"Pancakes are a luxury, like smoking marijuana or having sex. That’s why I came up with the names Ho Cakes and Slutty Cakes. These are e...
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reviews
Aug 24, 2011
karen
rated it: 
this is probably my favorite cookbook of all time. i have read it cover to cover, and when i am feeling culinarily uninspired, i will pick it up and flip through it and let the personality of kenny shopsin wash all over me. i bought this cookbook, and the movie about kenny, i like killing flies for my dad, and i know he loves it as well, because my dad is a wise man.
this is more than a cookbook. it is a way of life. it is a philosophy of food and how to make food last and how to make More...
this is more than a cookbook. it is a way of life. it is a philosophy of food and how to make food last and how to make More...
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Dec 17, 2010
Michael
rated it: 
There are funny cookbooks with crappy joke recipes, and serious cookbooks that read like instruction manuals for farm equipment, and then there is this book, which manages to be full of very serious recipes but which is written with a unique and hilarious voice.
It's full of recipes that you simply will NEVER find anywhere else. Kenny Shopsin is an experimental maniac who relies not on throwing fancy-ass ingredients into things but simply putting things together in ways you'd never thi More...
It's full of recipes that you simply will NEVER find anywhere else. Kenny Shopsin is an experimental maniac who relies not on throwing fancy-ass ingredients into things but simply putting things together in ways you'd never thi More...
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Feb 05, 2010
Gregory
rated it:
I got hooked on Kenny Shopsin after seeing the documentary "I Like Killing Flies". Shopsin is an autodidact when it comes to cooking--an intuitive experimenter who isn't afraid to fail. I love the way he thinks and expresses himself. Here is an example that makes me laugh,"...think about what pancakes really are. They are flour and milk drowned in butter and some form of sugar. They're crap. As far as food value, you might as well take Crisco, whip it up with powdered sugar, and s
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May 10, 2011
Jan
rated it:
I love this book. This is so much more than a cookbook; it is actually a memoir recounting the story of a grocery store/turned small restaurant and the family and friends who lived the story. I was drawn to it first by the name and then I saw a Calvin Trillin foreward.....love all things the Trillin man writes. I think Kenny and I would get along great; I have ordered some food items on-line and can't wait to start using them. The Asian inspired ingredients used all different ways and the As
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Jul 20, 2009
Cynthia
rated it:
I would never eat at Shopsin's General Store in lower Manhattan — well, I don't think I would. The owner/chef is a self-confessed super crank, the menu has about 900 items and all of them are, umm, a little odd. And cleanliness doesn't seem like a priority.
However, I "ate up" every word of this cookbook cum philosophy of life, cooking and restaurant ownership. Once you get into the book a little and Shopsin tones himself down a little, he actually has great cooking tips (he's co More...
However, I "ate up" every word of this cookbook cum philosophy of life, cooking and restaurant ownership. Once you get into the book a little and Shopsin tones himself down a little, he actually has great cooking tips (he's co More...
Sep 06, 2009
Anthrodiva
rated it:
If the Gaia book was me gardening, this book is me cooking, minus all the expletives. Ok, with all the expletives. I had heard rumours of Shopsin's existence for awhile now, but without any clear idea of what we were talking about.
The place ran for awhile like the restaurant I always wanted to open, where you could order anything you want. But he says, that put too much onus on the customer. His menu ran at one time to 900 items, and it seems that if you can't pick quickly then he More...
The place ran for awhile like the restaurant I always wanted to open, where you could order anything you want. But he says, that put too much onus on the customer. His menu ran at one time to 900 items, and it seems that if you can't pick quickly then he More...
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Oct 03, 2010
Unwisely
rated it: 
I didn't really know what I was getting into with this, but it turned out to be another not-quite-a-cookbook-but-with-recipes. (Much like The Kitchen Diaries: A Year in the Kitchen with Nigel Slater) Not as much memoir as I had sort of thought; maybe half recipes? The type is big and there are a lot of pictures, too.
Apparently this dude has a diner, and it's a New York Thing. Umm, ok, sure. I got from the book that he seems like an ass, and I'm not sure I'd like his food. But th More...
Apparently this dude has a diner, and it's a New York Thing. Umm, ok, sure. I got from the book that he seems like an ass, and I'm not sure I'd like his food. But th More...
