The Grit Cookbook: World-Wise, Down-Home Recipes

by Jessica Greene, Edward Hafer, Ted Hafer

Hands down, The Grit is a Southern, vegetarian institution. In Athens, Georgia, you can't swing a dead cat without hitting a musician, artist, or writer. The Grit, housed in a nineteenth-century hardware and tackle store in the quintessential boho college town, is a favorite hang-out with musicians as diverse as Widespread Panic, R.E.M., John Berry, Kenny Rogers, the B-52s, and Elephant-Six bands and many others. Featured in Rolling Stone and Vegetarian Times, everyone is attracted to the uniquely quirky atmosphere of this popular destination restaurant, where tweed-jacketed profs from the local university are tucked in beside pink-haired skate punks and laid-back hippies dine with high-performance cyclists.True to its Southern roots, the menu of Athens, Georgia vegetarian eatery The Grit combines a soul-food sensibility with its meatless cuisine. That means that the focus is not on what is missing (meat) but on what is present: the bounty of the well-stocked pantry and the seasonal farmer's market. While there is enough well-seasoned Italian, Indian, Mexican, and Middle Eastern favorites for the well-traveled vegetarian, the heart The Grit's cuisine maintains a downhome, soul food sensibility: big portions, simple foods, classic combinations.

Genres: Cookbooks, Food, Nonfiction, Southern, Food and Drink

192 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2001

Reviews

[John Hawkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

I use to live a block from The Grit. I have traveled quite a bit in my life and i can say this is my favorite restaurant. Golden Bowl with veggies, or, on weekends, breakfast tofu burrito with potatoes and biscuit, after which I would walk home and crawl into bed for an afternoon nap. The Grit, of course, makes the best Grits -- they better. And no one can prepare tofu like they can... except me, because I have "The Grit Cookbook." Very southern and vegetarian at the same time... can't beat that.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

After successfully making The Grit Bowl - starring crispy tofu and vegan gravy, my world suddenly changed. I realized all the flavors I'd enjoyed as a carnivore were still accessible to me - and in more creative, fun and of course humane ways.

This book is a must-have for anyone who grew up on Southern food, is looking for new recipes to add to their veggie repertoire, or wants to impress meat-eaters with the versatility of vegetarian and vegan food.

Soo yummy; highly recommended.

[Sue · Rating 3 out of 5]

My husband bought this book for me while he was on tour. He stopped in at the Grit while in Athens, GA and this was the booby prize for my insane jealousy. The tofu recipe is perfect. I use the black bean chili recipe all the time too. Not full of produce-type, healthy fare, but still, downright yummy. A welcome addition to my shelves.

[Ian Wraga · Rating 5 out of 5]

You can't live without this.

[Alli · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vegan/vegetarian soul food - I immediately ordered on Amazon when I realized I was bookmarking every other page.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I spent a lot of time in Athens, GA during my college years (late eighties to early nineties) and The Grit was (and is) one of my favorite places to eat. When I moved to Seattle, WA almost 20 years ago, I resigned myself to the depressing fact that I'd probably never eat there again. Thanks to this cookbook, I can now enjoy a Golden Bowl in the comfort of my own kitchen. Woohoo!!!

[Jesse Kelly-Landes · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've tried a lot of recipes in here and many are fairly decent, but on some the proportions seem way off.... beyond hope of salvaging in fact. However, their gravies and fried tofu are the best I've had.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fabulous vegetarian cookbook with many different types of recipes. Thank you so much to my vegan sister for giving me this for Christmas even before I gave up eating (nearly all) meat.
If you are ever in Athens, GA you must eat at The Grit. If it's not the law, it should be!

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book. I fell in love with this book when I visited their restaurant in Athens Georgia. There is something for vegans and vegetarians alike in this cookbook. It's down home southern vegetarian cooking. Whats not to love

[M4rk · Rating 4 out of 5]

thanks mom and mark for the great xmas present!

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have made quite a few yummy things from this book and will continue to do so.

[Liz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Makes me miss living in Athens! I made the white bean/cilantro/white cheddar quesadillas over and over again; they're simple and really good.

[Emilie · Rating 3 out of 5]

But how come my tofu doesn't taste as good as the tofu at the Grit? What are they holding back? Not fair.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mmmm, golden bowl. Li'l Jim's Puddin' Cake.

[Lisa " I give everything 5 stars" Marie Flatinko · Rating 5 out of 5]

tofu lasagna!

[Morgan · Rating 4 out of 5]

MMMMMmmmm...I want to make everything.