Not for Bread Alone: Writers on Food, Wine, and the Art of Eating – A Delectable Anthology by Acclaimed Literary Artists

by Daniel Halpern

Twenty-two acclaimed writers celebrate the art of eating Wendell Berry • Colette • William Corbett • Michael Dorris • Alexandre Dumas • M. F .K. Fisher • Michael Frank • Betty Fussell • Evan Jones • Judith B. Jones • Barbara Kafka • Madeline Kamman • Charles Lamb • Rose Macaulay • Henry Matthews • Joyce Carol Oates • Francine Prose • Paul Schmidt • James Seay • Charles Simic • Edward Steinberg • Alice Waters There is more to be gained from our daily bread than mere sustenance. Curiosity, romance, ritual, and insight can be as much a part of a meal as any of its edible ingredients. In this delectable collection of essays on fine food and drink, twenty-two renowned writers capture the gestures, the celebrations, and the moments in which food, wine, and the act of eating transcend their initial purposes to become something far greater. A window into the eating lives of a handful of our finest literary artists, Not for Bread Alone is a tasty and most satisfying delight—a true culinary classic.

Genres: Food, Nonfiction, Essays, Food Writing, Ebooks, Cooking

192 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1993

Reviews

[Karen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have enjoyed the category of essays, known as food writing, since I first found the writing of M.F. K. Fisher in a compilation of works by women about 20 years ago (Writing Women's Lives: An Anthology Of Autobiographical Narratives By Twentieth Century American Women Writers. I loved that her essays were part-cooking and eating, part-travelogue, part-memoir, all mixed with love, respect and perspective. I was looking forward to reading this compilation, which contained an essay by Mary Frances and several other food writers that I recognized. I noticed, to my surprise, that the list of contributors also included writers that I recognized beyond the category of food, such as Joyce Carol Oates, Francine Prose and Collette.

The essays were all about food. What could go wrong? Sadly - plenty.

Joyce Carol Oates' essay on food mysteries was just that - a mystery. Other essays discussed food in religion, food in politics, food as a metaphor for sex, the food supply, food of the rich and educated. Overall, my biggest problem with this book was that a majority the essays weren't focused on food the way M.F.K.F. wrote with love, respect and perspective.

Of the twenty-two essays in this book, I would give most of the essays three stars or less. Seven or eight essays were four-star worthy. James Seay's essay about his grandmother cooking chickens that were in the backyard mere hours before dinner was a lovely reminder of traditional Sunday dinners, made with love. The essay by Evan Jones on the history of the restaurant Delmonico's in Manhattan provided perspective on how much our culture has changed since the 1850s. Another highlight was William Corbett's essay describing a neighbor's tiny kitchen filled with love and turmoil at a time when women did not want to be chained to the stove. In "The Quest for Pie," Michael Dorris shared an enjoyable journey through food history.

I think it is worth noting that this compilation did not contain a listing at the end of the contributors and their works. I like to learn about writers' other works when I have been particularly moved by an essay. It often leads to an addition or two to my TBR list. I am sure there are plenty of essay collections of food writing that are more to my liking. I'm moving on.

[Raluca · Rating 1 out of 5]

For me, food means flavor, discovery, heritage, and ideally love. Very little of any of that came through in this collection of annoying, pretentious, name-and-place-dropping-y, occasionally overly gory, and always quite tedious pieces. Pity.

[Trisha · Rating 3 out of 5]

To rate a collection of essays is no easy thing when it contains writings that range from baffling to fascinating, from crude to inspiring. If you only read one essay in this book, read the last one, on the making of wine. It's a five-star one, and you'll never take for granted again the labor and decisions and timing and providence that goes into the making of one of God's most delightful gifts to us. The cork? Who thinks of the labor and love that goes into the making of wine corks? There was only one essay I simply couldn't finish. Harry Crews' contribution was contaminated by so much coarse language and a general crudeness that it took away from the "art of eating". And it was an interesting irony to have been in the middle of Alice Waters' essay regarding the farm-restaurant connection and the importance of finding quality food for her restaurant and then seeing her endorsement of a book promoting socialism in the USA. Sometimes it was simply a line or two from an essay that powerfully reminded me of the beauty of a messy kitchen, for life happens there, or the meaning of preparing food for our families--don't let it become a matter of pragmatism, or the treasured truth that what we do in the kitchen leaves imprints on the hearts, minds, and souls of those who gather at our table.

[Rick · Rating 1 out of 5]

Each selection seemed more tedious and pretentious than the one before it. Consider the following passage from Madelaine Kamman's essay: "And what of the peppery flavors from horseradish, nasturtiums, and the sweet and hot peppers? Personally, I am not partial to any frankly peppery taste with wine.... But I must admit that finely chopped nasturtiums introduced in a reduction of excellent Chardonnay and finished with butter and a bit of cream can be quite good" (140). Ugh!

[Libscigrl · Rating 1 out of 5]

I love me some food. I love me some wine. I love talking about food and wine.
Apparently I don't like reading about it. Or reading about what others think/feel/say about it.

This book was super boring. I skipped the first essay entirely...I don't even know what the writer was talking about, but it wasn't pinot noir, donuts, or cheesecake, so I moved on. The next few essays were a little better, at least I finished those. But by the fourth, I just wanted to eat some ice cream and go to bed (with a different book).

Which is exactly what I did. :)

[Margaret Dee · Rating 1 out of 5]

I love to read about food and cooking!