The Secret Life of Food

by Clare Crespo, Eric Staudenmaier (Illustrator)

A stunning gift book with lush photography contains easy-to-follow recipes to disguise food as ordinary objects found in and around the home, such as Shirt-and-Pants Cake, Potato and Stringbean flip-flops, and a Jello-O aquarium with Swedish fish.

Genres: Food, Nonfiction, Cookbooks

108 pages, Hardcover

First published April 2, 2002

Reviews

[Kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Genre: nonfiction
Awards:
Grade-level: k-2
Classroom: I would use this book as a fun activity in my classroom. The numerous different types of food used and designs they can create amaze me. I would ask my students to think about 3 (objects) they find in and around their home. Then, we will read the book, or at least most of it discussing what all the objects were made out of. Afterwards, we will discuss the objects they thought of and come up with our own idea of how to make it out of food! With my older students, I would have them write a how-to paper after they create their food.

[Christina Wainwright · Rating 3 out of 5]

Clever ways of playing with your food, to transform it into looking like something else. My favorites were the really simple ideas that yield an incredibly cute result: eyes made out of halved hard-boiled eggs with a sliver of olive, the spaghetti monster with meatball eyes, the fruit sliced into punch to transform it into "Hawaiian Shirt" punch.

With lots of creative ideas that could be fun appetizers or edible decorations at a party, this book is a winner.

[Jency · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book isn't so much so much about taste, it's more about fun and imagination and almost reads like a picture book. The recipes are great to try, but many take excellent hand-eye coordination, so some of them can get a bit tricky. People with a penchant for crafts or quirkiness should check this book out!

[Addie Cole · Rating 5 out of 5]

clare crespo's genius collection of completely mad recipes. candy sushi and bleeding heart cupcakes? yes, please.

[Melenie Reiter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Such a fantastic resource!! I stumbled upon this gem at my local used book store and left smiling. Every teacher/parent/chef should own. :)

[Neverwithoutabook]

Interesting and fun recipes designed with children in mind...but who says adults can't have fun in the kitchen too!

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amusing photos of foods that have been "posed"

[Dracolibris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Totally fun and creatively inspiring.

[Shallowreader VaVeros · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love food art.

[Michelle Gray · Rating 4 out of 5]

The recipes in here range from super easy to middle of the road in difficulty. Can't wait to try them out. :)

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun cute ideas for kids. Gave one less because some of the ideas are ridiculous.