Does This Taste Funny?: Recipes Our Family Loves

by Stephen Colbert, Evie McGee Colbert

Stephen and Evie Colbert invite you to pull up a chair as they share their favorite recipes from family and friends and offer a glimpse of food and fun in their South Carolina home.

“Hopefully reading this book and cooking these recipes will feel like hanging out with us at home. We basically live in the kitchen anyway.” —Evie and Stephen Colbert

As Evie and Stephen explain it, Does This Taste Funny? had its beginnings in the Covid lockdown. “We were all stuck together and couldn’t go out, so we cooked. We had all three kids back under one roof for the first time in a long time, and we had dinner each night as a family. Cooking together became a major source of entertainment.”

Now, the Colberts invite us into their kitchen and around their dining room table. Sharing Stephen and Evie’s favorite recipes, as well as those of their family and friends, this book offers everything from Party Food (called “party food” because “appetizers” implies something to follow when we all know that, often, this is the only course), to Seafood, to Poultry and Meat (“Evie and I have different relationships to meat. I like it. Evie can take it or leave it, and mostly she leaves it.”), to Desserts (“This is one of the largest sections of the book. Evie always reminds me that desserts are a great way to postpone clearing up.”), to Drinks (“I love cocktail hour. It feels like a reward for having gone so long without a cocktail”), all tied together with playful dialogue between Stephen and Evie and gorgeous shots of their food, family, and home.

Genres: Cookbooks, Cooking, Nonfiction, Food, Humor, Memoir, How To

316 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 17, 2024

About the author

Stephen Tyrone Colbert is an American comedian, satirist, actor, and writer known for his ironic style, particularly in his portrayal of uninformed opinion leaders and deadpan comedic delivery.
Colbert originally studied to be an actor, but became interested in improvisational theater when he met famed Second City director Del Close while attending Northwestern University. He first performed professionally as an understudy for Steve Carell at Second City Chicago; among his troupe mates were comedians Paul Dinello and Amy Sedaris, with whom he developed the critically-acclaimed sketch comedy series Exit 57.
Colbert also wrote and performed on the short-lived Dana Carvey Show before collaborating with Sedaris and Dinello again on the cult television series Strangers with Candy. He gained considerable attention for his role on the latter as closeted, gay history teacher Chuck Noblet. It was his work as a correspondent on Comedy Central's news-parody series The Daily Show, however, that first introduced him to a wide audience.
In 2005, he left The Daily Show to host a spin-off series, The Colbert Report. Following The Daily Show's news-parody concept, The Colbert Report styles itself as a parody of personality-driven political opinion shows such as Bill O'Reilly's The O'Reilly Factor. Since its debut, the series has been successful, establishing itself as one of Comedy Central's highest-rated series, earning Colbert three Emmy nominations and an invitation to perform as featured entertainer at the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner in 2006. Colbert was named one of Time's 100 most influential people in 2006. His book, I Am America And So Can You was No. 1 on The New York Times Bestseller List.

Reviews

[Mrs. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read good cookbooks from cover to cover like novels. This cookbook is so good and has so many fun stories that I won’t be the only one. I have so many new recipes to try or update. Already went shopping for three recipes to make tomorrow. Thank you Evie and Stephen for sharing your love for sharing food with all of us.
Happy cooking everyone!

[Miss✧Pickypants ᓚᘏᗢ · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's always a crap shoot with celebrity cookbooks, some can be pretty terrible when the book is just trying to capitalise on the celebritiness of said celebrity but happy to report that is not the case with this cookbook! Stephen and his equally clever wife Evie have delivered a well-crafted, easy to follow one filled with delicious, predominantly "Lowland food" recipes.

Photos accompany most but not all recipes. The big bonus with this book is the repartee between Stephen and Evie, it feels genuine and authentic. The realness behind the recipes and stories provided many laugh out loud moments as well as a few bittersweet ones that left me a bit teary (read the dedication to Evie's mom who helped with the book while battling cancer and didn't get to see the book published).

This would make a great gift for fans of Mr. Colbert and anyone who enjoys lowland cooking.

