Cooking Comically is one of the few cookbooks I have read all the way through! I love it and am so glad I bought it for my library (and will soon buy it for myself because, messy cook that I am, I can't cook with my library's copy).
Tyler Capps is a graphic artist and author of the Cooking Comically website who may or may not resemble the stick figure chefs in his book. I want him to cook for me. His book is not aimed at the vegan, Palaeo, or gluten-free chef, but at those who love to eat! I want to make all 35 of his recipes, adjusting for my vegetarian proclivities. I confess that I have not made any of them yet, but will as soon as I buy my own copy of the book.
Capps explains each recipe graphically and artistically, including the groceries to be gathered, the difficulty level ("cook must be can-opener certified," "You are taking your life into your hands") the method, and the outcome, which is always drool-inspiring.
Despite the graphic-novel approach and innovate recipes and descriptions ("Damn Dirty Ape Bread" and "Well, that was messy as shit!"), Capp includes solid cooking wisdom, such as "overworked flour means tough pancakes" and "Boston butt isn't actually butt; it's the shoulder." And then there is the advice that "all food tastes better when chopped with a sword." Actually, it does.
Most recipes are fairly standard fare but I was so happy to see more challenging dishes, such as pulled pork, bread bowls ("like with yeast and everything; you're gonna see some serious shit"), and an emphasis on fresh ingredients (with an eye to economy).
An artistic and artistic gem, "Cooking Comically" includes shoutouts to Shredder, The Game of Thrones, Barry White, Miles Davis, and The Princess Bride. It has a muffin named for McGuffin and defines the term. It ponders philosophical questions such as "Have I ever told you the definition of insanity?" and makes jokes about cutting the cheese. The F word abounds.
Highly recommended for those with taste buds and a sense of humor.