Somebody Feed Phil the Book: The Official Companion Book with Photos, Stories, and Favorite Recipes from Around the World

by Phil Rosenthal

The ultimate collection of must-have recipes, stories, and behind-the-scenes photos from the beloved Netflix show Somebody Feed Phil.

Phil Rosenthal, host of the beloved Netflix series Somebody Feed Phil, really loves food and learning about global cultures, and he makes sure to bring that passion to every episode of the show. Whether he’s traveling stateside to foodie-favorite cities such as San Francisco or New Orleans or around the world to locations like Saigon, Tel Aviv, Rio de Janeiro, Mexico City, or Marrakesh, Rosenthal includes a healthy dose of humor to every episode—and now to this book.

In Somebody Feed Phil the Book, Rosenthal presents never-before-heard stories from every episode of the first four seasons of the series, along with more than sixty of viewers’ most requested recipes from acclaimed international chefs and local legends alike (including Rosenthal’​s favorite sandwich finds from San Francisco to Tel Aviv), so you can replicate many of the dishes from the show right at home. There are also “scripts” from some of Rosenthal’s video phone calls from the road with his family making this the ultimate companion guide for avid fans of the show as well as armchair travelers and adventurous at-home chefs.

Genres: Cookbooks, Nonfiction, Food, Travel, Cooking, Memoir, Humor

Audiobook

Published October 25, 2022

About the author

Television writer and producer who is best known as the creator, writer and executive producer for the sitcom Everybody Loves Raymond.

Reviews

[Aizat Affendi · Rating 5 out of 5]

A happy, hungry man is travelling all across the sea and the land. He's trying to understand the art of pasta, pork, chicken and lamb..

We're lucky he did because what transpired from it is a wonderful Netflix Series not to be missed! The series is witty and so incredibly warm. Reading this, I have developed a deeper appreciation for the serendipities in life and that I firmly believe that no matter where they are or what they're affiliated with (politically, religiously, racially), people are inherently good.

If you enjoyed the series as much as I did, I truly recommend reading this book as the latter makes a good accompaniment to the former.

[Alicia Bayer · Rating 3 out of 5]

This will be a great companion book to people who like the TV series or who dream of culinary travels. It's heavy on memoir and prose, with authentic recipes throughout. There are lots of photos, more of the travels and show than typical recipe photos.

I read a temporary digital ARC of this book for review.

[Mada · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my rating for the AUDIOBOOK.

Some extra perks for listening to the audiobook:
- you get to listen to Phil in all his optimistic glory read to you
- you can listen to various people we met in the show tell you stories about the various recipes found in the book.

However:

It’s clear that the audiobook tries as much as it can to make up for the things it lacks (including with the accompanying pdf Phil keeps sending you to), but, in this case, it doesn’t (and can’t) beat the actual book.

And a final note for who hasn’t seen the series - each chapter follows an episode from Somebody Feed Phil (the series) and it’s written like the reader has seen the episodes (many many mentions about things you could only know of from watching the show). I guess it’s meant as a companion book. Therefore, for who still needs to see the series - how about doing both and watching one episode, then listening to/ reading its specific chapter?

For who’s already seen the series - it’s a nice trip down memory lane and maybe a little nudge to get back to that particular episode that brought a smile to your face. And maybe laugh a bit learning a few behind the scenes moments that Phil talks about here.

[Christopher · Rating 4 out of 5]

We don’t deserve Phil Rosenthal. He’s too pure a human.

[Audrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a fun audiobook! Phil Rosenthal is always a treat. I need to look through the PDF companion and choose some recipes to try.

[Ashlee Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

Phil is an absolute treasure! This was a lovely accompaniment to his wonderful show. I’m excited to try some of the recipes from his adventures.

[Susan Tunis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I recently saw Phil Rosenthal interview Alice Waters and Thomas Keller on-stage. What a pleasure, right? I'd never heard of Phil Rosenthal. Later that night I'm binge-watching his food show. And the next day I read this book, which is basically a companion to the show with some behind the scenes stories, nice photos, and some recipes.