[Doug · Rating 4 out of 5]

Purists may scoff at including a cookbook here, but I actually did spend several hours reading this - each recipe (or receipt, as Evie calls them - apparently a common Southern affectation!) is prefaced by the two authors telling charming stories about the dish. Although Evie claims to be a 'selective vegan', very few of the recipes are ones I, as a stricter one, would actually make - hence, I just got this from the library to peruse.

Since I enjoy the Colberts on his late night show I had a fine time reading about them, and the pictures of both the food and the Colberts at home are delightful. The recipes themselves are fairly basic and simple - very few contain any ingredients one wouldn't normally have around the house, which is a plus.

[Stewart Tame · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've never been sure how to review cookbooks.

They can be a fun read. I love a well-designed cookbook with artful photos that look so much better than any results I'm likely to get. It allows me to daydream about all the yummy things I could make if I only had 1) the time, 2) the patience to peel and chop eighteen different ingredients into identically-sized pieces, 3) enough free counter space to roll out the dough, 4) a stand mixer, 5) an espresso machine, 6) a fig tree in my yard … you get the idea.

That said, every step is clearly described. All of the recipes seem straightforward enough, to the point where I may actually attempt some of the less ingredient-heavy ones.

I'm not sure how many folks read cookbooks for the prose style, but this particular one is highly entertaining. Colbert and Evie (and occasionally other friends and family members) kick off each recipe with a few remarks, sometimes poking gentle fun at each other. And there are occasional asides in the recipes themselves. For example, in the Drinks section, the recipe for Buzz Fuzz mentions, “Makes 8 large cocktails, or 1 cry for help.” This gives the book a sort of warm, friendly feel, almost as if you're hanging out chatting with the Colbert family waiting for dinner to be ready.

To sum up: a delightful and fun (and funny) cookbook that will make you smile (and make you hungry.) Recommended!

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have gotten cookbooks through Libby which since I read through my Kindle app on my iPad automatically shows up on my GoodReads list because of the relationship between GoodReads and Amazon. I've always removed the cookbooks from showing up here because I didn't feel that I actually read the book - just looked at the pictures and saw which recipes were included.
Since I'm a Stephen Colbert loyalist, I was aware that he and his wife had written a cookbook. Nice, but I had no plans to search it out. But, I was in my library every day for more than 2 months preparing for our library book sale. Last week, for two days, this cookbook was staring at me on the 'new' shelf.
No one checked this out?!
After two days of its forlorn gazes, I rescued it from the shelf and checked it out.
Segue to a trip from central Ohio to western Michigan and I decided to give my usual cookbook treatment. But wait. There were "conversations" in the book between Colbert and his wife. I read them, many out loud so my husband could hear them. I read the entire book. Including the 'Thank you' section where (surprise! Suprise!) he thanked my friend Will Schwalbe.
I also learned a lot about Charleston and its heavy reliance on seafood.
For all this, I recommend this delight as a book to read.
And, I intend to try a couple of the recipes when I get home, back to my kitchen.

[Sher · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got a free copy of this book when I attended the Colbert show in New York City with one of my best friends from childhood. Luckily I had just enough space left in my carry-on to bring this back.

Evi and Stephen cooked Shrimp and Hominy in the studio and it smelled wonderful. I haven’t made it yet because grits are impossible to find in Germany, but I’m really eager to try it.

I’ve read it from cover to cover (it’s funny!) and I’ve cooked many of the dishes that are in it (lots of chicken dishes, y’all), which is kind of crazy considering I haven’t even owned the book for a full year yet.

Everything that I’ve tried is a winner. If you like southern US classics this is this will be a great cookbook for you.

[Debora · Rating 5 out of 5]

This Tastes Lovely

The conversation is a delight and the recipes or "receipts" are inviting and easy to follow for most basic cooks. A very nice range of courses.

I read it like a love story in two days because the writing style and lighthearted banter brought me right into the kitchen with Stephen and Evie.

[Betsy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book, great comments & conversations between Stephen & Evie. I enjoyed the photos too.
There are so many delicious dishes to make & bake.
I probably won’t make any of them, but I hope some of my friends will.

[Joyce Driggers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Funny and wonderful and delicious!! I loved it and the receipts or recipes and fantastic!

[Dolly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love watching The Late Show with Stephen Colbert clips on YouTube, and I was intrigued by his promotions for the cookbook he and his wife, Evie, wrote. So I was thrilled to be able to borrow the ebook edition from our local library.