Mar 08, 2011
Stefanie
rated it:
This book is not for everyone. First, it's a lot of things rolled into one: a little bit of a memoir, a little bit of philosophy, a lot about psychology (under the surface), a lot about food, and a bunch of recipes. Second, the author is blunt, profane, and even crude sometimes, but very honest. I find who Kenny Shopsin is, what he does, and why he does it absolutely fascinating (and yes, I've seen the documentary on him and his restaurant, I Like Killing Flies, and I recommend that too). Oh, an
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Aug 13, 2009
e
rated it:
no bullshit,
no frills,
existential,
throw you out the door,
good eatin'.
with a cover designed to awake your most primal instincts, the pages between are also very much of that same idea.
a way of eating, of living-
a man who isn't saying this is the way, but it is his way.
not a lot of vegetarian stuff, but that is okay.
It is strange , I am a vegetarian, but at the same time I believe you should eat what makes you feel good to eat it More...
no frills,
existential,
throw you out the door,
good eatin'.
with a cover designed to awake your most primal instincts, the pages between are also very much of that same idea.
a way of eating, of living-
a man who isn't saying this is the way, but it is his way.
not a lot of vegetarian stuff, but that is okay.
It is strange , I am a vegetarian, but at the same time I believe you should eat what makes you feel good to eat it More...
Feb 05, 2009
Kathy
rated it:
What a great book! No breathless reverence for consomme, aspic or super-expensive totally organic produce grown in soil that has only been touched by virgins baloney.
Great ideas about cooking and using your own ideas about food to create the food you want to eat. He addresses the difficulty of cooking like a restaurant when you don't have industrial appliances.
I would love to go to his restaurant. His rules for the most part make a lot of sense. I'd like to think that my husband More...
Great ideas about cooking and using your own ideas about food to create the food you want to eat. He addresses the difficulty of cooking like a restaurant when you don't have industrial appliances.
I would love to go to his restaurant. His rules for the most part make a lot of sense. I'd like to think that my husband More...
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Aug 18, 2011
Jeannie
rated it:
I would give this book 100 stars. I really relate to Kenny Shopsin's manner of cooking. I also relate to his approach to owning a restaurant, as he puts it, "The art of staying small more or less sums up my feelings about running a restaurant - and about life. I know it goes against our capitalistic system, but I have never been interested in the normal symptoms of success, such as higher profit margins and expansion of income. I never had a goal to make more money so that I could retire or
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Mar 30, 2009
Jay
rated it:
An immensely entertaining and enlightening cookbook. The rhythm of personal philosophy and stories alternating with recipes makes for a very pleasant read. And Shopsin has some extremely intriguing ideas about the way certain types of dishes should be made.
My only disappointment is that I don't think I'll end up incorporating as much of his food into my daily routine as I had expected. The reason gets to the heart of why restaurant cooking and home cooking are very different beast More...
My only disappointment is that I don't think I'll end up incorporating as much of his food into my daily routine as I had expected. The reason gets to the heart of why restaurant cooking and home cooking are very different beast More...
Oct 19, 2008
Calvin Trillin's article in the New Yorker (also published in Feeding a Yen and as the foreword to Eat Me) introduced me to Shopsin's. I had the great good luck to read this article while I was eating dinner at a restaurant in New York (one of only two visits in the last ten years), and I went straight to Shopsin's for breakfast the next morning, keeping a low profile so I wouldn't out myself as a scorned "review trotter." (This was my lottery win, I've come to think, because when I at
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Jun 05, 2011
Sheila
rated it:
This is my favourite cookbook ever. For one thing, it is beautiful to look at, and the pictures of the food are so jolie-laide. You don't know whether you want to eat the food or throw it up. Then, you get a whole picture of running a restaurant, and raising a family. The recipes are easy and all of them work out. They are incredibly surprising. A unique approach to cooking and to cook-book writing. Very much a portrait of a man, in the way a novel might be.
Aug 03, 2011
David
rated it:
What a great book. Sure it is a cook book with excellent recipes, but SO much more. The recipes are just an extension of the personality of Kenny Shopsin. I found this book(like many people) after watching the documentary about him called "I like to kill flies". The book contains much of his philosophy along with the history of the restaurant. His passion for life comes through on every page. He is a great example of a person who lives as himself.
Dec 08, 2008
Daisy
rated it:
i very rarely read cookbooks from cover to cover . . . but this guy, shopsin, is quite a character. you think you know food porn? this guy lives it. i want to eat at his shop, though i'm afraid of not being a customer he wants to serve . . . but anyway, his approach to cooking is unique and totally makes sense. my only complaint is that there's no index to find the recipes again . . . but the design and content of the book trump it. get it! laugh! make good food!