As his fans (now counting me) know, Phil's a mensch. Who better to travel the world with?

[Elaine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of Somebody Feed Phil the Book.

I've watched the NetFlix series so I was pleased my request was approved.

Somebody Feed Phil the Book is a behind-the-scenes look at how the show originated and some of the many diverse and beautiful countries and states Phil and his crew were so darn lucky to visit.

The writing style is jocular, humorous and warm, much like Mr. Rosenthal himself.

You can tell how genuine and excited he is about food, his crew, and the amazing people he's met on his travels.

The book clearly communicates how much meeting people through food and making friends through the universal language of food and cooking is interconnected and can create lifelong bonds and friendships.

Amazing people, the locals of the countries and states he and his crew visit, these all influence the incredible dishes of their particular country/state.

And the best way to enjoy food is with good people who may turn out to be friends!

For the most part, the photos came through pretty well on my Kindle though the formatting of the text was wonky.

My favorite part of the book was how each recipe is by a local chef, explaining their dish and how much this particular dish and its ingredients relates to their culture, their country and their identity.

Don't read this on an empty stomach!

[Natalie Park · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was enjoyable as always but is quite repetitive if you’ve seen the series yet there are extra audio additions with various chefs and Phil’s parents and recipes.

[Gabrielle D'Amours · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the book just as much as I did the tv show. The perfect balance between recipes and stories.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Definitely for fans of the show- I loved my reading experience and can’t wait to try to make some of the recipes. We love Phil in our household!

[Tori]

Was this necessary to read if you like the show? No, but it was delightful to listen to while cooking and cleaning this weekend!

[Phyllis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read about this book and it sounded like a fun read. I had never heard of the Netflix series where Phil and his crew travel all around the world eating in various countries, trying all sorts of food and meeting all sorts of people. It turns out that the book is a companion to the show, but even if you haven’t seen the show, you will still enjoy the book. Lots of photos, lots of recipes and commentary by the chefs who provide the recipes, and the funniest conversations between Phil via Zoom with his parents.

Phil Rosenthal is an American television writer and producer who is the creator, writer, and executive producer of the CBS sitcom Everybody Loves Raymond. What makes this book so entertaining is Phil’s joyful attitude towards life – he likes to eat, to meet new people, and explore new places. He is genuinely enthusiastic about everything!

[Fara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Somebody Feeds Phil menjadi siri kegemaran semasa lockdown. Waktu ini, baru tahu bahawa Phil inilah penulis siri Everybody Loves Raymond, yang rupa-rupanya diinspirasi daripada keluarganya sendiri, terutamanya watak ibu bapanya, Max dan Helen (Mary dan Frank dalam ELR).



Untuk bacaan yang menyeronokkan, perlu tonton siri ini terlebih dahulu. Ia tentang makanan dalam kembara serta mengenali tempat dan budaya (Malaysia belum masuk senarai). Meriah!

[Miriam Maddox · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you haven’t seen Somebody Feed Phil on Netflix, drop what you’re doing and watch an episode right now! Phil Rosenthal is exactly what the world needs right now. His show does an excellent job at encouraging intercultural dialogue and celebrating what makes us different. He also seems like such a genuinely happy guy, and his smile always puts a smile on my face. As a vegetarian, there weren’t many recipes I would be able to recreate in here. But, I enjoyed reading about the experiences in each city from Phil’s perspective!

[Toni · Rating 3 out of 5]

Phil Rosenthal's exuberance comes through the pages of this memoir/travelogue/cookbook as he encourages the reader to travel and enjoy life and all the people that one encounters everywhere one happens to be. I read the Kindle edition and look forward to checking out the actual book in order to enjoy the photographs.

[Carmen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Charming! I skimmed because I've seen each episode at least twice but still enjoyable :)

[Mia]

I love the Netflix series. Unfortunately, I don't think it lends itself to the audiobook format.

[Nadia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love watching Somebody Feed Phil on Netflix and this book is an excellent companion for the show. Featuring destinations from the first four seasons, it offers behind the scenes photos, stories, and recipes in Phil's characteristic voice and humor. Highly recommend for fans of the show!