I am looking forward to trying some of the recipes soon, especially during the holidays.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the funniest books I've ever read is a...COOK BOOK??? This book is a total delight. The receipts (recipes) are reader-friendly. The side notes from Stephen and Evie Colbert made me laugh out loud.

I would love to meet them and talk about some of the receipts. They just seem like such good people. oh, and yes! I'm going to be making some of those delicious entries ASAP.

[Tamara · Rating 5 out of 5]

delightful stories and looks like delicious recipes that i may or may not ever get around to making...
too much meat for my vegan heart but the stories and photographs of their family were overwhelmingly joyful and made me forget about what uncooked shrimp looks like.

[Edie Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

The positives—

1. It’s a beautifully designed book with llovely photos of both the food and the authors.
2. It’s funny.
3. It’s enjoyable to read and the little stories behind the recipes are adorable.
4. The dishes sound incredible and easy to make. I’d call them down to earth and meant for regular people. You’ll find nothing frou-frou about them!
5. It’s primarily southern (I love southern cooking) but there were notable exceptions.
6. There’s a lot of regional dishes (South Carolina, the hill country).
7. It’s mostly homemade cooking from scratch (which I think is the best way to do it) with fresh ingredients. However, there are some alternatives for those who are lazy or pressed for time.
8. It sounds like genuine family fare, not just something ghostwritten for a celebrity cookbook.
9. Stephen and Evie are the cutest couple. They really seem to appreciate good food.
10. It’s good enough to read from cover to cover (which I did). There aren’t many cookbooks that can make that claim.

All my negatives are personal.

1. A lot of the ingredients are hard to get. (Maybe not if you live in some parts of the country, but where I live they are difficult to find.)
2. I own too many cookbooks.
3. My husband recently had a stroke and has diabetes. I am constantly on a diet. That doesn’t leave a lot of options.

Nevertheless, I was so impressed with all the positives, I’m still thinking of buying it

[Julia Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won this book in a Goodreads Giveaway.

Stephen and Evie Colbert’s “Does This Taste Funny?” was charming and quirky and everything I love about them. They let their personalities shine through and gave an intimate glance into their Southern roots. Though I haven’t tried cooking any of the recipes yet, I have several bookmarked and can’t wait to try them!

[Nina]

It's a gorgeous book, the stories are fun, but I have yet to make any of the recipes from this so it's really hard for me to give a rating. Does anyone know of a website that actually rates cookbooks based on how the recipes turn out?

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this family recipe cookbook, written by Stephen Colbert and his wife, Evie. Each recipe is introduced with a section by Evie, and a section by Stephen, and sometimes family members. I found this to be a bit clunky to get through. I also found Evie's use of 'receipt' instead of 'recipe' unusual, until I found out that this is a Southern affectation. The recipes themselves look and sound dellicious for the most part, although to me there seems to be a lot of seafood. and fish. However, I would make most of the recipes in here and there are a few that will definitely be added to my own cookbook, including "Tomato Shed Pie" and "Sticky Toffee Pudding".
Lots of happy photos of the couple together, nice colour photos of the food.

[Rachel Ergovich]

I love Stephen Colbert so much and can’t wait to make every single one of these recipes

[Melodie Roschman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can’t speak to the quality of the recipes in here, since I haven’t cooked any of them, and a large chunk of them are meat anyway. But that isn’t the point - I read cookbooks for the vibes as much as for the recipes. I am a long time huge fan of Stephen Colbert, and his warmth and wittiness shines through, as well as a genuine and funny repartee with his wife. There are some lovely stories I had never heard before, which are particularly poignant if you know much of Colbert’s bio. My favorite is the story of shrimp fishing with his father, who died in a plane crash when he was a child.

I have long said that my dream celebrity dinner party includes Stephen Colbert; this book only confirms it.

[Sarah Hays · Rating 5 out of 5]

I “read” a lot of cookbooks (read: look at the pictures and drool over the descriptions), but I almost never add them to my Goodreads. This one is different. I loved the stories from Stephen & Evie’s families and life together and read almost every single one. I’ve always liked Stephen Colbert, and now I love him and Evie even more. It was a great comfort read for a cold and deeply stupid time.

