Best Food Writing

A culinary cross-section of the latest news and trends in food, the latest collection from series editor Hughes covers all corners of the kitchen. Jason Sheehan masterfully recounts the painful trials and tribulations of molecular gastronomy; John Kessler's all-too-relatable essay on the moral dilemma of cheap grocery store tenderloin will have foodies nodding along; and rhapsodic accounts of the quest for the perfect fried clams, biscuit, and patty melt will get readers salivating. Not all is sweetbreads and light, as contributors pull back the curtain on cloned meat, detail a lauded salumeria's lengthy and expensive battles with the health department, and respectfully convey the kaleidoscope of emotions a restaurateur feels when closing a restaurant. The most important essay in the book, which deserves reading by any American who eats out, is ""Guess Who's Making Your Dinner,"" from veteran food writer Robb Walsh (Legends of Texas Barbecue), an exploration of the Mexican-American contribution to dining in America. An exceptional collection worth revisiting, this will be a surefire hit with epicureans and cooks.