[Alexandre Demers · Rating 5 out of 5]

So much food !

[Donna Foster · Rating 5 out of 5]

Crazy cookbook with unique recipes including photos with fun descriptions of people, different places around the world and definitely entertaining stories / memories.

[Autumn · Rating 5 out of 5]

As soon as I saw Somebody Feel Phil the Book, I knew I had to have it. My parents and I love the show so very much, and when I go t bed, I can hear them burst out laughing from the floor below. When it asked for descriptive tags, I just wanted to add, "Joy," but someone else might not look it up that way. This is a book about relationships I feel. It is a book that goes along with the show yes, but it also, as I said, is about relationships. Relationships to us, the audience, relationships with his parents and friends, relationships with food, yes, but also relationships and love for not only the food, but with the cultures, people, and way of life for which he visits. For someone like me who will more than likely never get to travel to these places and try the amazing food, I loved the gorgeous pictures and recipes inside. This book is a love story to all the places he has been, and I love a good love story. I plan on buying the hardback book for my parents for Christmas. May I also say, it is a true joy to watch Phil eat the food and see the expressions on his face. He brings me complete happiness even if I feel down. Phil, thank you for being the happy, kind, precious soul that you are.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[AllBookedUp · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn’t quite sure what to expect from reading this book. Each chapter follows an episode from “Somebody Feed Phi (A Netflix series) and it's written to be a companion to the episodes. I’ve seen only a handful and often thought,“ wonder how that was made?” This book is a homage to foodies in all of us in connection to his adventures and his embracing the cultures from all over along with some of the recipes. He’ll include the eateries and the restaurant’s recipe with theirs abbreviated story.

It’s a fun memoir of his travels for the show.

[Matt Zar-Lieberman · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the television show Somebody Feed Phil, Phil Rosenthal (creator of Everybody Loves Raymond) serves as a chipper guide through the sights and tastes of various global cities. It’s not as insightful or deep as something like Anthony Bourdain’s travel shows but it is much cheerier and a fine comfort watch. Rosenthal’s passion for travel and eating clearly comes through and he seems convinced he’s the luckiest guy on earth to get paid to do this. The new book companion to the show brings exactly the same energy. Somebody Feel Phil: The Book is a combination cookbook/coffee table book/memoir that should please big fans of the show with an interest in world cuisines.

The publisher actually only shared a sample (I believe the first third-ish of the book), but it was pretty easy to extrapolate from what I read. After a breezy introduction about Phil’s inspiration for the show, the book dedicates a chapter for each episode of the show so far.

Every chapter provides some show quotes, production details, and Phil’s general takeaways about the city and its food and people. As anyone who watched the show could probably predict, Phil is universally effusive with praise for basically all elements of the places he visits, especially the people. That’s his schtick and it’s never too tiring because the real stars of the book are its many recipes.

I came into the book expecting more of a travel memoir, and while you sorta get that, Somebody Feel Phil is more of a visually-pleasing cookbook. I’m not going to ding the book for being different from what I anticipated, especially given that the hardcopy seems to clearly suggest it’s a cookbook/coffee table kind of deal (i.e. the pages seem very big). Each chapter has about 3-4 recipes of dishes Phil had on his travels. Every recipe is written by an expert on the cuisine. The recipes are also often a bit off the beaten path, including khao soi (a Thai coconut curry soup), Pasteis de Nata (Portuguese puff pastry), and Braciola all’Arturo (Italian fried porkchop). The recipes are highly-detailed and feature a lot of tips for how to best replicate the flavors. I didn’t do any playing along at home and I’m not an expert on assessing cookbook recipes, but these seemed pretty well-done based on the detail. I think I could probably recreate at least some of these recipes even with my meager cooking abilities. My only nitpick is that I’d want some more substitution options knowing that some of the more specialty ingredients may be a bit hard to find.