[Lydia Sigwarth · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars

More cookbooks should come with goofy commentary

[Phyllis · Rating 5 out of 5]

With a title like this, I couldn’t resist. Yes, it’s a cookbook with recipes from both Stephen Colbert and his wife Evie McGee Colbert. But in addition to the recipes, they share stories of their childhoods, about their relatives, children, and parents. As well as being passionate about food and cooking, the book demonstrates that they are a loving family with deep southern roots.

Stephen and Evie begin each recipe with a short commentary about the recipe or ingredients that is full of humor and personality. This element as well as the excellent photos make this a 5-star read for me. Each recipe is accompanied by a full color photo of the dish. And also scattered throughout the book are personal shots of the Colberts and family members that help make this feel like a memoir instead of a traditional cookbook.

But it is definitely a cookbook – practical, traditional, and innovative. There were several recipes that I marked as wanting to try. The recipes are well-written and easy to follow. The narrative provides sources for the few unusual ingredients if unable to locate in your local market.

Once again, I found myself reading a cookbook by a celebrity who I don’t know much about. It turns out Colbert is the host of “The Late Show” (maybe I’m the only one who didn’t know that). But no matter what their professional talents are, they put together a team who created a beautiful cookbook – with humor, charm, and delicious-looking food.

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

From Drinks to Dessert, late night host Stephen Colbert, his wife Evie McGee Colbert, and their kids, share some of their family (in-laws, friends, their own) recipes, while Colbert (Stephen) offers up his own wit and input (usually to help the readers/aspiring chefs).

The finished recipes are works of art, even simplistically. The photographs of all of the food and drink is exceptional. Colbert does indeed include pictures of every recipe (no easy feat in a cookbook). There are many more pictures of Stephen's relationship with his wife Evie, and with his kids. Some of the behind-the-scenes of the familial relations and honest opinions of Stephen, Evie, their kids and untold factoids make it fun.

Unfortunately for me, many of these recipes and in particular, their ingredients (usually if they're Stephen or Evie's family ones) are not really affordable and many of the ingredients are not readily accessible or fairly priced in my region of the world (For instance, a lot of the appetizers are seafood due to their history on the East coast, BUT I'm in the Midwest where seafood is considered a luxury item), so that made this read a little disheartening.
Never fear though, Colbert's sense of humor and large assortment of recipes should keep readers/chefs inspired.
Don't worry, it won't taste funny....not in a bad way I hope.

[Mary Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

My husband and I watched Stephen and Evie prepare the Shrimp and Hominy recipe on the Late Show. A few days later, we prepared it for dinner. It did not disappoint! So, I checked this book out from the library. Now, I think I am going to have to buy it. Most of the recipes or receipts, as Evie calls them, were not terribly complicated or fussy. With a few exceptions, most ingredients are something I have already in my kitchen. Stephen and Evie include some alternatives for ingredients, methods or where you can purchase less common ingredients. They are also specific with their instructions, which I appreciate. Besides the recipes/receipts, their commentary with each recipe is very entertaining and kept me smiling cover to cover.

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of great anecdotes and a good variety of recipes. The photos of the Lowcountry of SC are stunning.

One of the things I really liked about it was the helpful, practical advice/hints in the text of the recipes.

I made the potato salad today and will eat it tomorrow with fried chicken from my local grocery store deli.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a delightful cookbook! Can we officially christen Evie and Stephen “America’s Couple”?! Their banter throughout the book adds a level of joy to a collection of wonderful recipes. It’s also great how they include other family members.

All in all, this is a book that reminds you to always keep your receipts!

[Susan Campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yummy!

Steve and Evie appear to have had a lot of fun producing this cookbook. Recipes are clear and helpful hints many. Some of the ingredients used might need to be ordered online since what's available on the East Coast won't necessarily be available in the Plains or on the West Coast.

[Mary Spencer · Rating 5 out of 5]

It might seem funny to read a cookbook, but there's actually quite a lot to read in this book because there's some banter for each of them before each recipe. I haven't made any of the recipes yet, but I like that it's written in such an easy to read fashion for following the directions.

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like Stephen and his wife, my parents are from Low Country South Carolina. Many of these recipes reminded me of the type of food my parents cook and enjoy.

[angie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Much more than a cookbook. Loved it!

[Julie Grace Immink · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Atlantic Northeast