The Culinary Bro-Down Cookbook

by Josh Scherer

The Culinary Bro-Down Cookbook is full of irreverent essays and anecdotes, but running throughout is a deep sense of soul and self that strives to answer the question: Why can't the deep-fried nonsense you eat with your bros at 2 a.m. have the same emotional gravitas as an intimate family dinner?

There was never anything wrong with instant ramen. But there was never anything wrong with not being on the moon, either. That didn't stop Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and that other guy* from changing the course of human history with a few daring steps and a super dope catchphrase. So too shall journalist and blogger Josh Scherer change the course of late-night, often-insane, sometimes-smart-but-always-monstrous munchie food that puts your MSG packet garbage to shame.

You'll find more than seventy creations broken into the ten "brossential" food groups like: Beer, Fried Things, Tacos, and Struggle Snacks (because money is hard). Josh's recipes range from indulgent eats like Beer-Poached Bratwurst Party Subs and Mac 'n' Cheese Nachos to hella-classy dishes like Broccolini with Burnt Lemon Hollandaise and Pork Belly Tacos with Fish Sauce Caramel. Sprinkled in are the unholy commandments for bro cooking, such as "bagged wine is the only wine you need," and Josh's expert advice on how to beat a hangover (it's mostly just pastrami and emotionally purging movies).

Oh and there's bacon, too. Like, a lot of it.

Genres: Cookbooks, Nonfiction, Cooking, Food

256 pages, Hardcover

Published August 29, 2017

Reviews

[Sarah Joint]

This afternoon, I made frozen pizza while watching football. This evening, I picked up another pizza and had it for dinner. I am clearly a bad person, but that's not the point. I just won a copy of "The Culinary Bro-Down Cookbook"! I am not a bro, but I think it will speak to me. It doesn't mention pizza, but it does appear to have a fried food section, so I'm in.

Review to come.

[Douglas Lord · Rating 1 out of 5]

70+ ‘brossential’ recipes for living a “dope-ass life.” The cuss-loving Scherer claims that he experienced all his “…happiest, most important moments” while “…chugging beers and drunk cooking … and making obscene foods that most rational people would consider abominations of God.” He’s maybe 25 years old so don’t begrudge him any success; you’ve probably never gotten your shit together enough to publish a book of your own now have you? On to the recipes: they’re fucking gross. Heavy on bacon and fat-fried results. Eat them if you like the diabetes. Donut holes with Maple-Bacon Fat Buttercream. Beer-Poached Bratwurst Party Sub. Malt Liquor Chicken. The point is that dressed up shit food or shit food smothered in high calorie sauces is still shit. Spam is still spam, as is oxtail. ‘Brommandment’ (so cute!) 10 is: Salt Everything. Someday this kid, an ex-UCLA hammer thrower, will wake up with clogged arteries and write a book about the magic of healthy eating. As for comedy, no matter how low your standards, this is only vaguely funny and not for long. The high offense factor ranges from casually insensitive (e.g., “I have long rejected the white-people taco”) to ‘total asshole:’ The ‘Fat Hawaiian’ Burger. A few recipes, especially a salmon dish, sound good. Naturally, they are all contained in the chapter entitled ‘Stuff Chicks Like’ where Scherer claims to identify as a feminist and the ‘bro’ sobriquet is a big joke. The celebratory immaturity belies this. He has even pre-written his response to those who advise him to grow up: “go collectively fuck yourselves.” VERDICT: Unredeemable. The antithesis of what many health professionals do as a vocation. People simply cannot eat these foods for long and retain any kind of wellness. And young people will not take the time to prepare foods in this way. So I’m not sure who this book is written for. What's up with the publisher, Grand Central? Y’all otherwise have a pretty good track record. I especially enjoyed Letters to Penthouse XVIII.

Find this review and others at Books for Dudes, the online reader's advisory column for men from Library Journal: see http://reviews.libraryjournal.com/cat.... Copyright Library Journal.

[Hugo's Mom · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Perfect Pandemic Cookbook

As an almost middle aged gal, I was probably not the intended audience for this book. However, thanks to world events that supposedly sparked off from some bat soup, I am now the perfect audience for this book- suddenly trapped at home, with my entire always hungry family, in a house thankfully well stock with liquor and a very unpredictable grocery store supply (thanks to pandemaniac shoppers) causing me to sometimes redirect to Dollar General for food, which is surprising to say the least seeing as I’d never set foot in one until the last 30 days.

