January 12, 2009 at 9:47 pm

Thank you Emily and the commenters on proving me with these great books to read. I just started my food blog and I can’t wait to read these books as further inspiration.
Smiling Mama January 12, 2009 at 9:59 pm

Oh this looks great–would be so fun for my bookclub to read then prepare some of those recipes. I’m going to check it out!
Carrietracy January 12, 2009 at 11:50 pm

I also really enjoyed Tender at the bone.

My apartment in my prewar building has a front door and a back door. All apartments in our building do. The back doors are in the kitchen in every apartment. The front door is accessible from the elevator and the back door leads to a hallway that houses the stairs, the freight elevator and the door to the fire escape. I always wondered why. Is it possible that it was a servant’s entrance?
mrsem Author January 13, 2009 at 1:33 am

I would have thought it was a simple “back door” but a lot of the buildings have them labeled with “service entrance”
Arielle Bair January 13, 2009 at 3:04 am

Thanks for the book suggestion! Any book that comes with recipes sounds good to me. 🙂
icing on the cake January 13, 2009 at 4:57 am

I’m glad you like it, because I absolutely adored it! Ruth is a phenomenal writer. Have you read any of MFK Fisher? She’s another great food writer – especially about France and California!
Julie January 14, 2009 at 5:09 am

Can’t wait to nab both of these books. Jan Karon has a down home knack for capturing the delicious descriptions of Southern fare. Have you read any of the ever-so-endearing Mitford Series?
Caroline January 15, 2009 at 9:50 pm

totally loved all the Ruch Reichl books…so glad you’re getting to enjoy them…love your blog..as always 🙂