There are also a ton of large and nice-looking photographs from the show’s production as well. These didn’t translate super-well on my Kindle but I looked at the full-color preview on Amazon and the book is jam-packed with a lot of photos, some vibrant, some majestic, some candid, all pretty amusing. But that is a watch-out with the electronic version. I’m not a big fan of reading recipes off my Kindle and the pictures are going to come through better in the hardcopy (the usual caveat for cookbooks, but worth reiterating here for those who expected more prose and fewer recipes).

Somebody Feel Phil: The Book is a bit hard to rate because I think it’s catering to a niche audience (fans of the show). But if you’ve read this far into the review then you probably count yourself as at least a moderate fan, and I think fans who enjoy cooking would get a lot out of this. The recipes are intriguing, diverse, and well-written and the reflective mini-essays from Phil about each episode are breezy and offer some interesting tidbits. I don’t think there is enough new non-recipe content to justify the price of admission for those strictly looking for a travel memoir, but if the whole package appeals to you I think it’s definitely worth picking up.

7/10

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Before you read this book, you need to watch the tv series. It’s not that you won’t enjoy or understand the book if you haven’t seen the series. It’s that the series is so utterly charming and delightful that I want everyone to see it.

Okay, you there. I see you. Yes, you, that person in the back looking disgruntled, and thinking “Phil Rosenthal. Isn’t he the creator of Everybody Loves Raymond? I don’t like that show.”

I don’t know why you don’t like Everybody Loves Raymond. and I don’t care. Personally, it’s one of my all-time favorite sitcoms. Put your irrational viewing preferences aside, and fire up the Roku channel. Go ahead, I’ll wait. The Roku channel is available free online. They want you to create an account, but other than that, there are no strings attached, no fees, no nothing. Use the search function and enter “I’ll Have What Phil’s Having”. That’s the PBS show that came before Somebody Feed Phil (which is on Netflix, for which you will have to pony up some dough). There are only 6 episodes of I’ll Have What Phil’s Having”, and it uses the same format and the same production company as its sequel series, so by the time you have watched it, you will have seen a great tv series, and you will know it’s worth a month’s subscription to Netflix to binge watch all the seasons of Somebody Feed Phil.

If you decide it’s not for you, well, okay. You’ll probably want to consult a physician to see what might be wrong with you, just sayin'. Keep in mind that while it is food focused, and you will see some cooking, food is just the excuse to go to these fabulous places and meet the locals. You could not ask for a more engaging guide than Phil.

Oh, and the SFP theme song is phenomenal, too. Listen to both the opening and closing versions.

Now to the book. The audio version comes with a pdf that includes the recipes, so you don’t have to listen to “...and a half-teaspoon of salt. Saute until golden brown,” and includes all the photographs, too. Unless you’re able to listen and follow along with the pdf at the same time, this is one of the rare times I think print is the better option, especially if you’ve never watched an episode of the series. If you have watched the series, though, a great bonus to the audio version is that Phil reads it, and you can relive the classic clips of him Skyping with his mom and dad.

Unreservedly recommended for anyone who's not a hopeless curmudgeon.

[Lori Alden Holuta · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you enjoyed watch Phil Rosenthal's food/travel series, I'll Have What Phil's Having and Somebody Feed Phil, this combination cookbook and travelogue is a must-have memento of Phil's travels around the world.

If you haven't seen the series, you'll still find the book to be an enjoyable read, with plenty of international recipes to try. But I really recommend you search out the television series too, because reading the book with Phil's friendly, earnest voice in your head is just so much fun!

Phil is not a cook, nor does he want to be one. What he wants is to find the good cooks of the world and spend time with them. More importantly, he wants you to search them out, too. That's his underlying not-so-secret agenda. Phil has enjoyed traveling, making friends and eating fantastic food, and really, really, really hopes you'll consider doing the same.

I love that Phil's anecdotes have plenty of room to ramble. He should never be cut short when telling a story - never!

So far, I've only tried one recipe, the Banh Mi Loaves on page 29 (hardback edition). Yummy as heck! My small quibble with the recipe is that they left one ingredient out of the list. It was only water, and the correct amount was mentioned when we got into the instructions, but still, it should have been in the ingredient list. Be sure to read and review the recipes before you use them, just to be sure you have everything you'll need.

