Emeril's Potluck: Comfort Food with a Kicked-Up Attitude

by Emeril Lagasse

America's favorite chef Emeril Lagasse is ready to party. Parties and celebrations mean food. Lots of tureens of soup, platters of chicken, bowls of salad, casseroles of baked pasta. From family reunions to holiday buffets, summer barbecues to tailgate parties, and weekend brunches to bridal showers, Emeril's Potluck offers crowd-pleasing dishes perfect for gatherings with friends and family. Emeril's Potluck brings together everything Emeril loves most about cooking and eating. The food is simple, flavorful, and perfect for sharing at any get-together. Each recipe serves a whopping 8 to 10 people, but don't assume you're making too much -- everyone will be heading back for seconds and thirds of these Emerilized starters, entrees, drinks, sides, and desserts. Start by toasting the occasion with a glass of Champagne Punch, a Watermelon Daiquiri, or an Orange Emeril. Then let the feast begin! Classic Blue Cheese Dip, Alain's Sweet and Spicy Asian Wings, or Sausage-Stuffed Mushrooms will get your party started right! Main courses range from Olive-Stuffed Leg of Lamb and Creole Mustard and Herb-Wrapped Beef Tenderloin to homey favorites such as Charlotte's Lasagna Bolognese, Penne à la Vodka Casserole, and Tuna Tetrazzini. Of course, it wouldn't be a party without dessert, so save room for Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie, Strawberry Shortcake, and Emeril's Tiramisu. The recipes are quick, easy, and portable. Enjoy these dishes at home or take them on the road. Emeril's Potluck -- so foolproof, so easy, so crowd pleasing that luck has nothing to do with it.

Genres: Cookbooks, Cooking, Nonfiction, Food, Reference

320 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 2004

About the author

Emeril John Lagasse is an American celebrity chef, restaurateur, television personality, and cookbook author. A regional James Beard Award winner, he is perhaps most notable for his Food Network shows Emeril Live and Essence of Emeril as well as catchphrases such as "kick it up a notch" and "BAM!" He is a 1978 graduate of Johnson & Wales University's College of Culinary Arts. The "Emeril Empire" of media, products and restaurants generates an estimated USD$150 million annually in revenue.

Reviews

[Gina · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you've followed my cookbook reviews at all, then you know I'm a huge fan of Emeril's recipes. His cookbooks are the home of many of my go-to recipes and by far the most requested dishes by others who've had my cooking. This isn't my favorite Emeril cookbook, but it is still a solid edition to my growing Lagasse library. The recipes in this one are easier than what I typically associate with him, many easy to make in 30 minutes or so. The basic cornbread recipe is now my standard. Sorry mom! While every recipe I made was good - the eggplant casserole a huge standout - I must take off a star for a few issues. As other reviewers have pointed out, these recipes make huge serving sizes. Each is meant to be served at a potluck, obviously, so each makes large pans/pots/bowls using large amounts of ingredients meaning just the two of us had crazy amounts of leftovers. I was able to freeze some things, but salads, etc. won't. I cut down some recipes, but others meant having to waste ingredients to cut in half or more so I just made it as written. As I don't like to waste food, I'm not sure how much I would use these recipes day to day unless I need something specific to take somewhere. Additionally, as a few recipes needed last minute cooking, heating, or additional prep, I'm not sure how well some would work for a potluck. If the potluck was at my house so I had access to my stuff, then OK. Transporting and finishing is a different story. Overall, I didn't make a bad recipe (going to be dreaming about the Bananas Foster Bread Pudding until I make it again) but not necessarily a practical cookbook for frequent use unless you have a family of 6 or more.

[Nikki · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think with the Emeril madness that went on a few years ago, where he was everywhere and shilling everything and all you ever heard was 'Bam!', it's easy to forget why he was so popular: because he can f*cking cook. This book is unpretentious home cooking but also amazing at the same time.

[George Marshall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, this is just a delightful little cookbook. I kept on poking my wife and pointing at each recipe in turn. Except for the deviled eggs (in my opinion, no matter the recipe, just, "blech").

So much, "yes" in this one! Only real negative is in true Emeril style, the ingredient lists are packed.

[Dray · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first experience reading an Emeril cookbook and I was pleased. He has delicious recipes, clearly presented often with interesting side notes. Emeril has a lot of experience and very apparent love of food. Recommended.

[Troy Beals · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great looking recipes

[StrangeBedfellows · Rating 3 out of 5]

��This cookbook has some great recipes in it that are tasty and easy to follow. At first, I was disappointed because I hadn't properly noticed the 'potluck: comfort food' part of the title. In other words, this is a very specific set of recipes, and if you're looking for something specific, you likely won't find it. On the other hand, I've come to realize that the recipes in this book are things I'm actually interested in making and eating -- foods that actually fit into your regular, daily life, like fried chicken, beer bread, and cornbread stuffing. There's also some intelligent and useful tips peppered throughout the book. I will complain that, true to Emeril style, many recipes have far more ingredients than I would like. I suppose that's the 'kicked-up' part.

[Virginia Campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Emeril's Potluck: Comfort Food with a Kicked-Up Attitude" offers a wide range of recipes that more than live up to the title. Comfort food should be fun, flavorful, family-friendly, and filling. I love the simple layout of the book, the insights from Emeril above each recipe, and any little hint of Emeril's mother, "Miss Hilda". There are basic dishes with a twist, and more exotic concoctions made over into down-home good eats. This is close, casual comfort food cooking for a crowd. What more do you need?

[Eileen · Rating 2 out of 5]

All of these recipes are sized for a crowd. While it is supposed to be a potluck book, many of the recipes are best right out of the oven, which doesn't work out so well for bringing to a gathering. Also, many recipes require Emeril brand spice blends, and while I could come up with some kind of homemade alternative, there is no indication to what his blends are supposed to taste like.

I have made the tiramisu, and it was pretty good, the real thing (unlike many recipes out there that use whipped cream cheese as a shortcut).

[Kelly Martin · Rating 2 out of 5]

As far as cookbook go this was not among the best I have ever read. The recipes were not something that most would not already have and they were not different enough to try anyway. The stories he told with the recipient were more interesting than the recipes out five stars I would give it a one. Not a keeper

[Katharine Eves · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is my favorite cooking book and I love it, everything is easy turns out amazing and will have everyone asking the recipe

I would give this 100 stars

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not too bad. I can't stand Emeril, but he can cook. So can Yan. Yan can cook.

[Travis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Emeril takes a bunch of comfort food recipes, fancies them up but does it in such a way that it doesn't feel intimidating.
And, as always, he presents stuff in an entertaining way.

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

had some good recipes, I recommend the key lime pie!

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of good recipes to try out someday.

[Alison James · Rating 5 out of 5]

I, along with my whole cookbook club, was surprised how much we really liked everything we made. BAM is right =) The Portuguese Tomato and Sausage Soup was delicious with a kick of spice!

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tons of great recipes!