Review: Boy Eats World
One of the newest cookbooks to hit book stores is Boy Boy Eats World!: A Private Chef Cooks Simple Gourmet, from David Lawrence. Of course, the Sacramento Bee had to put in its two cents, since Lawrence is a local. After attempting and abandoning an acting career, he got into catering and then nbecame a personal chef: “He was hired by the first family to interview him, Beverly Hills doctors for whom he does all the menu planning, grocery shopping and party orchestration, as well as preparing dinner five nights a week.” He also gets to travel with them!
In a world full of new cookbooks, Lawrence offers his description of why someone should buy this one instead of, say, an entire cookbook about crab cakes:
“I think what makes the book different is that it has a little something for everyone,” Lawrence said the other day during one of his frequent return visits to Sacramento to promote the book. “It doesn’t really have a theme in that it sticks to one particular type of food palate. It’s kind of all over the map, which is why I called it ‘Boy Eats World.’”
Boy Eats World includes many dishes that “emphasize seasonal wholesomeness” but also offers recipes with some shortcuts, like liquid smoke and instant pudding mix.
“We all have busy lives, and I wanted to do a book that was realistic for the way people live today. People don’t have a lot of time to spend in the kitchen, me included,” Lawrence said. “It’s OK to take shortcuts. If you use a store-bought pesto sauce or carrots already shredded for you for convenience … you still can end up with a great product. You’re just saving yourself time in the kitchen.”
All six reviews on Amazon.com are 6 stars for this cookbook, which is a good sign. According to Lawrence’s website, the book has also received praise from Mark Summers of the Food Network’s Unwrapped and Ted Allen, cookbook author and the food and wine expert for Bravo’s Queer Eye for the Straight Guy.