This book belongs on every foodie's shelf. Well-traveled folk will identify with his impressions of people, cities, and food around the world, which are bound to spark your own memories. If you haven't traveled yet, don't feel left out - YOU are Phil's target audience. He wants you to be happy, be fed, and have adventures similar to his. If for some reason you can't travel, you can still roam the earth vicariously through Phil's storytelling.

I could have saved a lot of words by simply saying this book is for everyone!

[Michelle Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, this book is wonderful. Absolutely wonderful. It’s chock full of behind the scenes stories, photos, and recipes.



My husband introduced our teen children, and I to Phil after he had watched the first two seasons (I don’t watch much tv and I don’t want to waste my time on bad tv or film when I have books that I want to read) and this, I believe, was in 2020 during lockdown, and well, much like Randy Rainbow, we fell in love with Phil’s show - his beautiful relationship with his parents, his universal kindness, his true appreciation of food, and the magical filming that makes you feel almost as though you’re sharing in the experience. To me, Phil is a mix of Mr. Rogers and Big Bird - he is kind to everyone, and he appreciates things with the awe of a pure soul.



On his show, he conveys his feelings beautifully with his expressions and words. My family and I wanted to see how that translated into book form and were very happy with what we saw here - Phil’s Phil-ness comes across perfectly and the recipes all sound wildly appealing and not difficult to make if you're confident in the kitchen.



A definite recommendation.




eARC kindly provided by Simon Element and NetGalley. Opinions shared are my own.

[Kevin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rosenthal’s (You’re Lucky You’re Funny) tasty companion book to his Netflix travel series "Somebody Feed Phil" exudes the same charm, wit, and sweet-and-savory goodness that makes the show must-see comfort food viewing.

Each of the TV episodes focuses on the cuisine of one international or U.S. location, including Bangkok, Venice, Lisbon, Hawai‘i, Marrakesh, Mexico City, New York City, New Orleans, San Francisco, and more. Each of the 22 chapters covers one location/episode. Rosenthal readily admits he’s not a cook, so the tempting recipes in this book come directly from the chefs and restaurants he visited.

This beautifully designed book is filled with color photographs of delicious meals and alluring locations. Recipes range from meat and fish dishes to vegetarian and vegan treats and include mouthwatering desserts, appetizers, and drinks. Few cooks will be able to resist the collard-green melt or pastrami ribs.

An irresistible hybrid cookbook/travel book, ideal for readers planning a trip or a meal.

[Chrissy Shea Adams · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just like the show, this book is not a cook book, even if recipes (which he admits are not his) are included. The show and this book are about traveling the world. I would love to go to all these places, especially back to Ireland, but this time on our own. Find the best local places not necessarily the biggest tourist attractions.

The book actually follows a lot the show (for some things to make sense you may need to have just watched the episode it goes with). Including the episode ending video calls with Phil’s parents. I love the traveling and the culinary experiences, but Phil’s parents were a wonderful extra.

You can tell Phil Rosenthal is a genuinely happy person - he loves life, people, and everywhere he goes/eats. It’s a little redundant but it’s nice to see such a positive view of everything.

In the end, read the book about the cities (especially the conversations with his parents) and skim the recipes. You can always go back for the recipes. But the purpose of the book should be his travels and experience.

[Sylvia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the show Somebody Feed Phil and am truly hoping that the 6th season will not be the last. This is truly a companion book. I wish I would have had access to this before I finished watching the series. It would have been great to refer to the episode in the book as I was watching it on Netflix. One improvement that I would make should there be a book 2 is to caption all of the pictures, because if you aren't watching the show while reading the book, the people, locations, etc. pictured in the book can be unidentifiable. I'm sure that the recipes listed are delicious when prepared by a chef or cook with considerably more experience than my "home cook" status. There were a few recipes that I found I would be comfortable making, but for the most part most of them were too highfalutin for me. I loved the transcripts for Phil's talks with Max and Helen (one of my favorite parts of the show). Well worth the time it took me to read this book.