The Lee Bros. Southern Cookbook: Stories and Recipes for Southerners and Would-be Southerners

by Matt Lee, Ted Lee

From the New York Times food writers who defended lard and demystified gumbo comes a collection of exceptional southern recipes for everyday cooks. The Lee Bros. Southern Cookbook tells the story of the brothers' culinary coming-of-age in Charleston—how they triumphed over their northern roots and learned to cook southern without a southern grandmother. Here are recipes for classics like Fried Chicken, Crab Cakes, and Pecan Pie, as well as little-known preparations such as St. Cecilia Punch, Pickled Peaches, and Shrimp Burgers. Others bear the hallmark of the brothers' resourceful cooking style—simple, sophisticated dishes like Blackened Potato Salad, Saigon Hoppin' John, and Buttermilk-Sweet Potato Pie that usher southern cooking into the twenty-first century without losing sight of its roots. With helpful sourcing and substitution tips, this is a practical and personal guide that will have readers cooking southern tonight, wherever they live.

Genres: Cookbooks, Cooking, Food, Southern, Reference, Culinary, Nonfiction

600 pages, Hardcover

First published October 23, 2006

Reviews

[Brien · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a big, heavy, 500+page cookbook. The recipes are quite good, and some attention is given to regional rivalry, such as North Carolina vs. South Carolina hush puppies. Most recipes begin with a nice introductory paragraph or two. Emphasis on the Carolinas, but other locales get their due--hooray for Kentucky Burgoo. Why are the fonts so small? There is plenty of unused space on most pages, so the eye strain was unnecessary. Some very nice full-page full-color photo spreads, and also some curiously tiny, unattractive b&w photos sprinkled throughout as well. Bottom line, as always, is how good the recipes are, and so four stars.

[Tiffany · Rating 4 out of 5]

You know it’s a good cookbook when there is a section just on grits! ❤️

[Marcella · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love the recipes and the approach to the cuisine of The South

[False · Rating 2 out of 5]

An enjoyable read,but nothing I would cook. It's funny how fast cookbook's age in terms of the public taste and cultural changes. I've read all of their cookbooks now, and it seems there is a certain repetition in the types of foods they offer up for social events. I guess you could argue "Charleston Eats," but I feel like even in a tradition bound city like Charleston (or New Orleans, for example,) there has to be some evolution.

An oversized book in number of pages, so it's really something to heft around while you are cooking, and the recipes are really spread out per page, making it even more awkward and bulky. I have copied some recipes to try in the coming year. Perhaps I'll change my mind.

[Daniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

A real must-read for anyone from the South who has found themselves outside of the South, or at least a six hour drive from their grandmother's dining table. A great cookbook highlights important food traditions while developing the reader's own cooking abilities and tastes. The Lee Brothers do that almost perfectly, collecting recipes from all over the Southeast, explaining their dish histories, and suggesting their own take on classic meals. REQUIRED.

[Ashley]

Ok, so who would think that you could "read" a cookbook? I know, but this one is wonderful. The Lee Bros. are two brothers (go figure) who originally hail from NYC but moved to Charleston, SC, when they were young teens. They then fell in love with Southern food, especially Low Country food. This book is a wonderful take on Southern food and culture. It is beautifully written and I want to make all the recipes!! I am in love with this book!!!

[Marc · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this book. I've probably made 15-20 of the recipes, ranging from cocktails and cheese straws through chicken bog, country captain, and banana pudding ice cream. I have made a number of these repeatedly. They've almost all been great, and the recipes are well-written and -organized. This is up there among my top cookbooks, with Everyday Mexican, How to Cook Everything, and the various Vegetarian Epicures.

[Vivian · Rating 2 out of 5]

As a transplanted southerner, I though that this book would interest me as I explored southern cuisine. However, I found that it seemed to have most of the same recipes that other cookbooks have. After reading through it a few times, I gave it away. I didn't find anything that I really wanted to cook from this book.

[Autumn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Smart and respectful Southern cooking with a pronounced Charleston flavor. I love this book because 1)it notes the similarities between boiled peanuts and edamame and 2)it includes reciepts for two Cheerwine cocktails.

[Katie Le Blanc · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you like to drool over cookbooks and occasionally cook from one....this is the book for you. Full of great stories and anecdotes from two brothers who learned to cook after moving to the south as young boys from NYC. Equally mouthwatering and endearing- this is a wonderfully written cookbook!

[joon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beyond delightful. I want to live next door to the Lee Bros. You will, too. Bring a little sunshine into your life. This book will restore your faith in character, tradition, good manners, resiliency, hope, and the future of mankind. Irresistible. Absolutely. Let me know when you've read it.

[Aimee · Rating 4 out of 5]

FLUFFY BISCUITS! AMAZING CABBAGE! (and I don't usually like cabbage) Pork chops and pears. YUUUMMMM! Everything recipe I have made from this book has worked well. Clear, explicit, not recommended for vegetarians.

[Laurie Graham · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another handsome cookbook that's more than. Southern recipes often make me feel I need to go brush my teeth, but in this instance the sugar overload is easily offset by the stories and background. I'd have given it 4 stars if it hadn't been too darned heavy to read in bed. Publishers please note.

[Chambers Stevens · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is not really a Southern Cookbook as much as a Lowcountry Cookbook. And in opinion the best one on the market. The Lee Brothers know their stuff. Every year my family take a vacation to Edisto Island and we bring this cookbook and make many of the recipes.
Highly recommended.

[Megan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Most of the fare sounded good but not great enough to bookmark for later. I found The Lee Bros. Charleston Kitchen to be more enjoyable.

[Maureen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love a cookbook that has a lot of narration about the area or the stories behind recipes. I think this book scores on the former but is just ok on the latter. The title says it all "Stories AND Recipes".

[Louise]

I have a huge crush on these guys and would love their book for Christmas. hint hint...

[Bridget · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great Southern cookbook. This book is autographed.

[Brandi Koontz · Rating 5 out of 5]

For two New Yorkers who claim Charleston as their hometown (even though they were born in and live in New York) this is a fantastic resource.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful. This is the cookbook I turn to when I want to be comforted by something special.

[Kasey · Rating 2 out of 5]

I prefer more photos in a modern cookbook. Delicious sounding recipes, but most of them require more time than I'm able to put into cooking most the time. There are some great, simple ones though.

[Kathleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Worth a page through, especially if you EVER go to Charleston, SC.

[Steff · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love this collection of traditional Southern recipes.

[Renee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love the two options for fried chicken: one for Tuesday, one for Sunday. Definitely double-batter the chicken. Also, buttermilk ice cream rules.

[Rebecca Tolley · Rating 4 out of 5]

read my review at my food blog: http://www.potlikkery.com/2007/03/rea...

[Cecelia]

The Lee Brothers really no how to make your taste buds come alive and the variety of recipies will never get old

[EB · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are so many good recipes in this book.
Contains the best chicken broth recipe I've found. Very easy and very tasty!

[Beka · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun read with lots of improvements or innovations on classic southern dishes.

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the cookbooks I crack most frequently.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this cookbook. Great stories and even better recipes!