Improvisation, deep frying, and alcohol. These are the things that will get us through the hell that is this stupid pandemic, be we college aged bros, middle aged mammas, or anything in between.

Is the book full of curse words? Yes. In a completely satisfying and fulfilling way- especially when you’re reading it after spending almost a month trapped in your house and are pretty frustrated with the world in general. Tenderize a piece of meat with a vodka bottle or your fists? Hell yes! If you don’t find this satisfying and sage advice during this pandemic, well, then something is wrong with you. Josh’s book has been a delightful bright spot in an otherwise dreary media world. I stumbled upon Mythical Kitchen on YouTube trying to avoid the news, and after a few episodes, google led me to this book and I’m so glad it did.

I’m not sure if we’ll still be trapped in our houses when anyone reads this review. If we are- definitely buy the book. Seeing as you have no idea what will or won’t be at the grocery store tomorrow, this is a solid investment in helping you improvise. And if Lord willing we’re out of this pandemic, well, you should still buy the book. It’s funny, and the recipes are great, and Josh is an entertaining writer.

[Bri · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am not a bro, but I do love food. This book has some really great recipes in there and the pictures make them look absolutely amazing. This cookbook is not just for men, women will enjoy it as well!

The "stuff chicks like" chapter actually made me laugh a little. Just so you know, chicks like the messy greasy stuff too :)

[Bridgett Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won this in a Goodreads Giveaway.
I liked this cook book. I seen it as a collage guys guide to cooking. lol I showed my teenage boys the book and they want to make some of them. It's a "guys" cookbook so Beer, Bacon and cheese play a large role in the recipes.

[Brianna Sowinski · Rating 3 out of 5]

I expected to hate this one because of the title but this bro can also write. Maybe it was his story of his family buying 40 McDonalds cheeseburgers on the days they could each get 10 for around a buck and his embarrassment of being forced to purchase his 10 so they could freeze them and eat them microwaved all week. Maybe his drunken grilling parties reminded me of the days of hanging out with Navy guys and all the interesting and delicious meals we shared together. Either way I read his entire Guy Fieri story. Predictably, most of the recipes I am not interested in attempting, although one of his "to impress girls recipes" I might make. Why try to make a Crunchwrap Supreme when you can just go to Tacobell and pay $2 for one? The whole bro thing was a bit much at times.

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a very tongue in cheek book and there are a lot of anecdotes and random commentary that shouldn't be taken too seriously. Although the book is marketed as a cookbook for frat guys and young bachelors, I was surprised that there were actually some that I would consider making -- the chapter on tacos and the braised beet barbacoa were both intriguing. That being said, this isn't a healthy cookbook, but it's not trying to be.

Thank you to Hachette for sending along a finished copy for review.

[Sean Little · Rating 5 out of 5]

The essays are what make this cookbook readable. Sure, the recipes are good, but the essays are a paean to food, hanging out with friends, and impressing girls--all things any dude would be proud to partake.

The food looks great, but I read it for the writer's sense of humor and easy relatability.

[Carol Sturm · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't read this as a cookbook because I am vegan, but because I knew it would be hilarious. Josh is head chef at Good Mythical Morning and his take on simple food is spot on. And who knows, someone out there might actually find a recipe they like!

[Jaymin Ewens · Rating 5 out of 5]

If all cookbooks were written like this, I'd own and read a lot more cookbooks. It was fun to read and I now have a crazy number of bizarre (and some not as bizarre) recipes to try. If I wasn't already a little in love with Josh, this would have made me fall in love.

[Taylor Boettcher · Rating 1 out of 5]

Didn't get through most of this, because I couldn't. The language was very strong, and frequent. WAY too much cursing and it is a cooking boo. No need for the excessive amounts of language.

[EJ Hammock · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great cookbook for guys regardless of your experience in the kitchen. Complex recipes broken down into every day language mixed with humorous stories & anecdotes.

[Simon Gosselin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not your usual cookbook. Lot of funny stories and really nice receipes making me wanting to be a real bro’ of the author. A must have and read for any bro’ or wannabe bro’!