Between Bites: Memoirs of a Hungry Hedonist

by James Villas

Praise for Between Bites Memoirs of a Hungry Hedonist

"An incredible journey of gastronomy by one of America's greatest journalists. Wow!"--Chef Emeril Lagasse

"For anyone interested in disciplined hedonism, this gripping book reminds us where real style comes from and how it is sustained."--Jeremiah Tower

"This is a wonderful book for all to cherish and enjoy--those who love gloriously meticulous writing, wit, the joy of good food from French to Southern, the love of friends who truly accept them, and the pleasure of dispute, which I intend to keep doing with Jimmy as long as he will let me. Bravo!"--Barbara Kafka

"The more stubborn, persnickety, demanding, and shocking Jim Villas's opinions become in his memoirs, the funnier, more informed, and commonsensical they seem. His appetite for the good life has never flagged, and his ability to convey the highs and lows of dining out makes this book as tantalizing as a mess of spiced crabs. Like A. J. Liebling and Waverley Root, Jim Villas is not really a food writer but a great writer who revels in the joy of living well."--John Mariani

Genres: Food, Nonfiction, Biography, Food and Wine, Memoir, Food Writing

304 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2002

About the author

James Villas was the food and wine editor of Town & Country magazine for twenty-seven years. His work has also appeared in Esquire, Gourmet, Bon Appetit, Saveur, The New York Times, and the Atlantic Monthly, among other publications. Two of his cookbooks have been nominated for a James Beard Award. He has also won a James Beard Award twice for journalism and received Bon Appetit's Food Writer of the Year Award in 2003. James Villas is the author of more than a dozen cookbooks and books on food, including My Mother’s Southern Kitchen and The Glory of Southern Cooking. He lives in East Hampton, New York.

Reviews

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a romp! Villas gossips, cavorts, and slashes his way through the culinary world. I liked the most personal chapters the best, and the name-dropping did get old by the last few chapters. But the penultimate chapter/tribute to his mother will be long remembered. An interestingly frank look at the intertwining of food and sex, also, despite the fact that Villas titillates about his own hedonism but leaves out the details. If you're a Villas fan, you must read this. If not, you should start with some of his food essays, and THEN read this!