Jan 28, 2009
Molly
rated it:
A readable, enjoyable cookbook that's just smart alecky enough to be fun but not annoying. I loved the whole chapter on why Kenny kicks people out of his restaurant and his general philosophy of not trying to be a big enterprise. So far, I've tried just one recipe (the crepes) and they were a big success -- and insanely easy. (He makes his crepes with a 12" flour tortilla... !) Also -- I like this in a cookbook -- the volume is gorgeously designed, with brightly colored, staged photos remi
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Dec 12, 2010
picked this one up out of the dumpster at work. pleasantly surprised. good food philosophy, good cooking tips, and they look like good recipes (haven't made any yet). pretty interesting asides and tidbits, interesting and entertaining. I'll probably just read this one off and on. it's the kind of cookbook that you can actually read...if you're in to that sort of thing.
Nov 29, 2010
Riv
rated it:
Hmmm, I watched the documentary "I like killing flies" and was intrigued, so I bought this book and surprisingly, it's an interesting read, not about much. It's philosophy, reminiscences and diner recipes, not too many that I would make. But so far, I'm enjoying it.
Ok, this was fun to read, certainly more fun than Fannies last supper, even the mostly-treif recipes from the nice Jewish boy from Westchester...
Ok, this was fun to read, certainly more fun than Fannies last supper, even the mostly-treif recipes from the nice Jewish boy from Westchester...
Aug 11, 2010
Summer
rated it:
Fantastic book. Shopsin's restaurant is a hidden NY gem and Kenny himself is the reason for it. I think I learned as much about following one's passion, running a business, and loving your family as I did about cooking. While his personality may seem abrasive to some, I totally respect his uncompromising vision of what he wants out of life and (by extension) business. His recipes are simple but contain some great tips for making the perfect eggs, pancakes, and soup. His innovations have ins
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Nov 29, 2008
Jack
rated it:
The cover really sums this book up: Food and Philosophy. It is more than just a cookbook. It gives Kenny Shopsin's, the owner of a restaurant with over 900 items on its menu, opinion of everything from how to make the perfect burger, to why health inspectors suck. A very good read, though a little weird at times, and about 20% of the recipes were something I would actually cook.
Jan 23, 2011
Kean
rated it:
I love that this manages to capture Shopsin's unique (and uncouth) voice. It's the totally casual style that, as someone who personally shies away and is intimidated by most cookbooks, the recipes here are practical and simple enough that I actually want give them a try and, more importantly, USE.
Mar 12, 2009
Jaime
rated it:
Kenny Shopsin is a genius. He isn't a gourmet, he's just an opinionated old crank who cares - deeply - about food. This is more than just a cookbook. It's part manifesto, part memoir, and all heart. If I lived in New York, Kenny could fed me every day (if he didn't throw me out).
Sep 14, 2011
Jim
rated it:
Read Karen's comments for a thorough description of this cookbook. It starts with this character buying a small grocery store in Greenwich village where he starts making one or two dishes to becoming a diner will over 700 items most of his own invention. The recipes order follow this progression. It's strangely fascinating......
I also saw the documentary "I like killing flies" about Shopsin's.
I also saw the documentary "I like killing flies" about Shopsin's.
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Jan 19, 2011
Brittany
rated it:
Shopsin's is amazing, which is why this book has been on my list of must-reads for some time. Solid recipes, given in a brusquely humorous voice. An excellent insight into the mind of man who helms what has got to be the most dizzyingly extensive menu in New York.
May 04, 2011
Hillary
rated it:
Fun read :) And I plan to try several recipes from the book. Not all, but that 's ok. The nice thing is that he encourages you to be creative with your fod like he is. Not everything you try may work but you may discover something that you love.
Oct 06, 2011
Joanne
rated it:
This is not your mother's cookbook. I could have done without the swearing and the sexual references, but both seem to be natural for Kenny. I have already made some delicious meals from his recipes, so I won't go to NYC and wash his mouth out with soap.
Dec 16, 2008
Jill
rated it:
My favorite cookbook of the whole year. It's philosophy and parenting all rolled around great recipes from a genius. Macaroni and cheese pancakes? Genius.
Plus the cover has a cool little slide-up design; it's a nice touch.
Plus the cover has a cool little slide-up design; it's a nice touch.
Feb 07, 2010
Terrell
rated it:
Sometimes funny, sometimes painfully genuine, an all around great book.
While I can't help but admire Kenny Shopsin's attitude towards cooking and running a restaurant, I wonder if Shopsin's could exist outside New York City.
While I can't help but admire Kenny Shopsin's attitude towards cooking and running a restaurant, I wonder if Shopsin's could exist outside New York City.
Feb 07, 2009
Linda S
rated it:
I really liked this book. It is written in language that an average home cook can understand and while it contains recipes, it is the story of Kenny Shopsin, his family and his business that I most enjoyed reading about.
